07-22-2003, 11:33 AM
The thing about their "Love" genre is that they tried combining two genres together and then failed at both. It seems like their genre is supposed to be a mix of a sim-type of game and an adventure game. The thing is we don't have enough of either. The Adventure is limited to two (stifling small) environments that get boring quick once you know what everything looks like. The sim is limited to buying trinkets, soda and having a failing relationship with some girl because our main character is inept. So that means we have to progress through either our boring environment to finish the boring game, since we can't explore, and we can't live in a sim environment. I would have liked the game a whole lot more if I could actually play it as a sim. Instead we have sim elements that are only available when it's convienient. The money you get from your aunt serves no purpose beyond buying sodas, trinkets and food for that stupid cat. You can't get a job until the story suits it, and even then it's pointless since you get a ticket by way of the story anyways. We're also treated to a city full of people that look alike and give the same responses (all of which blow you off), boring stuff to buy that serves NO purpose whatsoever (I bought all the move scrolls and still beat the game with regular punch-kick combos) and a few main characters that either sound literally retarded (that bakery chef sounds like he can't talk at regular speeds or about anything beyond the capacity of an 8 year old) or just serve no purpose than to reiterate what other people have already told you (the pharmacist, the produce shop owner, nozomi's mom, the sports shop owner etc).
So in the end, the game just had no redeeming points to it. If I wanted adventure with a story, there are a million other games out there that tell a better story, have better action and are just plainly more fun. Frankly, I think they should revamp the Shenmue engine, and make it a total sim game with a larger city environment, and have actual sim elements, such as building relationships, buying items that really mean something and a bit more freedom.
So in the end, the game just had no redeeming points to it. If I wanted adventure with a story, there are a million other games out there that tell a better story, have better action and are just plainly more fun. Frankly, I think they should revamp the Shenmue engine, and make it a total sim game with a larger city environment, and have actual sim elements, such as building relationships, buying items that really mean something and a bit more freedom.