by Martin » Tue Nov 01, 2016 7:26 pm
I do see what you're saying, I suppose for me I didn't need a reason to explore everything, I just wanted to. The awesome world of Shenmue II made me want to go in all the shops just to see what's up. To be honest I don't remember any being duplicates of each other or something? I guess you just mean that there's nothing to actually do in most of them.
This is correct, but I just wanted to see. Some bars had some vending machines, and you'd just find cool stuff. If exploring is your thing. But you don't have to. You can just play the objective. Same thing with most open world games these days, to be honest. 90% of the world map has no 'function' in terms of player interactivity or in relation to the story line.
SII was at the same time as GTA3, which had a larger and even less interactive world. That game was a smash hit and paved the way for the multiple sequels we haven't had to wait 14 years for. While I do see what you're saying, I don't think SII's size was really it's issue. The issue is that it's part of a series that really divides opinion, ultimately. Even though, as you say, SII essentially spreads it's interactivity thinner and over more ground, it was still just as 'detailed' as SI. Probably had more things to do, just seemed like less in the bigger world.
Every task was pretty much unique, except playing cards and stuff in different places. But even then, different buy-ins and potential winners at different tables. To be honest, except in the epilogue (where you're actively heading somewhere) you are never far from an activity. The whole tempo in SII is quicker. I even like how the games contrast. SI is a very quaint game, whereas SII was epic.
I was blown away by the scope of the game when I first played it, it just kept giving and giving. Every time I thought it had finished, I had merely reached a new part of the game, and the world was massive. I think it helped that SII contained the majority of the promotional content and magazine-coverage found in the year or so on the run up to SI. Much of the imagery and locales, and even action that got me interested in Shenmue in the first place is found in SII.
Ultimately it felt less linear than the first game. Its problem wasn't its size, but that everyone had already made their mind up about Shenmue by the time it came out. The few of us who loved SI were pretty much the only ones who bought SII. Which is a shame. If they'd have gone in with SI and SII just as a single game, I think Shenmue would have made a much greater impact. After all, SI is basically training you for the trials ahead in SII. They're one game that had to be split, and SII by far contains the lion's share.