Shenmue I & II HD (PS4) Review | GamePitt

Rob Pitt writes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a very common and infamous saying which can relate to many things, including Video Games. Why change something that’s perfect? If it looks great and it controls are solid then why remake a game? Give it a new coat of paint, a bit of polish here and there and that’s all it needs, right?! However, after spending 25+ hours with both Shenmue games, I think I can safely say that the aforementioned saying isn’t true in the case of these two dated action-adventure RPG games.

SEGA has done a great service for the fans, the fans who have played the games recently and vividly remember how they play, but as soon as you take off the rose tinted glasses you’re left with a collection of games which have aged as well as three-day-old grapes (aka, raisins).

[DigitalRaptor]

Not a game for everyone.

Shame it's a case of "rose tinted glasses" syndrome for this reviewer. :(

[rob-GP]

Quite the opposite :) - I have no nostalgia for the game so I saw the game fresh as a new potential customer (potential as I got the product free from SEGA).

I can see why people like the game and hold it high in favourite game lists and they’ll defend the game til they die - but as a new set of eyes, the game really isn’t technically or visually that impressive in 2018.

It’s a shame because I really wanted to like it and see what everyone else saw in it.

[DigitalRaptor]

You are speaking for others, and saying it's a "rose tinted glasses" affair. As a newcomer to the games, this is an impossible statement to make. There are a number of reviews that say these games have aged well, particularly so with the improvements made to them. That is their opinion, but you still can't speak for others.

I agree about looking visually incomparable to modern titles, but what is technically impressive is a matter of perspective. NPCs in both Shenmue games are truly unique with detailed back stories and dedicated day cycle, in which they follow a certain path and that is reflected in the story, and there are several hundreds of them. I don't know of any other game aged or modern that has done this and that is just a small part of what I love about it. In 2018, that is still impressive, even if these characters don't look realistically modelled or have better voice acting as in something like The Witcher 3 or Horizon.

I have no issue with people not liking it, especially as a first timer. I think it's all about perspective and how you think about it... not just in regards to modern production values but what it attempted to achieve and still achieves to those who it clicks with. And isn't it funny how we don't score down 2D pixel art games for being "dated" even though these look like games from 30 years ago. Shenmue looks modern enough to pass as a 12-13 year old game, and it still looks great (minus the low res textures).

[NotanotherReboot]

Might have to pass on this one