Posted by boyo on Dec 18, 2010 15:04 (Dec 18, 2010 15:04)
As we hunt for Christmas games, it seems that more and more of them are demos, add-ons or other short lived entities designed to capture the fleeting essence of the holiday season. Shenmue, on the other hand, isn't specifically Chrimbo themed, and yet for many gamers it represents an intangible link to Christmas past that will never be forgotten.
The impressively deep storyline of Shenmue begins on November 29th, and although the events occur in China and Japan - where Christmas is nothing more than a confusing, foreign sales period - there's so much to the game that signifies the essence of what many Westerners associate with a traditional, long forgotten winter holiday; not least of all the time of year in which Ryo's incredible journey begins.
Much of what makes Shenmue great is the explorative premise that leaves much open to the interpretations and subjectivity of the player. With so many clearly significant elements being discovered, investigated and their relevance understood on such a personal level, it's easy to begin drawing parallels between the game and what we remember as a time-honoured Christmas. The symbolic tree at the centre of the strange events, the struggle to return to a familiar state and the search for mysterious items of sentimental value - it all points into the past, toward a recurring story we regularly try to recapture, but ultimately only manage to add another chapter to; different from the last.
But there are other reasons to bring Shenmue out at Christmas that aren't quite so cryptic. The game was released in December (or very near to it, at least) across the world, and since Christmas was always the prime time for acquiring a new games system, the biggest title of the Dreamcast's short, but illustrious life was a natural choice to accompany a new machine.
Alongside this association felt by people who first met Ryo and the Dreamcast at Christmas is the amazing weather system that works throughout the game. Random climate conditions are in a state of constant flux when playing Shenmue, and when it inevitably begins to snow (what with the time of year in which the game is set), the winter sensations that permeate the gameplay are quite awe-inspiring, and it suddenly becomes that Christmas when you first fell in love with SEGA's swansong console.
The fact that Shenmue might appear to be an obscure Christmas choice is remarkably fitting to the game's gradually enlightening plot, and there'll be plenty of people out there who are drawn - for some unknown, unacknowledged reason - to take Ryo's journey every time a Christmas tree adorns their home.
I think Shenmue 2 is probably one of my favourite games ever. I have completed it twice, years apart and l will probably play through it again when I get the chance. I enjoyed the first one too with its Christmassy feel but it does seem like a warm up for the sequel now.
Dec 19, 2010 11:33:45 (
Dec 19, 2010 11:33
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