We can dream, but it's so far out of the realm of possibility. The amount of work it'd take to recreate the VF5 fighting engine, then make it work with multiple opponents like they did with the original games, would be insane. The only sensible option is to work with what they made for III and improve upon it.
Improvements I'd like to see:
- 100% agree with the dodge -- it isn't comfortable on the left stick
- enemies should get up quicker
- throws, obviously
- more enemy variety -- really fast opponents, slow, powerful opponents etc.
- refine the hit detection/contact lag -- your hits can feel really delayed sometimes
- have Ryo move further forward into range during a technique -- way too often did I execute a technique and miss because it's hard to judge distance from behind, and Ryo only moves really short distances with most techniques
- bring back the more dramatic sound effects for moves -- they'd have to change them up a bit as they're pretty much straight out of VF as well
Yes, rebuild the VF engine would be a massive task, it could only work if they can borrow directly the engine from Sega, or like I said in the other topic, is YsNet and Sega make a collaboration to develop Virtua Fighter 6 and Shenmue IV at the same time, sharing the same battle system.
But if Shenmue 3 battle system has to stay for S4, I'd like it to be more sophisticated, a real "next gen" battle engine like only Yu Suzuki could do.
Right now the S3 system is pretty standard with many flaws, and feels (and in truth is) like a downgrade.
Solving those flaws, adding the features that were the standard in Shenmue 1 and 2 (throws, evasions, counter etc.), and finally adding new elements (dynamic and cinematic qte, unevern terrain, interaction with the enviroment etc.) would really help make it feel the right evolution of the series.