Yakuza 3

Did You Know?

• The game's default video output is 720p HD at 1024x768 without anti-aliasing, but it supports 1080p upscale.
• Character designing began after the completion of Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! in 2008, with a three-week project phase followed by eight months of production, creating 360 characters.
• Eight packages of downloadable content were delivered weekly starting March 5, 2009, including item packs, mini-game support, costumes, and Premium Adventure modes.

Gameplay

Yakuza 3 introduces PlayStation Network Trophies to the series with 45 trophies (50 in the Eastern releases). It adds four gameplay elements: Seamless Battle, a streaming data-based loading-free system that connects adventure mode and battle mode without a black screen; Chase Battle, which replaces regular brawling with a running sequence where both chaser and chased have a stamina gauge that depletes from running, being hit by thrown objects, or colliding with passers-by; Revelation, which allows Kazuma Kiryu to learn new Heat Actions in Adventure mode by using his cell phone camera to record moves and techniques, with learned actions posted on his blog; and First Person View, activated by pressing the DualShock 3's R3 button, which lets the player observe streets and people but may provoke attacks if used on certain individuals. The main story spans twelve chapters plus a prologue, each preceded by a cinematic. The western version features 295 minutes of cutscenes. Six sub-scenarios are special missions with event scene cinematics.

Plot

Yakuza 3 continues the adventures of Kazuma Kiryu after the events of Yakuza 2. The game takes place in Kamurochō, a fictionalized version of Tokyo's Kabukicho, and in Downtown Ryukyu, a fictional area in Naha, Okinawa based on the Makishi district. In January 2007, Kiryu and Haruka Sawamura visit a cemetery, joined by Kaoru Sayama, who is leaving for the United States. Kiryu accepts custody of an orphanage in Okinawa and enlists Goro Majima to assist Daigo Dojima as Tojo Clan chairman. A year later, Kiryu faces eviction notices from the Ryudo Family, who own the land the orphanage is built on. He confronts captain Rikiya Shimabukuro and patriarch Shigeru Nakahara, who wants the land for a seaside resort. Kiryu helps Rikiya find Nakahara's adoptive daughter Saki, who is being used as leverage by rival patriarch Tetsuo Tamashiro. Kiryu defeats Tamashiro, and Nakahara pledges an oath to Kiryu. Daigo later reveals Tamashiro was recruited in a scheme tied to Defense Minister Ryuzo Tamiya's Military Base Expansion Bill.

Audio

Yakuza 3 outputs uncompressed or compressed audio in Linear PCM 2ch/5.1ch and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. Main characters have their faces modeled in 3D after their voice actors, who are Japanese celebrities. Returning voice actors include Takaya Kuroda as Kazuma Kiryu, Rie Kugimiya as Haruka Sawamura, Hidenari Ugaki as Goro Majima, and Satoshi Tokushige as Daigo Dojima. New cast additions include Tatsuya Fujiwara as Rikiya Shimabukuro, Nakamura Shidō II as Yoshitaka Mine, Tetsuya Watari as Joji Kazama, Shigeru Izumiya as Shigeru Nakahara, George Takahashi as Goh Hamazaki, Akio Ōtsuka as Ryuzo Tamiya, Daisuke Miyakawa as Mikio Aragaki, and Hiroyuki Miyasako as Tsuyoshi Kanda. The Ryū ga Gotoku 3 Original Soundtrack was published by Wave Master on February 26, 2009, and bundled with the PAL version's Battle Pack. Music was composed by Hidenori Shoji, Kentaro Koyama, Takahiro Kai, Hiroyoshi Kato, Yoshio Tsuru, and Hideki Sakamoto, with a track by Love Sound System. Performers include Minako Obata, Chihiro Aoki, and Mitsuharu Fukuyama. Two karaoke songs are performed by Takaya Kuroda and Rie Kugimiya. Three songs by Eikichi Yazawa are exclusive to the Japanese version; the main theme is Loser and the ending theme is Omoi Ga Afuretara.

Marketing and release

General director Toshihiro Nagoshi made twenty-seven tie-ins with local companies to produce 3D model reproductions of existing shops, restaurants, and hostess bars. Kabukicho tie-ins include Club Sega, Don Quijote, Matsuya Foods, Suntory cafés, and Karaoke Kan, with ads for Sole, Promise, Aeon, and Geos. Okinawa tie-ins include Blue Seal, Quickly, Sam's Maui, Stone Market, Okinawaya, Okinawarigura, and Velotaxi Japan, with limited collaborations for Naha's Apa Hotel, Okinawa's Mitsukoshi, and OPA department stores. Real products can be bought in discount and convenience stores, including Axe, Ace Cook noodles, Suntory beverages, Pepsi, Kodansha magazines, and Suntory alcohol brands. Some sub-scenarios revolve around product placement, such as Ace Cook noodles and Young Magazine. The Japanese and Asian first prints included a monography called Kamutai Magazine. Sony released a limited edition Ceramic White 80GB PlayStation 3 called the Ryū ga Gotoku 3 Rising Dragon Pack.