abraham_b

If you are a fan of slow, relaxing games and more so, if you are a fan of the originals, then this is definitely worth picking up; however, I do recommend trying Shenmue 1 and 2 HD first to see if you'll be interested in this type of game as it is quite niche. It will also be cheaper. I have scored this one less point than the PS4 as I experienced some issues when playing it, like the game freezing or crashing, although this was rare. But I believe the PS4 version to overall be the better one.

It is difficult to describe Shenmue 2 with one word because the game deserves nothing less than a series of brilliant adjectives; beautiful, ground-breaking and ambitious. The game proves a worthy, and in some ways (which will be mentioned further on in the review) improved, successor of the Dreamcast classic Shenmue. There are so many layers to the game which make it worthy of its huge fan base. The game is very detailed and, quite simply put, well ahead of its time. It is difficult to find examples of games, even now, where you can enter pretty much every room in a building. In Shenmue 2, especially when you reach taller buildings, you would find that Yu Suzuki and the Shenmue team have put their hearts into creating such magnificent detail, whereby a 7-storey building has around 50 accessible rooms or how the forests toward the end of the game are so well designed. It may seem like nothing huge, but it is these little details which show how much effort was put into the game. The music is equally as beautiful as the look of the game. The music created, like any other good game, is very appropriate in creating the right mood for the right part of the game, for example, the final boss fight is made even more epic by the music. However, for me personally, it wasn’t until the last part of the game, with its relaxing music, that I found out how beautiful the music in Shenmue 2 is and I can truly state that it is some of the best music that I have ever heard in a videogame. Then we have the gameplay. Whilst some may criticise the pacing in the game, it should be stated from the outset that one should not play Shenmue 2 if they are not prepared to spend time thinking about how to advance in the game. The game’s free-questing is actually rather enjoyable and it seems amazing how you can talk to pretty much anyone. The fighting itself is similar to Shenmue 1 but there are new fighting moves as well as some of our favourites from Shenmue 1which are retained. The QTE is improved with the new pause-QTE method, whereby you must correspond correctly to a number of buttons in a row, on screen, quickly. This helps to create more exciting, fast paced fighting scenes where Ryo can throw a number of punches as opposed to one at a time. Finally, the story in Shenmue 2 is the final aspect of the game which gives it the deserved ‘10/10’ rating. The story draws you in from the start of the game until the very end. I remember owning the demo, before getting the full version, and playing it over and over again. There is something about Shenmue which is addicting and leaves us hungry for more; Shenmue fans deserve that final fight with Ryo’s father’s killer, Lan Di. It is this hunger which has kept us waiting for Shenmue 3 for all these years. Undoubtedly, Yu Suzuki created a masterpiece those 13 years ago and we gamers are still waiting, increasingly impatiently, for another one.

Shenmue is not a game series for everyone. It requires patience and is best played as a sort of relaxing, comfy game. I would highly recommend this game to people who are fans of slower, laid back games like Harvest Moon and people who liked Shenmue 1 and 2 as it is quite amazing how faithful it is to those games after all these years. Though I do think that people should try the Shenmue 1 and 2 HD collection first to see if they'd like this sort of game and it is a cheaper option. Some people say it feels dated, but that word has negative connotations and in this case, I would argue that it uniquely feels dated in a good way. It's like being transported back to early 2000s gaming, but with a modern twist and that's really fun, not bad. For example, the movement controls aren't great, but they don't hinder the experience much at all and the VO whilst not good, is charming, even for someone like me who doesn't have nostalgia for the originals (I first played them around 10 years after they released). The game is not without its faults, i.e. sometimes not being able to skip dialogue, the stamina system, whilst adding a layer of challenge is also unrealistic when eating something like garlic heals you (for a game series which is notorious for being mostly realistic). But the world is as atmospheric as the originals, you feel like you live there. That's the best thing about Shenmue. The NPCs are all alive, they have their own names, stories, daily routines, jobs etc. There are plenty of ways to advance the story and the different people you talk to tell you different things depending on who they are and what they know. There are a wealth of mini games, which are mostly fun, but also serve as an important means of making money. The music, like the other Shenmue games, is some of the best orchestral video game music I have ever heard and is beautiful. Overall, this game is as divisive as Shenmue has always been, but my view is that if you are into these type of slow, relaxing games, then it's definitely worth a shot. If you are not, then just don't bother and save your money for something else. If you are unsure, as mentioned above, try Shenmue 1 and 2 HD, taking a laid back approach to it, and see if you like it before buying.

I can't say I'm too surprised to see the ratings of this game. I have played the Sims since the first game and with every new main entry (not expansion pack or spin-off) there's always been enough improvements to blow me away. I loved the open-world in the Sims 3 as well as being able to customise any item. In reality I would have preferred if the Sims 4 were just the Sims 3 but with better graphics and less bugs. After nearly 3 years the Sims 3 is still my preferred Sims game. We have had a few expansions for the Sims 4, but even they're shallow. I.e. Get to Work does not have anywhere near as much content as Ambitions did for the Sims 3 and there is literally NO comparison between City Living for the Sims 4 and the fantastic Late Night for the Sims 3. This has now convinced me that the problem with Sims 4 is in its foundations and is inherent to the game itself and no amount of DLC will be able to make up for the inherent problems of no open world, no story progression (other families getting married, promoted, having kids etc), no Create a Style, where you could change the colour and textures of anything. Yes, we have toddlers, pools and ghosts now but those are minor details compared to the huge inherent aspects which were lost from the Sims 3. The Sims 4 still feels rushed and unfinished. In my opinion, overall, it is such a shame that the Sims 4 exists, especially in such a popular franchise. Maybe this has helped EA to come to their senses that they can't continue to scam us out of our money just because the Sims is so popular globally. The only people I find who love the Sims 4 are those who are playing it as their first Sims game. You know what I tell those people? Play Sims 3; it's much better.

I really like the Yakuza series; being a huge Shenmue fan I had to try it out and I have to honestly say, if I'm ever in the mood for the whacky, rather than the grounded Shenmue-esque, experience then Yakuza is the way to go. And my goodness is Yakuza 0 whacky. In the best way possible. Obviously, I'm talking about side activities there, there is a serious experience to be had if you focus on the story, which, like all Yakuza games, is the highlight of the game. This is not necessarily a game designed for open world fans; think of the open world as something like No More Heroes level, where it's just there but the gameplay moments outside of the open world are what is awesome, not the moments based around it. That is what sets Yakuza apart from GTA and in a world filled with the done-to-death GTA formula, it is a welcome change. Yes, there are some limitations which appear in other Yakuza games too, such as moments of having to read plenty of text and just gameplay moments where you can tell this is not a AAA title. However, that is fine by me because the hilarity of the side missions gave me more fun than I've had with most AAA titles in recent memory. Please support this franchise if you do enjoy the games; I'd love to see Yakuza start to get more much-needed attention.

This is a great RPG but I did prefer the original and I think that is the main issue I have with this game. The story in X is nothing special and that all starts from making your own character. The original Xenoblade Chronicles gave you a protagonist which allowed the player to explore their relationships with the other characters. Whilst you can do this in X, it is very limited, especially with a relatively silent protagonist. I think the game wanted to take a Western-RPG (think Fallout) approach but when it comes to JRPGs, most people are interested mainly in the story and the characters. However, the gameplay is improved over the original in terms of battles and classes and there are plenty of combinations. Not to mention how great the world looks graphically, as did the original at the time. Great game overall but if you haven't played the original, I highly recommend you do so.

I love the presentation of the game and all the little details, such as the sounds objects make when you place them, or the fact that the music from saving the game on Mario Paint plays when you save a game here. It is a game which pleases both hard core Nintendo fans and casual gamers and that's fantastic. Only thing that scares me is whether Nintendo decide to take down levels I put hours into making, for no reason at all.

Awesome game if you're a fan of visual novels such as the Ace Attorney series, with which it has quite a few similarities. With visual novels, emphasis has to be placed on the atmosphere, characters and story, not gameplay and this game delivers in that regard. The plot twists are great too with a pretty unforgettable story and cast. And I'm not even a fan of anime but this game may have helped convert me.

I completed this game about 3-4 days after purchasing it and that doesn't mean it's a short game or anything; I just couldn't put the controller down.

Only picked it up recently and I have to say, as a relatively old 7th gen game, it still holds up well today. Enjoyable and innovative and can't wait for the sequel to come out.

Fantastic game. Everything I expected from Quantic Dreams, especially after Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy which was very good. It is an experience which you have to try out for yourself.

Absolutely brilliant game and definitely lives up to the original games. In fact it does them proud and I'm pretty happy to acknowledge that, being a fan of the series since NES times. Only probably is it costs a fortune, at least here in the UK for the PAL version. So lucky I'd held onto it since my PS1 years.

Overall, it's an enjoyable game. Super Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door on Gamecube, however, is my preference. This game does indeed have its charms though and it is well-made overall; however, it does have its flaws. I have to say, one of the most annoying things for me is how it keeps making a beeping sound when you're on low health.

So much fun. Anyone born in the 90s was likely to have played this game in childhood/teenagers. I mean it's like Grand Theft Auto but with Simpsons characters; where can you go wrong? Well there are a few issues, such as glitches and some repetitive missions; however, overall, a fun experience.

This is what SimCity aspired to be and this is what we expected it to be. Absolutely brilliant; probably the best city-building game since SimCity 4. You can build huge cities and can play offline. These two points alone already make it a better game than the latest SimCity.

I popped this game in the other day to see if it was as fun as I remembered it being when I was younger. It most certainly is. A game doesn't have to really be anything more than fun and no better game can testify to that than SSX 3.

Now I can reasonably understand why people prefer the initial trilogy to this game and I am one of those people. However, this does not stop Apollo Justice from being a very good game. Sure the 2nd and 3rd case drag on a bit; however, the final case is one of my favourite cases in the entire series. I still recommend this game for any Ace Attorney fan, don't skip it.

Being a fan of the first game, I was naturally excited for its sequel. Some would say this version is far better than the previous game; however, I find them to be pretty equal. Another fantastic entry to the series with, naturally, great plot twists. One main difference between this game and its predecessor is how the cases are more complicated, especially cases 4 and 5. In any case, excellent game.

If you're a fan of the Ace Attorney games or visual novels in general, then you'll love this game. The music and characters are great, as are the cases and seeing as this game was developed by Chunsoft, makers of Zero Escape series, prepare for the twists and turns the story will take. Only issue with this game is that it is pretty easy at times. Other than that, one of the best Vita games to date.

If you're a fan of visual novel games, this is a must have. While the concept of being a lawyer may not sound appealing, you have to pick the game up yourself to experience it. The cases are over-the-top as are the characters but that's what makes this game so interesting. One other point which is neglected in the reviews is the music. Seriously. Fantastic.

One of my favourite RPGs and I can safely say that it has aged remarkably well. Only problem is playing it on PS2; my game froze after defeating a boss and didn't work. Then again, it is a PS1 game, so can't really complain.

Shenmue 2 is a fantastic game which was well ahead of its time. The most stunning aspect of the game is its sheer detail; for example, you can enter pretty much enter every building and every apartment/room in those buildings. The music is memorable, the graphics are great for the time and the pacing issues of the first game are solved and it is far more action-packed. Highly recommended for anyone who owns a Dreamcast.

Plays better and controls better than Mario Kart in my opinion, however overall, in terms of casual fun, Mario Kart is the better game. Still, it’s great to see the resurrection of classic Sega characters, especially my favourite, Ryo Hazuki from Shenmue.

I don’t care what some critics say; this is a worthy sequel to a worthy series. It is just as indispensible as the other Metal Gear games and the final scenes leading up to, and including, the final boss battle are some of the most well-designed, emotional and memorable scenes in a videogame.

The game looks and plays beautifully. The cinematic experience you get with this game was something new to the time and the camera angles actually fit in and work pretty well, despite them being criticised.

The game is good. It’s not the most amazing thing on the planet, it’s not revolutionary; it’s just good. The story is great and the gameplay is well thought out, however, I do not see what the big deal is and how it deserves to be deemed a masterpiece.

If there was ever a reason for the 0 rating on Metacritic it was made for this game. The game is broken. No arguments, no questions asked, just plain broken. The game has become notoriously famous for being the worst game ever made and I think it is fair to say that it is worthy of such fame.

Have to say that in terms of gameplay, this is an improvement from the first game. Santa Destroy is no longer boring and the use of different katanas really comes in handy. Only problem is that although there is now some sort of storyline, some of the bosses in this game, especially the final boss, are not as awesome, epic or memorable as the first game. The story, unfortunately, lacked the splendid plot twists of the first game.

Hands down, my favourite Wii game. The game is original, fun, at times, absolutely hilarious. The fact that No More Heroes doesn’t even take itself seriously is why this game is so unique. Every boss battle is memorable and the final boss, in the real ending, is arguably one of the most epic boss battles I have ever played in a game. Only reason why this game did not get a 10 from me is due to a few minor glitches but most of all, because I live in the UK and the PAL version does not contain the beautiful gory violence the other games have.

The game started out pretty fresh and fun, however it quickly turned into something rather boring. The game is repetitive at times and there is hardly any challenge at all. Nevertheless, while it lasts, the game is slightly enjoyable, just not anything you’d play for more than a couple of hours.

One of the most innovative, unique and engaging RPGs I have ever played. I had hoOne of the most innovative, unique and engaging RPGs I have ever played. This game is so different to other RPGs that it deserves more attention; clearly plenty of work was put into this game, from the music, to the settings and story.

I was so pleased to see that the full Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney trilogy was finally available on the App store. The Phoenix Wright games have some of the most enticing and well-written stories in a videogame and although the thought of being a lawyer does not seem fun, the games are certainly very enjoyable. There are only a few problems with the iOS port; there are quite a few typos and having the screen sideways can give you a bit of a headache, but that is fine as you can turn the screen vertically, so that the game is set out like the original, when it entered the App store. Regardless, the games themselves are magnificently entertaining and I highly recommend purchasing them.

Surprisingly enjoyable; I spent so much time playing this game as a child. It is just so open-ended and beautiful in so many ways, from the dinosaurs themselves to the landscape and disasters; there is just so much detail in the game.