Shenmue III will finally continue its search for Lan Di later this year – at least, that very much appears to be the plan. The title was originally scheduled to launch in 2017, but never looked like it was going to hit its ambitious ship date. However, Cedric Biscay – who fronts up Shibuya Productions, one of the many chefs in the long-awaited sequel’s convoluted kitchen – has reiterated that Ryo Hazuki will embark on his latest adventure in 2018.
Biscay also tantalisingly alluded to “many other surprises”, which has left the Shenmue fanbase licking their collective lips over some kind of HD remasters of the originals. Of course, it’d be down to SEGA to deal with those, as the legendary publisher still technically owns the rights to the franchise. That’s despite independent developer Ys Net leading production on Shenmue III, with support from Indian outfit Lakshya Digital and German publisher Deep Silver.
Confused yet? Yeah…
Comments 21
@KratosMD SEGA aren't going to make Shenmue remakes if they allowed the next full entry in the franchise to be funded on Kickstarter.
@get2sammyb I am not sure but in the US doesn't Microsoft have the rights to Shenmue II. That might be a reason there's no word on a remaster.
@Tasuki I have to imagine that contract has long expired now, though.
Nevertheless, there are tons of headaches in Shenmue. Product placement is another one, for example.
@get2sammyb Never know. Look at like the rights for Bayonetta 2
Does anyone else get the feeling that this game is going to flop? Like hard. Really hard? As in, a Mighty Number 9 situation hard?
@NinjaWaddleDee I have that feeling too. I mean the "demo" they showed looked horrible. I know I know, it was at the start of the development but still it just feels like something's wrong with it.
@Athrum yeah the problem is people have unrealistic expectations in their head about how big or good looking this game is going to be when it shouldn't be about that especially since it's only a couple million dollars project which isn't going to get triple aaa production values
In one sentence, why exactly is this series so liked? Just an honest question, I've never played it or seen it being played.
@ToniK It was the first open world game.
@NinjaWaddleDee I wouldn't care too much if it was below my expectations or even flopped seeing as how I never thought it would be made, and I would have settled for a comic book or something like that closure.
I'm just happy it's happening, and as a $100 backer I'll be happy with whatever I get.
A new Dreamcast Classic or Mini from Sega? Just kidding.
@NinjaWaddleDee I know what you mean, but I don’t think so. Mainly cause Shenmue fans (myself included) are just happy to see the story continue. Shenmue fans are pretty on par to Nintendo fans in terms of loyalty. For newer people, possibly. But for the most part, they pretty much already made their money, so in that sense, it’s alredy a “financial success.” As for critical success, which I’m sure is more likely what you’re referring to, I can kinda sense some critics possibly giving it a really low score with other critics giving it high scores; all in all, the lowest I think it’ll score is “mixed to average”
@Constable_What Same. $500 backer here. My only concern with it’s success is, in the likely event the story isn’t finished in 3, I just want them to have enough for a 4. Don’t want to have to wait as long as we did between 2 and 3. I legitimately hope for a joke trophy/achievement along the lines of, “Finally out of the cave after 17 years”
@ToniK Hard to answer for a series that is so well liked in one sentence, but I’ll see if I can keep it as short as possible: immersive world by means of first 3d open world, first 3d day/night cycle, NPCs with actual daily schedules, first game with QTEs, genre-crossing mechanics (RPG and 3d fighter) - all with dramatic story and nostalgic oriental soundtrack. Also had to go through the game by the day, and if you didn’t progress far enough within the game’s calendar, you’ll be treated to an alternate ending.
@ToniK It was the atmosphere for me. The music and all the little details really bought the world to life. You could go to the town's arcade and play some SEGA classics, or you could buy a tape from the local store and play it on your Walkman.
Very excited, the surprises can only mean we're getting 1 and 2 on PS4 or atleast an announcement this year.
@Athrum that wasn't a demo as such, juat a bit of content to show off character movement and world models, the facial animations were turned off
@Lenkubustank 17 years!? I had it in my head that it was 12... Of course I stopped counting 5 years ago!
I find the lack of trust in Yu Suzuki frankly bizarre, never mind.
I still dont believe this one will make it on 2018, that it will live up to expectations and that Sega will ever release/allow remasters of the originals.
I don't think it will make 2018 but I'm interested to play it on release having played 1 and 2
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