-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
I need to play the Shenmue games - what are my options?
- Thread starter bananafactory
- Start date
DidntKnowJack
Member
That's good to hear. I have my old Xbox, but if I can just play on my already hooked up 360, even better.
bananafactory
Banned
I just played Grim Fandango and Resident Evil REmake not long ago, so I am all practiced up for tank controls 
Smh at these game prices though, right now the cheapest I can find a copy of Shenmue 1 (PAL) shipped to me in Canada is like $138 CDN. There's a couple up for bid that are pretty low though, so I might wait a couple days and try and scoop em at the last minute
Smh at these game prices though, right now the cheapest I can find a copy of Shenmue 1 (PAL) shipped to me in Canada is like $138 CDN. There's a couple up for bid that are pretty low though, so I might wait a couple days and try and scoop em at the last minute
bananafactory
Banned
LOL what is this?
Regarding remastered versions of Shenmue I and II, there are apparently some legal issues with some software components used in the game's engine.
Nevertheless, I am pretty sure that Sega will figure that out and release the games on current platforms. The media attention Shenmue has gotten in the last days warrants the legal hassles. Can't be that hard for a lawyer to figure out the licences situation of these software components.
Nevertheless, I am pretty sure that Sega will figure that out and release the games on current platforms. The media attention Shenmue has gotten in the last days warrants the legal hassles. Can't be that hard for a lawyer to figure out the licences situation of these software components.
DidntKnowJack
Member
Its not just the tank controls, its very different than any other game I've played. Its kind of hard to describe with the right trigger plus analog stick to look at things, then "A" button to interact. But again, once you have it down its not a big deal.
PC emulation, better than on Dreamcast and Xbox.
There is an dedicated emulator just for Shenmue with bugfixes for the games.
Edit: Also there is a modded version out there with jap voice and english sub.
At least for Shenmue 1.
I couldn't find a version of two with english subs for pc.
Have fun!
There is an dedicated emulator just for Shenmue with bugfixes for the games.
Edit: Also there is a modded version out there with jap voice and english sub.
At least for Shenmue 1.
I couldn't find a version of two with english subs for pc.
Have fun!
bananafactory
Banned
DidntKnowJack
Member
Heh, its just a rubberband.
Haha, a rubber band. I keep it on my controller for those "I can show you the way" moments. I let the rubber band keep the trigger pulled down so Ryo keeps moving and I browse the Internet until I reach my destination!
DAREALGUMMY
Member
I don't know if it was just my copy/360 but II would have a game crashing bug when you enter a mall looking for someone. It was the ONLY time it would crash but if you hadn't saved then prepare to do things again. Luckily, it's not TOO far in to the game.
DidntKnowJack
Member
That's what I'd personally recommend myself.
But I remember playing this in 2000 (I think?) and the dates in the game were pretty much coinciding with real life dates. When Christmas came along, it was like a week before Christmas in real life, but the streets became all decorated and the snowfall was incredible. Having moved from N.Y. to California a couple years earlier, it was almost like being home again.
Shenmue 1 was truly a memorable game for me.
Hockeymac18
Member
This is a great option. And while you're at it, you can pick up a few other DC gems (for I'm sure next to nothing in cost).
Too late. The money boat has sailed
Doesn't matter how you play it, just play it and enjoy Shenmue =D.
FlashbladeGAF
Member
Shenmue isn't a cinematic open world action adventure
Shenmue is a Life simulator
Unlike most games that take you from check point to check point, this game puts you in a world as if you were in a virtual world.
It's putting you in the shoes of a boy seeking revenge, but having no idea what to do.
YOU must uncover clues and YOU must solve the challenges you will face.
The game won't do it for you.
Because life, has its slow and fast moments, so too does Shenmue. Shenmue isn't just a game, it's an experience. And when you just allow yourself to be in the world, and not worry about what you need to do, but what you can do, the game truly shines.
Shenmue is a Life simulator
Unlike most games that take you from check point to check point, this game puts you in a world as if you were in a virtual world.
It's putting you in the shoes of a boy seeking revenge, but having no idea what to do.
YOU must uncover clues and YOU must solve the challenges you will face.
The game won't do it for you.
Because life, has its slow and fast moments, so too does Shenmue. Shenmue isn't just a game, it's an experience. And when you just allow yourself to be in the world, and not worry about what you need to do, but what you can do, the game truly shines.
Too late. The money boat has sailed
You can always still rip the game to PC so you get to experience better graphics and controls though. It's hard going back to the old controls after having mapped the left stick to walking/running and the right stick to look around. Default controls require you to run with d-pad and look around with left thumbstick, so in order to look around you have to go to a complete stop. And you'll be looking around a lot as that's the way to explore and find stores for quest missions.
DidntKnowJack
Member
It really was the first living, breathing world I can remember. These were the days before GTA 3 and its ilk moved things even further.
But Shenmue was the first game I remember where people walked around town, living their lives, going in and out of their homes, etc. It was truly a groundbreaking game.
But Shenmue was the first game I remember where people walked around town, living their lives, going in and out of their homes, etc. It was truly a groundbreaking game.
TheContact
Member
Well I bought shenmue on dreamcast and it doesn't work. Kinda annoyed. Might try burning a disc at this point
bananafactory
Banned
falconhoof
Neo Member
Got the game running on DEMUL emulator (I own a Dreamcast and multiple copies of the games, but I can't get my DC working), it looks amazing when you up the resolution and apply some graphic filters.
Not my setup, but an example of how good it can look on DEMUL
http://abload.de/img/49ri12.jpg
However my excitement came crashing down as I reached the first conversations about the black car. Everyone you speak to on the streets skips through their conversation. Every dialogue line fires at once and you hear a jumbled mess of audio. I was right back in there too after the awesome intro.
Not my setup, but an example of how good it can look on DEMUL
http://abload.de/img/49ri12.jpg
However my excitement came crashing down as I reached the first conversations about the black car. Everyone you speak to on the streets skips through their conversation. Every dialogue line fires at once and you hear a jumbled mess of audio. I was right back in there too after the awesome intro.
Theonik
Member
I think it's what they call rubberband AI.
Yes, Shenmue is not the kind of game where that gives you any sense of what's fun about it. The joy of the game is largely in being able to spend your time the way that you want to. If you want to waste hours in Tomato Mart trying to win cassettes, the game allows you to do that.
You can't use a simple adapter to convert VGA to HDMI with DVI as a go between. VGA is easily converted to DVI but analog DVI only. Meanwhile HDMI is only easily converted to with digital DVI. You need some sort of active analog to digital converter in there to get from VGA to HDMI, so you might as well just get one that goes from VGA to HDMI directly and not mess with any DVI stuff.
Google should be able to turn some up (apparently even Walmart sells a bunch of different models) but I have no idea which ones might be good or bad. You'll probably be adding lag to the games, but I don't know how bad or how specifically it might affect Shenmue games.
Dre_G_Writer
Member
Can we not buy Shenmue on xbox 360 no more??? What happened to the digital original xbox games??? I can't even find them no more in the market.
bananafactory
Banned
The game prices for this just keeping going up, some of the items I were watching on ebay just ended and good lord
LOOK AT THIS SHIT
And there's $30-40 shipping on top of that
LOOK AT THIS SHIT
And there's $30-40 shipping on top of that
DidntKnowJack
Member
I don't think Shenmue 2 was ever on the XBL marketplace anyway. The first game was never on Xbox at all.
You will have to do a little searching for it, but yes you can convert a US save to a PAL one.
I'm actually kind of stupefied that SEGA didn't get the remasters out to build up hype already unless there's a plan to get them out further into the Kickstarter to reignite it, or there's complications due to the PS4 exclusive nature of Shenmue III. Would be a good way to spur more money if they include a tier where you can get the remasters very, VERY soon (it'd be the kind of thing to make me want to pledge more than $5 to keep an eye on it/support the sheer absurdity of it anyway.)
Dre_G_Writer
Member
Man I really remember it being there. Not just shenmue II, but I mean all the original xbox games arent there anymore. I remember talking to a friend about buying jade empire for xbox 360, and I have a vague memory of looking at it on the marketplace years ago. Thats what made me talk to her about it, but I ended up not buying it though.
Yes I believe you should be fine.
bananafactory
Banned
Well I did it. Dropped $130 including shipping for Shenmue 1. Gonna wait a while before I try and track down a copy of number 2, at least until I finish this one
That's about $300 total for the dreamcast, VGA adapter, and game. I have no regrets
They're shipping from overseas so sadly my shipping ETA doesn't have them arriving until late July. I'll probably post here again once they show up and maybe make a LTTP thread once I start (even though I'm sure people will complaint because of all the shenmue threads lately but whatever, haters gonna hate)
That's about $300 total for the dreamcast, VGA adapter, and game. I have no regrets
They're shipping from overseas so sadly my shipping ETA doesn't have them arriving until late July. I'll probably post here again once they show up and maybe make a LTTP thread once I start (even though I'm sure people will complaint because of all the shenmue threads lately but whatever, haters gonna hate)
Well I did it. Dropped $130 including shipping for Shenmue 1. Gonna wait a while before I try and track down a copy of number 2, at least until I finish this one
That's about $300 total for the dreamcast, VGA adapter, and game. I have no regrets
They're shipping from overseas so sadly my shipping ETA doesn't have them arriving until late July. I'll probably post here again once they show up and maybe make a LTTP thread once I start (even though I'm sure people will complaint because of all the shenmue threads lately but whatever, haters gonna hate)
Congratulations. My Dreamcast with both games are thousands of miles away from where I currently am so I am vicariously living the games through first time players experience.
Please do create a thread once your Dreamcast arrives.
bananafactory
Banned
Exciting times! Sorta!
My Dreamcast arrived. I'm so excited I didn't even unbox it yet, needed to post here first
Sadly I have no idea when Shenmue or my VGA adapter will arrive international tracking is a bitch sometimes
EDIT: Whelp. They sent me an NTSC Dreamcast despite the fact the listing specified PAL. I mean, I didn't misread this, did I?
My Dreamcast arrived. I'm so excited I didn't even unbox it yet, needed to post here first
Sadly I have no idea when Shenmue or my VGA adapter will arrive
international tracking is a bitch sometimesEDIT: Whelp. They sent me an NTSC Dreamcast despite the fact the listing specified PAL. I mean, I didn't misread this, did I?
Theonik
Member
Picture on the listing is of an NTSC DC. Notice the red swirl.Exciting times! Sorta!
My Dreamcast arrived. I'm so excited I didn't even unbox it yet, needed to post here first
Sadly I have no idea when Shenmue or my VGA adapter will arrive
EDIT: Whelp. They sent me an NTSC Dreamcast despite the fact the listing specified PAL. I mean, I didn't misread this, did I?
bananafactory
Banned
Blue swirl.
bananafactory
Banned
Well damn.
Anyways, the good news is the person is refunding me once I mail it back.
Back news is I am out like $40 for return shipping and now still have to track down an actual PAL system.
Why don't the gaming gods want me to play Shenmue!?
OnionPowder
Member
Shadows don't render correctly. It's annoying and not worth it unless you're desperate as fuck.
bananafactory
Banned
it would honestly be cheaper for you to buy a VGA adapter and output to your TV that way, than sending it back. If you do that, you'll completely bypass the PAL/NTSC issue. You can use a pro action replay or DC-X to make your Dreamcast boot games from any region.
bananafactory
Banned
I already bought the VGA adapter.
The problem is that the game I paid $140 for is PAL, this system won't read that disc, correct?
Edit: reread your post. Can you elaborate on pro action replay and DCX? I was going to ship this back tomorrow but will hold off if it's going to work
There are several bootloader discs you can buy or burn that'll let you freely change the region of your dreamcast. The Utopia Boot CD was the original, but it doesn't work with a VGA adapter. Better options are the Pro Action Replay (Gameshark Lite in the US) but I've found it'll freeze on certain games.
The only universal 100% option I've found is DC-X, which works with both the VGA adapter and virtually every game I've used it on. You just pop the disc into your dreamcast, turn it on, then when the graphic loads, open the disc and put in the game you want to play.
bananafactory
Banned
Thanks. I'll take your word for it and hang on to the system.
Be aware that there are some games that flat out don't work with the VGA adapter. They are pretty uncommon, however. In all, including specific fixes you can apply to make certain games VGA compatible (DC-X includes all these), there are about 20 or so games you can't play with a VGA adapter.
bananafactory
Banned
Shenmue works though?
Definitely, I can't even find a list of the 20 or so non-compatible games online. They're all uncommon stuff. Every major dreamcast game works.
Keep in mind I'm in the US and I play the european copy of Shenmue II on my dreamcast, so I'm telling you my exact setup.