Shenmue

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Shenmue
Game Logo
Release 29. December 1999 (JP)
7. November 2000 (NA)
1. December 2000 (EU)
Developer(s) AM2 of CRI
Publisher(s) Sega
Platform(s) Dreamcast
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
Genre(s) Action
Adventure
Roleplaying
Simulation
Mode(s) Single-player

Shenmue is an action-adventure game developed by AM2 of CRI and published by Sega for the Dreamcast. It follows the teenage martial artist Ryo Hazuki as he sets out in revenge for the murder of his father in 1980s Yokosuka, Japan. The game features an open world, fighting opponents in brawler battles, and encountering quick time events. The environmental detail was considered unprecedented, with numerous interactive 3D objects, a day-and-night system, variable weather effects, non-player characters with daily schedules, and various minigames. Shenmue was created by Yu Suzuki, who is known for his work on other Sega games such as Hang-On, Out Run, and Virtua Fighter. The game was the most expensive video game ever produced at the time, with a production cost of around $70 million. Despite its critical acclaim, it was not a financial success due to the limited installed base of the Dreamcast. Shenmue 2 was released on the Dreamcast in 2001, but never made it to North America on the platform. Due to the Dreamcast's early death and Sega's end as a console manufacturer, Shenmue 2 was released in North America on the original Microsoft Xbox in 2002. The game has since been ported to other platforms, including the PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.