For a lot of followers, Yakuza 3 would have been their gateway to the collection when it first launched again in 2010 for the PS3 — however returning to it now, and even booting up the PS4 remaster, highlights a great deal of older design parts which have aged somewhat poorly.
And so this basic Yakuza expertise has been handed the Kiwami remedy; Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a closely modernised remake, rebuilt within the Dragon Engine.
It incorporates a reworked fight system that falls consistent with the sooner, flashier motion of Like a Dragon Gaiden and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. It is received new cutscenes and boss battles in a bid to flesh out varied components of the story. And it is full of further, non-compulsory actions that’ll eat away at your free time earlier than you already know it.
It additionally bolts on a completely new growth known as Darkish Ties — however we’ll get round to that later.
Broadly talking, we predict Kiwami 3 is among the best-playing Yakuza video games but… Nevertheless it’s additionally going to go down as probably the most controversial.
If you have not performed Yakuza 3 earlier than, then we dare say that the remake’s alterations will not hassle you all that a lot. However for the purists, and those that are already closely invested within the bigger Like a Dragon universe, the modifications that Kiwami 3 makes could seem questionable at finest — and deeply disappointing at worst.
Let’s begin with the plot, which retains one of many collection’ strongest storylines, up till some extent.
After the damaging occasions of Yakuza 2, face-of-the-franchise Kazuma Kiryu lastly tries to distance himself from Japan’s felony underworld, and takes over an orphanage down in sunny Okinawa.
He is dwelling and loving his most peaceable life, serving to an lovable group of children discover their method on this planet. One of many narrative’s best strengths is it exhibits a really caring, human aspect of the stoic protagonist, and Kiryu’s relationship along with his expensive orphans is properly realised.
Kiwami 3 expands considerably on this idyllic existence by introducing a full aspect marketing campaign made up of enjoyable minigames and interactions that’ll pull at your coronary heart strings.
Not solely are the children given extra room to breathe as characters, Kiryu’s complete orphanage arc is allowed to maneuver alongside at its personal tempo, separate from the primary story. Which means the sport’s infamously sluggish opening is not a menace to the general pacing, and also you’re free to indulge within the quieter aspect of the sport everytime you like.
However as you may need guessed, Kiryu’s period of peace and quiet would not final, and it is solely a few chapters till he is thrust again into the murky politics of his beloved Tojo clan.
His popularity as a legendary yakuza now coming again to hang-out him, he is caught in a government-level conspiracy that contrasts completely along with his newfound life on the orphanage.
The broader setup and the institution of Yakuza 3’s key gamers was and nonetheless is incredible. The sport’s first half is filled with intrigue and excellent introductions, as Kiryu hops between the delightfully sunny shores of Okinawa and the dirty, well-worn streets of Kamurocho.
Nevertheless, the second half of the narrative does start to stumble. To Kiwami 3’s credit score, its new cutscenes, whereas few in quantity, do deliver some precious context to the desk — however they cannot fairly cease the latter chapters from feeling a little bit rushed and, at occasions, anticlimactic.
Nonetheless, all of it leads as much as a powerful, usually barnstorming end, full with a number of the most iconic brawls in collection historical past.
Sadly, although, that is additionally the place followers might take difficulty. We can’t spoil something right here, however some fairly vital modifications have been made to the core story. In fact, we’re a bit torn on them; the modifications can really feel pointless, however on the similar time, they don’t seem to be completely misplaced given the scope of the remake.
However what in regards to the recasts? Properly, a number of primary characters have been stripped of their outdated appears, and primarily remade with new actors.
First up, there’s Rikiya, a younger Okinawan yakuza who endears himself to Kiryu early on. He is now portrayed by Present Kasamatsu, who places in a high quality efficiency — however we simply discovered ourselves asking why such a recognisable character needed to be recast and subsequently remodelled (apart from to contain a comparatively fashionable actor within the challenge, in fact).
The factor is, Rikiya remains to be Rikiya. He is nonetheless a naive and infrequently bumbling sidekick, besides now he is received the appears of a way more critical man. Standing subsequent to Mikio, his comedic associate in crime who hasn’t been recast and nonetheless appears like a cartoon character, it creates a jarring distinction, particularly in the event you’re conversant in the unique Yakuza 3.
Then there’s the recasting of Hamazaki, one of many recreation’s pivotal villains. It is a much more significant recast in that Hamazaki’s character has been altered on a basic stage; he is now downright devious in his mannerisms, shedding his bulkier body for that of a shorter gangster and grasp manipulator. He is very a lot been reworked into the ‘brains’ behind the unhealthy guys.
We occur to essentially like this revised tackle Hamazaki, who all the time did appear just a bit misplaced within the unique plot, given his stature.
However these positives are nearly actually going to be scrutinised due to Hamazaki’s new actor, Teruyuki Kagawa. A well-known face in his homeland, Kagawa is nice within the position, but it surely’s onerous to disregard the truth that he was discovered responsible of sexual misconduct a number of years in the past, and was nonetheless forged in a recreation that, on a number of events, portrays sexual harassment as a really despicable act.
It is the form of surrounding controversy that weighs on a bit of leisure, and a few gamers merely will not be capable of look previous it each time Hamazaki’s on-screen.
For us, the modifications and recasts did not spoil the expertise — however we might completely perceive in the event you felt otherwise. It is an enormous disgrace that an in any other case nice remake is held again by such questionable choices — and that is with out even mentioning the ridiculous elimination of Yakuza 3 Remastered from digital storefronts, exterior of pricy collections.
Anyway, let’s get again to the gameplay, which once more, we predict is amongst the most effective within the franchise.
Fight is well the most important glow-up when evaluating to the unique launch. Kiryu now appears like Gaiden Kiryu: speedy, snappy, and packing some hilariously highly effective, ragdoll-inflicting blows.
There is a good diploma of depth to the system, as Kiryu’s trademark Dragon of Dojima model options an array of charged assaults, combo extensions, and brutal finishers. We’re tempted to say that that is essentially the most enjoyable Kiryu has ever been to play as, but it surely’s a detailed name.
And the purists might not prefer it, however good dodges are as soon as once more an all-important mechanic, permitting Kiryu to evade nearly any form of incoming assault and retaliate at velocity.
Do these modernised dodges make Yakuza really feel much less like an old style beat-’em-up and extra like a generic motion recreation? In all probability, however they’re nonetheless satisfying to tug off and so they’re clearly right here to remain.
What nearly actually is not right here to remain is Kiryu’s second and model new preventing model. Impressed by conventional Okinawan martial arts, the Ryukyu model sees our beefy hero cycle by means of completely different sorts of melee weapons to type a slower, extra technical strategy to battle.
The idea is cool, and giving Kiryu a defend, which permits for tremendous satisfying good blocks and parries, is a masterstroke — however the moveset as an entire does really feel a bit cobbled collectively.
Once more, completely different weapon sorts are mapped to completely different buttons, and Kiryu’s simply whipping them out of nowhere. The animations look uneven at occasions, and though we like the thought of having the ability to swap between armaments to go well with the scenario — reminiscent of having the ability to break an opponent’s guard with knuckleduster-like tekko — the Ryukyu model by no means feels as balanced as Kiryu’s basic stance.
Having stated that, it is nonetheless good to have some selection, and you are able to do some attention-grabbing issues by switching types mid-combo. We’re positive that hardcore Yakuza followers will uncover every kind of loopy stuff to mess around with.
And it is value experimenting, as a result of a meaty chunk of Kiwami 3 is devoted to a combat-focused aspect exercise, hilariously named Unhealthy Boy Dragon.
Launched within the early hours, the non-compulsory quest duties Kiryu with serving to out an area Okinawan road gang. Throughout the map, you will discover potential recruits being harassed by thugs from a rival group, and it can save you them by participating in an enormous ol’ road brawl.
Development is easy however very efficient: you collect allies by means of skirmishes or aspect tales, stage them up by accompanying them in fight, after which problem more and more tough opposition in Turf Wars — that are principally big battles that would not appear misplaced in a Dynasty Warriors title.
It is sensible enjoyable, if a little bit repetitive afterward, and it is a good way to bolster Kiryu’s fight prowess for the primary story.
So, the excellent news is that Kiwami 3’s a largely nice remake, however the even higher information is that Darkish Ties completes the package deal.
Primarily an growth that is bundled along with Kiwami 3, Darkish Ties places the highlight on Yoshitaka Mine — one of many recreation’s major antagonists.
Mine’s all the time been a well-liked villain amongst followers, however we might say that Darkish Ties elevates him to being one of many collection’ most intriguing personalities. This second marketing campaign begins off earlier than the occasions of Yakuza 3, and exhibits us simply how Mine managed to drive his method into the yakuza life.
It is a fairly brief tour; simply blasting by means of the primary story beats will take you round 10 hours or so, however there’s a number of non-compulsory busywork — and a few entertaining aspect quests — on supply in the event you’re wanting to spend extra time in Mine’s costly sneakers.
For what it is value, we noticed nearly the whole lot Darkish Ties has going for it in round 20 hours — and there’s a New Recreation+ possibility if you wish to do all of it once more.
Mine’s swift however bone-breaking preventing model is an edgy delight, but it surely’s actually the narrative aspect of Darkish Ties that stunned and impressed us essentially the most.
As alluded, it provides Mine a lot extra depth with reference to his motivations and private struggles; we’re unsure it does sufficient to make him a sympathetic character, but it surely does an excellent job of establishing his position in the primary recreation.
And let’s face it, simply having the ability to play as an precise unhealthy man in a Yakuza recreation is a dream come true.
