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[The Headliner]

I've always said that, along with Heavy Rain, Yakuza 3 would be one of the only reasons for me to ever buy a PS3. But it seemed like they didn't want my money:

I just looked up the release date on Wikipedia, and read:

"According to a January 2009 interview with videogaming247's Mike Bowden, a western release is unlikely."

However, the Japanese release was only in February this year, and it took a whole 21 months for Yakuza 2 to make it to the West. Hopefully this one eventually follows suit, despite what they're apparently saying at the moment. But I wouldn't invest in a PS3 just in the hope that happens.

Later, a western release was even ruled out altogether by Sega. Picture my dismay. Until this morning...

Online retailers often make mistakes when listing new games.

Even so we'd be remiss not to mention that Amazon's German website has listed Yakuza 3 for release on March 12.

It has a 18 rating and a German voice option, so either someone at Amazon is trying to force fantasy into reality or Sega has got some good news to announce in the next few weeks.

I know it's foolish to get my hopes up, and it would be an expensive wish to come true, but dammit, I want this game. I can't justify getting a PS3 just for Hard Rain, but if Yakuza 3 hits these shores they'll have me by the short and curlies.

Come on Sega, if you won't give me a reason to spend all my cash on Sonic, then go ahead and raid my bank account for Kazuma Kiryu's latest exploits. And release that historical spin-off while you're at it.

[gungrave17]

i read something about this, and apparently there is a yakuza 4 coming out at japan,

[The Headliner]

Then they'd better get their acts together over here, or that'll be three we're missing out on already. And the movie!

[gungrave17]

i was reading the wiki on yakuza 3 and i saw some nice features on yakuza 3

Seamless Battle (シームレスバトル shimuresu batoru):
The Seamless Battle is a streaming data-based loading-free system that allow the game to directly connect the adventure mode and the battle mode (called "Kenka") without the usual loading black screen.
Chase Battle (チェイスバトル, cheisu batoru):
Chase Battle is a new battle mode which replaces the regular brawling (Kenka) with a running sequence set in a certain map. Both chaser and chased have a running gauge that decreases as the character runs and or is hurt by someone or something on his way. When the running gauge is empty the exhausted character stops the chase. Somewhere in the game a secondary character, the Afro-American Japanese Mack (マック, maku), will train Kiryu to improve his running performance.
Revelation (天啓, tenkei):
Revelation allows Kiryu Kazuma to learn new Heat Actions (ヒートアクション) in the adventure mode, it is rather similar to the system introduced in the previous game Ryu ga Gotoku: Kenzan !. This time Kiryu uses his cell phone built-in camera to record new moves and techniques. These are acquired through hints spotted in First Person View. Learned Heat Actions are posted on Kiryu's his personal blog, called Kamuroblog.
First Person View:
When pressing the Sixaxis/Dual Shock 3's R3 button during the adventure mode the standard third person view switches to a brand new first person view mode. This perspective allows a better observation of the streets and people as well as posters reading. First Person View is disabled in some indoor places.

[The Headliner]

That sounds cool. The first-person option brings it much more in line with Shenmue, which in a way is a spiritual ancestor of this series. The immediate battles will be much appreciated and the chase system sounds like it has potential.

Not sure what the camera phone system's all about, but it does sound more interesting than the standard training route.

Dammit, this game had better come out over here.

[The Headliner]

Japanese mafia head West

In yet more good news Yakuza 3 has been confirmed for release in the West next March, confirming earlier rumours.

Oddly it's Sony, rather than publisher Sega, who've confirmed the news though (the game's a PS3 exclusive).

There's no word on 17th century spin-off Yakuza Kenzan! but Yakuza 4, which like the rest of the games is set in the modern day, is due out in Japan on March 18. We're only a year behind.

[gungrave17]

thank god i bought ps3, fuck xbox 360, they have enough games to keep themselves happy

i cant fucking wait for this

[gungrave17]

 

hey heady, just to let you know, i dont know if psn europe will have this, but i just got the demo for yakuza 3

[The Headliner]

Have you had a go on it yet? What's it like?

I don't even have a PS3 yet, but when I do, the reaction to this game would have to be shockingly awful to keep me from buying it straight away.

[gungrave17]

not yet, cause im currently playing the heavy rain demo, its that fuckin awesome

[gungrave17]

okay ive played the game, i wouldnt download it if you havent finished yakuza 2, it might spoil you

one thing i liked is the revelation mode, even though theres only 2 of them in the demo, its still fun to watch drunk horny asian workers get beat up by high school girls

[The Headliner]

okay ive played the game, i wouldnt download it if you havent finished yakuza 2, it might spoil you

Thanks for the warning.

one thing i liked is the revelation mode, even though theres only 2 of them in the demo, its still fun to watch drunk horny asian workers get beat up by high school girls

What's this about? Unless it spoils the plot of course, but it sounds like a game mode.

[gungrave17]

its when kazuma learns new moves through his cellphone, he captures the video of whatever is happening around him, and then there is a button sequence and then it will show how the move is like i said, high school girls beating drunk horny business man, i dont think any of this is a spoiler, i think its just a feature

[The Headliner]

Oh yeah, I remember reading about that cellphone gimmick now. If I was caught filming high school girls like that I'd be arrested.

[The Headliner]

There's a collector's edition of Yakuza 3 that sounds pretty good for fans:

Bundled along with the game itself will be a 31-song soundtrack, an interactive "beginner's guide" to the history and relationships of the series' characters (very handy considering few people will have played the preceding games) and four pieces of Downloadable content for the title included on the disc.

I'm tempted to preorder, even though I don't have a machine to play it on.