You can field your own duck as candidate for the duck race in Shenmue II … and control it!
But how do I get my own duck?
How to get the own duck for the duck race
shenmue-2
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In yesterday’s #SaveShenmue Tweetathon, Yu Suzuki answered several questions (#YouaskYu).
The following question is not especially about Shenhua, but about all people in China. However, it’s probably fair to assume, for now, that it also applies to Shenhua.
Yu Suzuki was asked [sic]:
I always wondered how ryo , being Japanese, could communicate so easy in China. Can ryo speak Chinese?
Yu Suzuki answered:
Let's not go there...
So according to Word of God, it’s (probably) not relevant to the plot that Shenhua speaks perfect Japanese.
If you have fulfilled the prerequisites, you can go to the Duck Race by speaking to Izumi Takano in the Tomato Convenience Store. You can find the store in the Golden Qr. of Wan Chai.
Prerequisites
You’ve to be on disc 2 (for the Dreamcast version).
You need these items:
- Big Bronze Medal
- Big Silver Medal
(tl;dr: This gameplay video shows Ryo getting the two medals, choosing the "A Vacant Lot" variant to get the Big Bronze Medal.)
How to get the Big Bronze Medal?
Talk to both:
- Izumi Takano (see above for her location)
- Eileen M. Edelweiss (she trains at the Pigeon Park in Worker’s Pier, Aberdeen)
Now there are three possible ways:
Find it!
You can find it on the table in A Vacant Lot, which is located in the Green Market Qr. of Wan Chai. (This gameplay video shows it, from minute 6:20 on.)
Buy it!
Pay the waitress from the restaurant Lai Lai Eatery (in Aberdeen) for the trouble you have caused when chasing Wong.
Win it!
In the Lucky Charm Qr. of Wan Chai, there is a Roll it on Top stand from Zhiqing Shi (next to the Prophecy Fortuneteller’s). Win 5 times in a row. (This gameplay video shows it.)
How to get the Big Silver Medal?
The Big Bronze Medal allows you to access the third floor of the Pine Game Arcade. It’s located in the Golden Qr. of Wan Chai.
Enter the third floor, select "Entry" (not "Watch") and defeat Eileen M. Edelweiss.
Then enter the third floor again and defeat Izumi Takano.
References: Duck Racing (Neoseeker Shenmue Wiki) · The Duck Races (Wikia Shenmue Wiki
Bonus: There’s also a Big Gold Medal …
To get the Big Gold Medal, you have to win the Duck Race with your own duck.
Best Answer
Prerequisites:
(tl;dr: Gameplay video. From 2:37 to 4:27, you can see how Ryo gets the duck, and from 4:28 to 6:48, you can see how Ryo enters the race with his own duck and wins the Big Gold Medal.)
Then:
Visit the Duck Race.
Place a bet on a duck. (I’m not sure if this duck has to come in in first place.)
Visit the backyard of the Man Mo Temple (Wan Chai → Wise Men’s Qr. → Scarlet Hills).
Go to the tree.
Catch two (or more) leaves at once.
Catch another two (or more) leaves at once.
(You can hear the duck quacking.) Now a white duck feather falls down. Catch it.
(You can see the duck sitting in the tree.) Select "Catch".
(You put the duck in your inventory.)
When visiting the Duck Race, select "Entry" to enter the race with your own duck (which you have to control).
If you win, you get the Big Gold Medal. Your duck’s skills will improve the each race (I guess it’s impossible to win without certain skill levels). After a few races (7 or so) your duck will fly down the stairs.
Trivia:
Your duck speaks, so you might want to turn on subtitles.
Usually, you’ll race against white ducks, but you might also race against a mallard and its ducklings (like in the video linked above; they probably appear if your duck gets better; and the mallard is probably faster than the usual white ducks), and on a rainy day, you might race against a penguin.
References: Duck Racing: Obtaining your own racing duck (Neoseeker Shenmue Wiki) · Any tips on winning the duck races? (GameFAQs thread) · Shenmue II Secrets FAQ for Dreamcast (GameFAQs)