Spaghetti wrote: Well, that's a more complicated matter.
Straight out the gate; nobody should expect something that 100% satisfies the fanbase. Somebody will always find a gripe.
What's important, IMO, is not automatically thinking change is bad. I've kept myself open to changes, and generally felt myself more pleased with things as a result. You know, just suppressing that gag reflex of "it's different, so I hate it".
Like the more stylised approach to art, for example. It's different from the more realism-slanted approach of the Dreamcast games, but it's still providing us with the distinct NPCs full of personality the series is known for. In fact, the 3D models staying closer to the 2D design work might heighten that element overall. We've not even seen the NPCs properly animated and already there's a lot of character coming through just from how they look.
I think a lot of the changes and decisions YSnet are making will dig past the surface of the Dreamcast games, but keep the core ideas and values with a fresh outlook.
It's kind of like what we know about Shenmue III's combat. It's essentially being remade, but with the same goals that were used to develop the original combat style and make it distinct from Virtua Fighter. In DEVILLE_David's interview with Yu from October 2015, he just outright admitted the combat stretch goals were based on things already achieved in the Dreamcast games, but would be far more advanced.
The proof is in the pudding, but y'know. I think there's a lot that's promising about Shenmue III already. It's just now finding out if YSnet have been able to follow up on the things said during early development, and fulfil the potential the game has.
Just don't lose your nut if some stuff is different and you'll be fine, IMO.
I think you're specifically talking about the cartoony look of that steroids guy we saw in that KS update and the negative reaction it got from many people.
Yeah, I must say was one of those people who didn't like the look AT ALL. Then again, you are right when you say that we should embrace change and not have a kind of negative knee-jerk reaction to it. However, I must admit I've always been an overall change-averse guy in my life, which I realize is not a good thing, but that's just the way I am.
Now, of course I expect changes in Shenmue 3. After all, the last game was released 16 years ago on the Dreamcast. And I do not want a Dreamcast game in 2017. I do want things to evolve, after all. Besides, that will be the positive side of us having to wait such a long time: Shenmue 3 will be much more advanced than it would have been, if it had been released for the Dreamcast back then.
Having said that, one of the reasons I really dislike that character's look is because Shenmue was very focused on realism. Real-world cities, with crazy attention to detail, real-world based weather (for Yokosuka, at least), realistic routines for NPCs (who felt just like regular, real-world people), true-to-life streets, shops, real-world product brands (well, in the Japanese version)... So, the whole thing always had a very "real" feel to it.
Not only that, but the previous two games already had a realistic aesthetic and, since this is just one continuous saga, I think aesthetic consistency should be important. It would look odd, if all of a sudden, when we dive back again into Shenmue's world, we find it to be all cartoony. It's not like, say, Final Fantasy, where each installment is a whole new thing, in a different world with new characters and new mechanics.
Not only that, but the screenshots we've seen of the game's setting (Bailu Village, that temple entrance etc.) actually look pretty damn realistic (though with stylized, exaggerated colours, which is fine and expected in a videogame), so I really don't see how a bunch of cartoony, manga-like characters will fit in those environments.
Again, of course characters will have to look different, this being PS4 and all, but they should be consistent with the previous' games realistic aesthetic (which I'm sure is easier said than done and that's probably why they're taking such a long time to show us the final version of Ryo and Shenhua's faces).
However, I realize that that steroids guy was still a work-in-progress model and that even the previous Shenmue games had some cartoony-looking, over-the-top NPCs and side characters, so it doesn't mean that everyone will look cartoony and I'll hold my judgement for now.
Having said that, maybe that will be the look they're going for and, if that's the case, I'll just have to come to grips with it. After all, Shenmue is Yu Suzuki's creation and if this is what he wants to do, then he has the right to do it and I'll just have to get used to it, because, obviously, I'm still going to play Shenmue 3 anyway (even if I hadn't already paid for it).
It is as you say, Spaghetti. If, even with a different approach to aesthetic, the game still keeps its core values and spirit, I'm sure I'll eventually get used to it, even if it takes me some time.
Peter wrote:For anyone who thinks the budget will be a major issue and affect the look, quality and size of Shenmue 3, give Hellblade a try. It's a AAA indie title with around the same dev costs minus promotion and distribution which we have from Sony. If you think this will be a 2 hour, 3 areas the size of Yamanose type game then you are in for a real surprise.
Agreed.
Another game that I've mentioned a couple of times before, here in the forums, is Kingdom Come: Deliverance, developed by Warhorse Studios. That game reminds me so much of Shenmue, due to its incredible ambition and crazy dedication to realism and attention to detail. Really, everyone here should check out Warhorse Studios' videos on Youtube. That game is basically Shenmue in the Middle Ages.
Anyway, Kingdom Come: Deliverance was also funded through Kickstarter and, after some additional crowdfunding, the game got around 2 million dollars, if I'm not mistaken. That's way less than Shenmue 3 and yet it's looking really impressive already (though if it'll end up being any good is a different story). Plus, it won't just come out for PC and PS4, it will also be released on the Xbox One. So, that's extra work and money needed, when compared to Shenmue 3.
So, yeah, I don't really think Shenmue 3's budget will only be enough for some kind of indie-like (i.e. shitty-looking, feature-poor) Shenmue, as I've read some people saying.
