Here's a good video explaining why Shenmue is one of the greatest games ever created:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5bSkggI5Ps (Edit: this link has already been posted while I was writing this comment :-p)

From a personal perspective, I think Shenmue really is one of a kind! It has an open world a bit like a more intimate Grand Theft Auto game (but without the cookie-cutter crime storyline), the storytelling and character development of some of Telltale's finest games, a really solid fighting engine (Virtua Fighter-style), as well as perhaps the most diverse set of minigames/arcade games seen in a video game.

I know it's a bit of a cop-out answer, but I like them both as much as each other, but in different ways :-p

Shenmue I was smaller, but arguably deeper. As Anonymous81 mentioned, you really feel as if you know everybody by the end, and there really is a sense of sadness when you leave the world behind at the end of the game.

Shenmue II makes a number of gameplay improvements, as well as expanding the size of the world considerably. It's truly fantastic game in every way and it's a great shame it arrived just as the Dreamcast was dying, because I'm sure that otherwise a lot more people would have played it (and grown to love it).

For me the perfect game would be a combination of parts I and II, but with better voice acting and perhaps a little bit more player agency along the lines of Telltale's recent games.

The things I loved most about Shenmue were:

• the characters. Every character was voiced and had a name and a daily routine. Most of them revealed little things about their lives as the game went on, which meant that you felt that you truly got to know them over the course of the game.
• the story. Without wanting to give anything away, it truly is an epic journey! It takes turns between being serious, moving, nostalgic, quirky and funny, but without ever being childish. Even after 40 hours of playing parts I and II, which were an unforgettable experience, the main story has really only just begun!
• the variety of gameplay mechanics. Not only was Shenmue I (and II) a long game, but it was also incredibly varied. It was an adventure game, a life sim, a fighting game, a racing game (forklift truck and motorbike :D ) and had a stack of minigames/arcade games too.
• at the time, the graphics were amazing too. Graphics don't make a game, but they contributed strongly to the feeling of being in a living, breathing world.

Hopefully Shenmue III brings more of the same, but I'd also love to see improved voice acting, as well as Yu Suzuki taking some inspiration from both Telltale's recent series and the recent (and brilliant) Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments. That would allow the player to have even more impact on the story :D

My best friend's son really enjoys playing the Lego Marvel Superheroes game. Not so much to play through the story mode from beginning to end, but because he really enjoys just whizzing round the city, smashing things and collecting coins :D

Street Fighter IV is the only one I play regularly. But I really wish there were more 2-player co-op games, like the old side-scrolling beat-em-ups. Does anyone know if there are any modern takes on that genre?

I understand why the episodic format is popular with developers, since it spreads costs out over time and reduces risk. But from the point of view of the gamer, I don't think it works well at all because it's easy to forget what happened in between episodes. So I generally only buy an episodic game at the end of the season.

Another vote for Wii U. So many games on other consoles have at least some objectionable content for young kids. I guess it depends also whether the kids are really young or not.

I only play on the hardest setting if (i) the game is too easy or (ii) the game mechanic is sufficiently enjoyable to merit the extra devotion required!

Mostly I prefer story-driven games, but occasionally something is sufficiently fun to make me want to play it on hard. I know it doesn't get much love for its gameplay, but the original Crysis was something I really enjoyed playing at the highest difficulty. It was fun sneaking up behind people and then using extra strength to throw people into the air :-p