/vr/ - Retro Games

>>6628846
I think at that point in late 90's some games were just trying to emulate reality with a disregard of any videogame trend or known design. So any game could try their own thing, in the case of Shenmue to make an obsesively detailed world without caring if the played was going to appreciate that or not. The whole point of Shenmue is to priorize inmersion over anything else. So if you have a quest you can start talking with the most insignificant NPC because it will have specific voiced dialogue about all quests of the game, some vague hints or useless information, just because that feels more realistic.
Today every sandbox follows the same design since everyone knows what players want the most, they can focus on adding more and more content, and they don't see the point in taking risks or putting your efforts into certain too specific things like Shenmue did.

>>6012652
I'm in the 4th GD slowly playing and waiting for 3, and yes, it is.
All the end of 2 is something really special, but people seems to be more fond of 1 for some reason.

>>4982187
>So whats this games appeal then?

It's all about getting the closest to reality. Yu Suzuki went full autist and tried to recreate everything to a degree any other developer would have considered a waste of time and resources. Shit like making a different skin for every streetlight "because that's how actually is in the real world".
And it can't be compared to modern sandbox, it's just a different thing. Maybe Deadly Premonition is one of the few that actually has things in common with Shenmue.

At the same time you have a nostalgic martial arts story that develops extremely slowly. So if you connect with the game you can get into it in a way no other game can't be compared. You don't play as Ryo, you are the Ryo.
But if you don't connect then it will be boring, until you get into some accion phases in Shenmue 2.

Like it or not Shenmue is a game that requires patience and a particular calm mindset. If you're now living an adult life with responsibilities and other stressful endeavours I doubt you will ever find the time to properly enjoy this game.

However if you can find a window of opportunity like those long days without doing anything, with no school or anything when you were a kid that is the perfect time to enjoy a game like this.

I really do think the ability to enjoy this game is a product of circumstance for the most part, if you're not playing it at the right moment in your life it would be impossible to enjoy, the game demands a lot of immersion from the player. If you're able to surrender your full attention you'll be rewarded, otherwise the whole experience might just seem like a chore.

But either way, even given the right circumstances I believe it's a very divisive game, you'll either absolutely love or hate it with passion, with no room for a middle ground.