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Where's GameSpot's Shenmue 3 Review?

Stay tuned!

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Shenmue 3 is out today after a Kickstarter campaign and a bit of a wait, but you might not be seeing many, if any, reviews for it yet. This is simply because press didn't have access to Shenmue 3 until very recently, and it's a decently long game from what we can tell--these things take time! We have the game now and a review is in the works, so stay tuned.

It has been 18 years since the last game in the series, Shenmue 2, which debuted on the Dreamcast in 2001. Now, Shenmue 3 is on PS4 and on PC as an Epic Games Store exclusive. Its recent launch trailer includes some story details if you're looking for more information while waiting for reviews to come out; it features series protagonist Ryo Hazuki as well as Ling Shenhua, plus series antagonist Lan Di, who was responsible for the death of Ryo's father in the original game. It also directly addresses the long wait between games. Opening text reads: "18 years ago the clock stopped. Time vanished into an unfathomable future. But passions never waver. A moment in motion, a story renewed."

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Now Playing: Shenmue 3 - A Day In Shenmue Trailer

Shenmue 3's Epic exclusivity stirred up a bit of a controversy, however. In response, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed that the company would be providing refunds for Kickstarter backers who were upset by the deal. In a tweet, he wrote, "Epic is funding the cost of all Kickstarter refunds resulting from Shenmue III’s move to the Epic Games store." The refund opportunity was limited-time only, though, and has since concluded.

If you instead want to catch up on the series before checking out Shenmue 3, a remaster of Shenmue 1 & 2 was released last year. In our impressions of the HD versions, Justin Clark wrote: "Shenmue is so broken and creaky in so many ways, and yet it's a game dependent on the calm of passing time, and reminding its protagonist (and you) of all things good in the face of life's hard and harsh moments."

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timthegem

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We've reached a point where the absence of a review makes no sense. Are you giving Epic a chance to sell a few more copies before tearing the game to shreds or what?

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Seymour47

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I'm really not worried about that.

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Zander80

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Wow, it's been 18 years. I'm old :(

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itchyflop

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@zander80: i can still see me riding that forklift on the dream-cast too!!!

good times :)

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Zander80

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@itchyflop: I think at the time I paid around $100 to get the European version of Shenmue 2 after the US version got cancelled. Still have my Dreamcast and both games.

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itchyflop

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@zander80: wow that is dedication, i have mine too and both games (original) but i paid the normal as i reside in Europe, revolutionary for its day, great underrated hardware too, i even played unreal on the dc instead of pc for the challenge of using the dc pad and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

Metropolis Street racer STILL looks and plays fantastic today!!

Super Run About, Vanishing point to name some more!!

Fond memories.

Shemue 3 should be a little slow paced, however for me, a nostalgic return to an unfinished story.

:)

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videogameninja

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Edited By videogameninja

Closure is an important thing and one we as humans seem to actively seek out.

Many thought this day would never come and as the years pressed on the notion that Shenmue 3 would forever be stuck in the limbo of gaming seemed more and more a certainty.

The truth of the matter is that Shenmue fans could care less about the review for this game (that’s not to say many won’t be eagerly awaiting those final scores however.).

It is the very fact that it has actually launched that is more noteworthy in the hearts and minds of those who have waited for the better part of 20 years than anything else. Everything else is just gravy.

-FINALLY GONNA’ FIND THOSE SAILORS NINJA APPROVED-

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JustPlainLucas

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@videogameninja said:

Closure is an important thing and one we as humans seem to actively seek out.

Many thought this day would never come and as the years pressed on the notion that Shenmue 3 would forever be stuck in the limbo of gaming seemed more and more a certainty.

The truth of the matter is that Shenmue fans could care less about the review for this game (that’s not to say many won’t be eagerly awaiting those final scores however.).

It is the very fact that it has actually launched that is more noteworthy in the hearts and minds of those who have waited for the better part of 20 years than anything else. Everything else is just gravy.

-FINALLY GONNA’ FIND THOSE SAILORS NINJA APPROVED-

Well, from what I heard, Shenmue 3 is not the final chapter. We probably won't be able to kill Lan Di, so I wouldn't expect any closure.

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deactivated-642321fb121ca

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@JustPlainLucas: 4 in the making, the creator said was intended for multiple chapters.

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