Yakuza - PS2 (US)

News from Lik Sang

Over in Japan the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) has always been a fascinating subject for films and stories, providing a dark atmosphere but with an interesting sense of honor, respect, and loyalty. Last year however for the first time Sega let people experience that seedy underworld for themselves with a free roaming PS2 action adventure title. Costing a massive US$ 21 million to produce, it was right up there with the most expensive titles ever made, but it also scored a whopping 37 / 40 from Famitsu, a sequel is already due for release this Christmas in Japan, and a feature length Japanese movie based on the game is in the works too. We're looking at it this week though because the US port is arriving and it boasts an impressive voice talent of Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Sin City, Kill Bill), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor in Smallville), Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bring It On), Rachel Leigh Cook (She's All That, and the voice of Tifa in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars, Wing Commander, Batman: New Times).

The storyline was penned by an award winning Japanese novelist, Seishu Hase, and stars Kazuma Kiryu, previously a rough member of the Yakuza who has been locked up for a decade after taking the blame for a friends mistake. Now not a moment after getting out he's was back in the world of dank allies, dive bars and dodgy strip clubs, but the rules of the game have changed however. That's where you and complex story including over a dozen intricately detailed chapters begins. The designers went to great lengths to authentically re-create the city streets and illicit haunts of Tokyo's nightlife district, and the graphics are some of the best seen on the PS2. As you get into street brawls the fighting engine lets you string together attack combos to take out multiple enemies or grab and use in-game objects as weapons. Your strength, stamina, and skills can be upgraded, and a heat gauge is powered up by pulling off perfect combos. You can also accumulate weapons and items, engage in numerous side missions, interrogate and bribe informants, gamble, and even stop in one of the many shops or hit baseballs in a batting cage if that takes your fancy. Those after a deep adventure set in a world unseen in videogames to date should pick up the US release of Yakuza today.

amazing game