PS3 News: The Dragon Rises In The US: Yakuza 3 Confirmed For March - PS3 News

Members Login: Register | Why sign up? | Forgot Password?

The Dragon Rises In The US: Yakuza 3 Confirmed For March

We've all waited patiently, many of us with concerns that due to less-than-fantastic sales in the US, Sega simply wouldn't deliver the third installment in the franchise.

But the wait is over and everyone should be very enthusiastic to learn that Yakuza 3 will be headed to a store near you in North America. As revealed at the PlayStation Blog, the first Yakuza title on the PlayStation 3 that received rave reviews in Japan has been confirmed for release in this region, and not surprisingly, it'll boast the awesome Japanese voice cast. Kiryu Kazuma, the bad-ass that captivated us in the original back on the PS2, returns to engage in the most brutal and intense street combat of his life; one again, the dark underworld of the Japanese mafia sucks him into a sticky situation. When one of his close friends is gunned down, the Dragon rises again and swears to locate all the answers he requires...even if it means breaking some skulls. For those of you who aren't familiar and never played either of the first two titles on the PS2, you should prepare yourself for an extremely worthwhile action game. They say the third is by far the best and the Japanese consider it to be one of the top PS3 titles available, so don't snooze on this one.

However, the bad news is that it's scheduled to launch in March, which is right around the time several other gigantic offerings show up. Maybe one of the questions you can submit to the developers (which the Blog is asking you to do) is, "hey, how's about pushing it into April so I have some time?"

Related Game(s): Yakuza 3

12/8/2009 10:37:24 AM Ben Dutka

Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Google Share on MySpace Share on Delicious Share on Digg Share on Google Buzz Share via E-Mail Share via Tumblr Share via Posterous

Comments (52 posts)

tridon
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:56:44 AM
Reply

It's awesome that it's coming here, but poor choice of month to bring it here on the part of Sega. This'll likely get murdered in March with the rest of the games coming out.

I've actually never played Yakuza. Is it any good? Does it play similar to Shenmue?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:07:44 AM

Just think of a GTA-like setting, in that you have freedom to explore most all of any city, and hand-to-hand street brawls (in the streets, in bars, in clubs, etc.) is the crux of the gameplay.

Brutal fighting, too...these games are always very gritty.

Agree with this comment 3 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

godsman
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 12:16:31 PM

Is there lots of mini-games like casinos?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

tridon
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 12:24:07 PM

Thanks, Ben. So this is a mission based game?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 12:26:29 PM

Um...kind of. Yes, it's basically mission-based, although you will stumble across other things to do as you explore. Just bear in mind the cities aren't anywhere near as large as GTA, and the environment isn't quite as interactive.

But it's all in the story, gritty atmosphere, and awesome melee street brawling.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 12:35:40 PM

There are absolutely tons of mini games! Golf, bowling, kareoke, dating girls, side jobs for people, club sega (which allows arcade play...think shenmue) and absolutely tons more!

Yakuza is one of PS3's best franchises and 3 is definitely the best. Personaly, i'd pick it over GTA any day. Having said that, it has little in common with GTA and more in common with the better game, Shenmue. Lots of RPG elements too.

This game is my pick in March.

Agree with this comment 3 up, 2 down Disagree with this comment

godsman
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 2:44:06 PM

GTA 4 has a pretty dull and unorganized story. The mini games are also terrible.

Agree with this comment 2 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

tridon
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 3:42:42 PM

Well, I just may have to check this out. I'm not a GTA fan at all, but I did thoroughly enjoy Shenmue back in the Dreamcast days. Thanks!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Aftab
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 3:47:52 PM

Can you drive around in cars?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 4:03:13 PM

Tridon, its from many of the same team members from Shenmue. It was even dubbed the spiritual successor to it. BUT, don't expect that untouchable greatness that shenmue brought, that game wont ever be repeated. What Yakuza does is offer them heartbroken Shenmue fans a little alternative, Yakuza is a lot more adult and uptempo...even a little more arcade. There are many similarities to Shenmue littered all over Yakuza, it's almost like it's Sega going "remember this?" like, the infamous store complete with shopping music and club sega etc.

I think you will be majority satisfied with it, as a Shenmue fan, that very reason is why i love Yakuza.

Aftab, No, and gladly so.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 12/8/2009 4:09:16 PM

Agree with this comment 2 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Aftab
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 4:22:57 PM

Damn it. Anyways, I adored Shenmue back in the day. It was one of the first games for me to capture a fully immersive, living, breathing world. But after GTA4 for me, or SA for many others, I'm not sure how far the bar has been raised.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Oxvial
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:57:16 AM
Reply

Holy Sh**! I;m going to buy the three games!!! that's going to be the best month to be a PS3 owner!!!

and is you ask me yeah if I only have one to chose to get of the big three of march I would only get Yakuza 3
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 12/8/2009 11:07:55 AM

Agree with this comment 3 up, 2 down Disagree with this comment

Oxvial
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 12:39:47 PM

sup! thumb downer jealous because I can buy games when you needed to beg your mom to ask the pimp of her work to give her more cash to buy your MW2 ?

Agree with this comment 4 up, 6 down Disagree with this comment

coverton341
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 2:01:59 PM

Fantastic self reply. Though a little heavy handed, maybe the thumbs downer was the vagrant thumbs down guy that thumbs everything down or maybe they are someone who just doesn't like this game.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Kevadu
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:06:55 AM
Reply

March? Seriously? I'm not even going to crack jokes about this anymore. Publishers are aware that there are months in 2010 besides March, right?

Q1 2010 looks like it will be the biggest Q1 for game releases ever. Bigger than Q4 2009, anyway, which is supposed to be the busy quarter...

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Imagi
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:25:07 AM
Reply

You would think their would be more synergy between the publishers to organise the releases dates a bit better between them, are these crowded months full of releases good to profits?

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Imagi
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:26:27 AM

oh, and YAY to Yakuza 3!

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

coverton341
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:36:31 AM
Reply

Dear 8 pound 6 ounce new born infant jesus,don't even know a word yet thank you for this game that you're about to bestow on us in March but damn the publishers for forgetting about the other eleven months in the year.

March = Top Ramen, canned chili, paying rent late, missing a cell phone payment, and playing lots and lots of sweet games.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Snaaaake
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 8:23:25 PM

Touche........
More Maggi for me.....

Sorry, curry, you'll have to wait.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Alienange
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:36:48 AM
Reply

High def Yakuza. Sweet!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Deleted User
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:41:38 AM
Reply

I'll be buying this alongside FFXIII, MLB '10: The Show, God Of War 3 and Gran Turismo 5 and who knows what else in March 2010. Those 5 plus Heavy Rain, White Knight Chronicles and BioShock 2 (and maybe Dante's Inferno) in Febriary equals a lot of gaming goodness.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Snaaaake
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 8:23:55 PM

Damn!!!

Your wallet sure is thick!!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Geobaldi
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 12:09:27 PM
Reply

Yakuza 4 is also being developed for the PS3. Titled= Ryu ga Gotoku 4: Densetsu wo Tsugumono to be released in Spring of 2010.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

godsman
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 12:18:37 PM
Reply

I hope they have a choice of Japanese voices and English sub. I see some pretty good voice acting in the trailers.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 4:04:40 PM

Its japanese voices only with english sub.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Alienange
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 5:35:39 PM

What? No it's not.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 6:31:00 PM

Yes it is. Yakuza 2 was and Yakuza 3 will also be japanese only language.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Geobaldi
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 6:41:01 PM

Yep. Too many people complained about the English voice acting in the original so they stopped doing English voicework all together.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Alienange
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 9:25:13 PM

Say it isn't so! And they have the nerve to complain that western sales aren't high enough? Well if they keep it in the Japanese language then yeah, damn straight the sales are low and they can expect the same for part 3. SEGA is retarded.

@ Lotusflow3r - In looking at my first comment I can see how I might have come across as correcting you. It's not what I meant. I was more in shock than anything. I meant more "No... it can't be..." Thanks for not getting insulted.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 12:37:05 PM
Reply

One of my most anticipated titles and one of few "action" games i can play...it just takes it all to the next level whilst offering new experiences and RPG elements.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 12/8/2009 12:37:36 PM

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Nerull
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 1:17:43 PM
Reply

So we get 3 like a month before japan gets 4? In the worst month to release anything next year? Is Sega trying to get this to fail so nonimporters never get to witness 4?

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

coverton341
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 2:08:23 PM

Well, if we look back at the history of the franchise this seems to be commonplace for Sega at this point. I think they know that they are doing something that would be deemed stupid but seeing as how this franchise absolutely kills in the East I think they have made back their losses on localising the game and therefore can cater to a more niche market of loyalists of the franchise here in the West.

If that makes any sense...

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Scarecrow
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 1:20:06 PM
Reply

'Bout damn time!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

tlpn99
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 2:02:17 PM
Reply

Another March game ffs lol, were gonna be swamped oh well :) Would it be worth trying to get the previous 2 or would this be a waste of time ?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

rell
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 2:42:05 PM
Reply

This competition is some serious $#!^, next three months will be epic.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Oyashiro
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 3:23:09 PM
Reply

Nice to have a date. I'm actually looking forward to this more so than FFXIII.

Agree with this comment 2 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Scarecrow
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 4:00:22 PM

Same

Agree with this comment 2 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Streets_74
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 4:30:52 PM
Reply

I never got around to picking this game up I always get outbid on ebay for it, but now I'll have to try again or maybe sega should do a hd blu ray release with Yakuza one and two. SEGA!!

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

BikerSaint
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 4:51:59 PM
Reply

Finally, I've been able to find the first one at GS, but still haven't found a cheap used Y2 copy there yet.

I'm guessing the Yakuza franchise isn't as popular here in New Jersey.
(either that, or everyone here has been hoarding their copy)

Agree with this comment 0 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

geovanwitdakick
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 4:56:02 PM
Reply

I thought I was the only one.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

BikerSaint
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 5:27:08 PM

@geovanwitdakick
OK, I'll bite....
You are the only one did what?????

That you found it, or you're hordering it, or you live in Jersey???? LOL

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Alienange
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 5:37:32 PM

The only one with a big snake tattoo on his back.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

coverton341
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 6:26:15 PM

+1 for Alienage for just taking that in a completely different direction.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

FlyingKickPunch
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 5:40:00 PM
Reply

correct me if i'm mistaken, but isn't this yakuza set in the past? like feudal era japan?
i like the yakuza games, they're like a grown-up river city ransom (kinda)

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

coverton341
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 6:27:25 PM

No, that is Kenzan a spin off from the Yakuza franchise. This takes place in modern times.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Snaaaake
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 6:23:08 PM
Reply

Ok now, who's that fortune teller that's been telling game studios to release their game in March!!

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

coverton341
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 6:28:35 PM

I don't know but whoever it is needs to knock it off because they are going to be making me broke and hungry.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

shadowpal2
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 7:27:33 PM
Reply

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

*picks up PS3 from living room smashes it to the ground*

*stomps it continuously*

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*looks slowly down*

FUCK!

DISCLAIMER: I don't have a PS3..., but now the reason has come for me to get one.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Snaaaake
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 8:09:08 PM

EPIC!!!!!

You should make a vid of it and send it to KISS.

Then they'll be smashing PS3 in their future performance instead of guitar!!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Alienange
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 9:28:37 PM

You... DON'T... have a PS3?

BOOOOOOOOO !!

Agree with this comment 1 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Banky A
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:16:55 PM
Reply

That's hot.

Mafia!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

___________
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:40:39 PM
Reply

thats it, my theory of game developers is confirmed.
there worried about releasing it outside JP because the first 2 did not sell well.
so what do they do?
they release the game in the fullest month of the year.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Leave a Comment

Please login or register to leave a comment.

Popular Cheats

Recent Reviews

Recent Previews

Sponsor

Our Poll

Do you plan to buy a PlayStation Vita this year?
Yes, I'll definitely get one in 2013.
No, but I'll get one eventually.
No, I have no intention of buying the Vita.
No, I've already got one.

Previous Poll Results