Shenmue

In Shenmue you play some weeks in the life of Ryo, trying to take revenge on the people who killed his father. A time limit ticks down in the background, but as long as you have time, you're absolutely free to do what you want: Spend your days asking people for clues? Good Idea. Play Super Hang On in the local arcade without end? Okay as well. Get a job and drive a fork-lifter for days? No prob, but will it help you? You control Ryo in Third-Person-Perspective in full 3D; most of the time you run around in typical action-adventure-style: initiating dialogues, manipulating objects. Sometimes the game asks for fast-button-pressing. An example: You follow a street and a boy shoots a football across you path. If you press A fast enough, Ryo shoots the ball back and gets the chance to talk to the boy.