Yakuza (PS2) Review
Posted by Shawn Struck on 09.25.2006
Sega attempts to bring Japan's gritty underworld to the PS2. But is it something you'll want to play through, or would you rather cut off a pinky instead?
Yakuza attempts to present a gritty, ambitious look at the eponymous crime syndicate of Japan.
And it all starts by telling a good story. You play an up and coming Yakuza goon named Kazuma. Sadly, the day he receives his mentor's blessing to leave the Yakuza crime syndicate behind and start a new life, Kazuma's friend kills the head of his Yakuza family. Kazuma, steadfast friend to the end, takes the fall for his buddy and goes to jail.
After ten years in lockup, Kazuma leaves jail on parole, only to find the third chairman of the Yakuza murdered and 10 billion yen missing from the treasury. He' s still a wanted man in the eyes of his former Yakuza members, and his good friend Yumi has vanished. Kazuma teams up with the very detective who interrogated him 10 years earlier, who is now assigned to the organized crime unit, to see if they can figure out what the hell is going on. Throughout the story you meet a huge cast of characters, each with their own well-defined personalities and story arcs.
Graphics
The game has a high level of detail, from the city streets to the character models. The character models in particular are well done-- smoothly animated, very distinct, and lots of detail especially in the facial features. Some of this quality does come at a price at times-- the game slowed down when engaging in a battle with 5 opponents in a city street environment.
Gameplay
Yakuza sort of has the feel of a grittier Shenmue-- not because you have to learn to drive a forklift or anything, but more because the gameworld and setting is very impressive. There is a sprawling cast of characters here, and each one of them matters to the story. You can walk around and talk to anybody you want. You can even buy information from a number of street corner informants. You can also visit a number of shops. Each shop has several items for sale, and they all affect you in different ways. In addition to grocery stories and fast food chains, you can also visit seedier locations such as strip clubs and pachinko parlors to spend your yen at. None of this is key to winning the game… but it adds a bit more depth to an action/fighting game.
And there is a LOT of fighting. Fights take place all over town, from busy city streets and intersections to a Zen rock garden. Since there's lots of combat, you'd hope that the combat engine would be polished and frustration-free. Your hopes would be broken, much like someone Kazuma punches in the face. Or punch-punch-kicks in the face. Or sometimes kick-kick-punches in the face. Sadly, that's about as deep as the fighting gets, with the occasional chair or pole to break up the monotony. And while simple three button combos can get boring but still be fun, the clumsy targeting system that chugs along when you're facing multiple opponents is incredibly frustrating, especially when you end up swinging at the empty air more than connecting with your opponent’s face.
Sound
The English voiceover work is surprisingly good (though the kid Huraku is supposed to be 10 years old and he sounds more like he's a teenager). But Kazuma's deep, gravely, cynical voice fits him like a glove. Other voiceover work by celebrities Michael Madsen and Mark Hamill are top notch supporting performances. Sadly, some of the translation seems rather shaky, like the localization staff slapped a thin coat of "American street thug" over a direct transliteration, and sprinkled liberally with the adjective "motherf***er", and this drags down the voice acting a bit. The music is appropriately cinematic and really comes through in key moments in the cutscenes.
Fun Factor
The story is well-plotted and impressive, and that is part of what makes Yakuza so much fun. In addition to all the story based side quests, you can collect toys, perform favors for other game characters, run restaurants, customize your battle stats, and in a move that certainly helps it earn its "M" rating, find and request certain strippers. The meat and potatoes of this game, combat, gets repetitious pretty quickly, though.
Lasting Appeal
Yakuza has lots of side-quests to keep you busy, and after you beat the game, there's a 50-mission battle mode, and after you beat THAT, a secret boss fight. So once you've gotten every collectible, completed every side quest, and beaten up every bad guy in the main game, you'll have reason to come back for more.
The 411
Yakuza tells a good story, and has a rich, deep setting with plenty for the player to do. The shoddy targeting and repetitive combat sap a lot of joy out of the meat and potatoes of the game, but if you're a fan of 3-D brawlers, and are willing to stick it out to reach the conclusion, Yakuza will make it worth your while.
Graphics
8.0
Character models and city environments are very detailed; occasional slowdown in multiple opponent battles can be a frustration.
Gameplay
7.0
Lots and lots of sidequests and power ups add to the gameplay, but the clunky combat and boring attack options make this part really take it on the chin.
Sound
7.0
The music enhances mood, and the main character's voice is PERFECT. Too bad the dialogue doesn't always ring true. And Huraku sounds weird.
Lasting Appeal
8.0
Sidequests galore and a 50-mission battle mode after you first bneat the game offer reasons to keep plugging away.
Fun Factor
7.0
There's lots to do, and a great story, but the combat gets boring and repetitive, detracting from the overall fun.
