A lot of the fundamental geometry of the game is fairly dated, coming as it does from the past, but it looks better than I remember. Facial textures have taken a step up, and even dingy urban environments manage to be colorful. To say that load times have been "improved" over the ponderous DC original is a feat of understatement. I can't tell you how happy I am to be playing a Shenmue game again. I had feared that I wouldn't find myself taken by it, that I had perhaps amplified the original beyond reason or measure. Thus far, this has not been the case.
The sequel to this game - designed with more powerful hardware in mind from the outset - might be more than I can bear.
(CW)TB
