Yakuza 3 is the next chapter in the saga of prestige films to video games with a true story, in this courageous and often violent, Japan. After the event the previous game, Kazuma and Haruka (his adopted daughter) Kamurochoto left to find a new life in Okinawa, where he runs an orphanage for children. However, his peaceful life is suddenly interrupted when a series of events Kazuma pulling the dark past he believed behind. Made his first appearance in the PlayStation 3 that allows the rich and vibrant world of Yakuza 3 players to participate in intense clashes in the brutal streets of Okinawa, and more lively and often dangerous to the city of Tokyo, where only strong survive.
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Released in the US, but with many caveats to consider...
I feel very torn in writing this review, as the release of Yakuza 3 in the US is the big carrot we must chase to get Yakuza 4 (which comes out in Japan a mere week after this release in the US) released stateside.
SEGA, I need you guys to pay attention. There's obviously been some miscommunication and misunderstanding in how this all should work. Ryu Ga Gotoku 3, the original Japanese title, is a fine and stellar game. It has a fantastic story, excellent mini games, substories and submissions to follow, and does what I feel is serve as an excellent representation of life in Japan, more to the point of life as a Japanese gangster.
The seedy underbelly and the familiar touches to anyone who has been to either Okinawa or Kabuki-cho in Shibuya are going to see massively detailed recreations at work here.
There was clearly a lot of love poured into the Japanese release. The US release, Yakuza 3, seems to have been the victim of time and poor project management. SEGA dodged questions for months regarding a western release of Yakuza 3, and when they finally announced their intentions, did so with the heaviest reservations possible.
To back this up a little bit, SEGA has had a troubled past with the series on the PS2 in the US. It's never been a high selling title, touted as a GTA game set in Japan. It's not really. It's basically Shenmue with more fighting, more gangsters, and a lot of seedy underbelly. There's no looking for sailors here or running off to look for a mirror. Your character is haunted by the violence surrounding his life and wants to be rid of the life he can never leave.
SEGA took the opportunity to take a heavy black marker to the full content of the Japanese release and started making deep and heavy cuts to the content.
Much was said about the Hostess Bar missions being cut for lack of purpose to the western audience, or that they removed the massage parlor in Kamuro-cho (the fake name for the real life Kabuki-cho).
I'm not here to defend or deny the need for those missions or content. What I'm far more worried about is how whitewashed and rushed the final product has become. There are large chunks of side story sub missions missing from the US release that were in the Japanese version. Missions that had absolutely nothing to do with the Hostess Bars or any illicit activity. Cutting Shogi and Mahjong? It's questionable why this was cut, but not Koi Koi or Oichi-ku.
I'm really disturbed that SEGA has set a trend in threatening the customer with regard to bringing the series stateside, but I want to contrast my concerns regarding the game with a very pertinent statement from Sega's own staffers.
Aaron Webber:
"It's not a question I can really answer for you, but I would encourage all fans of the series to show their support for Yakuza by picking up a copy [of Yakuza 3]. At the end of the day, numbers often speak loudest."
Speaking that the best way to see Yakuza 4 get localized in the US is to buy Yakuza 3 is an upsetting trend to someone who sees so much changed between the US and Japanese versions of the game.
SEGA, if you want to address this properly, tell the fans that when Yakuza 4 gets released stateside that it will not receive any cuts, that the gameplay, Nihongo-esque weirdness and all, will be fully intact.
As it is now, I have to rate the game with 4 stars because, it's identical to the Japanese version, but what's been cut is stuff that SEGA is deceiving it's customers into believing wasn't important to the original game.
When you release a game that's about life as a Japanese person, in Japan, cutting stuff that the western audience wouldn't understand is a ludicrous and silly decision to make at the expense of what is already a stellar title.
Finally 'Shenmue' Reincarnated
Back in 2000, there was a little unknown gem on Sega Dreamcast called 'Shenmue', which became a huge financial flop despite the universal critical praises. Its sequel only showed up in Japan and later ported to the original X-Box after Dreamcast's demise. Shenmue was the game that invented QTE (Quick Time Event) that are so frequently used by many games like Resident Evil 4, Heavy Rain and God of War series.
Yakuza 3 is the third installment of the popular Japanese action adventure game series by Sega that inherit all the characteristics of Shenmue series. But it is this installment that finally exceeds everything Shenmue tried to be in spades with so much more contents and depths. Yakuza series was understandably not well-known outside Japan at all due to its quirky and idiosyncratic eccentricity stemming from distictively Japanese culture. Make no mistake, this is one of the most popular game in Japan. With population half as big as the U.S. but so much diversities in different genres of video games (each game is targeted speficically for intended demographic rather than potential demographic as here in the U.S.), half-million copies sold is viewed as bona-fide success. With sensible budget and half-million copies means good profits and the next sequel. The fourth one has just been released in Japan. There have been tons and tons of games on PS and Nintendo consoles that never make outside Japan, and Yakuza series are one of the rare ones that are available here in the U.S.
Warning to fans of GTA or the likes and JRPG; Yakuza 3 is not a console RPG or GTA-clone, as many would describe it. It's a grand style action adventure game that indeed plays very much like JRPG but so jam-packed with contents that it put arguably all console RPG to shame and gives even the longest CRPG like 'Oblivion' or 'Fallout 3' some serious run for its money. Don't be surprise to clock in over 100 hours to unlock 100 percent completion percentage. Beside the main story, which gives you good 20-25 hours, the game is overflowing with substories and side activities. Plus you can always engage in street fight at certain points. On and all, if you ever played either of Shenmue, you'll know exactly what you're getting into. This really is 'Shenmue' reincarnated, so if you ever moaned about the demise of the series, pick this up without any hesitation.
Its fighting mechanics is Sega's own 'Streets of Rage' style beat-them-up brawler with some depth. Just don't expect more complicated fighting game like Sega's own 'Virtua Fighter'. But the actual fighting is much more brutal, violent, bone-crunching and over the top than the unrealistic arcady fighting games that let you shoot fireball from your eyes so you will have a heck of a time engaging in combat. It's really fun.
The story is thoroughly Japanese and also very realistic and real-life related like actual Japanese TV drama. The plot progresses via dynamic cutscenes and static dialogues. While each literation in the series offers a self-contain story arc but you would have much more emotional resonance if you've already played the first two on PS2. It also have many recurring themes overlapping from the first two. Luckily, the game gives you full rundown of the story of the first two games with cutscenes directly lifted from the PS2 games.
However, the game only offers Japanese soundtrack with English subtitle, due to huge cultural differences between Japanese and western nations, the game will be difficult to get into for a lot of people. Don't be surprised if you don't understand many of customs, references and logics. Pacing would also make things difficult for more casual gamers who are used to quick access and fast-paced run-of-the-mill action game. This is an action adventure game that heavily focuses on human drama. Episodic and sometimes brutal, sometimes poignant, but always humane and realistic, it requires you to read and reminisce a lot as a main character on the way.
Visual is indeed very impressive. Facial model is the most impressive aspect and on par with 'Heavy Rain'. The graphical style opts for photo-realism so everything is very real-life like. But the jagged character models and color imperfection signal that this is still a video game. While not exactly 'Uncharted 2' or 'God of War 3', this is one fine looking game.
Controversy surrounding the contents cut from the original Japanese version are indeed true.
Cut content from the western version of Yakuza 3 includes:
-"Loser" (Japanese theme song by Eikichi Yazawa)
-Wooing women in hostess clubs
-Managing a hostess club
-Mahjong mini-game
-Shogi mini-game
-Massage parlor mini-game
-Answer X Answer trivia game
-Convenience store magazine browsing (you can only see the covers)
-A handful of sub-missions all related to aforementioned cut contents (26 out of 126 substories to be precise)
The official explanation of the cut is due to the cultural gap between Japanese and westerners, Sega worried that it would not resonate as much with western gamers with the axed contents. I personally call this a load of crap for Yakuza 1 and 2 previously had massage parlor, casino, hostess club mini games. I assure you that the omitted contents really don't change the game at all. Only some of the extra side activities are cut and the game is already jam-packed with side activities. But it would be much nicer to maintain the integrity of the original work.
It's been a crazy couple of months for me. From belated port of 'Star Ocean: The Last Hope', revolutionary 3D adventure game called 'Heavy Rain' to highly controversial yet solid 'Final Fantasy XIII' and the return of the king in 'God of War 3', it really has been taxing on my budget. Now 'Yakuza 3' is another excellent addition to already impressive Playstation library filled with diversified entries, variaties and quality. With 'Fallout: New Vegas', 'Two Worlds II', 'Arcania: A Gothic Tale', 'God of War III', 'MGS: Peace Walker', 'Metroid: Other M', and possibly another Zelda, my urges and passion for CRPG and action adventure games will be thoroughly satisfied in the year 2010.
GOTY?
After some thought I pre-ordered on impulse knowing this game would have too low of a supply for a clearance price drop but boy was I wrong about doubting this game. Best impulse pre-order ever. This game brought me back to the Dreamcast days. Think Shenmue/Virtua Fighter. The Yakuza 3 demo does not do this game justice.
Remember Jackie Chan for the Playstation? This game brought back memories of many Martial Artists. If you have any interest in Martial Arts BUY THIS GAME NOW. Adventure/Arcade style beat 'em up with RPG elements. Fast action with extremely fun mini games along the way. Yakuza 3 is so entertaining it does not need an online mode for a crutch. Coming from an online only fan this is a pretty good side step to step forward. It's just plain fun with a good story to boot.
Haven't played Yakuza 1 or 2? Don't worry this game has you covered. There are Yakuza 1 and 2 cinematics to get you caught up on the story.
Also like to add:
This reminds me of the older brother/sister spoiling Christmas...
Yakuza 3 is under the radar already. GO IMPORT it if you're such a snob to underrate this game because of import differences. If you are on the edge on either buying this or waiting for a Yakuza 4 import(and cannot read japanese) get this game you will not be disappointed.
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