You get to run your own hostess bar. The music that play during the hostess maker is the best thing ever.
Yes yes there is curb stomping and all that jazz but you know whats really fun? Darts, I'm ranked 10th in the world at count-up darts.
I was also ranked Third in the world at Darts in the old Shenmue Passport days.
 
  

Are you playing? How are the controls?

" Are you playing? How are the controls? "

Game worth playing for somebody that's never played a Yakuza game before?

I can either get Shogun 2 or this...then again my PC is kinda shitty to even run Shogun 2...

" @Axxol said:

" Are you playing? How are the controls? "

Yeah I've beaten every Yakzua game there is.  The controls are great They have not changed in 4 games but I don't know why why would. "

" Game worth playing for somebody that's never played a Yakuza game before? "

" Game worth playing for somebody that's never played a Yakuza game before? "

" @CL60 said:

" Game worth playing for somebody that's never played a Yakuza game before? "

I picked up Yakuza 3 the other day for $15...That game is pretty awesome. Kinda like Shenmue, but faster paced.  "

It's so far looking to be like more Yakuza, but that's still a damn good thing.

Is knowing everything that's happened in previous Yakuza games important? Or will I be fine with looking at a wiki? Also, do you have to do all that hostess stuff or is it optional?

I would give it a shot if it was on the Xbox 360.  I just don't know why they would favor 1 system over the other so much.

" Is knowing everything that's happened in previous Yakuza games important? Or will I be fine with looking at a wiki? Also, do you have to do all that hostess stuff or is it optional? "

The reason you play Yakuza games is for
1. The crime drama story, I'll also tell you the story of all the Yakuza games are waaaay better than all of the GTA's crime stories.
2. Hostess bars 
3. The ton of really fun minigames
4. Crazy Japan being crazy
5 buying C.C. Lemon.

" Is knowing everything that's happened in previous Yakuza games important? Or will I be fine with looking at a wiki? Also, do you have to do all that hostess stuff or is it optional? "

" @MooseyMcMan said:

" @CL60 said:

" Game worth playing for somebody that's never played a Yakuza game before? "

I picked up Yakuza 3 the other day for $15...That game is pretty awesome. Kinda like Shenmue, but faster paced.  "

It's actually made by the same people that made Shenmue just minus Yu Suzuki. "

" I would give it a shot if it was on the Xbox 360.  I just don't know why they would favor 1 system over the other so much. "

Oh man. This sounds so tempting. Too much money-spending for this time of the year. 3DS next weekend, grr.

" @kingzetta said:

" @MooseyMcMan said:

" @CL60 said:

" Game worth playing for somebody that's never played a Yakuza game before? "

I picked up Yakuza 3 the other day for $15...That game is pretty awesome. Kinda like Shenmue, but faster paced.  "

It's actually made by the same people that made Shenmue just minus Yu Suzuki. "

This just resolves my belief that Sega should just take the Yakuza engine and make Shenmue III (with Yu Suzuki back, of course).  "

" @agentboolen said:

" I would give it a shot if it was on the Xbox 360.  I just don't know why they would favor 1 system over the other so much. "

It's Japanese  The PlayStation is Japanese  There are way more PlayStations in Japan  It actually came out only in Japan a year ago.  That's why its only on the PS3 "

" @kingzetta said:

" @agentboolen said:

" I would give it a shot if it was on the Xbox 360.  I just don't know why they would favor 1 system over the other so much. "

It's Japanese  The PlayStation is Japanese  There are way more PlayStations in Japan  It actually came out only in Japan a year ago.  That's why its only on the PS3 "

Yea I guess that kind of makes sense.  Still 3 and 4 did eventually get released in the US, I would think there might be some interest to eventually porting them over to the 360.   "

" @vidiot:  Sega actually said "of the end" is not a side game. "

" @kingzetta said:

" @vidiot:  Sega actually said "of the end" is not a side game. "

Do you have a link? I can't find a statement online of anyone from Sega saying that. 

Chronologically it takes place after Yakuza 4, but everything that's been posted regarding Of The End point's to a side-game this year. The lead developer want's the Ryū ga Gotoku series to expand outside the norm. Interviews regarding the subject matter concerning Of The End have constantly pointed to Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! as a comparison and example to where the series can go thematically: That it is not bound by not just a modern realistic setting. 
 
That's not necessarily a bad thing. Quite the contrary, I really like the demo. Although at the same time, there is a definite reason why there is no numeral in the title. "

I agree, this series is criminally underplayed. The more people that know about its greatness, the better.

I'd rather watch someone play a Yakuza game than actually play one. Insanely fascinated by the franchise. 

I have never finished a Yakuza game. But I own the first three. Probably gonna get 4. 

It's probably  a bad idea asking this but can someone here explain to me the appeal of virtual hostess bars?

" It's probably  a bad idea asking this but can someone here explain to me the appeal of virtual hostess bars? "

" @agentboolen: maybe because its a small team only working on the Yakuza games, and they don't have the money for a 360 def kit or (more likely) the series is well known in Japan and the 360 has a tiny install base over there. "

" It's probably  a bad idea asking this but can someone here explain to me the appeal of virtual hostess bars? "

The more I learn about these games the more I want to play them. There is something about the way it is all presented that is just mesmerizing. The cutscenes I've seen have all had a very different feel and pacing than other games. It was so reserved. Like the thinking man's GTA.

This game is really making me consider finally getting a PS3 for awhile now (yeah, yeah, i know).  And being someone from the other side (xbox 360),  the fact that it was a Playstation Exclusive was one of it's charms, and in turn, one of Playstation's charms.  It's reminds me of that "imported from japan" appeal that Playstation always had on me.

I think someone is just angry that a PlayStation exclusive is well.. an exclusive and has been and will be for *least to me* forever.. But aside from that, I am really wanting to get this game but have yet to do it since I dislike starting games that are not the first of the series like when i got persona 3.. i had to get 1,2 afterwords.. Would getting 1-3 be worth it before i play 4? I saw 1 and 2 at gamestop the other day for like $10 each and 3 is crazy cheap now on craigslist.

" @agentboolen: I think porting the game to 360 would cost Sega more then they would profit from it. As it is, the audience for the Yakuza games here in the west is pretty small. Sure getting the game on 360 would increase that number, but its not going the be a triple A title all of a sudden.  "

This Topic is gonna get locked sooner or later. Just Saying, though.

" @Bouke said:

" @agentboolen: I think porting the game to 360 would cost Sega more then they would profit from it. As it is, the audience for the Yakuza games here in the west is pretty small. Sure getting the game on 360 would increase that number, but its not going the be a triple A title all of a sudden.  "

Yakuza is very niche in the US as stated before, sega would be fools to port it to the 360, it would be a huge waste of money.I just wish sega would do shenmue 3 *cries* .. atleast i have this series to fill the void "

" @CL60 said:

" Game worth playing for somebody that's never played a Yakuza game before? "

I picked up Yakuza 3 the other day for $15...That game is pretty awesome. Kinda like Shenmue, but faster paced.  "

So wait...
You are saying that Yakuza 4 is the best game ever?

So Yakuza 4 is actually just a remake of Vagrant Story?

Well if it is the best game ever, its a good thing that my copy is on the way...