Shenmue III is an action-adventure video game and the sequel to the 2001 game Shenmue II. It follows teenage martial artist Ryo Hazuki in his quest to find his father's killer in 1980s China. In 2015, Suzuki launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to help fund Shenmue III and the campaign met its initial target of $2 million USD in under eight hours. The campaign ended in July having raised over $6 million, becoming the most funded video game in Kickstarter history.
Despite some glaring issues, Shenmue 3 authentically captures the spirit of its predecessors.
Shenmue III could've been made 18 years ago as it feels very similar to the previous two entries, with no real improvements, making it feel rather outdated.
Its charm ultimately wins out in the end, but the finale is bittersweet. The pieces are set up for something grand but there’s a sense that most of our time was spent putting them into place for a climax that may never come. If it took this long for Shenmue III, why get our hopes up for Shenmue IV?
Shenmue III hasn't changed much from its Dreamcast-era roots--and it can't reach its full potential as a result.
With Shenmue III, we are offered a glimpse into a gifted mind, constantly turning the everyday into play.
