Yakuza 3 was my first move to Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's depiction of the Japanese criminal underground. Released in Japan for PS3 as early as 2009 before landing on shelves all over the world a whole year later, it is still a highlight in the series thanks to its excellent characters, great stimulation and a cordial story that proved how much of a hero beloved protagonist Kazuma Kiryu really is.
It felt like the first time the Yakuza formula that we know it finally reached its step. A mixture of familiar but unorthodox environments to explore, each of which was full of sidestories expanded on the world and its inhabitants, shops that reflected real lives with high realism level and lots of bows for our hero to beat the living shit out. I couldn't get enough of what a teenager, the formula proved so wonderful that it would remain unchanged for over a decade until a dragon would redefine the series again.
And now the official RGG website seems to be accidentally leaked the presence of Yakuza Kiwami 3, probably a new recording of the 2009 classic in similar ways as the two Kiwami games that came before.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 must be more than just a new recording
The first two Kiwami titles reworked the Yakuza games that were first released on PS2 and were much more simplified in their interpretation of the fictional Kamurocho than future items. It was meaningful to modernize not only the game, but also the story and the world design. This is currently how the majority of modern audiences will experience these games, as the way to access the original versions is insurmountily expensive.
However, Yakuza 3 is another story. A remaster of the PS3 original was launched in 2021 for modern platforms and offers improved images, improved performance and even a number of restored features that were cut for the global edition during location. You can play and enjoy Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 quite easily this second, which asks for Kiwami 3 even is necessary.
If and when the RGG studio announces Yakuza Kiwami 3 as part of its upcoming summit on September 24, it must blow the doors and undermine our expectations. In fact, this should be the first remake to adopt the tour -based combat system in the newer main line.
Kazuma kiryu should leave her brake crops behind in Kiwami 3
It felt like the RGG studio drew a line in the sand with Yakuza: Like a dragon's release in 2020. In what was an extremely bold feature at that time, the beat 'EM-up battle was abandoned in previous titles in favor of a tour-based system more related to persona or final imagination. It fit by the new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and opened the door to the new enemy types and exaggerated special attacks that never hesitated when leaning to the absurd.
But on the other hand, games as an assessment, its sequel, the man who deleted his name, Pirat Yakuza in Hawaii and the upcoming stranger than heaven continues to embrace brutality in rapid, real -time battle while expanding on exactly what players can do with combinations, heat stiles and weapons. These games do not come anywhere, and I have zero concern that RGG will abandon this distinctive hold of battle ahead. So why not change Kiwami 3 and become tour -based?
There are more than enough memorable characters in Yakuza 3 who could occupy the role of party members, while I would love RGG to take creative freedoms with the story and may also introduce some new faces. If you will not leave Kazuma Kiryu behind and will continue to shake their stories, why not provide them with additional substance? I want to try to save Sunshine Orphanage and sabotage a deadly plot with friends by my side, and there is so much opportunity to portray in Kiwami 3 while I still stay believed in the source material.
Kiwami 2 has already added lots of new content that redefined the original in the form of Majima's saga, so this would simply be a case to take things even longer.
A change like this also gives a way to expand Kazuma Kiryus's character in his childhood through several new gaming mechanics and character interactions, instead of portraying him as a man who takes on a fight with no one by his side. The dragon from Dojima does not have to do it alone. It would be an opportunity to explore this story from a new perspective and with new systems in a world where the original vision is still easily accessible, so why not take any risks?
As a dragon: infinite wealth
5.0/5
- Published
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January 26, 2024
- ESRB
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M for mature 17+ because of blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, simulated play, strong language
- Developer
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Ryu ga gotoku studio
