Shenmue III Review: 10 Ups & 6 Downs

3. Technical Grievances

Ironically, in spite of the fact the original Shenmue was an absolute technical marvel many years ahead of its time, nobody was expecting - or demanding - that a sequel released two decades later would be too.

Which is just as well, because it isn't. The Unreal Engine 4 is growing long in the tooth now, and its various warts are frequently inflamed throughout. Whilst on the one hand it's an achievement that Shenmue III's environment is almost entirely concatenated, sans loading times, this often means staring at an empty street - and in some glaring instances, an empty shop counter - as you wait for details and NPCs to load in.

The game's framerate chops like a nervous chef, and there are other bizarre visual glitches which defy explanation. Rain in Bailu only falls during cutscenes; it's merely suggested otherwise. Lip-synching exists neither for the English nor Japanese dub - which, at least, is equitable. The notebook's map will sometimes fail to appear, as though your mate Shenhua has went mad with an eraser while you were sleeping.

Do any of these issues break the game? No. And do any of them ultimately matter? Again, not really. There's never a point when Shenmue III isn't playable. But they are a little odd - if not inexcusable.