Yakuza Continues To Impress Critics

North American gamers may not be familiar with Sega's excellent franchise, but that's because a game based on the Japanese mafia will probably resonate more with a particular audience.

However, that doesn't mean you should ignore these titles. Not only do they boast some absolutely brutal and very satisfying combat, they also provide you with GTA-style sandbox settings and very solid and engaging storylines. The only bad news for US fans is that Yakuza installments are typically a year behind in this region; while Yakuza 3 just launched yesterday, they're already reviewing Yakuza 4 over in Japan. According to the latest Famitsu issue, the new entry pulled down a 9, 10, 10, and 8, for a grand total of 37/40. Now, that's a point lower than Yakuza 3 scored in Famitsu last year but all that means is that Japan really adores this series. As for US critics, you can find about a half-dozen reviews scattered around the Internet; the game is scoring very well so far. IGN awarded it an 8.5, Eurogamer gave it an 8, GamePlayer gave it a 9, and Play UK scored it an 82 out of 100. So maybe Final Fantasy XIII just isn't your bag; if that's the case, you should absolutely consider a Yakuza 3 purchase.

There's a demo on the PSN if you're not convinced, but we've heard the final version of the game is indeed better. Some of you might be surprised by that one, you know...

Related Game(s): Yakuza 4, Yakuza 3

3/9/2010 9:15:11 PM John Shepard

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Comments (52 posts)

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Origami_Killer
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 9:47:51 PM
Reply

I was going to get this game until I read about the cut content. Not even a perfect score could get me to buy this now. I might not even get it used.

1 up, 3 down

Oxvial
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 10:50:37 PM

well heavy rain has some cut content has dlc.

1 up, 4 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 11:24:37 PM

The Heavy Rain DLC wasn't cuts though.

7 up, 3 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 12:43:02 AM

dlc before we can even buy the game, why they just didn't put it in the blueray?

Last edited by Oxvial on 3/10/2010 12:43:22 AM

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 12:47:47 AM

Maybe they could have, but it has nothing to do with the story.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 3/10/2010 12:49:04 AM

3 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 12:49:27 AM

''Because it has nothing to do with the story.''

The same with Yakuza cut content.

2 up, 2 down

Origami_Killer
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 1:03:29 AM

@Oxvial Heavy Rains content wasn't added in the Japanese version and then cut out of the US version. The Yakuza cut content isn't even coming as DLC. If it was, then I'd have no problem getting the game. At least Quantic Dream is giving the option to get it as DLC. Just because it doesn't have something to do with the story, doesn't mean people don't want to play it. It was in the Japanese version and it should be in the US version.

3 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 1:20:26 AM

Yakuza 1 sales in the US were mediocre that's why Yakuza 2 port was like two years later and withouth dub..now Yakuza 3 port don't have 4 minigames that the jp version has.

Sega just doesn't have too much faith in the series in this moment.

BUT that content doesn't ruin the experience.

Last edited by Oxvial on 3/10/2010 1:24:37 AM

0 up, 0 down

Origami_Killer
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 1:30:57 AM

Sega cut more then 4 mini games. Where do you get your information. Any cut content ruins my gaming experience.

3 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 1:41:50 AM

As far as heavy rain is concerned the dlc was made specifically to be dlc. It was not cut from the game, they designed it so they could add "Chapter stories" to allow you to keep playing after you defeated the game itself.

They are basically short stories to allow you to continue to enjoy the gameplay. The one available at release was just the first of many and from some places if you pre-ordered you got the first chapter free.

3 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 2:02:48 AM

Origami_Killer@From the sega forums also you can see that on the wiki.

kraygen@the dlc of heavy rain could easily fit in the blue ray like unlockables , but hey nothing wrong wanting to make more money.

Last edited by Oxvial on 3/10/2010 2:05:16 AM

0 up, 1 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 2:07:51 AM

Yeah fitting on the blu-ray had nothing to do with it, was more incentive to try and get people to pre-order.

I guess since they didn't know how the game would be received they were hoping that might get them a few more orders in.

1 up, 0 down

Origami_Killer
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 2:14:16 AM

@Oxvial If that's where you got your info, then you should know that more then 4 mini games were cut.

1 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 2:16:01 AM

I don't care much either way cuz I'm not getting Yakuza, but cutting something out of the gameplay (while stupid) isn't the same as adding DLC that isn't even part of the gameplay for the story of HR. Those episodes are just extras to teach you a bit about the characters. In other words they weren't scenes or options that were cut out of game with a scissors.

1 up, 1 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 3:03:16 AM

@Origami_Killer:Of course I know, you are just wrong.

and btw

its okay if all of you people don't want the game but all the fans of the franchise really know that content is minimal.

I'm okay with it ? NO , but at this point the game coming here was a miracle and those minigames doesn't ruin the experience of the game.

The game its bad? just check the article.

Last edited by Oxvial on 3/10/2010 3:06:10 AM

1 up, 1 down

BTNwarrior
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 3:08:42 AM

While were on the topic, when is that heavy rain DLC coming out anyway?

0 up, 0 down

Cholo Gamer
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 9:48:47 PM
Reply

I tried the demo and I gotto say it was disappointing. 7.4/10

0 up, 0 down

watchit
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 9:57:06 PM

I played the demo wasn't for me. bad timing between ff13 and GOW 3.

Last edited by watchit on 3/9/2010 9:58:53 PM

0 up, 0 down

Deleted User
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 10:05:13 PM

The game should have been released in April. With Heavy Rain, MLB '10, Final Fantasy XIII and God Of War 3 coming in consecutive weeks, I don't have time for Yakuza 3, especially since it's an older game from 2009. Probably will buy it for my summer futurelog. I think it's a great game but I can't spend $67 CAN on something that's just going to sit on the shelf at this time.

0 up, 0 down

Club80
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 10:05:35 PM

I gotta agree. The demo just played weird...almost like an old Dreamcast title would play. Gamefly comes in handy with titles like this.

0 up, 0 down

godsman
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 10:31:17 PM

I am definitely getting this game, just not a full $60 price point. I am into large variety of mini-games with a good main story. When the reviewers bragged about GTA's mini games being a FULL game, they haven't seen Yakuza 3.

0 up, 0 down

Ultimadream
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 2:09:33 AM

The demo did not hold my interest if i'm all honest. Though i do apreciate the detail of the city, it seems very well done, but i wasnt fond of the gameplay.

1 up, 0 down

Victor321
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 10:21:48 PM
Reply

Just out of curiosity, is there going to be a review of the game from you guys also =D?

I know you guys are hard at work with the review for FFXIII, and the GOWIII review was recently published, but I'm merely curious ^.^

Last edited by Victor321 on 3/9/2010 10:21:54 PM

1 up, 0 down

Alienange
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 10:26:02 PM
Reply

And it IS English, right John?

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 7:47:45 AM

0 up, 0 down

godsman
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 10:33:06 PM
Reply

I have one complain about Yakuza's game being a bit blurry. In the demo, contrast between the resolution of the arcade and the story was so huge. It was a bit disappointing though. Still getting it though. (Thumbs UP)

0 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 10:44:56 PM
Reply

people that don't give a chance to this game because it play like a dreamcast title called Shenmue, the graphs and the minimum cut content are doing a BIG error.

1 up, 1 down

jdt1981
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 10:45:13 PM
Reply

I thought Yakuza 3 would be like Shenmue but after playing the demo I was disappointed. The biggest letdown for me was the fact that not all the dialog had voice overs, a large portion of it was captions. It's much easier to get into the story and characters when the dialog is voiced by actors. Besides the lack of voice overs the premise and the characters that were in the demo just weren't my cup of tea. Also the animations and sound effects didn't seem very good by today's standards.

2 up, 1 down

Shams
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 11:26:34 PM

I was hoping it would've retailed at $40, considering it is over a year old, and kinda looks it, too. $59.99 is a bit much, but I'll wait to see how it pans out here.

Last edited by Shams on 3/9/2010 11:28:23 PM

2 up, 1 down

migabyte
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 11:29:58 PM

Really?....With most Japanese games I prefer text, actually I think that's why I don't like FF anymore. The voice overs make it seem even more corny than it is....Maybe it's just me though...sure for certain big American games voices are a must, but sometimes the voice you give it in your head is better. It's like watching a dubbed movie...only people who can't read want to do that, but for some reason video game players today seem to have lost the desire/ability to read.

6 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 12:47:57 AM

I take text over Vanille type of voice any day.

0 up, 2 down

jdt1981
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 3:38:03 PM

I respect you guy's opinion but I'm the opposite. I'd prefer to have bad voice acting like in Shenmue than no voice acting at all. IDK maybe I'm just weird like that. :P I'm not real big on novels or comics either. Maybe I have ADD... LOL I just HATE reading captions in video games and movies.

0 up, 0 down

WolfCrimson
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 11:23:46 PM
Reply

Definitely getting this game.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 11:26:11 PM
Reply

Looks like people want their Shenmue 3 :)

2 up, 1 down

___________
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 11:30:48 PM
Reply

just got it today dont ask me why but for some reason i felt like i had to buy it even though i know im going to regret it.
played the demo and all i can say is i hope the dialogue is in english, if i have to read subtitles for the whole freaking game this is going back tomorrow.
this is 2010 not 1956 for crying out loud what the ^%$# have sega been doing for the last year?
and i thought $E were bad, at least they bother to translate their games.

2 up, 6 down

Shams
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 12:31:56 AM

Guy, that's something you could've found out from the reviews and the demo. Now, you're going to have to explain that when returning it. With any luck and a good guy behind the counter, you'll probably get the refund, but you should safe your self the hassle in the future.

1 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 12:46:09 AM

LOL of course it doesn't have a eng dub.

1 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 1:44:03 AM

Unless they can hire really good English voice actors, it's meaningless for them to do dubs for it

SPECIALLY when the game won't sell like Modern Warfare 2

And most importantly, it's a game based on Japanese culture/gangs. It's just more natural in its own language.

Imagine cowboy/military movies being dubbed in Japanese for the Japanese....that'd just be so out of place lol

1 up, 0 down

___________
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 6:27:05 AM

but its just stupid.
there cutting corners and trying to save cash but in doing so there shooting themselves in the foot.
its like making a car and not putting in traction control because there trying to save money.
dont come bitching to me when it does not sell well, or the company gets sued for malpractice.

they want the game to sell well, but than do everything in their power to make sure that does not happen.
you cant catch any fish without any bait.
next time sega dont bother, i could of imported the EXACT! same game with more content for a quarter of the price.
its not looking good for sega, 3 games released this year and all 3 sucked.
im threw buying sega games, if they want my cash they have to prove to me its worth it.

0 up, 1 down

Roach721
Thursday, March 11, 2010 @ 8:25:10 PM

It's in Japan for petes sake you want Japanese people to talk English it makes no sense. Any way its meant to be in Japanese it makes for a better experience.Learn to read BLANK maybe thats the problem.

1 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 1:41:24 AM
Reply

Ge-tti--ng this!

So many good ps3 games....
seriously, I'll be honest, I seriously can't get all these games at the moment

But I'll definitely put this game on my "to get list"

Can't wait to see psxe's review of it

3 up, 1 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 1:51:46 AM
Reply

I had never played the first 2 but there was quite a bit of buzz about this so I tried the demo. Sorry I was not impressed.

The graphics reminded me of some original xbox games, good xbox games, but still. It's just very obvious that the game is a little old.

The character movements seem a little boxy and stiff like he is an android or made of wood.

The combat was not overly impressive either. Hitting someone with a chair had no more effect than punching them with your bare fist.

The text did not bother me, but it can sometimes distract you from noticing the game environment.

I think if it had come out a couple of years ago it would have been pretty decent, but for today it seems dated and lacking of polish.

Granted all of this is from the demo alone and sometimes demo's can be deceiving but it didn't make me want to rush out and buy it.

0 up, 1 down

Larsperson
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 3:16:56 AM
Reply

Picking this game up tomorrow. Enjoyed the demo and can see myself sinking plenty of hours into it. Combat is fun and will enjoy leveling my character up. Will wait on Final Fantasy for the time being. Still want to play through a few of the older titles on PSP before I get the new one. Currently playing through Crisis Core on PSP and enjoying it. Is my first Final Fantasy game and and will be looking to download FF7 when im done.

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 4:00:19 AM

Have you ever played ff7?

I hope so, because even tho crisis core is a prequel, it was made expecting that people who played it would have already played ff7. I think you may have just played yourself into a bunch of spoilers.

Hope not cause 7 rules.

0 up, 0 down

Larsperson
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 4:58:24 AM

Thanks for the heads up Kraygen. Never played any FF games before. Am only a short way into Crisis Core about 4-5 hours of mainly doing side quests haven't advanced main storyline much at all. Would you recommend I download FF7 and play through that one first?

Last edited by Larsperson on 3/10/2010 5:01:30 AM

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 3:53:37 PM

I most definitely would, otherwise crisis core will have spoilers for 7, major spoilers. Like it will ruin the entire big surprise of ff7's story.

0 up, 0 down

Qubex
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 7:53:19 AM
Reply

I am staying far away from this game... I tried the demo and really didn't like... just could not get into it!

Q!

"speak to the droid"

0 up, 1 down

Lotusflow3r
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 8:34:53 AM
Reply

John Shepard?

Too much Heavy Rain!

Anyway, im getting Yakuza 3 1st day and i was playing Yakuza 4 yesterday, bloody brilliant!!

1 up, 1 down

big6
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 9:50:58 AM
Reply

I'm definitely getting this game!

The demo sealed the deal for me. Running around the streets of Tokyo in the game reminded me of how much attention to detail was paid in this game. The environments in the game are damn-near identical to my experience in Tokyo last year!

Also, I'm totally against English voice-overs. I say, keep it pure, and just read the subtitles.
Have people forgotten how to read in recent years?
Remember RPGs from the previous decade? It was nothing but reading!

1 up, 1 down

tlpn99
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 12:45:56 PM
Reply

Pre Ordered this in Game today. Out Friday :) Forgot it was even coming out till today when I checked on my way home from work.

1 up, 0 down

Mavfan321
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 @ 8:29:15 PM
Reply

@BTN I pre-ordered Heavy Rain and I received the code for the Taxidermist the day it was supposed to be released so it is out it's not on the PSN store from what I've seen though.

Last edited by Mavfan321 on 3/10/2010 8:45:22 PM

0 up, 0 down

___________
Thursday, March 11, 2010 @ 5:48:40 AM

its not on the store for purchase but if you have a code you can use it.
i used mine on the 28th.

0 up, 0 down

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