My roommate beat Shenmue today for the first time. We decided to play each others favorite games, so I'm playing Final Fantasy 7 (great game so far btw). He didn't really seem overly enthusiastic about playing the game as I still am today, but by the third disc he was really getting into it. Some of the parts he enjoyed were driving the forklift and learning the new moves. Will he ever love the game as much as me, and probably a lot of you? I doubt it, but that's not to say he didn't enjoy the experience of Shenmue. For many of us, the nostalgia factor is pretty huge in our likeability of the game. While the game has flaws and is outdated, (for example, the dialogue has plenty of room for improvement and there could be more character development) the sincerity, innovation, badassness, impactful music, and nostalgia is all there, and why I still love the game so much today. Although I recognize flaws in the game, I am more than ecstatic, rather bathing in pure bliss when I play the game as is!
Get him to play 2, 2 is where it's at. He will be a Shenmue freak after that.