3RRDC Shenmue

By now, if you own a Dreamcast and you don't own Shenmue, then you
might as well just go lick pavement. Shenmue is a game that no DC
user should be without. Does that mean that it is perfect? Oh no, far
from it. However, the game is like no other before, and excluding the
sequel, really no other after (on second thought Omikron is similar).
Rather then go with the standard review format, I decided to give this
unique game a unique review, one that is seen through the eyes of the
hero, Ryo Hazuki. Enjoy.

The sound of the alarm clock wakes me. I notice that I'm still wearing
the same clothes from the day before, but that doesn't really matter. I
have a mission. To find the man who killed my father, and it begins by
finding the driver of the mysterious black car. I get out of bed and put
on my favorite brown jacket. Disregarding personal hygiene, and with a
lack of an appetite, I quickly grab my daily allowance and put my shoes
on to go outside. It's snowing. How nice, I can hear Fuku San in the
dojo training. Nice man. Wouldn't mind getting to know him a bit more.
But for now, I must head to Dobuita to get clues on this mystery.

Some idiot kids were playing with a soccer ball in the streets and they
nearly pegged me in the nuts. Bastards. The little boy looked kind of
cute. Oh look a toy capsule machine! I quickly put in my 100 yen. Out
pops... the "Y" button. Dammit! That's the third time this week. Maybe I
should buy another? No not today.

The locals are hell bent on telling me nothing. They refuse to talk to
me. However, maybe it's my fault for wording my questions so poorly.
Everyone seems to know what day I'm talking about when I only refer
to it as "that day." Oh well. I walk past the flower shop and I see
Nozomi. Ugh, can't that bitch take a clue that I'm not interested in
her? Crap, here she comes. We have small talk. Seems she got mud
splashed on her skirt. I laugh on the inside. Apparently my friend Tom
had some words with the driver. So I walk down towards his hot dog
stand. He speaks to me in a language I can barely understand, and
sends me on a wild goose chase around town.

Eventually, I find out that somehow sailors are involved. Excellent.
Guess I have to wait for the bars to open at night to confront them and
get clues on my dad's murder. Suppose I'll head down to the arcade.
Crap those biker guys are there. Oh well, I walk in anyways and make
my way towards the Hang On bike. The owner of the arcade is looking
at me funny. I decide to leave before he feels the need to talk to me.

Still have a few hours to kill. I could practice up my fighting skills? Nah,
too much work. How about I call people? Man it takes too long to dial
numbers on these stupid phones. Oh, I'll go get a drink. I make a
selection of Jet Cola and quickly drink it down. Delicious. Oh look, it
says here I'm a winner. Better go get my prize at the Tomato Mart. I
walk in the convenience store to see the girl working. I hand her the
can and she lets me draw a prize. And the toy capsule is... the "B"
button. Inside I am furious, but I show no emotions.

I look at my watch and notice that the bars will soon be open. So I wait
outside them in the red light district. The slut outside the bars seems
to know me. Gross. Better listen to my cassette player. I wish I could
move when I listened to music. The bars open. I proceed into the MJQ
Jazz bar. There are two big guys in there with pool sticks in their
hands. They challenge me to a shot and I miss horribly. I then have to
buy them a drink.

I head into Bob's Pizzeria to chit chat with Mario. Why do they call it
Bob's pizzeria anyway? The owner's name is Mario. I begin to think that
perhaps the people in town don't take kindly to Italians. Mario tells me
to hook up with Nozomi. I thought that this man of all people would
know how I feel. I want pizza, but I never have the nerve to ask for any.
When Mario asks if I want any I always say no. I feel dizzy. Maybe I
should go to the park nearby.

One of the old men from town is sitting in the park watching a little girl
draw things in the sand. But this won't help me with my discovering the
truth behind my father's death, which I believe was the work of a man
named Lan Di. What should I do? Maybe Lapis, the fortune teller, will
give me the answers. The woman who works there is expensive, but
eventually I learn that there are sailors in my future. Maybe I should try
another bar again?

Down the street is the Heartbeats bar. It took a while, but eventually
after kicking the crap out of a bunch of wannabe thugs I learn about
some Charlie guy. Seems like the kind of guy I would like. Loves his
hog, wears sunglasses and a black leather jacket. The people in town
say he's a dick but I must meet him. You know for my dad. Oh man, it's
getting late. My caretaker, Ine-san, is gonna be pissed in the morning. I
run home, only stopping three times to get toy capsules. I finally make
it home. I crawl into bed, tight pants and all, wondering where my
dreams of sailors and Charlie will take me to the next day, wondering
whether I will ever solve the mystery behind my father's murder.

Well folks, hope you liked this special review of Shenmue. As you can
see, there is a lot of cool stuff you can do in the game. Sure it has its
flaws, but it gives the game character. Now then, we can all just hope
and pray for a third one. Thank you and good night.

Review by: Orochi Sonic