Shenmue III was shown off to select attendees and gaming outlets in a 15 minute gameplay demonstration at MAGIC Monaco over the weekend and articles are beginning to show up online.
I'll update this thread as new articles are posted.
VG247: https://www.vg247.com/2019/03/12/shenmue-3-preview-gameplay/
IGN Japan (English version coming soon): https://jp.ign.com/shenmue-3/33819/preview/iii
GameBlog.fr: http://www.gameblog.fr/interview_1196_shenmue-3-notre-interview-de-yu-suzuki-au-magic-2019
I'll update this thread as new articles are posted.
VG247: https://www.vg247.com/2019/03/12/shenmue-3-preview-gameplay/
Past trailers have showcased story sequences and offered tiny glimpses of Ryo and Shenhua's adventures that have invited criticism: weird animation, iffy character models, a more exaggerated art style. In motion it makes sense, however, and it actually looks pretty good.
In places there's a strange disparity. The environments are gorgeous, making use of the rendering chops of Unreal Engine 4 to great effect. Shenmue is all about the passage of time, so as the sun races through the sky, light filters through trees and rural Chinese buildings down to ground level in a beautiful manner. It also shoots for a high level of detail: if it rains, previously dry ground might turn to a muddy mush and so on.
One thing that's changed, Suzuki says, is that shops will now be more plentiful in Shenmue 3 and stock a far wider range of items. He explained that in past games there were fewer stores but you could have longer, in-depth conversations with their owners. In this game, owners aren't as fleshed out but the shops themselves are.
It's actually very different: the shop I see has an inventory screen where you can scroll through items and a range of things to buy. Prices will vary based on location, reflecting economics, and you'll need different items to feed, heal and buff yourself. If a player wants to be sensible with their money, Suzuki suggests that they remember where certain items are cheapest and travel to buy.
The video game industry is reaching that sort of age where nostalgic revivals are becoming ever-more common. Usually this takes the form of slick, modestly-budgeted titles in the style of classic games, like a Sonic Mania or Mega Man 11. Other times it takes the form of a big-budget remake, modern in every sense while evoking the fondly-remembered classic – Resident Evil 2 or Final Fantasy 7 (if it ever comes out). Shenmue 3 appears to occupy an as-yet mostly untouched space: a halfway house between the two. It's far more ambitious than other retro revival projects of this type, devoted to accuracy to the original era – and that excitingly means it really does feel like a late nineties/early noughties Sega title – warts and all. That won't be for everyone, but in terms of accomplishing its stated mission, Shenmue 3 looks to be on track.
IGN Japan (English version coming soon): https://jp.ign.com/shenmue-3/33819/preview/iii
- Area as large as Hong Kong from Shenmue II
- Turtle and frog racing mini-games
- There are over 500 NPCs. Not all are able to be interacted with (names will appear on-screen for those that can be interacted with).
- More in-depth conversations.
- More recorded dialog than previous games
- Camera can be rotated 360-degrees around Ryo with the right stick.
- Can walk around in first-person to examine objects.
- Realistic weather. If it rains in the morning then puddles will remain throughout the day.
- Can individually change Ryo's outfit parts (Shirt, pants, shoes etc.)
- Considering adding additional costumes for Ren & Shenhua via DLC.
- Train and compete in different dojos and rise through the ranks.
- Four difficulty levels.
- "Manual Transmission" & "Automatic Transmission" fighting options for differently skilled players.
- No supernatural elements.
GameBlog.fr: http://www.gameblog.fr/interview_1196_shenmue-3-notre-interview-de-yu-suzuki-au-magic-2019
- The game is "complete". The work remaining is "tuning, debugging and upgrading".
- No SEGA Arcade games but "other games"
- Forklifts reconfirmed.
- "No comment" on whether Shenhua is playable. (It has been discussed before now that Shenhua & Ren would be playable at certain points)
- Reconfirms the backer demo is coming.
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