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Yes or No: Is a Dreamcast worth it for just Shenmue?

People keep saying to wait for the inevitable Shenmue I and ii remakes by Sega, but there's no guarantee of that for two reasons:

1) there are licensing issues with the games around a company that went bust or something. Maybe someone else can fill that one in.

2) Sega - when do they ever really do what's practical and logical...

I'd say a dreamiest is worth it for Shenmue I and ii. The mechanics of it are dated, but the story, music, characters and most of the gameplay are still firest class and even to this day you won't find a game quite like it.

Having said that, the dreamcast has plenty of awesome games you can get for it if not just for Shenmue anyway...
Exactly. This is hard to say for me as I'm a huge Sega fan, but modern Sega is a shell of its former self that is very risk adverse. I'm not sure where this instant expectation for Sega to make a logical decision came from. Sure ShenmueIII happening is a miracle, but this miracle is only backed by Sega in name only, because Yu Suzuki has such good ties with the company.

80 is a little pricey for a Dreamcast and Shenmue after it was worth barely anything before the announcement. I wouldn't have paid more than 25 for a Dreamcast and another 10 max for the game but supply and demand happens. It's a great game and stands visually but it is a 15 year old game on a controller many people do not like. I would suggest you get a vga cable or box for it to play it in its best image quality possible.

The Dreamcast is really the best way to play it unless you're fine with glitchy emulators that requires a decent PC and for you to manually rip the game and bios. 80 bucks still isn't that much and if you're not convinced you could always sell it off as I'm sure the v value of the system and game is going to stay high for a while.

Shenmue is an experience all gamers should be required to have. They don't need to love it, just understand how groundbreaking and deep it was for its time. This is not a game for those who just want to finish it. It is a game that is best played slowly.


Yes
 
That's the post.

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Does not sound like something unsolvable. That's what layers are for. Sounds more like Sega just didn't bother with the hassle because their other ports bombed.

Even Sega can't be blind to the fact that a simple port could make some good money here.

Right? :-(
That was the one! Thanks for that.

And yeah... Sega gonna Sega...
 
No. I mean, having a DC is cool because it is a great console with many great games.. But Shenmue 1 was unplayable (imo) a few years ago when I busted out the DC and tried to replay it.
 
If you are interested in experience a landmark game design for educational purposes, yes. In the context of it's time Shenmue is a stunning piece of history.

But just to get ready for shenmue 3 no way. Shenmue had glaring flaws even back them and nowadays some of the design is outright hilarious from a playability standpoint.

So for fun education: yes. For pure entertainment: No.
 
Zero Gunner 2, Cosmic Smash, Border Down, Cannon Spike, the Power Stone games, Dynamite Deka 2, Chu Chu Rocket, Project Justice, and Virtua Fighter 3 (among others) don't have better versions elsewhere.

I'm confused OP.
 
Nah, if you get a dreamcast you need to get some of the great fighters for it. Alpha 3, Soul Calibur, Mark of the Wolves, MvC2, Power Stones and Rival Schools Project Justice.

If you don't like fights, there's some good shumps and quality RPGs too.
 
I love the game but I wouldn't say it has aged very well. It has a lot of detail and and immense quantity of little things that make it a charming experience, but as a game it is mechanically outdated, perhaps to a very bad level compared to games today.

Considering how expensive the game and the console would be, I think I'd say the most affordable and pleasant way to afford it would be, if you have an xbox 360, try to get Shenmue 2 and watch the movie that tells the story of shenmue 1.
 
$80 seems steep. Does anywhere else have it for cheaper? I remember buying my Dreamcast for $20 shortly after it was discontinued and that included 4 controllers, 2 VMUs, and a few games. Ended up picking up Shenmue for somewhere around $10 if memory serves.

It's a cool game, but be warned that it's very much a product of its time. This was before QTEs were in every action game and the voice work/dialog can be very... endearing at times.
 
It wouldn't. Shenmue is still the only game like that.

A open world story oriented game, with bad voice acting, QTEs, collectibles, fetch quests, and an overarching story to cause you to buy the next installment? Ya, modern gaming has nothing on that.
 
Dreamcast ist worth it, because it's the Dreamcast.

Shenmue? Nah. Better wait a bit.
Seems like there is a Remaster or port coming for the PS4.
Just wait a little bit more.
 
I felt that exact way in 2000 when it first came out. Only reason I finished it is because I bought Skies of Arcadia since it came out the same week, and swore to myself I couldn't play Skies until I beat Shenmue.

Yea it's kindof wrong to say the game has aged poorly. Most of its flaws were just as big back then, even when compared to its contemporaries, but it did some things that were pretty impressive as well so it was easier to look past the issues.
 
Yea it's kindof wrong to say the game has aged poorly. Most of its flaws were just as big back then, even when compared to its contemporaries, but it did some things that were pretty impressive as well so it was easier to look past the issues.

Ya I personally don't like it, but I give it respect for doing a lot of new things back then. The trouble is a lot of those new things are very common in AAA gaming today, even hated things like QTEs. So it can't really prop itself up with that anymore.
 
Bought into the Shenmue hype on release and didn't enjoy it at all. Most of the other classic Dreamcast games I enjoyed got superior ports like Rez, Skies of Arcadia, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Ecco Defender of the Future, etc.

The only reasons I still keep my Dreamcast around are Border Down and Outtrigger.
 
That's the post.

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Does not sound like something unsolvable. That's what layers are for. Sounds more like Sega just didn't bother with the hassle because their other ports bombed.

Even Sega can't be blind to the fact that a simple port could make some good money here.

Right? :-(

I'm still very sad about the SoA port not being a thing. Can we petition for that instead as well?
 
What's truly criminal is that Power Stone hasn't been rebooted yet.

OT: I'd say no even though I bought the system for these 2 games back then. They haven't aged so well.
 
Yes, Along with every other game that got released for it.

Seriously, the Dreamcast is probably one of the top 5 best consoles ever.
 
It's almost a given that Sega will port the first two games over in some form, it just makes too much sense not too at this point. You have until December 2017. I say wait until September of 2017, if nothing is announced by then go for it.
 
I have always wanted to play Shenmue, and nothing has given me the drive to start playing it more than Shenmue 3's reveal.

GameStop started selling vintage games & systems and currently has a Dreamcast & Shenmue for $80 (before tax and shipping). This would probably what I would go with unless I find a cheaper deal on eBay or Craig's List.

The only reason I would buy it for just Shenmue is that I already own ports of Dreamcast's best games on either PS3, 360 or GameCube (except Skies of Arcadia, which I cannot find for a reasonable price).

Yes, and their are many other great gems you will find (although, as you said you may have played them all).

But heck sure you could easily resell it.
 
It's almost a given that Sega will port the first two games over in some form, it just makes too much sense not too at this point. You have until December 2017. I say wait until September of 2017, if nothing is announced by then go for it.

Sega is the same company that gave chuchu rocket a hd version, but mobile only. No online multiplayer version for xbla, psn, or steam.

They suck.
 
You don't just get a Dreamcast 'only for Shenmue', you get it for its big ass library of great game selection.
 
You don't just get a Dreamcast 'only for Shenmue', you get it for its big ass library of great game selection.

and people gotta stop acting like all of its great games have been ported elsewhere.

unless they own dope Naomi collections I guess.
 
Sega is the same company that gave chuchu rocket a hd version, but mobile only. No online multiplayer version for xbla, psn, or steam.

They suck.

It's also the same company that let V. Chronicles release on Steam.
They rock.

and people gotta stop acting like all of its great games have been ported elsewhere.

unless they own dope Naomi collections I guess.

Tell me about it, I mean how else is one gonna play Cannon Spike/Gun Spike? Not to mention the BEST ver. of Capcom vs. SNK 2!
 
All thing's considering, 80 bucks ain't that much. Plus there's a ton of great games never ported from DC, there's always new stuff to discover.


I'm not even a Shenmue guy and this is the right answer.


If you're only getting the dreamcast for shenmue then do you value a dreamcast game at $80? Or would you be a tad salty with yourself if/when the 1+2 remaster comes out?

Dreamcast is a neat console though, and everyone *has* the play the sonic adventure games sometime. they just have to. Also stuff like jet set radio is supposed to be good too@
 
Saying Shenmue has aged badly makes absolutely no sense. In order for something to have aged badly it must have been superseded by something that has followed. Yet there is absolutely nothing even remotely like Shenmue on the market now.

Today's AAA open world games bear only a very superficial resemblance at best.
 
for JUST Shenmue? No way, the system is glorious for so much else. For me Shenmue is actually more of a low point, if not an intriguing one, for the system.
 
How much is a Dreamcast these days anyway ?

They are worth experiencing for sure, although you had to be there they still have their own charme and uniqueness and are surprisingly refreshing.
Impressive, for a 14 years old games.
Shenmue I and II weren't following any game design guideline, and as a result they were unlike any other game before them and are still unlike any game that came after them.

Mind you, they have aged terribly in terms of controls though, which represents a huge barrier.
 
OP, lots of "no" replies in here but I'm going to buck the trend and say yes. Honestly, I don't know that the first two games will get HD ports when you consider Sega's attitude these days. They seem to have their focus elsewhere.

Shenmue has terrible, terrible voice acting, but there's some charm in that game that holds up. Do you like exploring towns? Are you one of those people who talks to everyone in a village/town just to see what they say? Do you like doing random stuff like playing mini-games or watching your main character drink a soda? Its weird to point those things out but I feel they are important things to appreciate if you're looking at playing this game. There's a lot to it, really. Martial arts, investigating the events in the story, getting to know the characters, etc. Its a game with a lot to offer if you're willing to really give it your full attention. Its one of those games that works best if you can play for an hour or more every night/day. Once it has you, you'll just keep coming back until you're done.

There's also the historical aspect of the purchase. You're getting the game that nearly put Sega out of business, but also the game that broke serious ground in many ways!

I say go for it and don't look back. Its a very unique game with no other game quite like it (Yakuza is not Shenmue, unless you ask people who must not have played Shenmue) and if you really don't like it, you can always sell it. Shenmue is trending right now, lots of people are curious about it. Hell, go ahead and do a Let's Play on YouTube or stream from Twitch if you want. People are interested and curious. Go play and have fun! Its a unique gem that may show its age in some ways, but still holds up in many others.
 
Yes it is.

Shenmue is such a singular experience. The indefinable value of the game, to me at least, exceeds the cost of acquiring the console.

The Dreamcast has a lot of other delights too though, some of which are not particularly expensive even today. It is such a unique system that I actually use it a lot more than some of my more popular older game systems, because it simply satisfies gaming needs that the current consoles don't.
 
Man so many people getting caught up in the hype for this game, resellers must be laughing all the way to the bank. The game is not worth the asking price currently, simple as that. Honestly I'd rather play a Yakuza game.

All that being said there are a bunch of great games on the DC, especially arcade ports.
 
It'll be on kickstarter soon. Yu will announce that the true shenmue I/II experience will be had at the 10M stretch goal.
 
Yes, I wholeheartedly recommend you make the purchase with one caveat. Please ensure you get a Dreamcast copy of Shenmue II also.

Favourite games of all-time and I frankly think you will have a blast despite it's age.
 
It's a great starting point to a collection. The system itself is fantastic with tons of games that never rereleased.
 
There's no way to tell if you're destined to be a fan of Shenmue until you've tried it, but if you are then take it from someone who's a fan already, it's definitely worth it.
 
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