rukusa said:
Let me start out by saying Yakuza has atmospheric contents in gallons. As a dude whose been in Tokyo/Japan and experienced in person I got say they got the feeling of Shinjuku right down to the most minor detail (of course some parts remain fictious). The scenary is fucking immersive as something I've NEVER experienced in a game before.
Battle-wise its just too awesome. The first one was pretty simple in its combat system but its definitely gotten a huge make-over through the 3 latest entries. And Yakuza 3 is obviously gonna take it to the next level with seamless battles RIGHT on the streets. Another thing that made Yakuza so satisfying to play are the combos, the techniques and finishing moves you learn through out the game. Just taking a dazed guy, grabbing him by the face and smashing him through the back window of a car hasn't felt so satisfying in years.
Besides all that there are tons of side quests to be done around Shinjuku & Osaka. Looking for hidden/lost locker keys to open up the diposits at the central bus terminal is addicting when you get adwards like powerfull weapons like a 9mm handgun with 4 bullets or charms and other accesories. Or seducing Hostesses getting their numbers, use your money to buy gifts for them, use your charm to win them over. Alot of various NPC will give you awards for your work if you complete their wish/job/assignment. Also alot of hidden locations are spread through the territory, eventually finding all them will grant you access to hidden armory shops for power-up items and underground casino and fighting arena to win special items or earn money. Same goes for mini game arcades, Mah-jong palor, secret hazard games hall and Baseball course, and so much more.
Also another thing is that when you get a weapon it really means 'you get a weapon'. True weapons are EXTREMELY rare to pick up, which means you have to put ALOT of consideration on HOW you want to use those 3 bullets. There are no reloads, no extra ammo, you got 3 BULLETS. THINK before you SHOOT (imagine being surrounded by 20 mobsters, each bullet is a one-hit kill). And they do break. Handguns, stun guns, police sticks, frying pans, nail bats, aluminium baseball bats... etc. all have a limit to usage and you cant go on feeling undefeated for a long time. Its a short moment son, and youre back to using your fists. Picking up a gun has never felt so right.
And man when I mean the boss fights are EPIC... they really ARE EPIC. The character gallery is complete jewel in this one.
The story hasn't only gotten better with the series but Yakuza 3 seems to exceed those previous entries. While the story in the first was entertaining enough, the twists and surprises seem to be getting better by far as the series progresses. The only part of the first Yakuza story line I found iffy was the ending climax. Despite that the story manages to keep you whole heartedly excited and sucked into the world of the 'Dojima dragon' and the Tojo family feud.
Yakuza has nailed the gameplay spot on. With a few improvements such as a higher amount of techniques to extend the experience, a little bit of a RPG touch on it and some more complexity and depth to the leveling system would make a this series a completely masterpiece. With progression you can notuice its improvements: it gets bigger, better and more polished than the predecesors.
Yakuza is a completely underappreciated series, which deserves more attention than it gets and a better translation job. With a bit of effort from SEGA or SONY marketing-wise, this game could become the next key-flagship-franchise for SEGA in the west.
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