20 Incredibly Important Video Games That Shaped The Industry

15. Shenmue

Why It Is important: Shenmue raised the bar by creating a completely immersive, open world that gave players an unparalleled sense of freedom. At its time of release in 1999, Shenmue was the most expensive video game ever produced, costing a whopping $70 million. It started life on Sega's 32-bit Saturn console before development moved to the significantly more powerful (and easier to work with) Dreamcast. Due to its low install base, rumour had it that every Dreamcast owner would have had to buy the game twice for Sega to see a profit. Shenmue wasn't a sound financial investment, but it is widely regarded as one of the most important games in recent memory. The simple tale of a teenage boy hunting down his father's killer took place in a vibrant open-world so detailed that it still manages to put modern games to shame. You could enter any house and have a good old rummage through people's drawers if being a nosey creep was your thing. You could even call people. Series creator Yu Suzuki wanted Shenmue to offer a non-linear, realistic and immersive playing experience. You could progress with the story, or simply go for a wander and play some classic Sega titles in the arcade. The whole town felt believable, with fully-voiced NPCs all having their own lives and routines, opening and closing their shops at certain times of day and going home in the evening. Shenmue was also the first game to have seasonal, randomised weather cycles. Many arcade and adventure games used Quick-Time Events before Shenmue, but it was Suzuki himself that coined the phrase. His brilliant implementation of the mechanic turned it into omnipresent nuisance we know (and mostly hate) today. Shenmue was a game that was ahead of its time in many aspects. It had a massive impact on gaming and gamers, as fans continue to beg Sega for a third instalment in the franchise today.