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Yakuza 1 and 2 HD to paint the Wii U red in Japan
The first Yakuza entry for a non-Sony console is Yakuza 1 and 2 HD. Nintendo announced the Wii U port in last week's Nintendo Direct. Going by this vid, the gangster classics are compatible with off-TV play. The HD combo roughs up Wii U in Japan on August 8. %Gallery-188832%
Yakuza 1 and 2 HD extort trailer, screens
PS3's Yakuza 1 & 2 HD update now has a trailer and screens, giving us a better idea of how it'll look when it attempts a Japanese takeover on November 1. The game was officially announced this week and there's still no word yet on whether the HD-ification will have an international release.
Kazuma's back in Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Edition
The Yakuza 1 & 2 HD update originally spotted in a Sega Japan release schedule is official, with Famitsu featuring a back-tattooed blowout of the PS3 update. A preview page of the article was posted today on the publication's website.The top of the article reveals a November 1 release date for the collection, a month sooner than Sega's release calendar had it. There's still no word on a North American release; despite almost every Yakuza game being localized, there's still always an element of suspense whenever a new one is revealed.
Rumor: Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Edition out in Japan this December
A now-pulled listing on a Sega Japan release calendar revealed plans for a PS3 Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Edition, listed as due in December for ¥5,229 ($66). Though no other details were given, the title pretty much says it all: the first two Yakuza games, originally made for PS2, updated for release on PS3 – concurrent with the Japanese release of Yakuza 5.Though subsequent Yakuza games included movie recaps of the events of the series, these would be the ideal way for players to get caught up on the surprisingly deep story of a guy who walks around Tokyo getting threatened by gangs. We're checking with Sega now to try to learn more about this collection.
Joystiq hands-on: Yakuza
A hit in Japan since it was released last winter, many of those who knew about Yakuza were ecstatic once they heard a version for the English-speaking crowd was coming stateside. Today, I was able to get up close and personal with a title that, on the outside, may resemble just another GTA clone, but really has the potential to be more than that. Taking players inside the hidden nightlife district of Tokyo, Yakuza is looking to position itself as one of the final standout games for the PlayStation 2 when it's released in the U.S. on September 5. But will it really pull that off based on hype alone?
Yakuza nabs celebrities, takes their voices
What do Michael Madsen (Mr. Blonde), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor from Smallville), Eliza Dushku, (Faith from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Rachel Leigh Cook (She's All That), and Mark Hamill (uhh, Luke Skywalker) all have in common? Yup, none of them are Japanese and all of them are lending their voices in Sega's American-ization of their Japanese crime-game Ryu ga Gotoku, now Yakuza. Thing is, none of em are playing Kazuma, the title's lead. For some more on the selection process, check out Gamespot's interview with Justin Lambros, the US producer. Hoping to keep the Japanese dialogue track for that authentic Ryu ga Gotoku feel? Tough luck, says Lambros, "We were hoping to include the Japanese dialogue as an alternate track, but unfortunately there just wasn't enough room on a single disc to put both sets of voice files."
Yakuza tale, Ryu Ga Gotoku, headed West
Sega's lauded Japanese Yakuza game Ryu Ga Gotoku ("Like a Dragon") is going to bring its distinct brand of gangster-infused street brawling to the US and Europe. Matt Woodley, Creative Director of SEGA Europe said: "We feel that the street brawling gameplay in particular will impress everyone... Getting this spot on in games has proven hard for some developers in the past, but the Yakuza team have pulled it off with great style. Add to that some of the most evocative locations seen in a game and we have a title SEGA are very excited to be releasing." The title has been described as a badass Shenmue, with similarly memorable city environs and a darker, more violent storyline. The game will be renamed Yakuza for its summer 2006 release on PlayStation 2. See also: Ryu Ga Gotoku prologue heads to DVD, no import plans Ryu Ga Gotoku Website Launched [Thanks, John]
