The Shenmue series is swiftly becoming the never-ending story. After debuting on Dreamcast in 2000, where it engulfed as many gamers as it sent into slumber, the sequel just about managed to crawl onto the console before Sega gave up the hardware ghost. With Shenmue now homeless, it needed another host to stage the continuing adventures of Ryo Hazuki, a headstrong young Japanese man who's hunting down his father's killer, the murderous Lan Di. The Xbox is now looking to be Ryo's new residence, and so Xbox owners get this offering, a port of the Dreamcast version, to pave the possible way for further Shenmue instalments. So, are we blessed to be able to sample this second episode of AM2's grand adventure? Well, it still looks quite beautiful, despite not being all that noticeably buffed and polished over the Dreamcast original.

When you first touch down in the Hong Kong harbour at the beginning of the game, the scale and colour of the scene still makes for something far more impressive than most games around at the moment. And the locations manage to keep up this level of detail and prettiness throughout, and look particularly striking when the in-game sun sets and night descends.

Every person you see milling around the place has a life, a daily routine they go about. They all look different, their faces encrusted with textured detail, and you can talk to every single one of them. And this is the first thing you have to do: talk to lots of people. You've no idea where to go or what to do yet, and you'll spend a lot of time just nattering to the locals, gathering information and directions. Shenmue II is a game that lives its life in the slow lane but, thankfully, it just so happens to take in some of the most impressive sights around during its tardy travels.

But it's not all early retirement for you as a player if you decide to get into Shenmue I, as there are plenty of tests of sharp reactions throughout the game. Quick Time Events (QTEs) occur during particularly action-packed bits of plot progression, whereby you effectively have to 'play' a cutscene, pressing the prompt buttons that appear on-screen. Some of these can get quite tricky, especially during later sequences (which stretch out over the space of several minutes), and failing to hit the right button combo in time can usually mean a cut-throat journey right back to the start of the segment. The trickier ones will simply become a test of memory, which is about as much fun as filling out a tax form. Overall, though, these are a welcome break of pace and rarely fail to look quite cool in action. Some are particularly memorable, too, and we don't want to give much away here, but there are plenty of death-defying rooftop high jinx and chainsaw elevator chases to be had quite late into the game. Also, there's something a bit more chunky and rewarding for you to get your teeth into from time to time: the fight scenes.

Since the Shenmue series is made by the folk behind the Virtua Fighter games, it's no surprise to find that this game contains an elaborate combat system that's wheeled out during the many times that Ryo has to fight his way out of, and into, things.

There are dozens of moves to be learnt, and some of them are fairly hard - enough to make your bog standard beat-'em-up scratch its head a little. Like the QTEs, it works well for the most part, but can be frustrating at times since you're normally duking it out with multiple enemies. Also, there's zero chance of you holding your own against some of the tougher opponents if you don't do your homework by regularly practising and picking up new moves along the way.

And you'd be surprised at just who you're going to be learning these esoteric kick-ass moves from. Thing is, Shenmue II is about a lot more than just a zealous revenge plot. Along the way, Ryo will have to learn umpteen lessons in Zen, usually from the most unlikely of people. The first game saw Ryo simply learning about just who murdered his father, and where he could be found. But here, in proper Empire Strikes Back fashion, he's going to have to learn to temper and condition himself and ask some pretty dark questions - revenge is still murder after all.

But then he can always cheer himself up with a quick game of Outrun or Afterburner at the local arcades. Which goes to show the biggest attraction of Shenmue II - it's virtually a whole world squeezed onto that little game disc. Just like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the PS2, if the main storyline is ever getting you down, then you can simply put it to one side and return to it later, while you head off and explore your intricate surroundings. And while the world of Shenmue isn't the hippest joint in Gamesville (despite being set in the '80s), it's definitely one of the most beautiful, with plenty to offer any inquisitive tourists. Go spend some cash to get happy... but be careful not to splurge every last dollar in your pocket; you're going to need to pay your way.

For a start, you're going to have to pay the rent. Yep, you read that correctly. Part of Shenmue's concession to realism is that you've got to earn yourself a living, and can't just sponge off the state like most other video game heroes in the world seem to do. There's a number of ways to earn yourself a crust in the game, and there are some points where you'll need a fair wodge of it to progress. At least you've not got to eat four times a day, or excuse yourself from a pivotal cutscene in order to have a wee. But who knows what's in store for Shenmue III, eh?

Until then, be sure to at least think about getting into Shenmue II. It's not for everyone, and it's unlikely to seduce you unless you're the kind of gamer who enjoys something gradual and slow-paced, and are able to look past the clumsy control and cumbersome nature of it all. In fact, it'll probably annoy and bore anyone expecting a 20-minute burst of pizzazz and disposable excitement. The majority of cut-scenes just cannot be skipped, introducing a bit of frustrating Metal Gear Solid 2 syndrome - you're sitting there with a joypad in your hand, yet you have to wait like a charity case to be allowed to play your game. You'll also need the patience of a saint to put up with the longwindedness of everything - if Ryo buys something from a toy dispenser, for example, you're going to have to watch him bend down, put his money in the slot, remove the capsule and stand up again. It's like watching a really old person putting up a tent. Do you just wish they would get the hell on with it and finish as quickly as possible, or are you fascinated by just how much effort they're putting into it? You get the feeling that the developers have sat down to make the most realistic game ever, but realised that it's just not possible; instead they've tried to make the best of what they'd already crafted into an ambitious but lumbering adventure. Other than that, the controls do feel a bit syrupy, and Ryo is just plain cumbersome to control outside of QTEs and fight scenes. But if you want to wander around a world where you can talk to anyone, play a tangible part in an epic story and just soak up the intense amount of detail on offer, then give it some serious thought.

It won't bust your brain, ruin your wrists or tickle your adrenal gland, but Shenmue II is an excellent adventure, albeit a slightly awkward one. It doesn't play as lively as it looks and, like Morrowind, it's slightly crippled by its own ambition, but it's pretty and can be incredibly engrossing. So, you've got a unique and slightly bizarre RPG which requires a fair bit of audience investment before it give up the goods. It's the kind of flawed masterpiece that usually garners a small, but incredibly appreciative, audience, finding its way into people's top tens as regularly as the second-hand bin of your local EB. Do you want to let one of the potentially greatest episodes of your gaming life to pass you by?

1. Looks lovely
2. Plenty of distractions
3. Grand storyline
4. Can be deeply absorbing

1. Cumbersome to play
2. Quick Time Events can be frustrating

Power
Not cutting-edge, but still impressive, with some incredibly detailed and panoramic views.

Style
Wildly colourful and slightly cartoony, but still packed with authentic Eastern flavour.

Immersion
You either do or you don't. And if you do, it'll distract you more than most games around.

Lifespan
If you've got a curious mind, you could spend days just walking the busy streets. A huge adventure.

Summary
A gentle giant of a game that requires a lot of time, patience and an open mind, but pays great dividends.