All things Yakuza/Like a Dragon! - new games announced

[womblingfree]

Just finished Yakuza 2. Absolutely the best game I played in the last year easily. So many stand-out moments;

getting attacked by a fetishist in a diaper, wooing an old-lady, talking down a suicidal-lover, what I can only assume is being wanked off in a massage parlour, throwing people off bridges/into sushi-shop windows, solving mysterious video riddles, getting addicted to gambling, learning about drinks from all over the world

, etc, etc.

And all of that wrapped up in a story that while quite bonkers in parts is acted out better than any other videogame I can think of. The final end-game's a masterclass in how to ratchet up the tension, build emotional response and keep you guessing. While at the same time having a touch of the Scooby-Doo's about it. The very last fight pisses on every Metal Gear end-game punch-up ever.

40 hours completion and still less than half the side-quests and gubbins completed. Think I'll go back and mop-up those missions along with those of the first game as well.

Fantastic to see Sega and Nagoshi keep going with such a great franchise. Suda 51 played 'Masked Yakuza' according to the credits.

[Beertiger]

No pics of the Yakuza PS3?

I do want.

[moosegrinder]

Sweet mercy. That's lovely.

I started Yakuza (the first one) on recommendation from Preacher and Saberman. It makes my eye's hurt I dunno if I can play PS2 games anymore because I've been spoiled by 'next gen'. Still, twatting people with golf clubs was extraordinarily satisfying. Is the atrocious voice acting gone form the second one (like they did with Shenmue II as in just sub the Japanese voice actors)? Sorry if this has been covered, I'm assuming the thread is spoilerific.

[MW_Jimmy]

Sweet mercy. That's lovely.

I started Yakuza (the first one) on recommendation from Preacher and Saberman. It makes my eye's hurt I dunno if I can play PS2 games anymore because I've been spoiled by 'next gen'. Still, twatting people with golf clubs was extraordinarily satisfying. Is the atrocious voice acting gone form the second one (like they did with Shenmue II as in just sub the Japanese voice actors)? Sorry if this has been covered, I'm assuming the thread is spoilerific.

Yes.

Its subtitled.

Started playing Yakuza 2 this week and feel a lot more comfortable with it than the first. Maybe because I expect stupid plot twists this time around. But the script just seems better all round - Less confusing and more believable.

The new activities are pretty good too with Bowling being the highlight (miles better than GTAIV representation).

My only criticism is the reuse of the city from the first game. I've already know it ffs!

Still, solid stuff.

[womblingfree]

No pics of the Yakuza PS3?

I do want.

Great find!

Sweet mercy. That's lovely.

I started Yakuza (the first one) on recommendation from Preacher and Saberman. It makes my eye's hurt I dunno if I can play PS2 games anymore because I've been spoiled by 'next gen'.

Stick with it. I hardly noticed it after a while. The cut-scene acting as well is leagues above anything on next-gen, GTAIV take note. At least it is in II, can't remember the first one so well. II definitely benefits from subtitles in that department.

[moosegrinder]

This is it, I find a lot of dubbed Japanese stuff is 18 million times worse than if it's subbed (Persona 3 is one exception for me). I mean, you've got Mark Hamill and Michael Madsen in Yakuza and it's just awful. Well, shonky at any rate.

[BacklashCop]

http://kotaku.com/5132680/sega-currently-d...r-north-america

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mr. Gerbik]

Sega doesn't know if it can be arsed to release Yakuza 3 in the west

From kotaku: SEGA told site PS3Center.net: "We currently don't know what the future of the Yakuza franchise is for North America."

I still assume that it will be released over here, but that Sega is even slightly undecided shows that they really don't have a clue. Good thing the PS3 is region free then, but I'd really like a version with english subs plz.

[moosegrinder]

Depressing, no? If they can release Valkyria Chronicles they can release this, the cunts. Saying that, that's prolly why they don't want to release it

[Sabreman]

I'm keeping the faith!

[cassidy]

I'm keeping the faith!

Me too.

[moosegrinder]

Stick with it. I hardly noticed it after a while. The cut-scene acting as well is leagues above anything on next-gen, GTAIV take note. At least it is in II, can't remember the first one so well. II definitely benefits from subtitles in that department.

I'm struggling with the first game. I like the fighting bits but they (so far) only seem to take up 10% of the game, with the other 90% divided between running about and cut scenes. Admittedly, I've only played about 2 hours (ish, could be a bit less) but it's just not grabbing me. I'll stick with it a bit longer, but it's not looking good.

[Mr. Gerbik]

Sega are a bunch of useless fucks: Sega: No plans for Yakuza 3 Western release

Quote: when we asked Sega if it was on its way West, a company rep replied: “Not that I know of.”

It's just one rep and maybe they're waiting to make an official announcement at a later date, but still I'm getting increasingly worried because Yakuza 3 is by far the PS3 game I'm most looking forward to in 2009 and although the game is region free my Japanese is nowhere near good enough to properly enjoy the game

[Sabreman]

Quite frankly it's the reason my PS3 exists, gaming-wise.

[GViper]

Sega are a bunch of useless fucks: Sega: No plans for Yakuza 3 Western release

Quote: when we asked Sega if it was on its way West, a company rep replied: “Not that I know of.”

It's just one rep and maybe they're waiting to make an official announcement at a later date, but still I'm getting increasingly worried because Yakuza 3 is by far the PS3 game I'm most looking forward to in 2009 and although the game is region free my Japanese is nowhere near good enough to properly enjoy the game

Indeed, same for me, and Yakuza Japanese is hardly Japanese at all! It's bloody weird >_<

[Kevvy Metal]

SONYLOL.

Well not really....more SEGAWTF!!

Literally the most anticipated of PS3 games, for me at least and it's not getting translated.

FUCKING HELL!

[mr_woo]

Jesus fucking christ Sega, you've got what looks to be easily one of the PS3's best and prettiest games (apart from KZ2 of course), you should be translating that mother fucker right now.

Hell maybe they are, maybe it's one company rep who doesn't know shit but unfortunately I have a bad feeling it's going to be a long wait.

Don't ruin my dreams of both Kenzan and 3 please!

[womblingfree]

SEGAWTF!!

Literally the most anticipated of PS3 games, for me at least and it's not getting translated.

FUCKING HELL!

1 & 2 hardly did any business in the West did they? Despite being some of the best PS2 games released.

I wouldn't give up on a translation for Kenzan and 3! We just need some kind hearted publisher to pick it up. But in these times of everyone going tits up what's the incentive to spend money on a game that might only sell to the people in this thread? Who knows, maybe there'll be a way to patch subs into Jpn releases someday.

Where's a petition I can sign? Half a million should do it.

[Preacher]

I'm 100% certain that Yakuza 3 will get a western release.

[mr_woo]

Somebody contact Atlus, they could at least release this in the US!

[BacklashCop]

I'm 100% certain that Yakuza 3 will get a western release.

How come?

[moosegrinder]

He has faith

[Preacher]

1 & 2 hardly did any business in the West did they? Despite being some of the best PS2 games released.

I think you've gotta ask why 2 was released when the original did so miserably.

But in these times of everyone going tits up what's the incentive to spend money on a game that might only sell to the people in this thread?

Compared to the cost of actually making a game, localising a pre-existing (and very successful) one costs peanuts. I bet the only reason Yakuza 2 took so long to come out was because Sega hired one person to translate it. Hell, even if Sega are required to deliver an english language track for Yakuza 3 (as they were with 1, thanks to Sony's silly localisation policies), it still wouldn't amount to a significant expenditure.

Sega would be absolutely barking mad not to release Yakuza 3 in this country, let alone the west as a whole, so that's why it'll happen. Maybe not this year or even 2010, but it'll happen.

[womblingfree]

even if Sega are required to deliver an english language track for Yakuza 3 (as they were with 1, thanks to Sony's silly localisation policies), it still wouldn't amount to a significant expenditure.

Why was it required in 1 but not in 2? 2's by far the better game because of the original actors.

I'll stick with it a bit longer, but it's not looking good.

Stick with it! This is a 20+ hour game remember. I actually shelved the first one for about 6 months when I was around 4hours in and returned to it during a gaming drought. Very glad I did.

[Sabreman]

I think they were just expecting the first one to make more of a spash in the west, but didn't it turn up about the same time as the first wave of really impressive 360 titles (Gears etc.) and also the imminent launch of the PS3? I think it just got buried. Plus, I don't think people really knew anything about it. Certainly when it turned up at work I initially assumed it was some GTA knock-off and didn't give it any more attention.

The second one suffered from being a PS2 game that came out two years late, and... being a PS2 game. (I say suffered, but only in a public perception sense, nothing to do with its quality).

I still think Yakuza 3 will make it to the west eventually, they just don't seem to be in too much of a rush about it. Much like they weren't with 2.

[Ren]

1 & 2 hardly did any business in the West did they? Despite being some of the best PS2 games released.

Sega didn't exactly marked the games in the west either, they just kinda came out. Just like with most good Dreamcast games they can't really expect them to sell when hardly anyone knows about them

Yakuza kenzan and 3 was the main reason i bought a PS3

[Vemsie]

I'm optimistic it will come out, but we'll probably have to wait awhile. Which is a shame as this looks to be one of the best games of the year. That combat trailer is all kinds of ace.

[Kinketsu]

The website ryu-ga-gotoku.com has been updating like crazy the past couple of days. A few of the newer trailers are on Gametrailers too, but there's also little area guides etc on the site. The newest trailer also reveals a few plot points like

Daigo doesn't die in the shooting as the first trailer would have you believe, and that the guy who looks like Kazama isn't him, because he doesn't recognise Kiryu

.

Only one month to go now, boys! But I won't be able to pick up a copy up till I go over in March Anyone got a preorder import down? First one to get it has to post impressions / pics!

EDIT As for the "Will they won't they" release stuff, I still think that Yakuza 3 has a good chance and Kenzan probably won't come out. Yakuza 3 is a big pretty PS3 game, it's up to date, both of the previous games were released, so considering the interest, I think it will come out eventually, maybe for Christmas 2009. It probably still won't sell well unless all the websites hype it, but I think it has a fairly good chance.

Kenzan though is a bit of an oddity and there's much less interested in it versus 3, both at the time it was announced and carrying on till now. So I think importing is your only option for that one if you want to play it at all. The game is now in the Playstation Best range going for about 15 quid. Obviously I hope I'm wrong and that they bring over both of them but realisticly I think it'll only be Y3, and that's being lucky.

[Robo_1]

I'd be very surprised (not to mention gutted) if Y3 didn't make it over for a western release. The cost of translation vs potential sales must make pretty good financial sense, even if they only did a text translation and put it for download on the PSN, instead of a full retail release.

The comment from Sega is exactly what it is, they have no plans yet. Let them finish and release the game in its intended market, and only then will they make any sort of decision on future releases. Personally I remain hopeful.

[Mr. Gerbik]

I would also be very surprised if they didn't release Y3 over here, but because it's one of my most anticipated games I can't help but worry when Sega says stuff like that. Also, it's Sega we're talking about here, they're known to do something stupid/silly on a regular basis.

Christmas 2009 would be great though, and I wouldn't mind if it only had subtitles to make it cheaper to release in the West