Yakuza 3

From WE Computers Museum
Yakuza 3.jpg
Yakuza 3
Developer Sega CS1
Ryū ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher Sega
Platforms PS3, PS4
Released Yakuza 3
PS3 JP: February 26, 2009
PS3 NA: March 9, 2010
PS3 AU: March 11, 2010
PS3 EU: March 12, 2010
Yakuza 3 Remastered
PS4 JP: August 9, 2018
PS4 WW: August 20, 2019
Windows, Xbox One WW: January 28, 2021
Added to
Museum
PS3: October 26, 2018
PS4: August 21, 2019

Yakuza 3, known in Japan as Ryū ga Gotoku 3 (龍が如く3, “Like a Dragon 3”), is the third mainline game, and the fourth game overall, in the Like a Dragon series. It was released on PlayStation 3 in Japan on February 26, 2009, in North America on March 9, 2010, in Australia on March 11, 2010, and in Europe on March 12, 2010.

It received a high-definition port in Japan for PlayStation 4 on August 9, 2018, and worldwide for PlayStation for on August 20, 2019. The high-definition port was released worldwide for Windows and Xbox One on January 28, 2021.

Plot

A former yakuza named Kazuma Kiryu left the Tojo Clan to run an orphanage in Okinawa, Japan. When various groups try to acquire the land in which the orphanage sits, he does everything in his power to stop that from happening.

Versions

The original PlayStation 3 release of Yakuza 3 had several changes when it was translated into English, including the name of the game itself. In Japan, it was titled Ryū ga Gotoku 3, or Like a Dragon 3, after the dragon tattoo on Kiryu's back. In addition, several character names had been changed. The hostess cabaret, mahjong, and shogi mini-games were removed and all substories and trophies related to them were removed as well. The Answer X Answer mini-game that asked questions regarding Japanese history was also removed.

In addition to displaying at a higher resolution, the PlayStation 4 version of Yakuza 3 has some changes from the PlayStation 3 original due to contract issues and changing moral standards. Some of the actresses that played the hostesses have been changed to the hostesses from Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2, due to their contracts expiring between releases. The substories that made fun of Michiru, a male-to-female transgender person, have also been removed. As Yakuza 3 was localized in China and Korea for the first time, the Tomashiro family crest, which originally resembled the Japanese imperial flag, has also been changed to avoid offending people in those countries. The Answer X Answer mini-game that asked questions regarding Japanese history has been removed from the PlayStation 4 version in all territories. The cigarette has also been removed from Kiryu's mouth on the cover art that is based on the original Japanese PlayStation 3 version.

Playable games

At Club Sega, you can play arcade games:

  • AnswerxAnswer (only in the original Japanese PlayStation 3 release)
  • Boxcelios
  • UFO Catcher 7 MAX

In addition, there are gambling parlors, casinos, and bars that allow you to play various parlor games and gamble. In the high definition version, the Japanese gambling games that had previously been cut out of previous western releases of Yakuza 3 games are playable, complete with instructions on how to play them.

  • Aroma massage
  • Baccarat
  • Batting Center
  • Billiards
  • Blackjack
  • Bowling
  • Cee-lo
  • Cho-han
  • Darts
  • Fishing
  • Golf
  • Hostess maker
  • Karaoke button-based rhythm game
  • Koi-koi
  • Mahjong
  • Oicho-kabu
  • Poker
  • Roulette
  • Shogi
  • Underground coliseum (street fighting)

Pre-order bonus

People who pre-ordered the original Japanese version of the game received a physical magazine with articles based on the world of the game titled Kamutai Magazine.