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Yakuza 3

Yakuza 3
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Yakuza 3

 
 
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010086690392-69039

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Features
  • Storied franchise enjoys a hardcore following with true video-game enthusiasts

  • Tokyo and Okinawa are rendered with stunning accuracy

  • Play a variety of mini-games including billiards, karaoke or even take in a game of golf

  • Engage in a variety of real-life activities from buying items in licensed shops & businesses to eating in restaurants you can find on actual streets of Tokyo


Description

Yakuza 3 is the next cinematic chapter in the prestigious video game saga offering an authentic, gritty and often violent story set in modern day Japan. Following the events of the previous game, Kazuma and Haruka (his adopted daughter) have left Kamurochoto to seek a new life in Okinawa where they manage an orphanage for children. However, their peaceful life is soon interrupted when a series of events unfold pulling Kazuma back into the shadowy past he thought he had left behind. Making its first appearance exclusively on the PlayStation 3 platform, the rich story and vibrant world of Yakuza 3 lets players engage in intense brutal clashes within the streets of Okinawa, and the pulsating and often dangerous city of Tokyo where only the strongest will survive.


Product Details
Product Length:6.7 inches
Product Width:5.3 inches
Product Height:0.6 inches
Product Weight:0.25 pounds
Package Length:6.7 inches
Package Width:5.3 inches
Package Height:0.6 inches
Package Weight:0.25 pounds
Release Date:March 09, 2010
Average Customer Rating: based on 48 reviews

Game Information
Platform:PlayStation 3
Media:Video Game
Item Quantity:1

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Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:4.0 ( 48 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 71 found the following review helpful:


5Finally 'Shenmue' Reincarnated  Mar 12, 2010 By NeoTristan
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.

74 of 91 found the following review helpful:


4Released in the US, but with many caveats to consider...  Mar 11, 2010 By A. Strader
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.

12 of 15 found the following review helpful:


5GOTY?  Mar 20, 2010 By B. Tow
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.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:


5Great game. Almost too much to do.  Dec 22, 2010 By PS Player "Al"
I really did not know what to expect from this game, as I was not really familiar with the franchise. But, based on recommendations, I decided to take a chance. I am very glad I did. It is nearly impossible to categorize this game, so I will not even try. Before you begin play, you can watch videos that explain the events of the first two Yakuza games. So, if you did not already know, you play as a former crime boss who now wants nothing more than to retire and run an orphanage on the beach (just like all former crime bosses). But, of course, life does not work out that way and you are soon caught up in it once again. The game-play involves a lot of walking around various parts of Japan completing various objectives. The main story is very good, but what really makes this game stand out are the numerous side missions. Everything from tracking down treats for a stray dog, to mediating disputes at the orphanage, and, oh yeah, beating up on Yakuza thugs. Combat, of which there is a lot, is very much arcade style, and can start to feel old rather quickly. Fortunately, the game-play is more than varied enough. Side missions will keep you busy for some time, playing bit parts in movies, taking girls out on dates, going to hostess clubs, helping citizens find lost children, etc. In fact, there is almost too much to do in this game so that you have a difficult time deciding what to do next. When you are not doing missions, there is still plenty to keep you busy. Get a drink at the local bar, shop at the many convenience stores and pawn shops (most items serve to replenish health and you can also obtain weapons, etc.), sample the fare at the many restaurants (eating food replenishes your health), go to the batting cages, hang out at the betting parlor, go bowling, visit the video arcade, get a massage, play some pool or some darts, etc. etc. These alone are so much fun that you can easily play this game for an entire day and not even undertake a single mission. If you are looking for something that will keep you busy for days on end, and you are able to look past the odd mixture of cutesy Japanese style (e.g. buying ice cream for young orphan girls in an effort to increase their "affinity" meter) and the Yakuza underworld, then I definitely recommend that you give this game a try.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:


5An Absolute Pleasure to Play!  Jun 23, 2010 By Patricia Laverty
Yakuza 3 takes the GTA formula, matures it, adds a fantastically written storyline and comes up with a very interesting and very mature game which makes it hard to put the controller down before the final credits roll.

Yakuza 3 takes place right where Yakuza 2 left off. Kazuma has decided to forget his Yakuza ways and open up an orphanage in Okinawa. Little does he know once it's established both the Japanese Government and Yakuza will make a land grab trying to build a resort and military base on the once peaceful holiday town of Okinawa. With this in mind, Kazuma tries to negotiate his land and from there he ends up being dragged back into the seedy world of the Yakuza.

Yakuza is a third person action RPG that plays significantly different to many other games. For example, the first three or so hours could have been the most boring, but it turns out to be quite interesting. In many ways the game reminds us of Heavy Rain, the most menial tasks can seem interesting as they are developing the story. Talking to the orphanage kids, trying to resolve disputes helps you to prepare for the back-half of the game where you are resolving much more violent, intense disputes.

The game plays out as you would expect. Get a mission, complete it and get another one in one of the most realised virtual worlds of Japan we have ever seen. Featuring both Kamachuro and Okinawa, we are reliably told that the replications of both towns are second to none with real stores present and the actual layout of each city/town present in the game. There is also a lot of side missions to complete and some of these are full of typical Japanese humor. The game all in all sticking to the main quests takes around fifteen hours to complete, but with the side missions and mini games on offer it can get to as long as fifty.

Aside from the main quest, the game also includes a number of mini games to play. Some of them become part of the storyline such as golf, but others on offer include pool, darts, bowling and others. The world itself is incredibly realised and you will find yourself distracted from the main storyline many times. You can go to a restaurant and eat, visit a karaoke bar and sing and even visit an adult club to while your hours away. All this adds to the atmosphere of the Yakuza games and you really do feel like Kazuma is a made man.

Another main area of the game is the Kazuma character himself. Throughout the game you get experience and can build either Kazumas health or his fighting styles to become more powerful. Further into the game you get access to weaponry and can purchase and upgrade these weapons which become a key component to the game.
Sometimes the animation can seem clunky, especially for Kazuma, but once you look past that you find a fairly solid combat system. On the easy difficulty levels it turns into block, block, punch, kick, but blocking on the higher levels leads to getting Kazumas butt kicked, so you really need to use tactics.

However, we can't go further in our congratulations to SEGA without mentioning the problems the U.S. version of the game has. First of all, SEGA has made significant cuts to the game to bring it to the west unfortunately. The first casualty was the hostess clubs, so you will not be entertaining young women in this game and as a result some of the side missions have been cut as well. The game still manages to stand on its own two feet very well, but the question has to be asked about this, especially when they managed to bring Yakuza 1 and 2 to the west without changes.

But once you get over that, Yakuza offers an incredible experience. From the realised world of the two Japanese towns/cities you visit, through to the incredible story line and story exposition (some of the cut scenes run a long time and give Kojima a run for his money) as well as one of the most realised virtual worlds you are likely to see, Yakuza 3 despite its problems turns out to be one of the surprises from early 2010. We just hope that SEGA continue to bring this series to the west and fully intact, because the game is so good, it deserves that much.

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