Shenmue, Shenmue 2 HD Re-Releases Coming This Fall

Time to drive some more forklifts

By Cole Henry  |  July 3, 2018 | 2:03pm
Images via Sega
Games News Shenmue
Shenmue, Shenmue 2 HD Re-Releases Coming This Fall

Shenmue, a title that first debuted on the Sega Dreamcast in 1999, and its sequel Shenmue 2, a title that first debuted on the Dreamcast and original Xbox in 2001, are making their way to current-generation consoles and PC via a bundled HD re-release. Both titles were originally published by Sega and their HD re-released counterparts will follow suit.

Shenmue is an open-world action-adventure series created, directed and produced by Yu Suzuki. The series is known for its open-world environments, which are interspersed with mini-games, brawler gameplay battles and quick-time events (which the series is said to have created). In addition to those core gameplay pillars, the Shenmue series also boasts a day/night cycle, RPG elements, life and social simulation elements, and variable weather effects—plus, usable vending machines. The Shenmue story follows young martial artist Ryo Hazuki on a quest for revenge against the man who killed his father, and the series’ overarching story resembles the revenge tales of epic proportions that Hong Kong cinema was known for when the Shenmue series first began.

In addition to the HD re-release bundle of Shenmue and Shenmue 2, a third entry in the series was announced in 2015 to immense fan fervor, and the videogame raised over $6.3 million on Kickstarter. Developer Ys Net planned to ship Shenmue 3 at the end of 2017, but, as if on cue, it has been delayed and delayed with a new release date, set for some nebulous period of 2019.

Unlike Shenmue 3, the Shenmue and Shenmue 2 HD re-release bundle has a definitive release date of Aug. 21 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. Preorders are now available digitally for Xbox One and PC (via Steam), but not on the PlayStation Store. Sega has announced previously that they expect to release physical versions of the Shenmue 1 and 2 for both Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Also, the PC version will feature PC graphics options and a fully scalable screen resolution that will give PC players the seemingly definitive experience. All versions of the HD re-release bundle will feature modern and classical control layouts, and an updated player interface, as well as English and Japanese voiceover options.

Until the bundle’s release in August, satiate your stretched-pixel aesthetic desires with the new preorder trailer for the Shenmue 1 and 2 re-release below. You can preorder the bundle right here.

 
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