The Shenmue Secrets Guide – 16 things you MUST do in Shenmue 1 & 2

With Shenmue 1&2 on the way next week, I thought I should put together a Shenmue Secrets Guide. Shenmue is such a strange game that many ‘secrets’ or ‘easter eggs’ are actually just little incidents. Or tiny cut scenes, or cool little things to discover. Minor though they may be, they add colour and character to the world of Shenmue.

 

So this is as much a ‘cool things’ or ‘don’t miss’ guide as much as it’s a Shenmue Secrets Guide. Do try to seek some of these out, as they will enrich your experience. If you have any nice tips to add to this Shenmue Secrets Guide, then feel free to add them to the comments below!

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 19

 

SHENMUE SECRETS GUIDE – SHENMUE 1

 

GET A SCOLDING FROM INE-SAN

I love how Shenmue starts off so domestic. Training with Fuku-san, collecting your allowance, wandering around the Hazuki Dojo. Ine-san is your housekeeper – if you’re late home from your investigations, she’ll scold you for being out too late.

 

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NOZOMI

You’ll find that Ryo is something of a cold fish when it comes to romance – but be that as it may, there’s an endearing relationship between Ryo and his love interest, Nozomi. Sadly it’s very easy to miss many of the interactions and cut-scenes if you just blast through the game. If you want to add some character to this relationship, you’re going to have to work at it. Phone Nozomi every day, while having it’s fair share of dull  conversations, will also open up some touching insight into their relationship.

 

Around a third of the way into Shemue 1. You’ll also get a call from Nozomi after 7pm asking you to meet her in the park. There’s a touching scene to be seen here. The second part seen can only be accessed by bumping into Eri hanging around outside the arcade – speak to her, and she’ll tell you to go back to the park as Nozomi is upset. This will trigger another nice scene between the two of them.

 

Make sure, after the SIGNIFICANT EVENT involving Nozomi the very end of Shenmue 1 (you’ll know when it happens) that you call Nozomi when Ryo states ‘I should check with everybody’ for a nice little exchange.

 

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 8

 

THE KITTEN STORY ARC

Yeah, this kitten has a Story arc – and you’re a HORRIBLE MONSTER if you don’t do this one. It also triggers some more nice scenes with Nozomi, too as an added bonus. Firstly, at the start of the game interact with the kitten for the first time. Make sure you buy it some nice food from the store too.

 

Next up, around a third of the way though Shenmue 1, on a sunny day, be sure to stop by the Shrine in Yamanose – you’ll find that the kitten’s leg has healed and Nozomi is there to give it medicine.

 

The third part is triggered while Ryo is lookig for a ticket to Hong Kong – head back to the shrine and you’ll find the Kitten is missing. Simply find it (listen for cat noises) to trigger another cut-scene.

 

Around two thirds though the game, head back to the shrine to find the Kitten has climbed onto the top of the Shrine. Once again, Nozomi is there for a nice little scene. The last part of this occurs just a few days afterwards where you’ll discover that Megumi has been allowed to adopt the Kitten.

 

SPAR WITH FUKU-SAN

It’s worth while doing this every morning as part of your routine. The more you fight in Shenmue the stronger your moves get – and it’s a way of improving yourself without having to wait for the combat scenes that occur as the story unfolds. It’s what father would have wanted.

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 16

 

THE HIDDEN FREE BATTLES & QTE

There are two Enoki free battles that are easy to miss – and are worth tracking down. On the first sunny day after the Heartbeats event, head to Sakura Park before 7pm to trigger a fight where you save Nozomi. The second fight is triggered after Ine-san gives you the letter and Charlie confronts you in Sakuragaoka. Head to Wakaba Apartments in Dobuita before 7pm. You can only trigger the second fight if you’ve beaten the first fight.

 

Lastly, you can trigger a QTE with the town drunk. Search around the Red Light District in Dobuita at night, from the Slot House to the Yokosuka bar. You can actually trigger this QTA many times!

 

RYO’S FRIENDS

A nice way to add some colour to Ryo’s life is to speak to his friends. Some are obvious, like  Goro, but his other close friends are Mai, Kurita (at the army surplus store) and Yuriko (at the Smiley Flower Shop). Be sure to stop by and speak to them from time to time for some nice dialogue exchanges. There’s also a nice cut-scene with two of Ryo’s other friends Ito-san and Ichiro. The day after the first meeting with Nozomi in the park, go to Yokosuka bar after 7pm. You’ll get a call from Fuku-san saying that your friends are waiting for you at home, which triggers the cut-scene.

 

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REMEMBERING YOUR FATHER

Ryo’s father is, naturally, one of the most significant parts of Shenmue – particularly the mystery surrounding his relationship with Lan Di – but information about him in Shenmue 1&2 is surprisingly scarce and also easy to miss.

 

1/ Lock on to the table in Ryo’s kitchen to trigger a memory.

2/ Head to the cherry tree by the dojo to trigger another memory

3/ Lock on to the ‘Eight Principles’ scroll in the dojo for a memory about the virtues of friendship.

4/ Lastly, be sure to collect the letter on Ryo’s fathers desk – this doesn’t trigger a memory, but it’s a nice keepsake.

 

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MIRRORS

Once you have the mirror, it’s worth taking it around town to get additional information about the mirror and Chinese culture. Make sure you show it to the following people.

Liu in Suzume Park

Keizo in Bunkado Antiques

Yamagishi in Sakuragaoka

Xia in The Russia China Shop

The last scene will trigger a scene with Shenhua.

 

 

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THE MYSTERIOUS MOVES SCROLLS

There are two Chinese scrolls in Shenmue 1&2 which can teach you new moves. One is Armour Stab, the other mystery scroll is The Poetry Scroll. You will find both of these scrolls in the Hazuki Doji, one in the basement, the other behind the Yin and Yang scroll. To translate them, you’ll need to call Master Chen, and he will tell you to find Gui Zhang who will translate them. Armour Stab can be learned, but it turns out that the Poetry Scroll needs to be deciphered by the person who rote it – presumably this was meant to be learned in a later installment of Shenmue story and so, to this day, remains impossible to learn. If you DO know of a way, the tell us so we can update our Shenmue Secrets Game Guide.

 

WIN THE SLOT MACHINES AND POOL SHOT

The slot machine’s in Shenmue are quite hard – you can make life easier by visiting the fortune teller for 300 yen and selecting gamble. She’ll then divulge the lucky Slot Machine Number. Lastly, in the MQJ Jazz Bar, when you have to take the shot for a bet – tap right 17 times to sink it first time.

 

That Shenmue Secrets Guide will now move on t the second exciting installment!

 

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SHENMUE SECRETS GUIDE – SHENMUE 2

 

FANGMEI BIRTHDAY SIDE QUEST

There are two major Easter Eggs in Shenmue II and by far the trickiest bits of the Shenmue Secrets Guide – Fangmei’s Birthday and the Duck Race. Both are pretty long-winded, and it’s easy to blow it so that they’re no longer possible to see. For Fangmei’s Quests there are a number of components that make up the whole thing.

 

1/ Trigger the cut-scene in Pigeon park where Eileen is practicing her martial arts.

 

2/ You need to have 150 in cash saved. We’d recommend you do this before you attempt the quest and it pretty easy to do. It’s super important you have enough money, so don’t get caught out. You’ll need it to buy her a present when you meet her at the Complete Clothier in the Lucky Charm Quarter before her birthday.

 

3/ You must start working at Man Mo temple before the 27th of February at the very latest! Bring the books out fast enough so that you trigger a cut-scene where Fang Mei brings you tea.

 

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4/ You now need to get Fangmei to call you Ryo and not Hazuki-san. This is the part that can be a bit finicky. You’ll first meet Fangmei when you move into Xiuying’s Apartment and then can generally be found around the temple until 6pm. You need to build a relationship with her by talking to her – crucialy by getting her to trigger multiple-choice questions.

 

This is much easier to do if you follow her around and let HER initiate the conversation. There are a few rules to answering correctly, and if you upset her you’ll have to go away and come back to re-initiate conversation. The following answers tend to be the best:

 

If she asks what food you like – say Meat or Vegetables.

A good Japanese dish to try is Steak.

The thing you miss most about Japan is meat.

Give her reassurance that her cooking is good.

Assure her she can be like Xiuying.

Xiuying is strong, not beautiful.

When asked if you’ve made friends, don’t say ‘Fangmei’ – she’s not your friend yet.

When asked if you’ve got used to Hong Kong – say ‘Pretty Much’

When asked when you’re leaving Hong Kong say you don’t know.

 

This is the final question and will trigger her calling you Ryo. You really want the full dialogue to be completed by the 28th of February and will take a couple of days to complete all the necessary dialogue for her to call you Ryo.

 

4/ Next, you need to get yourself beaten up. This happens in Man Mo Park after you’ve done the Chawan Signs in Man Mo Bistro.

WARNING: Don’t do the Chawan signs in Blue Sky Market as it can break the quest.

Head to the park to initiate the fight, but don’t fight back so that you lose. This triggers an event the following morning.

 

5/ Between the 28th of February and the 3rd of March you need to meet Eileen in the antique shop in the Wiseman Quarter. She’ll tell you it’s Fangmei’s Birthday.

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 9

 

6/ Next you need to make sure you meet Fangmei at the Complete Clothier to trigger a scene. In the morning she’s in Man Mo Bistro, later she heads to Complete Clothier for around 1.30pm.  After the scene, head into the store and agree to what the store owner asks for (this is what you need the money for).

 

7/ Now you just need to meet Fangmei on the 3rd of March (her Birthday). On the third of March, carry the books out as normal and then head to Da Yuan Apartments to enjoy the Birthday.

 

8/ After saving Zhu Yuanda’s assistant, head to the lucky Quarter to trigger an event with Joy. Immediately head back to Man Mo Bistro for a QTE to save Fangmei.  Fangmei will run off – head back to Man Mo Temple for another event and also a nice bonus!

 

9/ Lastly, before you leave WanChai for Kowloon, make sure you say Goodbye to Fangmei. Afterwards speak to Xiuying to trigger the final Fangmei Scene.

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 8

 

THE MEDALS AND DUCK RACE

There are three medals to collect in Shenmue II, the last of which involves the infamous duck race.

 

1/ Bronze Medal

There are three options on how to get this. Keep winning dice against the man at the intersection of Lucky Charm Quarter, or you can give money to the waitress of Lai Lai Eatery after you chase Wong through there. Alternatively there’s a third more convoluted route.

 

Speak to Eileen. You’ll find her on the Worker’s Pier in Pigeon Park.

Speak to Izumi. Head to the Tomato Convenience Store in Golden Quarter and speak to the girl at the counter.

With your back to the door of ‘Come Over Guest House’, turn right, go down the alley and follow it until you find a man stacking boxes through a window.

Through the opening here, keep going until you find a table with a Medal on it.

Once you leave here you can’t go back, so make sure you pick it up.

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 7

 

2/ Silver medal

Make sure you have the Bronze Medal and then go and speak to both Izumi and Eileen again.

Now head to the 3rd floor of the Pine arcade, you’ll be stopped by a man in white and tell him you want to ‘Participate’. You’ll find Eileen in the next room who triggers a fight. Beat her down to win the Silver Medal

 

3/ Gold Medal

Leave the Arcade and then head back in to Fight Izumi. This fight is pretty tough with some nasty QTE’s. Beat Izumi and then head to the Tomato Convenience Store. You can now enter the Duck Races – but there’s a catch. You need your own duck.

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 6

 

Head back to Man Mo Temple. Now you have to catch two leaves simultaneously from the tree on three occasions. You’ll now hear a duck noise and feather will fall- catch this to get your own duck. Now go back to the Tomato Convenience Store to start your duck race. ‘Simply’ win (it’s not that easy!) to get the Gold Medal.

 

WARNING: Make sure you catch the feather before you start looking for Ren, as the leaf catching event will be closed to you!

 

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 5

 

ALL THE ARCADE MACHINES

Because you know you want to.

 

Afterburner – This is only playable when you’re ready to fight the final battles in Kowloon.  It’s on the first floor of the Phoenix Building, via the Tea Break Building. Look for some holes in a wall to find it.

Hang-On – In room 222 in the Yellow Head Building in Kowloon.

Outrun – It’s in the first floor of the Pine Arcade in the Golden Quarter.

Space Harrier – First floor of the Pine Arcade in the Golden Quarter.

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 4

 

GET ALL THE PHOTOS

You can get three photos in Shenmue 2 for your collection.

 

JOY – After you finish work on the second day, head to pigeon Park (near where you first saw Wong on the wall originally) to trigger a scene where you get a photo with Joy.

 

FANGMEI – When you are trying to raise money to see Ren, head to ManMo Temple to find Fangmei and the Man Mo Temple employee in an event. You get to keep one of two photos afterwards.

 

WONG – After he robs you, go to the fishing shop on Queens Street. There’s a photo of Wong in there and the shopkeeper will let you have it.

 

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 3

 

GET ALL THE MOVES AND SCROLLS

 

BOUGHT/WON MOVES

 

Wise Men’s Kung Fu, Wanchai.
TWIN PALM THRUST
DRAGON SPIN
DOUBLE STORM KICK
STEPPING STRIKE
OBLIQUE AIR KICK

 

Thousand White Building, First floor.
MACHINE GUN FIST
SERPENT COIL
REAR FOOT SWEEP
DIAGONAL WIPE
OBLIQUE SLAM
DRAGON SPIN
DOUBLE STORM KICK
DEMONS TRIANGLE

 

‘Challenge’ Lucky Hit Stand – Dragon Street, Kowloon.
HEEL SWEEP
MONKEY ROLL DROP

 

Man Mo Temple, Hanhui. Complete a days work at Man Mo Temple to earn four scrolls.

HORSE SHOW KICK
MANTIS COMBO
STEPPING STRIKE
LUNGING STRIKE

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 2

 

LEARNED MOVES

 

IRON PALM
Jianming. Lotus Park, South Carmain Qr (an old guy)

 

PREDICTIVE EXPLOSION
Kai. Blind Musician in Kowloon.

 

HIND BLOW
Guixhang. Taugh after you help her with the land sharks. Use the move in battle to learn it.

 

WILD THROW
Zhoushan. After learning Hind Blow head to the monk’s temple. Head inside to be taught the move.

 

COUNTER ELBOW ASSAULT
Xiuying. She teaches you just before you leave for Kowloon.

 

BRAWLING UPPERCUT
Delin. This is the giuy you move crates with at the docks – he’ll teach the move during the part you have to get money to fund Ren.

 

Shenmue Secrets Guide - tips 1

 

DON’T LOSE SO MUCH MONEY WHEN YOU GET ROBBED

Right at he beginning of Shenmue II you will get robbed. You can prevent the damage of this by making sure you buy as many Zippo lighters from the stall as you can from Pigeon Park, before you move to the next area. This means you’ll have less money to get stolen and you can later sell the Zippos for cash at the Golden Flower Pawn Shop.

 

Thanks for reading the Shenmue Secrets Guide – if you feel I’ve missed out anything significant, or even minor, then do let me know in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to add your findings to the Shenmue Secrets Guide!

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