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Let's get one thing straight right now: The title of this entry is NOT a question. It's the actual name of the Demo Disc that I'm talking about today.
Now then...
What's Shenmue is essentially the Japanese Demo Disc of Shenmue for the Dreamcast. It allows you to walk around a portion of Dobuita (The main game's central hub area of sorts), but it actually has you following a goal: You have to find the Head Managing Director of Sega, Hidekazu Yukawa, and ask him what Shenmue is.
To track him down, you need to ask the people around town about him. Most people are clueless, or just don't have time to talk to you. That being said, you'll eventually hit a QTE (Quick Time Event, which is a series of timed button presses) that leads you to the local Arcade. Once you go there, you'll receive Yukawa's Business Card from the Arcade's Manager, which conveniently has the time and place that Yukawa will be written on the back of it.
Once the In-Game Clock rolls around to 4 PM, you have to go to one of the two travel agencies in town to find him. As you enter the building, Yukawa is leaving. He will freak out and run away from you, leading you into another, much longer, QTE. Once you finally catch up to him, he will explain just what Shenmue is. You are then treated to a Cutscene, which reveals that the whole thing was just a dream that Yukawa was having.
Despite being short (It's a Demo, damn it!), it features some NPCs and a few elements that didn't make it to the final game, which is pretty neat. The disc itself also comes with a card advertising a song that doesn't appear to be in the final product.
If you feel like trying something different, and getting a little more out of the small Shenmue Series, I recommend this. I also recommend a Walkthrough if you can't read Japanese, which can be found on GameFAQs.
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Shenmue...a game I've been trying to play for about 3 years now, but several broken Dreamcasts/Bad Discs have prevented me from playing it. Tonight though, I was able to finally play it, and I gotta say, it's pretty good. Here are some reasons why it's good:
-It's VERY interactive. You can check just about everything in this game.
-It's comprised of 3 Discs, so I know it's quite lengthy.
-The graphics are just gorgeous.
[img width=558 height=460]http://image.gamespotcdn.net/gamespot/images/screenshots/dc/shenmue/shenmue_b3_screen017.jpg[/img] [img width=558 height=460]http://image.gamespotcdn.net/gamespot/images/screenshots/dc/shenmue/shenmue_b3_screen014.jpg[/img]
It also seems to feel like an interactive mystery rather than a Video Game. It's very atmospheric, and with no music while you explore, it feels real. I mean, come on. Do you really hear music while you walk around in real life? Of course, there is the bad:
-Voice Acting could be slightly better. (This does not bother me, but it may bother others).
-Control is somewhat clunky.
-It may feel tedious at times.
So far, I like what I see, but can it hold my attention? We'll find out soon enough. As soon as I play more, I'll write a full review.
Thanks for reading!
NOTE: This entry WILL contain spoilers!! Read at your own risk!! Also, this is a matter of opinion on my part.
Is there any game out there you have fond memories of playing, for any reason at all? Very few games, especially now, can be called Perfect, but before the 7th Generation of gaming, there were 3 that stood out from the rest, and earned the title of Perfection. Here they are:
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This is Shenmue, and according to a lot of people, it's a timeless classic. People LOVE this game, usually for it's compelling story. A tale of revenge, this game series has yet to be completed by Sega, but to this day, myself and many fans remain hopeful that Shenmue III will be released someday.
What's Perfect About It: It's Story is what makes it stand out from the rest. This game's Story is what has made it so fun and flawless to this day.
[img width=640 height=908]http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/3/516243_front.jpg[/img]
This is Phantasy Star Online: Episode I&II for Gamecube. It is, without a doubt, the greatest MMORPG ever conceived, and I have logged countless hours into it. I have good and bad memories of it, and the overall experience is a very fond memory of mine, making this now hard-to-find game more than qualified to be called Perfect.
What's Perfect About It: This game will draw you in with it's addictive gameplay and multiplayer aspect, AND it can be played Offline with split-screen multiplayer, making it one hell of a party game for the hardcore gamer.
[img width=640 height=610]http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/7/196917_50218_front.jpg[/img]
This, my friends, is Chrono Cross, and it is the epitome of perfection in gaming. Chrono Cross is a dimension-traversing RPG Adventure without flaw, and this is due to EVERYTHING in it. It's characters, story, setting, and gameplay all come together to create the perfect gaming experience in the form of two CDs. In my truest, most honest opinion, NOTHING can compete with Chrono Cross in the world of gaming. Everyone knows this to be my favorite game of all time, and I have yet to find a game to surpass it, and I probably never will. 
What's Perfect About It: EVERYTHING. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this game. It surpasses even the mightiest of games, including Final Fantasy VII and Grandia. Ahead of it's time as it was though, it never caught the attention of most RPG Gamers, which is very sad. Fortunately, this game is on the PS3 as a PSOne Classic now though, and can be enjoyed by everyone for the low price of 10 Dollars. Go buy this game. You'll get more than your money's worth, and you will NOT regret it. I think that everyone should be able to find something about this game that they'll enjoy. I love RPGs, but this game cuts down every other RPG in the world, no matter how tall they stand.
Anyway, that's it for this entry. This is ReddMcKnight, signing off.
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