THE TOP STORY
Sega is re-releasing its cult martial arts adventure SHENMUE on PC
The first Shenmue— a martial arts revenge story that was, at the time, the most expensive videogame ever made—has only ever been playable on Dreamcast. It’s the reason I still have one under my TV, long after the console’s demise. But soon you’ll be able to play it and its sequel on PC, thanks to a long overdue re-release by Sega.
The game tells the story of Ryo Hazuki, a teenager living in Japan in the ’80s who swears revenge on the man who killed his father. It’s part-fighting game, part-RPG, and set in a richly detailed world. It’s also a weird, idiosyncratic game, and has been dividing critics since its release in 1999. Depending on who you ask, it’s either a masterpiece or a mess. I fall into the former camp.
Sega says the re-release will “stay true to the originals, but with modernized features including a fully scalable screen resolution, a choice of modern or classic controls, an updated interface, and the option to enjoy either the original Japanese or English voiceovers”. The promise of modernized controls is particularly exciting, as even the most fervent Shenmue fan will acknowledge that it’s an absolute pig to handle.
This marks the first time western players will be able to easily experience the original voiceover, and not the famously robotic, stilted English voice acting. But, to be honest, the hilariously amateurish acting has become a much-loved part of the series’ peculiar charm.
Depending on who you ask, it’s either a masterpiece or a mess