Really great idea for game but just not done well enought. Real score 7.7
----Story----
# You play as Ryu Hazuki japanese lad on his geust for revenge because his old man was killed protecting an stone of a pair that can bring forth an acient montster of chinese legend. The story is defenetly what graps me for a change. You ship into hong kong still trying to find Lan di the goon who killed Ryu father.
----Grapics----
# The grapics are some what of a mixed bag good to really not good.
The main charecters in the game are done with great detail face animations and just look great considering it was 2001 good voice acting for everyone apart Ryo Hazuki who just sounds so emotion less its like he robot somtimes not always but could have been done better. Some of the normal people you see around you are no where near up to par with grapics and design of main charecters they just look a little stiff and blockey you'll see what i mean.
Enviroments look good but nothing to admired. It was 2001 remember and it was on the dreamcast. Some bits just look fake and 2d like glued on hair.
---gameplay----
# I you have played shenmue 1 its the same type of gameplay.
Its basicly wander around talk to people solve little puzzles and advance the plot with interesting charecters, along the way you will encounter fights with people using your martail arts to kick there arses. This is where i was disapointed the combos are easy to pull off but there is'nt much freedom of movement its hard to describe to honest its not bad but could have been done better like ive seen in other games like the bouncer and any number of fighting games ever made.There tons of moves to do.
I remember playing the shenmue one and you could practice you moves in the dojo and street and be able to build you moves up. No more in shenmue 2 there is an old man that you can spar with but you can't do it that often and does'nt last long enought.
Theres is generally just too much wandering around and more fights would have been nice to see.
The most down right worst horrible waste of time in my life are the repetive boring job bit' s so you get money and place to stay. One is you carrying boxes 6 metres forward OK? you have this with a stupid moron with you as well saying the same lines everyday. The other one is even worse is that even possible,you have carry books out of a store room and put them out side having to this every morning when you start doing it till you advance the plot, there is also stiupid moron number 2 who will repeat the same lines. You have to do this if you want money and rewards.
You don't even get paid for carrying the books and it takes ages i felt stupid doing it.
The games length is pretty long but and will leave you wanting more action
CONCLUSION:
Great idea for a game simply not done well enought enjoyable when it wants to be but boring when it wants to be.