Ryu Ga Gotoku: Kenzan! (Aka Yakuza: Kenzan!)
When Sega announced that the sequel to Yakuza 2 was going to be a major departure for the series, fans like us were skeptical about the changes. Instead of modern day japan we have a story steeped in history. Instead of former yakuza Kiriyu Kazuma, you are now the legendary warrior Miyamoto Musashi. Instead of the excellent hand to hand combat of earlier games, combat will all be weapons based. Can Yakuza survive the transition while still providing the excellent detailed gameplay the series had been known for?
By the time you see this, its too late for you.
Graphically, the areas lack the visual punch of modern PS3 exclusives. Its not that graphics are bad, but you never get the sense that the game stretches the limits of the PS3's power. Also, the game feels more last generation than Yakuza and Yakuza 2, as each area is broken up in zones similar to Resident Evil 4 and 5. Both of the previous games had one (or two) big central areas you could explore with multiple zones based off of that. Now, you do have a home base, but it is hardly the city center or 'hub' of the game it should be. However, not all of it is bad. Certain areas of the game win you over just for sheer beauty. The waterfall training area, the City of Gion at any time of day, the field where you undergo dual sword training, and the bridge where you lose Majima. Each of these are visual candy for your eyes as you walk through them.
Gion is beautiful any time of day.
The Camera still has the same problems we've come to expect from Yakuza. The designers never figured out how to work transparency effects, so it gets hung up at odd angles and you often find yourself walking in a direction you don't want just because the camera switched perspective on you. This happens a lot during area transitions. You may enter an area facing north, but when the zone loads, he will be facing south. If your not paying attention you could wind up walking back and forth between two zones. Its not a problem in combat, as the camera stays pulled back and centered on Miyamoto through the whole fight.
Speaking of that, combat is the star of the game. Its here that Yakuza fans and newcomers will enjoy themselves the most. Miyamoto Musashi was an expert at all forms of weapons combat, and this game eschews the hand to hand fighting of Kiriyu's games in favor of a weapons based system. In fact, the option to fight barehanded is still there, but you will find it rather dull compared to the excellent variety of weapon options.
Miyamoto eventually gains access to three weapons types: A single Katana, a Kodachi (unnecessarily large sword), and a Katana/Wakazashi dual wield style. Each of these have their strength and weaknesses, and you'll spend a lot of time in the game exploring which you like best. For example: While Dual Wield allows you to block attacks from any direction, the Kodachi gives you a spin attack which can hit every enemy around, and the single sword style as the most counter and movement attack options. Do you trade the 360 degree defense for increased offensive capabilities or for the extra counter and movement benefits?
Combat is bloody, varied, and satisfying. Yes, it always looks this cool.
Heat actions were the star of the previous games and its no different here. Unlike the previous games, where Kiriyu simply had to be in the right spot to hit the right attack, Miyamoto has to seek out inspiration for his moves. This has been dubbed the Revelation system. Early in the game, an artist give the hero a brush and paper to seek out inspiration. Do you see that tiny squirrel? It could show you how to leap from enemy to enemy. The wolf leaping from rock face to rock face couls show you how to throw your sword for a long ranged attack. Once you spot an event, a small Shenmue-Style QTE occurs. If you complete it, words pop on the screen where Miayamoto analyzes the movements he just saw. Choose the correct phrase, and a new heat action is unlocked. Fail, and all you have to do is leave the area, come back, and try again. Some of the rarer and cooler events can only be learned at certain times of day, so its always a good idea to look around and find them.
So what inspired Miyamoto to do this? Play and find out.
Since new moves are learned by inspiration, the leveling system has changed along with it. Instead of leveling up one skill at a time, Miyamoto simply levels up his basic stats. As you go from levels one through fifty, he will get healthier, gain more heat actions, move faster, and hits harder. This is a good/bad proposition, as there are obvious points during his progression he gains significant abilities. In fact, I would encourage anyone playing this game to seek out level thirty as fast as possible. Why? At level thirty Miyamoto turns into a fast moving human buzz saw with most weapons. Its only then the game truly reaches it stride.
So how do you gain levels? Playing through the main story mode will only gain you so much so fast, so you have to rely on side quests that pop up throughout the game. You can collect bounties, find coin locker keys, and help random people you meet on the street. Its here that you fully get the sense that the world of Yakuza: Kenzan is real. Weather its helping a boy read, protecting a bar from yakuza thugs, or preventing the theft of money from a temple, each side quest is a unique story in its own right. None of them take very long, but they all provide Miyamoto with a much needed exp boost.
Yes, there is even a side quest to watch a pretty woman dance. Why can't that work in real life?
Even when the story is over, you have options to just explore the world or start over with your Miyamoto at the level he finished the game at. You also gain access to a 'Battle Mode' which puts you in special circumstances for one off fights from the game. Sure fighting Majima was hard the first time, but how about fighting him without any upgrades and a rake for a weapon? This mode is fun and can consume a lot of your time once the game is finished?
So what is the deal? How does it rate? Fans of the series will find a lot of content to enjoy here, and its definitely worth your hard earned dollars. Since its a new main character not related to the overall storyline of Yakuza 1&2, newcomers will also find some real enjoyment here. Rent it if you can get your hands on it!
When Sega announced that the sequel to Yakuza 2 was going to be a major departure for the series, fans like us were skeptical about the changes. Instead of modern day japan we have a story steeped in history. Instead of former yakuza Kiriyu Kazuma, you are now the legendary warrior Miyamoto Musashi. Instead of the excellent hand to hand combat of earlier games, combat will all be weapons based. Can Yakuza survive the transition while still providing the excellent detailed gameplay the series had been known for?
By the time you see this, its too late for you.
Graphically, the areas lack the visual punch of modern PS3 exclusives. Its not that graphics are bad, but you never get the sense that the game stretches the limits of the PS3's power. Also, the game feels more last generation than Yakuza and Yakuza 2, as each area is broken up in zones similar to Resident Evil 4 and 5. Both of the previous games had one (or two) big central areas you could explore with multiple zones based off of that. Now, you do have a home base, but it is hardly the city center or 'hub' of the game it should be. However, not all of it is bad. Certain areas of the game win you over just for sheer beauty. The waterfall training area, the City of Gion at any time of day, the field where you undergo dual sword training, and the bridge where you lose Majima. Each of these are visual candy for your eyes as you walk through them.
Gion is beautiful any time of day.
The Camera still has the same problems we've come to expect from Yakuza. The designers never figured out how to work transparency effects, so it gets hung up at odd angles and you often find yourself walking in a direction you don't want just because the camera switched perspective on you. This happens a lot during area transitions. You may enter an area facing north, but when the zone loads, he will be facing south. If your not paying attention you could wind up walking back and forth between two zones. Its not a problem in combat, as the camera stays pulled back and centered on Miyamoto through the whole fight.
Speaking of that, combat is the star of the game. Its here that Yakuza fans and newcomers will enjoy themselves the most. Miyamoto Musashi was an expert at all forms of weapons combat, and this game eschews the hand to hand fighting of Kiriyu's games in favor of a weapons based system. In fact, the option to fight barehanded is still there, but you will find it rather dull compared to the excellent variety of weapon options.
Miyamoto eventually gains access to three weapons types: A single Katana, a Kodachi (unnecessarily large sword), and a Katana/Wakazashi dual wield style. Each of these have their strength and weaknesses, and you'll spend a lot of time in the game exploring which you like best. For example: While Dual Wield allows you to block attacks from any direction, the Kodachi gives you a spin attack which can hit every enemy around, and the single sword style as the most counter and movement attack options. Do you trade the 360 degree defense for increased offensive capabilities or for the extra counter and movement benefits?
Combat is bloody, varied, and satisfying. Yes, it always looks this cool.
Heat actions were the star of the previous games and its no different here. Unlike the previous games, where Kiriyu simply had to be in the right spot to hit the right attack, Miyamoto has to seek out inspiration for his moves. This has been dubbed the Revelation system. Early in the game, an artist give the hero a brush and paper to seek out inspiration. Do you see that tiny squirrel? It could show you how to leap from enemy to enemy. The wolf leaping from rock face to rock face couls show you how to throw your sword for a long ranged attack. Once you spot an event, a small Shenmue-Style QTE occurs. If you complete it, words pop on the screen where Miayamoto analyzes the movements he just saw. Choose the correct phrase, and a new heat action is unlocked. Fail, and all you have to do is leave the area, come back, and try again. Some of the rarer and cooler events can only be learned at certain times of day, so its always a good idea to look around and find them.
So what inspired Miyamoto to do this? Play and find out.
Since new moves are learned by inspiration, the leveling system has changed along with it. Instead of leveling up one skill at a time, Miyamoto simply levels up his basic stats. As you go from levels one through fifty, he will get healthier, gain more heat actions, move faster, and hits harder. This is a good/bad proposition, as there are obvious points during his progression he gains significant abilities. In fact, I would encourage anyone playing this game to seek out level thirty as fast as possible. Why? At level thirty Miyamoto turns into a fast moving human buzz saw with most weapons. Its only then the game truly reaches it stride.
So how do you gain levels? Playing through the main story mode will only gain you so much so fast, so you have to rely on side quests that pop up throughout the game. You can collect bounties, find coin locker keys, and help random people you meet on the street. Its here that you fully get the sense that the world of Yakuza: Kenzan is real. Weather its helping a boy read, protecting a bar from yakuza thugs, or preventing the theft of money from a temple, each side quest is a unique story in its own right. None of them take very long, but they all provide Miyamoto with a much needed exp boost.
Yes, there is even a side quest to watch a pretty woman dance. Why can't that work in real life?
Even when the story is over, you have options to just explore the world or start over with your Miyamoto at the level he finished the game at. You also gain access to a 'Battle Mode' which puts you in special circumstances for one off fights from the game. Sure fighting Majima was hard the first time, but how about fighting him without any upgrades and a rake for a weapon? This mode is fun and can consume a lot of your time once the game is finished?
So what is the deal? How does it rate? Fans of the series will find a lot of content to enjoy here, and its definitely worth your hard earned dollars. Since its a new main character not related to the overall storyline of Yakuza 1&2, newcomers will also find some real enjoyment here. Rent it if you can get your hands on it!
