Yakuza 3 sits just above the borderline that splits this game between "recommended" and "not recommended".

Although it released just about three years after the launch of the PlayStation 3, this was still early enough in that console's life cycle where it was evident developers were still trying to get a hang of the PS3's infamous system architecture. While Yakuza 3 isn't necessarily buggy, it is quite unrefined and raw. It's especially disappointing to see this when you've just come out of Yakuza Kiwami 2, which was running on that absolutely gorgeous Dragon Engine.

It's been a while since I last played so I'll try to recall what stuck out to me:


First off, Kiryu shouldn't be able to spin on a dime when roaming the overworld. Basically, nothing feels like it has weight: heat Moves lack a sense of impact. Hitting with objects doesn't feel satisfying. Things just move at a brisk pace in an unsatisfying manner.

In fact, this also extends to the game's golf minigame: the ball moves as though there is intense gravity, with no attempt at some sense of realistic physics. Which leads me to...


Assuming you've played the Yakuza games in a chronological order to this point, then you'll surely have played the variety of minigames playable in each. Here, unfortunately, things just feel sloppy and rushed: karaoke doesn't seem to respond to your input appropriately, the unique Boxcelios arcade game is too simple to be enjoyable, and even standbys like baseball, bowling, and pool were frustrating.

It goes without saying the iteration of cabaret club featured here and in Yakuza 4 is the absolute worst. Thankfully they figured out how to make it fun but unfortunately, this is where it started. Ignore it.


Look, I don't have any issue with the inclusion of the orphans and having the creators wanting to focus on them but two whole chapters were dedicated to them, one of which was right before the game's finale. It should have all been relegated way back earlier in the game while not taking anywhere near as long. Yes, we're supposed to know Kiryu is a responsible caretaker but don't drag it out.

• There's over one hundred substories! That's way too much.
  
• Awful level up system.
  
• Enemies block all the time. Yes, the warnings were true. Fortunately, this can be mitigated through grinding trainers for skills.
  
• Collecting locker keys is really annoying.

This is the bitter truth of the matter: regardless of the game's litany of technical and design issues, we have to let it all slide. Again, this was made early on for a console that was difficult to work with. The jump from PS2 to PS3 was also a big technological leap so the devs were likely trying to find footing and figure out what to do with the series at this point, which is what I think why the game turned out the way it ultimately did.


Making this review comes at an interesting point of time: it was just over two weeks ago that the series director made the curious comment that a Kiwami 3 seems likely to happen in the future. That would be most welcome just for all the quality of life improvements it would come with.

Should you wait for this potential remake or even outright skip Yakuza 3? While Yakuza 3 does build upon what happened in prior games, anything of major consequence that occurred in 3 isn't followed up in Yakuza 4.

Yakuza 4 is a soft reboot of sorts: some lesser events/details from the series are touched upon but overall, Y4 starts off with something new, storywise. I think you could just skip 3 but if you're willing to rush through the main story and sidestories, then get Y3 on sale.

Yakuza 3 isn't unplayable, it's just got problems and not as enjoyable to play through.

Yakuza 3 sits [i]just[/i] above the borderline that splits this game between "recommended" and "not recommended". Although it released just about three years after the launch of the PlayStation 3, this was still early enough in that console's life cycle where it was evident developers were still trying to get a hang of the PS3's infamous system architecture. While Yakuza 3 isn't necessarily buggy, it is quite unrefined and [i]raw[/i]. It's especially disappointing to see this when you've just come out of Yakuza Kiwami 2, which was running on that absolutely [b]gorgeous[/b] Dragon Engine. It's been a while since I last played so I'll try to recall what stuck out to me: [h3]Busted physics, sloppy movement[/h3] First off, Kiryu shouldn't be able to [i]spin on a dime[/i] when roaming the overworld. Basically, nothing feels like it has weight: heat Moves lack a sense of impact. Hitting with objects doesn't feel satisfying. Things just move at a brisk pace in an unsatisfying manner. In fact, this also extends to the game's golf minigame: the ball moves as though there is intense gravity, with no attempt at some sense of realistic physics. Which leads me to... [h3]Disappointing Minigames[/h3] Assuming you've played the Yakuza games in a chronological order to this point, then you'll surely have played the variety of minigames playable in each. Here, unfortunately, things just feel sloppy and rushed: karaoke doesn't seem to respond to your input appropriately, the unique Boxcelios arcade game is too simple to be enjoyable, and even standbys like baseball, bowling, and pool were frustrating. It goes without saying the iteration of cabaret club featured here and in Yakuza 4 is the absolute worst. Thankfully they figured out how to make it fun but unfortunately, this is where it started. Ignore it. [h3]Main Storyline pacing[/h3] Look, I don't have any issue with the inclusion of the orphans and having the creators wanting to focus on them but [b]two[/b] whole chapters were dedicated to them, one of which was right before the game's finale. It should have all been relegated way back earlier in the game while not taking anywhere near as long. Yes, we're supposed to know Kiryu is a responsible caretaker but don't drag it out. [h3]Other Issues[/h3] [list] [*] There's over one hundred substories! That's way too much. [*] Awful level up system. [*] Enemies block all the time. Yes, the warnings were true. Fortunately, this can be mitigated through grinding trainers for skills. [*] Collecting locker keys is really annoying. [/list] [h3]Despite everything, we have to cut them some slack[/h3] This is the bitter truth of the matter: regardless of the game's litany of technical and design issues, we have to let it all slide. Again, this was made early on for a console that was difficult to work with. The jump from PS2 to PS3 was also a big technological leap so the devs were likely trying to find footing and figure out what to do with the series at this point, which is what I think why the game turned out the way it ultimately did. [h3]Rumblings of Kiwami 3[/h3] Making this review comes at an interesting point of time: it was just over two weeks ago that the series director made the curious comment that a Kiwami 3 seems likely to happen in the future. That would be [b]most welcome[/b] just for all the quality of life improvements it would come with. Should you wait for this potential remake or even outright skip Yakuza 3? While Yakuza 3 does build upon what happened in prior games, anything of major consequence that occurred in 3 isn't followed up in Yakuza 4. Yakuza 4 is a soft reboot of sorts: some lesser events/details from the series are touched upon but overall, Y4 starts off with something new, storywise. I think you could just skip 3 but if you're willing to rush through the main story and sidestories, then get Y3 on sale. Yakuza 3 isn't unplayable, it's just got problems and not as enjoyable to play through.