By most critical accounts, the Tokyo Game Show was kind of a bust this year. Part of the problem, as we discussed in one of our TGS podcasts, is that so much of what was being shown was just slightly newer versions of games we had seen at a previous trade show or press event. There were still a few rare exceptions, and one of the sights that impressed me the most was the epic 11-minute trailer for Ryu ga Gotoku 3, better known as Yakuza 3 in the US. Actually, the Yakuza series isn't really known very well at all stateside, but apparently they go nuts for it in Japan. After seeing that trailer, I get the appeal. While it was only being shown in a small, low-capacity theater at TGS, Sega has now released this trailer online for all to see, and even though it's thick with Japanese (which I can neither read nor speak,) makes tons of references to the first two Yakuza games (which I never played,) and highlights the game's all-star Japanese voice cast (who I've never seen before,) I still find its apparent insanity totally mesmorizing. I'm also curious to see just how inaccurate my original interpretation of this trailer really was.
Yakuza 3
Game » consists of 8 releases. Released Feb 26, 2009
Sega's Yakuza series moves to the PlayStation 3 for its third installment, bringing all the comically brutal beat-em-up gameplay, Japanese RPG storytelling and various mini-games with it.
Yakuza 3 TGS Trailer Goes Public
By most critical accounts, the Tokyo Game Show was kind of a bust this year. Part of the problem, as we discussed in one of our TGS podcasts, is that so much of what was being shown was just slightly newer versions of games we had seen at a previous trade show or press event. There were still a few rare exceptions, and one of the sights that impressed me the most was the epic 11-minute trailer for Ryu ga Gotoku 3, better known as Yakuza 3 in the US. Actually, the Yakuza series isn't really known very well at all stateside, but apparently they go nuts for it in Japan. After seeing that trailer, I get the appeal. While it was only being shown in a small, low-capacity theater at TGS, Sega has now released this trailer online for all to see, and even though it's thick with Japanese (which I can neither read nor speak,) makes tons of references to the first two Yakuza games (which I never played,) and highlights the game's all-star Japanese voice cast (who I've never seen before,) I still find its apparent insanity totally mesmorizing. I'm also curious to see just how inaccurate my original interpretation of this trailer really was.
Not bad, but the trailer was way to long and I (understandably) didn't understand a word of it. Maybe the reason it's never taken off outside Japan is because it's so Japanese orientated.
Another cut-scene based game for the PS3? Wasn't MGS4 enough!? Gheez, I mean the thing has Blue Ray, there's your interactive movie right there.
The kanji helps me, but not enough. It's got a cool, 70's retro vibe that I like. I mean, it might not be 70's with the magical fighter and all, but the sideburns and butterfly collars sorta push it in that direction. :)
i've always liked the Yakuza series, not many people know of the recent Yakuza game set in feudal japan, i hope to see this released in europe. i know the first sure did. Obviously it wont be around any time soon. Always loved the fighting. Sick Piledriver!
For the first part of that trailer i couldnt help start singing the main tune to Sonny Chiba's The Street Fighter.
5 seconds of Japanese flash to kanji for 5 seconds... repeat.
I can't speak Japanese and I can't read Kanji, someone should come out with a translation.
I'd take Shenmue 3 EVERY day of the week but... please can this get localised for a Western release. I'd certainly buy it.
Shenmue 3?......no, oh.....okay, looks amazing regardless. Will it get translated and be brought out in the west?
TaintedSun,
A) It's called an extended TRAILOR
B) Blu-ray - Sony was the first console to use DVD's also, but I bet you have tons; so why hate on blu-ray.
C) Lets see some gameplay first before we decide that it's going to be a "cut-scene based game."
Man i love fanboy ignorance! Lets ignore all facts and reason because I have a hard-on for microsoft!
Oh, and before you retort with "Oh your name is blue, I could say the same thing to you sony fanboy". The PS3 is just the console I play the most. I like microsoft waaaay better than nintendo and the garbage they've been shoveling onto their system this year.
this looks so gay omg..........maybe itd help if i could understand it and words wouldnt come out of no where every 5 seconds
wow, that's 11 minutes of my life I could have used elsewhere. Maybe if I could read or speak Japanese it wouldn't be so incomprehensible.
Not that much kanji, mostly hiragana and katakana. I'm not fluent enough yet to read that fast but still interesting enough. I doubt they will release it in the US.
If you get a PS3 for one game...it's Metal Gear Solid 4. If you get it for 2 games, the other is LittleBigPlanet. But if you buy a PS3 and intend to buy 3 games (and you're 17+ years old) Yakuza 3 is that third game.
And on a side note, I wish the GB guys would actually play some of them so they would quit saying stuff like "I haven't played them" or "i don't understand this..." and stuff like that. RAARRGH!!
Everyone should go out and buy Yakuza 2 and make sure this game gets released out here. 2 has a great story and comprehensive recap of the first game, excellent gameplay, and one of the more satisfying endings I've seen in a game in the last few years. The minigames and sidequests alone are worth picking it up for, the story and fighting is cash money on top of a cake on top of a rolls royce.
I wouldn't mind giving this game a go. Would be nice to get some gameplay footage out there.
Interesting... the cut scenes sure look good, but the in game action sequence you see towards the end, not that great. Is this a sandbox game like GTA? Because i thought it had some open areas but not a entire city like GTA or Saints Row... With a smaller closed off area, you would expect the graphics to look a bit better IMO
If this will be available outside Japan i might pick it pick though.
"If you get a PS3 for one game...it's Metal Gear Solid 4. If you get it for 2 games, the other is LittleBigPlanet. But if you buy a PS3 and intend to buy 3 games (and you're 17+ years old) Yakuza 3 is that third game.I love your avatar. "BOOM BABY BOOM!! I'M THE CRAZY MIDNIGHT BOMBER WHO BOMBS AT MIDNIGHT!"
And on a side note, I wish the GB guys would actually play some of them so they would quit saying stuff like "I haven't played them" or "i don't understand this..." and stuff like that. RAARRGH!!"
I haven't tried the two previous Yakuza games, but I really want this to come out here so I can get some mileage out of my PS3.
The guys on the 1UP Show were talking about how the Yakuza games are the closest we'll get to Shenmue 3 and as a Shenmue fanatic I am stoked as hell.
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