I don't remember how long before Shenmue release in Europe I knew about it, but I remember reading about Yu Suzuki's game in the french official Dreamcast magazine back then.
Bought the game day of release and did the same with Shenmue 2.

What I will never forget though, is my personal history with Yu Suzuki's arcade games.

I remember playing Hang On in the 80s, at the train station when myself and my family were leaving for our holidays in Italy. I was 11 in 1985 and twice a Year, I used to play Hang On before taking the train...
I remember asking my father to move the bike for me since I wasn't strong enough (or heavy enough?) to move it myself. :lol:

I discovered Out Run during one Summer vacation, on an italian bar/arcade on the beach, still in the 80s.

Probably my best childhood memories. (The summer holidays with my family, the sun, the sea, the arcades, starting to pay attention to surroundings bikinis... :heart: )

When I entered for the first time Yu Arcade in Shenmue and heard the Hang On Theme... I immediately went back to my childhood and probably shed a tear. :mrgreen:

I love Shenmue for many reasons and the arcades are part of those reasons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP_aR6vYm-c