The tatched house is what I think when I think Shenmue. An atmosphere. What's in that box near the front of the house doors? Who lives there? What kind of story do they have? Will they tell me how that house was built like how Shenhua told me her house is made of dirt? You just know that house has a story. This is Shenmue and it means something and it's not just there for environment.
Imagine controlling Ryo and exploring the outside of that house.
The barks of the dogs, the moos of the farming cows!
That image is Shenmue distilled.
If Ryo were somewhere in that shot, like this for example
I'd have lost my shit in excitement.
Compare that Hazuki 1080p shot to the thatched house shot. The thatched house looks almost as detailed as Hauzki exterior in that screen Kyodai made for us.