Shenmue II - Sega Dreamcast

The game picks up with Ryo arriving in Hong Kong as he continues his quest to avenge his father's killing. It's quickly obvious that aesthetically things have improved further; the graphics are at times outstanding, with clearly little expense spared. The game itself follows a similar format to the original, as you explore, interrogate, fight and solve the puzzles needed to progress. Again, you don't have to do everything to get to the end of the game, and there's an awful lot of time needed to get there. It really is business as usual, and it's every bit as good as before to play.

On the downside, and presumably to speed the release of the game, Sega have dispensed with an English translation, instead opting for subtitles throughout the game. It's not the end of the world, but it does now require a much more concentrated effort to play. And while it's not hard for those new to the franchise to dive in here, familiarity with previous events is still a help.

Nonetheless, this is a compelling and cinematic title, and while it doesn't add an awful lot in terms of gameplay to the first game, Shenmue 2 is an excellent, well-written adventure that's well worth taking the time to explore. --Simon Brew