That It Existed, For Example
Video footage and screenshots recently popped up confirming that Sega was working on a full-fledged Shenmue remake up until last year. That they cancelled said remake makes this both a sweet and sad surprise discovery. A quick look at the footage in question reinforces this complicated feeling.
Unlike the Shenmue I&II remaster, this project appears to have been re-worked from the ground up. The characters and backgrounds all looked just fabulous, with a high level of detail put into each step of the project. Once again, this beautiful boy is never coming out, with Sega opting to release the basic remaster instead.
Digital Foundry composed and released the video, embedded below. In it, they break down the differences between the unreleased remake and the remastered version. You can check it out, but be warned that it’s a little depressing seeing what Sega pulled the plug on. The question is, why? This looked so hot! If you have to choose between a remaster and a remake, for God’s sake, go with the remake! Yes there are people who long for the weird and terrible graphics of the original version, but you don’t always have to listen to them. Shenmue I&II is out right now on PS4, Xbox One and the PC.