70°

Yakuza 3: Visit the 'real' Kamurocho

Yakuza 3 is set in the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho, but is it really fictional? Classy Gamer guides the reader in an extensive virtual tour of Kabukicho, the real red-light district of the Shinjuku Ward that inspired Toshihiro Nagoshi and his team while creating the Yakuza series.

A side-by-side pictorial trip between overlapping neon signs, massage parlors, hostess bars and love hotels in the real-world stronghold of the Yakuza.

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classygamer.blogspot.com
zerocool33975130d ago

That's class. Just shows how much detail has been added. Not exactly 100% but close enough

KILLERAPP5130d ago

Can’t afford going to Japan, play Yakuse 3 and see Japan…

SaiyanFury5130d ago

Way to quote my PSN comment, Thanatos. :P

Yakuza 3 really does kick ass. It's so close to the real thing that it's almost a virtual tour of Kabuki-chou. Every time I come back to Kamuro-chou, I love it all over again. Come on SEGA, you brought Yakuza 3 out. It's almost time to bring out part 4 over here. Bring out the International Edition!

spunnups5130d ago

I have got to pick this game up. I hear it's a GTA type game mixed with Tekken fighting style and a ton of mini games.

Abriael5130d ago

Personally, I prefer it to GTA. The story is more engrossing, and expecially the characters (even the villains) are much better flashed out and likeable. Kazuma Kiryu is much easier to relate to than Nico Bellic.
Though, the game is similar to GTA in themes and in the fact you can roam the city freely, but it's a whole different beast gameplay-wise :D
better or worse, depends on your tastes.

AKS5130d ago (Edited 5130d ago )

The fighting is more like a 3D Streets of Rage or Final Fight than Tekken. The fighting system is awesome and deep. You can use almost anything as a weapon.

The "Japanese GTA" assumptions are a bit misleading because Yakuza 3 is part role playing game. You get experience points and money from winning random battles and can gradually upgrade your character with more health, new moves, ect.

The sidequest are awesome because they can draw you in so you usually actually want to do them. Someone's beating up homeless people or kidnapping women? Time to smash that fool upside the head with a bicycle or traffic cone! Or it could be finding a lady's lost cat or helping a kid being bullied at school. You're usually either doing a good deed or just delivering a good beatdown to creep who deserves it.

There's also some really quirky Japanese humor involved that had me LOLing a lot. It's a terrific game.

spunnups5130d ago

^^you def just sold me on Yakuza, sounds better than I envisioned it to be

Abriael5130d ago

It's definitely, at least in my opinion, one of the best franchises the Japanese market has to offer at the moment.

if only Sega west decided to support it better...

ThanatosDMC5130d ago

Make sure you visit the Purgatory underground and play in the arenas. Watch out for that shoalin monk kid or else he'll kill you in a flash.

I underestimated him and paid dearly... lost my 100% winning streak.

AKS5130d ago (Edited 5130d ago )

@ spunnups

I tried to give you a more accurate description of what it's like, but it's tough to describe because there's nothing else quite like it. Shenmue is another game that it is frequently compared to.

You should know that it starts off very slow and eases you into the action. Early in the game you'll be exploring a relatively safe area in Okinawa and will help resolve problems for the locals and your children in the orphanage. It's actually a pretty good game for people new to the series in the way it's set up. It picks up in pace as you progress through the story, but there are always sidequests and minigames you can do if you just want to mess around and explore. There are also lots of hidden collectable items to find.

BTW, one thing that might feel a bit awkward if you haven't played the game before is the camera when you change directions in combat. Just get used to tapping L2 to instantly reset the camera when you turn around and it won't bother you anymore. Otherwise it's great. There are all sorts of crazy finishing moves in the game you gradually learn and unlock over time.

There are random battles just like many Japanese RPGs, so it's amusing to see the reasons the thugs give for attacking you. They'll say they don't like that you are drunk, accuse you of bumping into them and breaking their cell phone, or occasionally even say they are simply having a terrible day and want to fight to take it out on you. :)

ThanatosDMC5129d ago

The best start up fight is when Kiryu and an enemy start banging heads... that was surprising and its awesomeness left me smiling after i kicked the guys ass.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 5129d ago
Redempteur5130d ago

this page sucked a lot of bandwitch ... they shoul have used pictures on their servers
but anyway nice to see that some studio don't hesitate to copy real life

Abriael5130d ago

Yep, I know it's pretty heavy loading, but that's the only way to have the 3D view that lets you cam around the place.
In the end I weighed the two options and decided for this one. Takes a while to load, but it's more fun to explore :D

Saeveth5130d ago

This is awesome. I need this game since I can't afford to go to Japan. Yet.

50°

Best villains in video games

GF365: "For a story to be compelling and engaging, a great villain is mandatory in most cases – be it a novel, movie, or video game. Of course, there’s a multitude of wonderful, brilliantly written villains in video games. Do keep in mind that this is our opinion. So, here’s our list of the best villains in video games, ranked in no particular order. We’re limiting our list to games since 2005."

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gamefreaks365.com
Leeroyw508d ago

Handsome Jack Borderlands 2
Andrew Ryan Bioshock
Vaas Montenegro far cry 3
Glados portal 2
My internet connection

507d ago
Terry_B507d ago (Edited 507d ago )

No List of good Villains in Video Games is complete without Handsome Jack and Geese Howard. In other words..this list is bs.

507d ago
HyperMoused504d ago

Would love a modern fear game

260°

8 Yakuza games coming to PlayStation Plus in 2022, starting this month

Includes Yakuza: Like A Dragon and the entire  Kazuma Kiryu saga.

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blog.playstation.com
Majin-vegeta629d ago

I already own all these digital+physical.So good to see more people will get to enjoy them.

Wonder why Fist of North Star isnt being added

italiangamer628d ago

Because it's not a Yakuza game, simple as that.

CrimsonWing69628d ago

Yep, licensing fees and whatnot.

RpgSama628d ago

So excited about the next Yakuza Like a Dragon I enjoyed that game much more than I thought K would have, went and got the platinum and everything.

IMissJimRyan628d ago

Yeah. I played them on GamePass, but it's good to others play those games.

Mobis-New-Nest628d ago

I'm still wondering why Horizon Forbidden West Delux Edition hasn't been added yet. Still hopeful it might get added in September 2022. Come Sony, do the smart business move and add all your first party games Day 1 on PlayStation Plus Premium.

mkis007628d ago (Edited 628d ago )

How is that smart? you just admitted to want to spend $18 for one month whenever a game comes out rather than $70 per game? Their sales are perfectly fine so low sales isn't a valid reason. Relying on subscription numbers is a losing game. You can't guarantee enough people will sub. 20 million subs doesn't beat 10 million copies sold at $30. (my average of the cost of a game over 3 years) For one game you make 300 million vs for the sub plan at 20 million paying 10 dollars a month (200 million) you have to pay out to all those developers before you can even count your money.

No chance it comes to plus plus this year. It will come when sales die down.

SeTTriP628d ago

This is a dumb idea for a franchise thats almost certain to hit 10mil lifetime.they would lose 10's if not a hundred million dollars.

Two years from now when the horizons, ghost and gow's do come to the service xbox might be in trouble.they have nothing to compete with this line even years down the line.

Its called strategy.

SeTTriP628d ago

I just brought judgement the game is great don't know how I missed it so now I'm planning on buying all the yakuza games so this is great for me.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 628d ago
andy85628d ago

It's early days but this new service is looking better and better. The full Yakuza series! And with the monthly games this month too. Fantastic month

Muigi628d ago

Never played any of them, good excuse now to try these out.

SegaSaturn669628d ago

That was the only Yakuza game I was missing. Might be the best month of all time for me.

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180°

Every Yakuza Game Ranked

With RGG in the mainstream spotlight, about to complete their first simultaneous worldwide release, let's take a look back and rank the Yakuza games.

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techraptor.net
neutralgamer1992980d ago

I just could not get into like a dragon I love Yakuza series but when they went with turn based combat it just was not for me. I hope future entries go back to its original roots or at least every now and then have a game where is real Time brawler combat

We do have judgement so at least there are other similar games being made by same developers

Yi-Long980d ago

I liked most of the Yakuza games I’ve played, and I (mostly) did enjoy the new direction they took with ‘Like a Dragon’ and its new fighting system. It was a welcome change of pace. Its JRPG turn-based fighting system wasn’t perfect, but it was a good first attempt on which they can expand and build. Didn’t like the damage-sponge boss-fights though, which felt more like a chore instead of tactically taking out your opponent.

Deathdeliverer980d ago

I’m sorry but no way is like a dragon better than Yakuza 0, 4,5, or 6. It’s different with a lighter hearted tone a lot of times. Plenty of slapstick and jokes. It literally feels like a DLC compared to the main Yakuza games. Unless you simply don’t like action games maybe… but going through the underground arenas, fighting the mini bosses randomly on the streets on different games for money or exp (like the guy in the gold suit for example). Not to mention the mini games, which Like a dragon has some too, but not as good as most other Yakuzas. Maybe it’s because I’ve been playing Yakuza from the beginning. It’s like the metal gear rpg/card collector that was on PSP or Vita. It was a cool game and a lot of fun, but it wasn’t a METAL GEAR. It was fun for what it was. I don’t believe this person actually played through all the Yakuzas. Probably gamepassed like a dragon and dabbled in the others to get an idea.

neutralgamer1992980d ago

Yakuza 4 is such an underrated game and zero is what made the series have legit string foot outside of Japan

Like a dragon in my opinion isn't on the same category quality wise. It's story and characters aren't as interesting

isarai980d ago

Same, been there since the first on PS2, but you're gonna get a lot of disagrees. Many people defending Yakuza 7 weren't fans of the previous games, or only dabbled, and they seem to outweigh diehard fans like you and me. So it's pretty much like trying to shout over a crowd. This is what the Yakuza series is from now on, Judgement is our compromise, but it seems even that is in the air lately given some behind the scenes conflict apparently.

Darkwatchman980d ago

I literally started with 0 in and Kiwami in 2017, then played Kiwami 2 when it dropped. And had 6 sitting and waiting on my shelf until after the collection of 3-5 dropped. Then I ran through 3-6 in one massive continuous marathon. I’m sorry that i think Like a Dragon is one of the best ones and that having the same combat for 8000 games got repetitive and it was a breath of fresh air to get an actual change?

I welcome franchises taking risks and like a dragon was a massive risk that paid off. Like the article states, it fits the Yakuza brand of humor extremely well with regard to enemy types and their attacks/skills. Also, it’s incredibly reductive to call this a “DLC”. How can it just be a DLC when it’s an entirely different genre as opposed to more of the same. If you want to make the “it’s just a DLC” argument, that would apply more to Judgment, which is just more of the traditional Yakuza gameplay.

You maybe just don’t like turn-based gameplay, which is fine. I like all kinds of games. I’m sorry that my view of game genres isn’t so narrow?

Sayai jin980d ago

There are a few I haven't played so I am replaying and playing through them now on GP.

MadLad980d ago

Same.
Gamepass really let me get into the series.

Sayai jin980d ago

Same here. I started some of the games in the series when we lived in Japan, but was super busy so I never finished. When I saw the series land on GP., I started from thr first and working my way through them.

CDbiggen980d ago

I did like Like a Dragon, it kept the feel of the games, but I got bored of the combat about halfway in. It was the easiest RPG I've ever played.
If I remember correctly - Eri, lower defence move for all. Ichiban - Mega bat. Every fight over in seconds.

andy85980d ago

True Final Millennium Tower for the Platinun was certainly tricky

Imalwaysright980d ago

I'm currently playing Yakuza 0 and so far it's the best game I played this year.

Urrakia34980d ago

I started it about a month ago and was immediately impressed by the cutscenes, characters, and the story got me hooked quite literally from the beginning. Been playing it on and off lately but definitely one of the best games I've played in a while. It's one of those that make me feel dumb for not jumping into the series sooner, pleasantly surprised.

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