10 Underrated Video Games Nobody Appreciated In Their Time
6. Shenmue Pioneered Interactive Environments To The Wrong Generation
Originally an RPG set in, of all things, the Virtua Fighter world, the original Shenmue quickly sprawled into a much more ambitious project. By far one of the most expensive games of its time, the innovative title eschewed conventional gameplay mechanics and trends to offer something much more character focused and closer to adventure titles than regular open world affairs.
Featuring one of the first persistent worlds of its kind, the sandbox of Shenmue felt like a real lived-in place that would react to your progression throughout the title.
Instead of just being a backdrop, it was a place to explore, discover stories, and provide players with essential resources that would aid them on their quest to investigate the murder of the main character's father.
Unfortunately, because it lacked the set-pieces or the anarchy that everyone wanted from open world games at the time, Shenmue was a failure even in spite of its loyal cult following. These days, thanks to the likes of Persona and Yakuza, there's a big market for alternative experiences like this, but at the time the ambitious project couldn't find the audience it needed to survive.