Shenmue is the best experience I have lived in a video game.
I know Yu Suzuki wanted to make a story based Virtua Fighter game, that's how he ended up with Shenmue, I have heard a lot of theories but this is one of the best findings I have ever seen. It's very interesting and awesome.
The intro of this VF episode in the video, reminds me a lot the prologue of Shenmue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUGpIY-hKz0
The eagle that flying above the rock mountains, the sounds of the wind and the music that being very similar with the music of Shenmue's prologue.
The whole episode is in Italian(sorry, couldn't find an English one).