Shenmue III

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Shenmue III are quite varied. Some critics, such as GameStar and Hooked Gamers, praise the story for its engaging and immersive nature. They highlight elements such as the spiritual journey, the quest for revenge, and the exploration of traditional Chinese architecture and landscapes in the province of Guilin. These positive aspects contribute to the overall enjoyment of the story for players. However, there are several critics, including IGN, AusGamers, and Destructoid, who express disappointment with the story. They mention that it feels inconsequential, drawn-out, and lacking momentum. The pacing is criticized for being slow, and some critics feel that the story does not provide a satisfying conclusion or enough progress in the overarching storyline. The lack of a definitive ending and the focus on the journey rather than the destination are also mentioned as negatives. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards a mixed opinion of the story in Shenmue III. While some critics appreciate the continuation of the story from the previous games and the exploration of new characters and plotlines, others feel that it falls short of expectations and fails to deliver a compelling narrative. The slow pacing and lack of significant progress in the story are common criticisms. However, it is worth noting that there are still critics, such as Twinfinite and We Got This Covered, who believe that the game provides a satisfying experience for fans who have been eagerly waiting for the conclusion of the franchise.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Shenmue III are varied. Some critics, such as IGN and Easy Allies, appreciate the improvements made to the gameplay compared to the previous games. They mention that the combat has been streamlined and the progression system is more satisfying. Additionally, Easy Allies highlights the wide assortment of mini-games and their contribution towards meaningful progression. AusGamers also acknowledges the focus on realism and mundane tasks, such as eating and training regularly, which adds depth to the gameplay experience. However, there are several negative aspects of the gameplay that critics point out. Hooked Gamers and Game Informer criticize the outdated gameplay system and the tediousness of the mini-games. Windows Central and Destructoid mention clunky combat mechanics and a lack of direction, respectively. GameSpot and RPG Site express frustration with the unsatisfying combat and frustrating stamina and dialogue mechanics. Slant Magazine and RPG Fan highlight the slow pace, repetitive tasks, and back-and-forth nature of the gameplay. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Shenmue III's gameplay has both positive and negative elements. While there are improvements and additions that enhance the experience, such as streamlined combat and mini-games, there are also outdated mechanics, tedious tasks, and a lack of direction that hinder the overall enjoyment. Critics like Guardian and Impulsegamer appreciate the slow-paced progression and various activities available, while others, such as GameGrin and RPG Fan, feel that the gameplay follows too closely to the formula of the previous games, resulting in repetitive tasks and slow progression. It is clear that the gameplay of Shenmue III has its strengths and weaknesses, and individual preferences will play a significant role in determining whether players find it engaging or tiresome.

In analyzing the opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Shenmue III, it is evident that there are both positive and negative aspects highlighted by the reviewers. Starting with the positives, several critics praised the game's visuals and attention to detail in recreating the landscapes. AusGamers and Windows Central both commended the stunning landscapes, colorful flowers, and traditional architecture that immerse players in a picturesque countryside. GameStar also mentioned the rustic and charming graphics, with traditional Chinese buildings and lush natural areas. Additionally, CGMagazine and Impulsegamer appreciated the combination of photorealism and anime aesthetics, which faithfully realized the concept art from the Dreamcast era. On the other hand, there were some negative aspects mentioned by the critics. IGN and RPG Fan criticized the stiff character movement and inconsistent character designs, with IGN specifically mentioning that the NPCs sometimes appear more like mannequins in conversations. Destructoid and We Got This Covered expressed disappointment with the graphics, describing them as anachronistic and falling short of modern-day standards. PlayStation LifeStyle and ZTGD also noted that the visuals were lacking compared to modern games, with ZTGD stating that the game still feels like a title from 20 years ago. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that while Shenmue III has its visual strengths, there are also areas that could use improvement. The stunning landscapes, detailed environments, and charming atmosphere were praised by critics such as Game Informer, Hardcore Gamer, and Slant Magazine. However, the stiff character movements, inconsistent designs, and graphics that feel outdated were criticized by reviewers like IGN, RPG Site, and We Got This Covered. Despite the mixed opinions, it is clear that the game's visuals have managed to create an immersive world that captures the essence of rural China, even if it doesn't fully meet the expectations of modern AAA titles.

The Sound Design and Music of Shenmue III has received mixed reviews from the critics. On the positive side, several critics praised the game's soundtrack, describing it as romantic, immersive, and well-done. GameStar and CGMagazine specifically highlighted the use of Chinese instruments and modern compositions that added to the overall experience of the game. Additionally, Gaming Age commended the music for keeping with the tradition of the previous games' fantastic scores. The peaceful moments in the game were also praised, with RPG Fan emphasizing the soothing score that enhanced these moments. However, the voice acting in Shenmue III received significant criticism from multiple reviewers. IGN, Windows Central, AusGamers, God is a Geek, RPG Site, and Hardcore Gamer all expressed disappointment with the voice acting, describing it as hilariously bad, stilted, clumsy, terrible, horrid, and middling. The poor delivery of lines and stilted dialogue made conversations difficult to sit through, as mentioned by RPG Site. Windows Central and AusGamers also criticized the voice acting for detracting from the seriousness of the story. The unskippable interactions and lack of skippable dialogue, as noted by AusGamers, further added to the negative aspect of the voice acting. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that while the soundtrack and music in Shenmue III are praiseworthy, the voice acting falls short. The positive aspects of the sound design and music, such as the romantic and immersive soundtrack, are overshadowed by the negative opinions on the voice acting. The lackluster performances, awkward dialogue, and poor delivery were major points of criticism among the reviewers. However, it is worth noting that some critics, such as DualShockers and Push Square, found redeeming qualities in the game's voice acting, specifically in terms of fan service and humor in character exchanges. Despite these mixed opinions, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment with the voice acting in Shenmue III.

In analyzing the opinions of the critics regarding the voice acting in Shenmue III, it becomes clear that there are both positive and negative aspects to consider. Some critics, such as GameStar and DualShockers, appreciate the intentionally exaggerated and entertaining nature of the voice acting, with characters being portrayed as caricatures. This adds a sense of charm and endearment to the game, as described by Destructoid. Additionally, the dialogue is noted to have moments of naivety, humor, and wisdom, providing depth to certain conversations, as mentioned by GameStar. However, the majority of critics express negative opinions towards the voice acting in Shenmue III. IGN, Windows Central, AusGamers, and God is a Geek all criticize the poor delivery and quality of the voice acting. IGN goes as far as describing it as hilariously bad, while Windows Central specifically mentions that it detracts from the seriousness of the story. The stilted and clumsy interactions, as pointed out by AusGamers and RPG Site, further contribute to the negative perception of the voice acting. Guardian and PlayStation LifeStyle add that the dialogue can be wooden, badly delivered, and suffer from inconsistent pronunciations. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Shenmue III is a significant weak point of the game. While there are a few positive aspects, such as the intentional exaggeration and charm, the negative opinions outweigh the positive ones. The stilted and awkward dialogue, poor delivery, and lack of consistency in pronunciation are consistently mentioned as major drawbacks. Critics like Game Informer and RPG Fan note that these issues can make conversations difficult to sit through and may even detract from the overall experience. Therefore, it can be concluded that the voice acting in Shenmue III is generally considered to be below par and in need of improvement.

In terms of the technical performance of Shenmue III, the PC version seems to have fared better compared to the PlayStation 4 Pro. Windows Central, who played the game on PC, states that it performs well with customizable settings. This suggests that players on PC have the advantage of optimizing the game to their preferences, resulting in a smoother experience. On the other hand, the PlayStation 4 Pro version, as mentioned by Windows Central, appears blurry and lacks major enhancements. This indicates that the game may not have been fully optimized for this console, resulting in a less visually appealing experience. Moving on to the PlayStation 4 version, there are mixed opinions regarding its technical performance. Gaming Age mentions occasional slowdowns and excessive loading times, which can be frustrating for players. Twinfinite also points out control issues, visual hitches, and quick-time events that are too fast. These criticisms suggest that the technical performance on the PlayStation 4 platform may not be as smooth as desired, with some noticeable flaws and inconsistencies. Despite these negatives, there are also positive aspects mentioned by some critics. Hardcore Gamer states that the game runs perfectly fine on an old PS4 without any technical issues. VGC mentions rough edges, including lighting transitions and NPC delays, but also highlights the enjoyable experience of wandering and existing in the game's world without checklists and UI clutter. These positive remarks indicate that while there may be some technical hiccups, they do not necessarily detract from the overall experience of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Shenmue III has some technical issues and rough edges, particularly on the PlayStation 4 platform. However, it is important to note that opinions vary, with some critics experiencing smoother gameplay on PC or older PS4 models. The game's technical performance seems to be a mixed bag, with both positives and negatives depending on the gaming platform. Players should consider their preferred platform and tolerance for technical imperfections when deciding to play Shenmue III.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Shenmue III are varied, with some positive aspects highlighted. DualShockers mentions that the game offers a lot of freedom and different ways to overcome roadblocks, which can enhance replayability. Push Square also points out that the game provides side activities, arcade games, and collectibles to keep players occupied, which can contribute to replay value. These aspects suggest that players can find enjoyment in exploring different paths and engaging in various activities during subsequent playthroughs. However, there are also negative aspects mentioned by the critics. Game Informer states that while the game offers freedom to explore and do side activities, the critical path mostly involves talking and fighting, which can be frustrating. This limitation may discourage players from wanting to replay the game multiple times, as the core gameplay loop remains relatively unchanged. Hardcore Gamer adds that there is not much new story information to discover in subsequent playthroughs, implying that the narrative aspect of the game may not provide enough incentive for replaying. Overall, the consensus among the critics seems to be mixed regarding the replay value of Shenmue III. While some aspects, such as freedom, multiple ways to overcome obstacles, and side activities, contribute positively to replayability, other factors like repetitive gameplay and lack of new story information may diminish the desire to replay the game. It is worth noting that Gaming Age mentions playing through the game multiple times, indicating that there may be some replay value for certain players. However, Impulsegamer suggests waiting for a price drop to get better value, implying that the overall replay value may not be strong enough to warrant an immediate purchase.