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Yakuza's many remasters are about to pay off big time
Ryu Ga Gotoku (RGG) Studio is in a fantastic position. The Sega-owned developer has just released Judgment, a well-received detective game starring Japanese actor and singer Takuya Kimura as the lead. Now, the team is turning its attention back to Yakuza, a long-running series about Kazama Kiryu and his complex, often violent entanglements with Japan's criminal underbelly.
Sega’s remastered ‘Yakuza’ bundle for PS4 comes to the US
With western interest in the Yakuza series the most passionate it's ever been, Sega is bringing remastered PlayStation 4 versions of its PlayStation 3 open-world Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5 games to the West. Fans can purchase The Yakuza Remastered Collection starting today for $59.99, with the remastered Yakuza 3 available to download right this moment. Sega will release the other two games in the collection on October 29th, 2019 and February 11th, 2020, respectively. If you buy The Yakuza Remastered Collection, Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5 will unlock automatically once they're available.
Real yakuza evaluate Yakuza 3
Is Sega's Yakuza series a realistic depiction of life inside Japanese organized crime, or is it a total fantasy based on something the Japanese public would recognize? Tokyo Vice author and reporter Jake Adelstein asked several actual yakuza to play and review Yakuza 3. "Midoriyama" (a pseudonym) found the power-ups true-to-life. "I like the fact that you power up by eating real food," he said. "Shio ramen gives you a lot of power - CC Lemon, not as much. It all makes sense." "Kuroishi" knew of a yakuza who had run an orphanage like the game's protagonist, Kazuma, once did. "Sure it was a tax shelter but he ran it like a legitimate thing. You know." The gangsters were less impressed with the fighting. "No yakuza is going to run around getting into fistfights like that," Kuroishi said. "Especially not an executive type. He'll wind up in jail or in the hospital or dead, maybe even whacked by his own people for being a troublemaker." They were even less impressed with Kazuma's red shirt. "He's supposed to be a former boss of the Inagawakai," Midoriyama notes, "and he dresses like a chinpira (low level yakuza punk). He's a yakuza, not a host." Finally, "Shirokawa" offered his opinion of the changes made in localization: "I feel sorry for the people who bought the American version. SEGA USA sucks."
Metareview: Yakuza 3
Plenty of attention has been lavished on one nontraditional Japanese RPG this week -- but Sega sneaked out another one alongside Final Fantasy XIII. Luckily, enough reviewers remembered that Yakuza 3 exists to provide a decent swath of reviews. While it's certain to be the best game this week about playing fictional arcade shooters, singing karaoke with dates from hostess clubs and hitting gangsters with street signs, how did Kazuma Kiryu's latest saga fare under more common rubrics? IGN (8.5/10): "You're getting this intense story about Japan's seedy underbelly that's set in an open world where you can take all sorts of side quests, but as you do so, random battles are popping up, you're earning experience points so you can level up your moves, and you can take stuff from your extensive inventory list and craft new weapons and armor. There are no cars or chocobos, but you see where I'm going with this -- one minute you're slamming a crowbar into a guy's face or tearing off a fingernail with pliers, and the next minute, you're taking photos to blog about or on a fetch quest to find a certain fish." GameSpot (8/10): "While the pace and events of the story are enough to propel you towards its conclusion, the non-story peripheral content gives Yakuza 3 a welcome sense of diversity. There are more than a hundred side and hitman quests that allow you to do everything from carrying ice cream for a father who has overpurchased, to playing UFO Catcher claw machines in the arcade, to chasing down a bag snatcher, to offering financial advice to a man deep in debt and precariously perched on the edge of a bridge." Eurogamer (8/10): "From the publisher that brought us Streets of Rage, Virtua Fighter and Shenmue, Yakuza is essentially a mashup of all three, which is hardly surprising but does mean it's the stuff of Segaphile fantasies. Liberally sprinkled with their genius, it's the grateful beneficiary of some of their most satisfying elements, in a context which delivers a uniquely Japanese -- and uniquely Sega -- flavour." %Gallery-80019%
Yakuza 3 trailer looks back
The latest trailer for Yakuza 3 (embedded after the break) is all about Kazuma Kiryu's memories of his life before the events of the current game. In other words, you'll see clips from Yakuza 1 and 2 interspersed with footage of Kazuma kicking people. A one-minute trailer is hardly enough to bring you up to speed on the story if you haven't played either of the PS2 games, but it does help demonstrate the visual upgrade the franchise has received as it makes the jump to PS3. (Just imagine how good Yakuza 4 will look!) Speaking of memories, Sega is right to release a bunch of trailers for this game -- the publisher needs to do everything it possibly can to remind people that Yakuza 3 is coming out, in the hope that a few people might pick it up when they go to buy Final Fantasy XIII or God of War III this month.
Yakuza 3 trailer takes you on a trip
One of the best things about the Yakuza series is its detailed reconstruction of Tokyo. The exact details might be fictionalized, but Yakuza's Kabukicho still feels like taking a walk in the genuine article. Yakuza 3 is an even more convincing replica of Tokyo (and also Okinawa!) thanks to the increased detail capable in the PlayStation 3. Soak in the atmosphere in this new trailer, set to a stirring karaoke performance by protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Yakuza 3 will be available March 9, at which point you'll be able to explore virtual Tokyo for yourself -- except for the hostess clubs. %Gallery-86552%
Yakuza 3 loses hostess clubs, quiz game in Western release
[GAME Watch] There's a good chance that many of you were going to play through Yakuza 3 without messing with the hostess club segments or the Answer x Answer arcade quiz game. Now, it's a certainty. "The content between Yakuza 3 US/UK and Yakuza JP is a little different in that we took out certain bits in order to bring the game to the west in the time alloted for us to do so," a Sega rep told IGN. "The parts we ended up taking out were parts that we felt wouldn't make sense (like a Japanese history quiz game) or wouldn't resonate as much (such as the concept of a hostess club)." You may have gone on a karaoke date with Rina in the demo. In the original game, you meet her in a hostess club, and have to buy her gifts and learn about her in conversations. Now, we suppose, she'll just randomly call you like she did in the demo. Somehow, the dating won't be affected, as the Sega rep assured IGN that "the story experience was the same as the Japanese version." Who can blame Sega for cutting some of the more culturally Japanese elements from this role-playing game about modern Japanese culture? After all, it must have been in a rush to release on the same day as Final Fantasy XIII.
PSN Thursday: Tester some Yakuza 3
It's time for Sony's big PSN series premiere. Yep, The Tester is now available to download for free on your PSP and PS3. We promised SCEA's Chris Morell not to make fun of it here, so let's move on to the good stuff. Notably, there are three PSone classics, in addition to downloadable demos of Yakuza 3 and Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing. Some major DLC lands today as well, for Resident Evil 5, Assassin's Creed II, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Meet the yakuza in new Yakuza 3 trailer
The latest trailer for Yakuza 3 (after the break) purportedly introduces the characters in the upcoming PS3 crime drama, but unless you're already familiar with the series, it's going to be a bunch of incomprehensible Japanese names, listed by affiliation with incomprehensibly-named crime families. However, if you take it as a few minutes of badasses glowering (and taking care of children) and slapping dudes, it's pretty entertaining. If you're in Europe, you can step into Kazuma Kiryu's shoes right now with the demo. With any luck, North America will be able to join you in those increasingly crowded shoes later today.
Yakuza 3's Toshihiro Nagoshi discusses Japanese cinematic inspiration
Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi isn't just known for his bright orange tan. He's produced a number of titles for Sega, including Shenmue and, most recently, the Yakuza franchise. Although Nagoshi is already working on Yakuza 4 for Japan, the producer talked about some of his influences for the game's first English-language dev diary. Yakuza 3 is unabashedly Japanese, so much so that mainstream Western audiences may be unlikely to relate. Nagoshi explains in the video that as a fan of Japanese cinema, he intended on "using a Japanese style to express [human drama]" in the game. "It might feel new to the Western market, but to the Japanese market it's something we grew up on, so we're used to it." No wonder the Yakuza franchise has earned its cult status in the West. While its use of Japanese camp may be confusing to many, that's precisely what English-speaking fans love about the franchise. Thankfully, it won't be too much longer until everyone will be able to play Yakuza 3 ... and understand what's going on.
Yakuza 3 pitched with pre-order DLC
If you're willing to commit to purchasing Yakuza 3 next month, despite the fact that your pre-order bill already includes God of War III and Final Fantasy XIII, you'll be rewarded with extra content. In North America, a pre-order comes with four DLC bonuses, including a "Battle for Survival" boss-rush mode, two tournament modes and a "Haruka's Request" set of missions. Pre-ordering from GameStop will add an additional Challenge Pack, containing alternate costumes and two-player pool, bowling, darts, and golf minigames. In Europe, the Challenge Pack is the lone pre-order bonus, as Yakuza 3 will be released in "Premium Edition" format, which includes the other DLC mentioned above, a 31-track soundtrack and a "Yakuza Who's Who" guide to the characters -- useful for distinguishing the good gangsters from the bad gangsters!
Yakuza 3 DLC becomes a GameStop pre-order bonus
In Japan, Sega gave away eight weeks worth of free DLC following the launch of Yakuza 3. However, it looks like Sega has something different planned for its upcoming US release. A new GameStop listing spotted by VG247 promotes an exclusive "Challenge Pack." According to the retailer, this Pack adds a variety of two player mini-games, including pool, darts, bowling and golf. In addition, there are special outfits for Haruka, Kazuma and Rikiya to wear -- all content that was originally released for free in Japan. We're hoping this GameStop exclusive DLC won't stay exclusive for too long. inFamous' Gigawatt Blades also started as a GameStop exclusive, only to appear on the PlayStation Store for free a few months later. However, for those looking for the "complete" Yakuza 3 experience as soon as possible, it seems a trip to GameStop is necessary. At least the store is offering a $5 discount on the game.
Yakuza 3 gangs up on Europe March 12, new screens
click to get even closer After announcing a March release window for Yakuza 3, Sega has now confirmed that the Japanese crime game will invade European shores on March 12. As previously announced, the game will feature the original Japanese voice cast and English subtitles. Eurogamer also points out that Yakuza 4 will see its Japanese release this March. The new sequel is based on the same engine as Yakuza 3, hence the quick development turnaround. Check out some new screens in the gallery below. %Gallery-83646%
Yakuza 3 box art localized for the US
When we saw this box art for Yakuza 3 on GameFly, we sighed in relief. Thankfully, Sega has followed the time-honored legacy of making spectacularly terrible box art for the West. Amazingly, this new art manages to say even less about the game than its Japanese counterpart, neglecting to show any of the Japanese cityscape that made the game so compelling to its fanbase. More ridiculously, Kazuma Kiryu appears to have grown a goatee comprised exclusively of an ESRB rating. Of course, if you're seriously offended by the box art, you can simply import the original Japanese version. Just don't expect any of the bonus English subtitles included in Sega's upcoming release. [Via VG247]
New Yakuza 3 screenshots are sweet, serpentine
Click to Yakuza-size Though the number of images displaying dudes brawling in the gallery below may lead you to believe that the pictures therein are of a new Street Fighter game, we assure you, they're just images from soon-to-be-localized Japanese crime drama, Yakuza 3. Don't believe us? Just check out the first image in that gallery. See that? That's a back tattoo, which members of the Yakuza are like, contractually obligated to get. This guy's back tattoo is of a snake, which means that his skin gets dry in the winter. Also, it means he likes to swallow whole, completely uncooked eggs. Weird, right? %Gallery-83380%
Yakuza 3 heads west in March 2010
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/yakuza-3-heads-west-in-march-2010/'; As fans of Sega's Yakuza series (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) will quickly point out, the lengthy wait for localized versions is somewhat of a disorganized crime. With two PlayStation 3-exclusive installments already available in Japan (and a third on the way), Sega Europe's online community manager, Kevin Eva, offers an enthusiastic answer to the impatient question: "YAKUZA 3 IS COMING TO THE WEST." So enthusiastic, it seems, he's already busting some CAPS. Writing on the European PlayStation Blog, Eva confirmed that Yakuza 3 will hit the US, Europe and Australia in March 2010, and emphasized the game's adherence to its cultural origins -- not to mention Sega's budget. "As part of the lengthy localisation work Yakuza 3 will feature full English subtitling," he wrote, "whilst maintaining the rich Japanese voice actors that bring an extremely engaging atmosphere to the game – this will no doubt please the purists out there!" Plus, you wouldn't want to upset those rich Japanese voice actors by replacing them. Who knows how well they're connected? %Gallery-80019%
German retailer lists localized version of Yakuza 3
This should provide hope to those who have been longing for a localized Yakuza 3 release. German retailer amazon.de has added a listing for the Japanese crime game, with a scheduled release of March 12th. Sega isn't commenting on the listing, but a localization has been rumored since July. While still unconfirmed, this listing adds credence to a project that seems like a no-brainer, considering the franchise's tremendous success in Japan. [Via 1UP]
Rumor: 1UP 'source' says Yakuza 3 is Westward bound
If fanboys complain loudly enough, can they get a game localized for an English release? The answer appears to be: yes, at least according to an unnamed 1UP source "close to the project," who says that "Yakuza 3 is currently being localized for release in the U.S. and European markets." If true, it'll be interesting to see if people will actually buy the game. The late-to-the-party PS2 release of Yakuza 2 was largely ignored. Could Yakuza 3 meet the same fate, now that Yakuza 4 is already on its way to Japan? [Thanks, Marius!]
Yakuza 3 localization looking unlikely
Try not to think too much about the Yakuza 4 that was just announced to an eager Japanese audience. It doesn't look like Yakuza 3 is going to make it outside of Japan, and that doesn't bode well for its sequel, either. Sega Europe told VG247 that it has "no current plans" to localize Toshihiro Nagoshi's open-world brawler/RPG. A Sega of America employee offered his opinion to The Examiner, saying that the sales of Yakuza 2 were insufficient to justify localization of the PS3 title. Officially, according to statements given to Siliconera by a Sega rep, there is "no confirmation" of any decision regarding Yakuza 3. Maybe we should all go clear our local GameStop's shelves of Yakuza 2.
Yakuza 3 sells half a million copies in Japan
Yakuza 3 is quite a success in Japan. In fact, Sega is reporting that the game has sold over 500,000 copies in the region since its February debut. It's the second PS3 title to reach the 500k milestone, following the success of Metal Gear Solid 4. With a sexy custom PS3 bundle and solid first week sales of 380,000 copies, Yakuza 3 was poised to easily surpass the half a million mark. Now, Sega just needs to worry about real Yakuza showing up at its offices and collecting a debt for using their image and likeness. Yikes, where's Kiryu Kazuma when you need him?
