Newly found Shenmue art from the Sega Saturn era

[Axm]

A member from the Assemblergames forums who goes by the name TapamN has found some rare Saturn-era artwork from Shenmue. Check them out below!

Sega Saturn Shenmue Art: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

[ShenSun]

Nice to see Shenmue artwork still showing up 14 years after release

[johnvivant]

i highly recommend people read that whole thread about 'tower of babel' tech demo. i never came across this information before.

http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/sh ... Babel-Demo

clearly Suzuki took inspiration from the tower of babel painting in the creation of his version of kowloon. explains whys its situated so differently from the real life kowloon.

It is pretty well-understood that the Tower Of Babel demo was the basis for Kowloon / Kowloon Tower from the Shenmue beta footage (which was Shenmue 1+2) and although modified, very much present in the released Shenmue 2 game. Both the Tower Of Babel demo and Kowloon in Shenmue beta / Shenmue 2, were presented in the same way, with sweeping camera angles.

Compare:

the only online footage of Tower Of Babel tech demo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLUG214M398

Shenmue Beta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiQ1wh6XKTc

they even have a video of tower of babel demo running on emulator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4fAbTrhvto


come to think of it didn't Yu suzuki say his new game was about a city on a hill? reminds me of this but its probably just a coincidence.

in regards to the arwork they are very interesting especially the picture on the woman holding the flask. its the same style as shun di's drink flask, and she even looks a bit drunk.

who is it... maybe early shenhua of xiuying? meadow of flowers and pond in background would might imply its shenhua. but probably a who new character not yet introduced to the series.


thanks ziming for links

[C..]

Yu knew exactly what he was doing, this solidifies the fact this game was meant for the dreamcast even these early screenshots look amazing.

Thank you for posting Ziming.

[BlueMue]

This is incredible! I can't believe that this stuff is showing up after all these years. Also coincedential just days after we got new conpect art from Yu Suzuki himself.

They are definately prerendered and the style reminds me of the Virtua Fighter CG disc wich makes sense considering the close relation. I find the picture of Man Mo Temple very intersting. It's looks exactly like as if it's been taken from Shenmue II. They already finished the design very early on it seems.

[Yama]

Incredible stuff. Love the VF esque Ren art.

[Yokosuka Martian]

Who's the lady in the third picture? Shenhua?

[Who Really Cares?]

Good chance or maybe her mother in a flash back?

[_StreetSonic_]

This is all so exciting.

[*Kenshin Himura*]

Looks amazing... Would love to play Shenmue beta on Saturn if I ever got it in my hands...

I agree with Yama VF-Ren looks awesome!

[BlueMue]

Good chance or maybe her mother in a flash back?

Opens a whole new chapter of speculations! Was Ryo's mother fighting with drunken fist style or just a lousy alcoholic?

[Peter]

Its great seeing new Shenmue material, but also gives me a feeling if sad nostalgia of how great things were years ago when Shenmue 3 was a little bit more possible.

[Supa]

Very cool!

[Fenix]

Come on. Everything coming from Shenmue Saturn fascinate me. This pics are orgas... Ehm... I mean, fantastics.

[AnimeGamer183]

those first 2 screens almost remind me of Myst a little bit. The saturn version is still so shrouded in mystery in many ways.