The Observer, September 22, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 4
Action-filled Yakuza mixes drama, violence
Forget what you may have read about Sega's Yakuza. This PS2 action game has often been referred to as the Japanese answer to Grand Theft Auto, but that couldn't be further from the truth. That may disappoint fans looking for another fix of carjackings and shoot-outs, but those folks should check out the Saint's Row demo on Xbox Live instead. No, Yakuza manages to stand out from the rest of the "sand box" clones because of its superb narrative and bustling city.
Yakuza is heavy on the "cut-scene" device. Though the pacing is much better than in Metal Gear Solid, there will be frequent periods of time in which you simply watch the story unfold. If that's a turnoff, than I'd heavily recommend that you avoid this game. However, for players with a little patience, this epic tale is satisfying.
The first chapter of the game introduces Kazuma Kiryu, a member of one of several Yakuza crime families in the town of Kamurocho. Early in the game, Kazuma receives an ominous call of distress from his friend Nishiki, and upon investigation, discovers that his friend has murdered their mutual boss. The selfless Kazuma realizes that Nishiki cannot go to jail, and instead takes the fall for him. After being imprisoned for ten years, the charismatic antihero returns home to find that most of his former associates have turned against him.
Despite some minor problems, this is one of the finest sagas ever to grace a video game. All of the characters are compelling, even some of the minor villains who have limited screen time. Though the ending is a bit melodramatic and has one-too-many double crosses, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and kept playing just to find out what would happen next.
The only major issue I have with Yakuza's cinematic approach is that the translation is rough. Some of the voice acting is solid (Mark Hamill, also known as Luke Skywalker, is a definite standout), but several major characters lack emotion. More problematic are all of the obscenities throughout the script. I'm all for R-rated dialogue in games, but only if it makes sense. When a villain starts swearing every other word, Yakuza isn't gritty – it's laughable. Even so, if gamers can remember Sega's Dreamcast classic Shenmue, they may recall one of the worst translations ever, so I guess this could be considered an improvement. If a Yakuza 2 is ever announced, this issue should be addressed immediately.
Speaking of Shenmue, the gameplay of both games has some remarkable similarities. Like its Dreamcast predecessor, Yakuza depicts an exciting, living world. Streets are filled with people walking around, and many of them will talk to you and ask for favors. The sights (billboards, hundreds of storefronts) and sounds (honking cars, pedestrians on their cell phones) do a fantastic job of immersing players in this Japanese community. Best of all, these buildings aren't just for show; Kazuma can take a break from his adventure at any time to play the slots at a casino or hit some homeruns at the local batting cage, for instance.
Combat is fun, but could have used some more variety. Most opponents can be conquered by using simple combos. Luckily, charging up your "heat" meter allows for some impressive, brutal finishing techniques. Weapons are also abundant and add some depth to the action. The developers should have also paid more attention to the lock-on system; too often, I would try to direct my attacks at an aggressive thug, only to punch at a wall instead. This clumsiness is certainly frustrating, but overall, this portion of the game is welcomed.
Yakuza achieves an incredible balance between story and gameplay that hopefully will be acknowledged by other developers. With the PS3 and Xbox 360, the possibility exists for overblown, unplayable disasters, with hours of beautiful movies and a complete lack of interactivity. Despite all of its flaws, this lengthy quest should serve as a reminder that we buy games to play them, not to watch. A great story should be a bonus.
