Awesome Music / Shenmue

For a such a large-scale and groundbreaking project that Shenmue was intended to be, Yu Suzuki and Sega really went all the way to ensure it would have an unforgettable soundtrack that would accompany the experience. Composed of beautiful, gorgeous and precious pieces of orchestra scores with traditional Asian instruments, there's a good reason why fans freaked out upon hearing the first few notes of the main theme when the Shenmue III Kickstarter was first announced.

Shenmue

• Let's start off with the series' Main Theme and its Orchestrated Version. A powerful theme befitting Yu Suzuki's vision of an ambitious martial arts epic with undeniable Chinese undertones, it's also seen as Ryo's theme that signifies his departure from home as part of a journey that will forever change him, leading one to wonder what lies ahead for him in China.
• Shenhua's theme is as much of a main theme as the previous song, a beautiful and serene song filled with Chinese instrumentation that highlights the beauty and scenery of rural China, as well as Shenhua herself, a girl living deep in another country who Ryo must overcome several trials to finally meet as an important part of his journey. The orchestral version and the vocal version "Song of the Bay" truly give the song a majestic and cinematic feel that's a testament of the ambition of the vision for the series.
• "The Night Falls", a calm and relaxing jingle that plays when 7 PM rolls around.
• The Tomato Convenience Store theme is a bright, upbeat and pleasant song that will get trapped in your head and it's no wonder it's achieved Memetic Mutation status. One version in Shenmue II is the same song but without the "Your convenience store, Tomato Mart!" vocals.
• "Nozomi's Confession" is a nice and soft piano piece that perfectly accompanies Nozomi's soft and delicate nature as well as her feelings for Ryo. The OST Version has some slight variations in its notes, and the Shenmue Passport also received an exclusive remix called "Nozomi and Ryo" (In-Game ver.). Another variation of the song with different instrumentation plays in the sequel when Ryo reminisces to Shenhua about her.
• "Loneliness", which plays when Ryo tries to get a ticket to Hong Kong. Emotional and depressing, it really drives home how much Ryo misses his father and wants to do something about it. Bonus points if it's snowing.
• "Snowy Scenery 2" plays when Ryo visits the harbor for the first time. A beautiful, calm and relaxing theme, it was also used for the game's PlayStation 4 theme for the Compilation Re-release. An alternate unused version, "Snowy Scenery", exists on the game's soundtrack album.
• When Nozomi is kidnapped, Ryo burrows a motorcycle and races to the harbor while Heavy Metal music plays, preparing you for the game's climax. The song is based on "Scarlatto" from another Yu Suzuki game, Ferrari F355 Challenge with vocals by Genki Hitomi of Vow Wow fame. Fans probably recognize this from a trailer video from the Shenmue Passport. The mission itself even has a reference to the latter game itself, with the motorcycle's speedometer being backlit in the same shade of green that backlights the F355's gauges in the latter game and in reality.◊
• After Ryo rescues Nozomi, they ride back home together while a romantic vocal song, "Wish..." plays, reflecting poor, sweet Nozomi's unrequited feelings for Ryo. Thankfully, there's a full version of the song.
• "Earth and Sea" and the OST version, a more intense and energetic version of the game's main battle theme which plays during the awesome 70-man fight. The song would be remixed twice for the sequel (see the Shenmue II section below).
• "Sadness and Hope" is, as the title implies, a sad and emotional song that plays when Ryo leaves his home and the people he knows in Japan to begin his journey in Hong Kong. It's also played during Oishi's tutorial on the Shenmue Passport.
• Xiuying's Theme, "A Gaze of Elegance", is a sooth and relaxing song that befits her nature as a martial arts master as well as the sadness behind her strength. The song was first heard in this game during her Passport tutorial and when Ryo learns the Swallow Flip before departing for Hong Kong. It's played again in the sequel when Ryo departs from her company, and a different variation of the song plays in Guilin when Ryo reminisces about her with Shenhua. The arranged version, finally released with the Japanese Limited Edition for the PS4 Compilation Re-release, uses natural instruments and sounds just as majestic.

Shenmue II

The soundtrack for Shenmue II has a more distinctly Chinese feel from the previous game, now that Ryo is away from home and the place he was raised, with just as many memorable songs found throughout. Some songs in the previous game are remixed as well.

• Learning the Iron Palm from Jianmin in order to learn about the Four Wude, Ryo practices it against a tree as beautiful red leaves fall with each impact.
• After Lishao Tao's identity is revealed, Ryo is challenged to a test of his kung fu. A beautiful ambient song befitting the master's incredible skill, as well as a warning to the player of the impending Hopeless Boss Fight that lies ahead. An alternate version of the song comes courtesy of the defunct Shenmue Online page.
• After Ryo airs out books for a couple of days, Hanhui teaches him the Lunging Strike technique (alternate version}. It's a calm and relaxing song that perfectly accompanies Hanhui's help in teaching Ryo a new move, as well as his curiosity with Japanese martial arts. Despite everything they're putting Ryo through, they mean well.
• Ryo can fight against two surprise opponents in a hidden tournament in Wan Chai, and the first gets their own unique song, an energetic tune befitting a martial arts match against someone who is no ordinary opponent. They get an introduction song before the real fight begins. The second opponent gets a remix of a very familiar theme, which would lead you to think the match ahead is a fun and easy one, and you'll probably remember it as the song you got absolutely crushed and annihilated in.
• "Waves of the Morning Haze", first featured on the Orchestra soundtrack, plays in a scene where Ryo awakens on Wong's boat, over scenic shots of the boats over the morning water. Even though Ryo's taken a beating, it's not enough to stop him. He's determined as ever to find Ren if it means getting closer to finding the truth about his father's murder.
• This song heard in the upper areas of the deteriorated Thousand White Building in Kowloon. As calm and relaxing as it is eerie.
• One of the songs that plays in Guilin is yet another peaceful and relaxing song that plays as Shenhua guides Ryo throughout the woods. After the tense and action-packed climax against Dou Niu and the Yellow Heads, we're finally treated to Shenhua and rural China where players are finally able to relax and unwind with gorgeous scenery and no enemies. This one also comes with an alternate version.
• The game's numerous jukebox songs can easily be missed and are quite underrated, to say the least, with a very distinct AM2-style soundtrack style that arcade fans will quickly find themselves familiar with.
  • Theme (fusion ver.), a catchy remix of the main theme with some jazzy instrumentation to give it a big band-like feel.
  • Theme (arrange-i/o), another remix of the main theme with a similar style, but instead of the sax instrumentation, we get flutes, and boy does it work.
  • Flower Girl (arrange-i), a remix of Shenhua's theme with a lounge feeling that's easy to chill to.
  • Sea (remix-i), a remix of "Earth and Sea". While not as intense as the original version, it's a fun take of one of the more popular songs in the previous game that also has a bit of a lounge feel.
• "Encounter with Lan Di", a remix of "Earth and Sea" which is heard during the final battle against Dou Niu, with elements of the main theme thrown in. The song compliments the setting of the climax perfectly: A Rooftop Confrontation against the sunset sky with Lan Di watching from high above while your friends cheer you on, you now have what it takes to finish Dou Niu and end his reign over the Kowloon Walled City, and the song encourages you to emerge victorious over him. The arranged version heard in the Japanese PS4 Limited Edition soundtrack features higher quality audio.

Shenmue III

Much of the soundtrack for Shenmue III is pulled straight from the archives, and while the game isn't without its new songs, which fit right at home with the others, several unused songs discovered over the years finally make their way into the games and finally get a chance to be heard the way they were meant to be.

• Although "The Place Where the Sun Sets 2" debuted on the first game's soundtrack album along with the original, neither song has been used in the actual games until now. A soothing and peaceful song that was likely meant to be played in Guilin, it's first heard in Shenhua's house during the morning and couldn't be more fitting as you open the door outside and are treated to the sight of the beautiful sunrise with trees and mountains in the distance, not to mention that her house provides one of the most peaceful environments in the entire series. The song is also heard when staying at the hotel in Niaowu, and there are times where the first version plays instead.

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