You read that right. For many of you who did and know exactly what I’m referring to: you’re probably like me, jumping up and down because of this news. Sega might bring back its’ classic DreamCast title, Shenmue, and its’ sequel back from the graveyard pile inorder for us to get back up to speed on protagonist Ryo’s quest for revenge, according to the article. A quest that has started nearly 2 decades ago in gaming history. Shenmue was a breakthrough title and an amazing arsenal in Sega’s 128 bit console war alongside flagship titles Soul Calibur, Blue Stinger, Virtua Fighter 3tb, and Skies of Arcadia. One of the best in its’ time amongst the only first party gold that the DreamCast could muster from its’ third party.
The martial arts, open world game, produced by Yu Suzuki of Virtua Fighter fame, had us raise money through mini games and use vacant parking lots to master Ryo’s budo techniques, dodging girl-next-door love through being stoic and laser-focused on closing a loop in family dojo revenge business. All this in the heat – or winter – of Japan and China. All that doing while hoping to finally attain the Kagemaru’s capsule toy. Well, for myself at least. Jacky, Sonic, and Akira were pretty damn easy in Shenume, but that’s hardly the point.
With Sega changing gears to mobile first(pretty much like all ad agencies and web builders do nowadays), yet Shenmue 3 breaking Kickstarter ground after giving Suzuki his due ownership of the franchise, it would be the perfect thing to do for Sega to probably focus attention to connecting the dots, of certain property resurrections, through console only(just not down with this whole PC/PS4 thing). The Marketing Week article paints a picture of where Sega might be headed, even after the fact. The recent blue hedgehog’s runs turning belly up was mentioned here.
Sega has publically apologised to the fans as the quality of console games in the Sonic franchise hasn’t been acceptable over recent years. It’s been tough translating that iconic side scrolling 2D experience from the 90s into 3D but Sonic is still huge for us so the new games will be more inspired by how it played in its heyday.” — Rooke
Sega was the masters of being first in terms of electronic entertainment innovation since Master System. DreamCast, Saturn, and Nomad were proof of this. Sega Europe Marketing Director Jon Rooke highlighted quite a bit of successes and challenges with Sega’s new focus, alongside bringing back older properties like Shenmue. If Sega, like other companies making the next generation to the phones and tablets( Dragon Age, Tekken), better to not minimize the experience for the nostalgia and release these to console gateways through complimation disks if Rare Replay has taught us anything about why we like the “old stuff.”. With Sega’s heaping old ammunition in terms of properties, there could be a potential to dominate if Sega can bounce back. Perhaps using Camelot’s Shining Force 3 and its’ unreleased scenarios to get an anthology going with possible translations? God I hope so.
Shenmue 1 and 2 have a chance of re-release. That alone is exciting enough for fans. Especially with its’ story coming to a possible end in 2017. We’ll wait for Sega’s move in this Chess game. Here’s to hoping for a Shining one.
