Shenmue Dojo

Empire wants to know your five favorite games of all time, so head on over to this link and nominate Shenmue and Shenmue II as your first two picks, and whatever three other games take your fancy:

http://www.empireonline.com/features/gr ... s/vote.asp

Any reasons you state for your choices may be quoted in the final results.

I pick in this order.
1. Shenmue 2
2. Shenmue
3. Zelda ocarina of time
4. Resident Evil 4
5. Soulcalibur

Both Shenmue's and three Yakuza's. Because I'm a fanboy whore..

Eww, Mario thanked me for my vote.
Anyways I voted for Shenmue II and Shenmue, as well as for Sonic 3, Sonic Adventure 2 and Mafia.
I'm interested to see, how this turns out. Since you have to write down the name of the game it could go all over the place if they somehow count misspelled games on their own. I hope they look at the results and "Shenmue II" and "Shenmue 2" are the same to them...

Let's do it again. Let's shut this shit down.

I've lost count how many polls we've had in 2013. Shenmue has become synonymous with polls.

1.Shenmue
2.Shenmue 2
3. Jet Set Radio
4. Jet Set Radio Future
5. Resident Evil 2

As an internet forum which values discussion, why don't we detail why we choose Shenmue et al. i.e. what did you tell empire?

Myself:

1. Shenmue II

Fondest memory: The final chapter where one must simply walk through the countryside and converse with a local upon topics of nature, life and friendship. There are no cuts or forced concessions to gaming action, the player is simply allotted the time and freedom to appreciate the essence of gaming. This final chapter is gaming by way of Akira Kurosawa and for myself, there is no higher accolade...

2. Shenmue

Fondest memory: The audacity of having to earn a living every game day, physically travelling to work with no ellipses placed upon time and meeting quota with your menial warehouse job, this is a game which is closer to Italian neorealism than its brethren in the stable of adventure games.

And most importantly, it is this stark setting within the mundane which elevates its eventual action to that of a crescendo: contrast and juxtaposition working its wonders. A gaming feat well ahead of the mediums current fixation in its own peculiar version of the exploitation milieu.

3. Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic

The twist and how it is only through gaming that it could work so brilliantly... You chasing yourself over an epic course of exploration, companionship and well-judged D20 action....

4. Killer7

Fondest memory: An ode to insanity: How the glasses of the main character's schizophrenia is filtered over the player in all of its cackling enemies, brooding ambience and enigmatic tone. I do recall shooting floating rubber ducks over a maniacal score of bizarre happiness. Master, this is hot!

5. Shadow of the Colossus

It is the solemn quietude of the environment, the howl of the wind and distant birds which beautifully underline this tale of love and what one must do to sustain it.

Fondest Memory would be the sincere emptiness of the environment...