From the moment you start Yakuza 3, something is troubling. You likely follow suite to Kiwami 2, and now Kiryu controls like an RC Car and the game tries to retcon his closest companion. Is it over? No. All a facade. We're just getting started. Let's start with the less obvious first, I love the combat. It provides the perfect amount of challenge and really rewards the bold and the cunning. Enemies not being HP sponges would cement my love for it, but huh, whoops.

Okinawa is a great location so I would allot more time there if I could. But to my own surprise, I decided to not do the substories. Well, I did a few, but I was so enthralled by the story. Playing as the dad to my big ass family? Yes, waiter, bring me more of this. The yakuza side of things was more lowkey, toned down bullshit explosions in favor of politics, with stakes still high and, like Ryuji, a villain I want to stick around, but absolutely deserve punishment for their actions. There's one scene though, badass but definitely goofy, that definiely was a load of bull. Cried at the end I still did.

Kiwami 3 would go very hard with the treatment Majima got in Kiwami 2 given to the character that failed the vibe check and was sent to Ohio at the start. Trying to be vague here. Opportunity for RGG to try their hand at another non-japanese location. Yes I'm an hypocrite, Im always the first one to say I'm tired of games taking place in the USA. I've been baka may your fists mitai my face for your own gratification.

Reviewed on Feb 28, 2024


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