Yakuza has been around for a while, and because of the aging, the developer studio Ryu Gotaku Studio (along with Sega) wanted to bring the Yakuza Kiwami to the younger public and decided to make a remake of the original Yakuza Kiwami 3 that was originally released on the PS3. The remake only had one goal: to win over the hearts of the fresh community. Let’s talk about it.
This entry has a focus on remaking the game that was one of the most promising Yakuza games in 2009. So if you haven’t played Yakuza Kiwami 3 yet, this is the perfect time to sink your toes into the deep and refreshing water the remake has to offer. If you’re a die-hard fan and have already completed the journey of almost 12 chapters, you could easily start the episode “Dark Ties,” which includes three chapters and gives a lot more information about Mine, an important character in Yakuza Kiwami 3.
“After the recap, the story continues, and you can have some fun.”
The remake definitely targets a newer audience as the game focuses on accessibility. The Yakuza series has been around for ages, and I can imagine that the series is hard to get into. However, the studio Ryu Gotaku Studio took this fresh experience into account and has given you the option (at the beginning of the game) to get a recap on all of the important stuff that has been happening within the story of the Yakuza Series. To be able to get a glimpse of what’s happening is always a plus for me because we don’t always have the time to start off fresh. The recap is also optional, so veteran players shouldn’t be worried that they must be dragged through all of the previous stuff in order for them to play the remake of the Yakuza Kiwami 3 journey. For new players, keep in mind that the recap is huge and gives you a decent look into the history that came before Yakuza Kiwami 3, but take into account that Kiryu’s (the main character) stressful life needs at least an hour to be explained. After the recap, the story continues, and you can have some fun.
The game begins in Kamurocho, but after dealing with some things and reflecting on what’s happened, Kiryu has decided to move on from this dangerous past and wants to start a whole new life in Okinawa. Being a gangster is not his main goal in life, but starting an orphanage and helping orphans get their lives back on track seems like a journey he wants to take. Just like Kiryu’s experience, you as a player will also feel that the environment is shifting away from the Japanese underground. You’re moving to a place where beaches and city life will gradually take over once Kiryu sets foot in that place. However, it doesn’t take long before this Utopian dream changes into a thing of the past, mainly due to people’s thirst for power. It doesn’t take long before you leave your orphanage, in order to get a grip on your own life and peace.
“It’s the whole package deal that feels like a step-up from the original.”
Changing towards this more colorful and optimistic environment, you’ll quickly notice that the remake did its job when it comes to the presentation side of things. The game looks great and has made a tremendous improvement when it comes to the graphics. Everything feels sharper, smoother, … Even the characters are benefiting from these graphical enhancements and become much more vivid and “alive”. Alive in a way that they stand out from the crowd. It’s the whole package deal that feels like a step-up from the original.
It wouldn’t be a Yakuza game if it weren’t for the amazing combat system. Yakuza Kiwami 3 has a great combat system. Kiryu’s fighting moves feel strong, fluid, and impactful. The game focuses on the entertainment side of things, and you can tell when you’re battling enemies. Every battle feels like fun is the main character on the scene. The combat system feels so fluent that you’re almost warping in and out of battle, and before you know it, you’ve already spent a couple of hours within the game. Time flies because of the fact that the game’s combat system is simple and intuitive; you don’t need challenging mechanics to create an interesting combat system. Just a system that’s easy to remember and very keen for the eyes. Yakuza Kiwami 3 does exactly that, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
“There is definitely no shame here.”
The Yakuza series is also known for its delightful friendship between Majima and Kiryu. Yakuza doesn’t take itself seriously, even though Kiryu is one of the most serious henchmen I know. It’s the bond between Majima and Kiryu that stands out from the storytelling, due to its weird but fantastic humor. The game embraces weird situations and makes them its own. There are a lot of scenes that feel absurd, and that makes the game a joy to play. I can confirm that the game goes a long way to get that smile on your face. The absurd humor is present throughout the whole story, even after one of the most epic battles you’ll ever face with a boss enemy. The transition between an epic battle and the absurd humor the game provides can only be provided through this game. The most important thing is that everything just clicks. The Yakuza games get the balance between epicness and humor just right. I believe that it’s this balance that keeps a lot of players coming back. There is definitely no shame here.
Don’t get me wrong, the game has comical elements to relieve us from the tension the game’s building towards. The game also tries to tell a serious tale, but the comical scenes help us to lower the tension. It’s amazing to see that the developers also put a focus on the personal growth of Kiryu as a person, and also his position/ feeling towards Haruka and all the other orphans. You can definitely tell that the developers wanted to make Kiryu a loving father for his orphanage. You will also have moments within the game where you can show the orphans that you’re caring for them. You will be able to do activities around the orphanage to get things in order. Even though the execution of this growth might not always be visible, it’s definitely there. You’re starting to wonder what’s actually the main focus of the story: Kiryu’s love for his orphanage or confronting the bad boys from the Japanese underworld.
“I believe that the developers could have done a bit more with this chapter…”
Let’s talk a bit about the extra journey that Dark Ties has to offer. Without spoiling too much, this journey helps the player to round up loose ends on what the story of Yakuza Kiwami 3 has left out. This chapter will help you put things from the main story in focus. There’s a main questline that’ll take you throughout the dark parts of the main story ( with its important characters) that Yakuza Kiwami 3 has to offer, but it will do so in different side missions as well. Even though the side missions have more impact than the side missions in the main game of Yakuza Kiwami 3, you still might feel you’re being left out a bit. The chapter feels like a safe road to give some extra context, without focusing on the emotional side of things, where Yakuza Kiwami 3 truly shines. I believe that the developers could have done a bit more with this chapter… especially when you’re making a journey to fill in the gaps.
Conclusion:
Yakuza Kiwami 3 definitely succeeds in what it set out to do: bringing a beloved entry in the series to a new generation on the current systems while giving longtime fans a polished reason to revisit Kiryu’s story. The visual improvements, detailed recap system, and fluid/simple combat make the experience welcoming and entertaining, while the series’ signature blend of intense drama and absurd humor remains as charming as ever. At the same time, some elements, like the Dark Ties chapter and main character development, feel like missed opportunities to dig deeper into the emotional core of the story. Still, thanks to its engaging combat, memorable characters, and improved presentation, the remake stands as a solid entry in the franchise. It may not reach the heights of the very best Yakuza titles, but it’s a worthwhile journey for both newcomers and returning fans.
