Yakuza 3 Theater Impressions

I have to say, after the initial culture shock, I've been a little surprised at how easy it is to get along at the Tokyo Game Show without any working knowledge of the Japanese language. Games are games all over, it would seem, though there are certainly moments when you truly have no idea just what the hell is going on. I had just such a moment at the beginning of the 15-odd minute movie that Sega is screening here at TGS 2008, though I still managed to pick up a few new things about this PS3-exclusive criminal action game.

After taking a little feudal detour with Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! in Japan earlier this year, Yakuza 3 will bring the series back into modern-day Japan, once again focusing on former Yakuza leader and back-tattoo enthusiast Kiryu Kazuma. With the movie being entirely in Japanese, the story stuff was largely incomprehensible for me, and while Sega of Japan also released an English language press release, it's a little dodgy as well.

As best as I can figure, the game will start off with Kiryu leaving the violence of Tokyo in favor of a quieter, more peaceful life running an orphanage in Okinawa. This doesn't last long, of course, and after the government begins to encroach on Kiryu with its plans to develop resorts and expand the US military base in Okinawa, he ends up in a full-blown war with his old posse, the Tojo Clan. Jump forward two years, when two people close to Kiryu are assassinated--worse yet, his foster father is implicated in the attacks, forcing Kiryu to return to Tokyo to find out the truth.

The game itself will take place in both Okinawa and the fictional Tokyo nightlife district of Kamuro-cho, greatly expanding on the scope of the previous Yakuza games. There's still a big focus on brutal, over-the-top hand-to-hand combat, which is equal parts street-fighting and pro-wrestling. Beyond the usual street violence, there were also scenes of Kiryu training with tonfa sticks in a makeshift ring out near the beach in Okinawa, as well as taking part in an arena fight. Kiryu will be able to learn new moves while out on the street, as illustrated by a sequence where he witnesses a pervert grabbing a girl's chest from behind. After her initial shock, the girl flips out, breaking the fondler's elbow, then hurling him over her shoulder and slamming him into the ground. Kiryu immediately flips out his cell phone, and after a bunch of comically speedy button presses, this new move gets added to his arsenal.

Further proof that Yakuza 3 isn't taking itself too seriously came with all of the goofy minigames that were featured. A rhythm-based karaoke minigame, which saw Kiryu singing a cheesy ballad up on a gaudily lit stage, got the biggest reaction from the theater, though you'll also be able to play pool, darts, golf, go bowling, go to a batting cage, and play with a UFO catcher. A hostess club will play a big role in Yakuza 3, where you'll be able to play dress-up with female characters based on actual models featured in the popular Japanese women's magazine Koakuma ageha.

It's apparent that Sega has some pretty high expectations for Yakuza 3 here in Japan, as the theater takes up a healthy portion of its booth on the show floor, and much effort has been put into conveying the flamboyant Yakuza feel. Incredibly made-up female models in ornate, floor-length gowns were being paraded around the booth and the show floor, and the theater itself was dressed up with cases of expensive liquor and framed head shots of more models.

Yakuza 3 doesn't have a US release date yet, though there's nothing to stop you from importing the Japanese version when it drops in Spring 2009. Except, you know, maybe all that Japanese.