Shenmue

From WE Computers Museum
Shenmue logo.png
Shenmue
Developer Sega AM2, Ys Net
Publisher Sega, Deep Silver
Platforms As noted below
Released 1999-present
Added to
Museum
As noted below

Shenmue (シェンムー) is a Japanese multimedia series created by Yu Suzuki of Sega AM2, and later Ys Net. It consists of video games, a film, a television series, music, books, and comics.

Character biography

Ryo Hazuki was trained by his father, Iwao Hazuki, in the Hazuki-ryū jūjutsu style of martial arts. When Ryo was seventeen, a man named Lan Di who was the leader of a Chinese black market organization known as the Chi You Men came into the Hazuki Dojo seeking vengeance. He claimed Iwao killed his father, so Lan Di killed him out of revenge.

Ryo in turn sought vengeance for the death of his own father and searched Japan and China so that he could get revenge on Lan Di.

Video games in the Shenmue series

Title Developer System Release Notes
What's Shenmue? Sega AM2 Dreamcast 1999 A demo for the original Shenmue with a story involving the former Senior Managing Director of Sega, Hidekazu Yukawa.
Shenmue Sega AM2 Dreamcast 1999 Takes place in 1986, in Yokosuka, Japan.
Shenmue II Sega AM2 Dreamcast, Xbox 2001 Takes Place in 1987, in Hong Kong, Kowloon, and in Guilin in China.
Shenmue City Ys Net Mobile (BREW) 2010 Released only in Japan in 2010, discontinued in 2011.
Shenmue I&II d3t PS4, Xbox One, Windows 2018 Remaster of Shenmue and Shenmue II: Takes place in 1986 in Yokosuka, Japan, then in 1987 in Hong Kong, Kowloon, and in Guilin in China.
Shenmue III Ys Net PS4, Windows 2019 Takes place in 1987, in Bailu Village, Niowu, and at a Fortified Castle in China.

Cancelled Shenmue games

Title Developer System Planned release
Shenmue Online Ys Net Windows 2010

Films

Title Studio Release Notes
Shenmue: The Movie Sega 2001 A film composed of scenes from the original Shenmue.

Television series

Title Studio Release Notes
Shenmue the Animation Telecom Animation Film 2022 An anime based on Shenmue and Shenmue II.

Other games with Shenmue characters

Title Developer System Release Notes
Segagaga Hitmaker
Thunderstone Japan
Toei Animation
Dreamcast 2001 Ryo Hazuki is in the crossover simulation role-playing game with other Sega characters.
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Sumo Digital Android, Arcade, Blackberry, iOS, Java ME, macOS, Nintendo DS, PS3, Wii, Windows, Xbox 360 2010 Ryo Hazuki is in the crossover racer with other Sega characters.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Sumo Digital Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo 3DS, PS3, Vita, Wii U, Windows, Xbox 360 2012 Ryo Hazuki is available in DLC for the crossover racer with other Sega characters.
Project X Zone 2 Monolith Soft Nintendo 3DS 2015 Ryo Hazuki is in this crossover tactical role-playing game with characters from franchises by Bandai Namco, Capcom, Sega, and Nintendo.