Shenmue Dojo

Let's Get Sweaty wrote:

Mr357 wrote:On top of that, it has a decent number of David Cage's stupid quirks.

Which ones?

I know the game well (it's one of my all time favorites in fact, despite its flaws), but can't see much connection with the criticisms levelled at Cage's later games.

Omikron!

David Bowie FTW, super fun game, but, like the other QD games mentioned in this thread, gameplay is a bit on the clunky side.

Shenmue and Yakuza being completely different games is made all the more apparent when you try recommending similar games.

For Shenmue, assuming you’re going for realism, try the newly released Kingdom Come Deliverance. Also look at Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley. Yes these are different games, but the way the world and NPCs are presented is similar. Same could be said about Persona, albeit loosely.

Definitely also check out Deadly Premonition. Yes it has its problems, and is very much a love or hate game, but I love how the NPCs have daily routines and the corny humour.

For Yakuza, assuming you’re going for the OTT and brawler style combat, definitely look at God Hand. I don’t think this game has been mentioned and it is so underrated and awesome. Also look at Sleeping Dogs (as suggested).

(Edit) Someone did suggest God Hand. Thank you, Mr357.

Abraham_1 wrote: Shenmue and Yakuza being completely different games is made all the more apparent when you try recommending similar games.

Also look at Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley. Yes these are different games, but the way the world and NPCs are presented is similar. Same could be said about Persona, albeit loosely.

Ha! I was just going to suggest Animal Crossings too. No fighting of course and when looking at it at face value, you probably would have no idea why it would even be suggested, yet it can be thought of as Shenmuesq... I even believe you get to get your own Nintendo system to play old Nintendo games on it inside the game world. Just do yourself a favor and do not skip or forget a day of playing... you wont like it back upon your return. The cool thing about AC though is that the time of day in game corresponds with YOUR time of day. So if you play it at noon time it is noon there. 11pm your time and it is night time there. Of course you can off set your clock if you always only get to play at night due to school or work, and then play at your night but there day.

I would also suggest Morrowind and or Gothic. The way the NPCs treat you, weather effects, times of day, etc. could be construed as Shenmueish... Mount & Blade is also pretty good in terms of the larger details, like massive armies and castles. But the finer points like townsfolk and simple villages are kind of lost in translation... However there is one mod called Evlat that is about a single father and his two adult children as the roam the country side. It is more "home grown" than the usual storm all kingdoms with massive armies to win and it is modded in such a way to feel more close knit, Shenmue fans may enjoy it.

We have so many different Yakuza games that I've felt the need to go look elsewhere for a similar experience lol that aside if we're talking about heavily story driven games that have got nothing to do with either shenmue or yakuza but have a ton of character interactivity then perhaps the witcher series might interest you with its detailed worlds and diverse dialogue options. It doesn't have martial arts but you do so much prancing around when fighting that you might end up feeling like jackie chan in 1980s hong kong. But like 99% of what has been recommended in this thread it won't really remind you of shenmue, just have some lightly related aspects that could make you enjoy the game.