The launch trailer for the long-anticipated Shenmue III has finally dropped, and shows off a lot of locations and story for the new installment, though regrettably, there are no forklifts in sight.
The Shenmue series has been around since the original released on the Dreamcast back in 1999, with its sequel coming exclusively to the original Xbox two years later. The two original installments in the franchise, the first in particular, have been lauded for being quite innovative titles when they were first released. They were both graphically impressive at the time, focused highly on prioritizing storytelling over traditional gameplay, and even helped to start the widespread use of quick-time-event sequences in mainstream games. The third game in the series was first announced at Sony’s Press Conference at E3 2015, where the Kickstarter for the game launched with extreme excitement from the audience for the conclusion of a story that they had been invested in for over fifteen years.
The official Shenmue III website has this to say about the story and the experience of the game:
Shenmue III brings to life an exciting, living-and-breathing world, one filled with thrilling locales to explore, puzzles to solve, and enemies to thwart. Players take the role of Ryo Hazuki in a story-driven and revenge-fueled adventure with a cast of incredible characters. Powered by innovative and skill-adaptable Free Battle and Special Skill systems, Shenmue III is the sequel fans have been waiting for. Players will find Shenmue III a deeply personal experience, with rich landscapes and towns brimming with action. Shenmue III is not to be “played,” but rather “lived.” Days in Shenmue III are spent exploring, talking with unique characters, and taking part in exciting activities throughout the world. As Ryo, players grow and master their kung-fu power by training and gaining new skills, enabling them to face off against fearsome enemies. Each game of Shenmue III, as with each person’s life, will be a unique adventure.
Shenmue III is available for pre-order now on PS4, with a release date hopefully coming soon. You can watch the launch trailer for the game down below:
