Shenmue III Review: 10 Ups & 6 Downs

5. Niaowu

Shenmue III, as a whole, is structured something like a soft-reset of the first two games combined.

The opening section in the mountainside village of Bailu works perfectly fine in steadily re-introducing the foibles of Shenmue, as Ryo settles into a low-key, quotidian pattern of familiarity and friendliness reminiscent in spirit if not setting of Dobuita. It's serviceable stuff, but systems aside, the rural life doesn't quite have the same feel of Shenmue.

And then, about halfway through the game, you're whisked off up the river to Niaowu, a vague proxy of China's Fenghuang. The change is astonishing. Just like that, you're right back in the thick of city life, surrounded by shops and street hawkers. You have to pay for your room each day, and hardly anyone around town could give two figs about you - unless you're opening your wallet.

In other words, it's a pared down re-imagining of Shenmue II's Hong Kong.

This is where Shenmue III comes alive. Niaowu is positively huge, and the range of options are almost overwhelming. The expanded activities and Chobu hunt mentioned previously give you plenty of reason to comb the place over from top to bottom, but you hardly need one: just soaking in its incredible atmosphere is a pleasure in its own right.