Shenmue III Yu Suzuki interview – ‘I can make the whole game you imagined'

GameCentral speaks to the legendary creator of OutRun and After Burner about facial animation and making Shenmue III on a budget.

[Nyxus]

On the facial animations seen in the trailer:

"This has been a definite problem and what you see in the teaser is not the final development. It is a work in progress and is due to a change in the nature of the character models, rather than the facial animation itself. So what you see in the teaser is not a sign of the final game and you will see a lot of improvement before the final game."

[Gazondaily]

Very good news. The visuals look great too.

[Pantz]

Never doubted for a second.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Nice, thats good to know. I can't wait til this game comes out no matter how it looks though.

Gameplay. over Graphics

[PhoenixUp]

This looks like it'll release in 2019

[The 10th Rider]

Kickstarter projects are notorious for missing their deadlines. Most I've kept tabs on are years late. I've said since the announcement that it's a holiday 2018 title at the earliest and people didn't want to believe it (at the time). I wouldn't be shocked at all to see it pushed back to 2019. It's an ambitious project and Suzuki hasn't made a console game since 2001. Today's development takes a hell of a lot longer than development did 15 years ago.

[TotallyOriginalName]

I don't care if they don't go with hyper-realism for character models. For me, it will be a success if it nails the atmosphere of the original games.

[MegamanXXX]

Looks great

[StormLegend]

Can't wait for it.

[talocaca]

Mmmmm.....maybe stop hyping it?

I backed the project, so I will get it day one no matter what.

But so far, it seems like they are REALLY behind schedule....I doubt this will come out in 2018.

[nyobzoo]

game looks pretty good atm but I'm keeping my expectations in check considering this is still a 6mil kickstarter game

[jznrpg]

Good to hear but not worried about the graphics, just want it to feel like the other games

[C-H-E-F]

I imagined the game wouldn't look like ken dolls... less ps2 and more end of ps3 era (at the least), this looks like a port from dreamcast/xbox original. I was really hurt seeing that, but overall if the gameplay works out I think i can will my mind past the rag doll kung fu graphics.

[SegaGamer]

It looks nothing like a port from that far back, you're being ridiculous.

[C-H-E-F]

Denial, it looks like Rag Doll Kung Fu.

[Miss_Weeboo]

In Yu Suzuki we trust

[Chocoburger]

I'm surprised and delighted to see mostly positive comments here. N4G commenters is notorious for hating just about everything. If the Shenmue 3 video felt like a let down in graphics, don't give it another thought. The graphics, the characters, their faces, the animations, ALL OF IT WILL IMPROVE!

The game is not complete yet, next year we'll get another look at the game, and you'll see just how much it has improved. Just be patient, Yu Suzuki used to be a trailerblazer in the gaming industry throughout the entire 80s and 90s. He's earned a chance to prove himself.

[radiantmind13]

I hope they release a remaster of Shenmue 1 & 2. I would love to go back and replay them, as I never did beat 2.