Shenmue and Shenmue II Coming to Current-Gen Consoles

The Grand Return of Ryo Hazuki

Shenmue fan rejoice! Not only is Shenmue III coming out eventually thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, but Sega is building the hype-train with Shenmue I & II for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Fans have been demanding this one for a while.

Embark with Ryo Hazuki as he seeks to avenge his father’s murder by the hands of Lan Di. Both games return in their entirety, so expect plenty of content as Ryo travels from Japan to China and beyond. The games feature a unique system of interacting with NPC’s to gather information, who each follow their own schedules. The big hook of the series is in its simulation of cities, feeling incredibly lifelike with plenty of little details.

In addition to updated visual fidelity, the remasters promise scalable screen resolution, updated controls, and both English and Japanese voiceovers. I recommend the English, as the dub really is a part of the series’ lasting charm in the West. I’m thrilled Sega has decided to bring these games to modern consoles. The fewer barriers to playing one of the all-time great adventure series, the better.

Pricing and firm release dates have yet to be announced, but look for Shenmue I & II later in 2018.