Yakuza 3

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Looks like Yakuza 3 is finally coming to North American and Europe. Woot!

Sega.

[SegaFan]

Old news, but I'm glad you brought it up as this is my most wanted game of 2010 at the moment. There's not enough interest in this series other than in Japan and too many people are missing out considering how good it is. Nothing much else to say other than this is obviously an instant first day purchase for me, just like Yakuza 2 was but now on current-gen hardware here's hoping more people will buy it this time.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by SegaFan

Old news, but I'm glad you brought it up as this is my most wanted game of 2010 at the moment. There's not enough interest in this series other than in Japan and too many people are missing out considering how good it is. Nothing much else to say other than this is obviously an instant first day purchase for me, just like Yakuza 2 was but now on current-gen hardware here's hoping more people will buy it this time.

I knew it was old, but then I remembered we don't get a regular Sony feed here despite having a decent number of PS3 owners relative to the overall size of the community, so I thought some folks might want to know about this one.

Personally, I've never played a Yakuza game, though I keep being tempted by the used copies I see in various stores. Now that this is coming out, I think I'm going to prove your theory correct—I'd prefer to get into the series on current hardware, and then move back from there.

****, March though... I don't know why they'd hold the game back from North American release only to eventually decide to release it in the busiest month full of heavy-hitters in recent memory.

[SegaFan]

I know what you mean by March, I don't know how that will translate for Europe but there is definitely too high a number of important games in the first half of this year. For me, one game will take priority over all of them and that's going to be Yakuza 3. But as people don't realise how good this series is, I hope they remember to get around to playing it.

Personally, I've never played a Yakuza game, though I keep being tempted by the used copies I see in various stores. Now that this is coming out, I think I'm going to prove your theory correct—I'd prefer to get into the series on current hardware, and then move back from there.

I don't normally say this but fortunately, if the second game is anything to go by, you're pretty safe starting the series half way through. The events of the first and second game had enough distance between them to not matter too much (completely unlike Shenmue, which Yakuza is often compared to), I don't know anything about Yakuza 3's story but hopefully it would be the same. At worst you'll spoil the story if you ever wanted to go back and play 1 and 2. Unless of course you were thinking of getting the first 2 games in the meantime, which I'd highly recommend as well.

[Mickeymac]

Aren't they already making Yakuza 4?

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by Mickeymac

Aren't they already making Yakuza 4?

Probably. We're getting Y3 pretty late in the game (i.e. it's been out in Japan for a while now). Add the time it takes to complete Y4 and the delay between the Japanese launch and its NA release, and you have a pretty decent wait between games.

[PoisonRamune]

Superb voice acting, redubbed in english, eh? They better say "You're a rucky rucky man." or "I rike the flied lice" at least once in game.

[SegaFan]

Aren't they already making Yakuza 4?

Due out in March this year, in Japan. All Yakuza games have taken a long time to be released outside Japan but better late than never.

Originally Posted by PoisonRamune

Superb voice acting, redubbed in english, eh? They better say "You're a rucky rucky man." or "I rike the flied lice" at least once in game.

Fortunately, like Yakuza 2, Yakuza 3 will be subtitled not dubbed. From the press release:

Yakuza 3 will feature full English subtitling, whilst retaining the outstanding voice acting from the original Japanese version of the game to create an authentic and immersive experience.