The Yakuza franchise has been extremely successful in Japan. It is, in essence, the east’s answer to GTA and though it hasn’t seen the same level of success in the west that’s enjoyed in Japan, there’s still a strong following here.
But can the game really match up to GTA’s grandeur and open world do-what-you-like signature that has made it one of the most enjoyed and best selling title to date? Sega producer and studio head Toshihiro Nagoshi shared his take on the upcoming PS3 exclusive title.
“I wanted to lend Yakuza the air of a cinematic experience,” he said in an interview with PTOM. “When players in the west plays, they will not only see the difference, but feel it as well.”
The first game release in the US received a full English makeover, but not Yakuza 3, it will follow the path of Yakuza 2 released on the PS2, using only subtitles.
“We felt this was the best way to convey the feelings delivered in the original dialogue,” Nagoshi explained. “We did minimize certain parts of the game that would be difficult to understand to people outside of Japan.
“We think this should make the game play more smoothly as an overall experience.”
He added: “I wanted to explore how difficult it is to believe in someone, but at the same time, that it’s important to believe in others. “Nothing in this world is simply black and white,” the producer concluded.
PTOM went on to say, “more than anything of the prior games, Yakuza 3 is the best reproduction of modern Japan in videogame form to date.”
So what’s your take, do you think what’s seemingly the Japanese GTA can contend with the real GTA? Share your thoughts.
There’s no doubt it can contend with GTA. The first 2 Yakuza games were fantastic and this one could well be one of the biggest sleeper hits of the year.
As for being better than GTA: IV…….that’s a big ask. IMO GTA: IV was perfect and thoroughly deserved it’s GOTY award in 2008, Yakuza 3 will be a strong contender but i don’t know if it will be able to outclass GTA.