The 1999 action game Shenmue has been named the most influential video game of all time following a survey organised by Bafta, the British association that honours films, television, and video games.
The series, created by Japanese designer Yu Suzuki, stars a young Ryo Hazuki as he seeks to avenge the death of his father, killed by a mysterious martial arts specialist.
The game is split into three instalments (Shenmue I, II, and III) and was, at the time of the first instalmentโs release, the most expensive game in history to produce.
Having become a cult classic among many gamers, Shenmue is known as a pioneer in open-world gaming and for popularising the โquick time eventโ, a moment in which the player is asked to perform a specific action within a given time limit.
โGames are an immensely innovative force and itโs brilliant to recognise those titles which have truly shaped the course of our medium,โ said Luke Hebblethwaite, head of the Bafta video games division.