Shuenmue is such a very, very different kind of game.
Normally, when a video game has a really good story, you think "Wow, this could be a movie!" or something similar. Or maybe that's just me. I don't know. But Shenmue is an experience that transcends any kind of medium out there. Although the obvious reason for this is that any movie or book made about Shenmue would be rather dull, or simply ridiculous (ex: the above video). It's very easy to make fun of the game for this reason.
However, the second reason why these mediums would be ineffectual at recreating the Shenmue experiance is that there is simply too much detail in Ryo's world. Calling the game immersive would be an understatement. The freedom you have is unprecedented.
Depending on your own taste in human beings, and the way you seperate likeable people from annoying people, different characters will appeal to you. While some characters are necessary to interact with in order to move the plot along, the game generally gives you a lot of freedom in who you choose to interact with.
Nozomi for example, can be ignored almost entirely, save for a few cutscenes here and there. If you find her annoying, you'll have no problem avoiding her for most of the game. I, on the other hand, made a point of calling her nearly every other day, and always saying hello when I saw her. In Shenmue II, I found myself looking at her photo at times, wishing to talk to her again.
But that's me. I get attached to digital people. For those who aren't people persons, there are loads of other distractions. The most alluring to me are the video games.
The most ironic thing about the game to me, was that my free time and any spare money I had was devoted to video games. A bizarre reflection of my real life. One of the lessons you have to learn in the game is that you can't waste your money on games, toys, and other distractions. A life lesson that I myself am reluctant to learn.
But again, you don't have to do any of this stuff. The game can be beaten in under fifteen hours if you have a guide. If you're action-oriented, read a guide and get to the fight scenes and cutscenes. But I really think you'll be missing out. Yes, some parts will be boring. That's life.
I've referred to Shenmue as an experience at least twice in this post, and I really think that's what it is. Every player will have a unique experience with this game, based on who they are. Shenmue is a game that comes close to fully realizing the potential of video games as not merely a form of entertainment, but as a story-telling medium. As Tycho from Penny Arcade once said, Shenmue embodies the term "next-generation" like none other.
As you can probably tell, I'm one of those people who like Shenmue. More accurately, I love it. To me, it's not just a "fantastic video game," but a game that exists on a higher field of existence than any other form of entertainment.