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[IrishNinja]

Aha. Well in that case I certainly hope the news is similar for Yakuza 4. Especially since on the SEGA forums they said that if Y4 sales are good enough they might localize Kenzan.

P.S. Does anyone find it kind of cheap to have a coin locker radar now? I was one of those people that went through every location in Y3 in First Person Mode and found all but like 3 coin locker keys without a FAQ.

for the first part: i honestly gave up here. Kenzan! likely has better chances than say the PSP title, but as Segata put it, they'd have to go back on an 2008 title - a somewhat japanese historic spin-off of an already niche series - localize it, patch in trophies, etc etc. id love to be wrong here, but i too just cant see it being done. again, i bought my copy for $30 off a fellow Gaffer, and not only does GameFAQs have an excellent, largely spoiler-free translation, but the youtube page i linked in the OP has every CG fansubbed. i really think that's as good as we're gonna get.

and yeah, i guess it's somewhat cheap, i myself didnt spend nearly as much time looking in 3 because a) looking in 3D was a lot harder (vs 1/2) and b) i was eager to get to 4, admittedly. there's still some i cant find with the device, so i'm ok with it as an option. you can certainly unequip it if anything, i dont even recall seeing a trophy for getting them all this time around.

 

[rubbishmonkey]

Oh dear! I seem to have defeated Majima, then played the first 2 parts of Tanimura's chapter while very drunk and don't remember what happened, making me a bit lost story wise.

 

[explodet]

Oh dear! I seem to have defeated Majima, then played the first 2 parts of Tanimura's chapter while very drunk and don't remember what happened, making me a bit lost story wise.

You could always reminisce in your hideout, try and piece it together by viewing the cutscenes from those chapters - that's what they're there for!

 

[rubbishmonkey]

You could always reminisce in your hideout, try and piece it together by viewing the cutscenes from those chapters - that's what they're there for!

Thanks! I didn't think of that!

 

[slaughterking]

The most stupid part of this game is

Spoiler

hey let's throw guns on the ground like cookies so the bad guys can pick it up!

Nah, I would say the most stupid part is definitely how Akiyama basically (Part 4 Spoiler)

Spoiler

has his one-hundred billion yen just lying around in his office. He went through all the trouble to build a huge treasure room in his office with a massive vault door that has NO security measures whatsoever. You just turn the rather conspicuous crank and that thing opens just like that. :lol

 

[GeoramA]

Is there any item to force a tie in Baccarat? I've had one, but an hour later I'm still trying to get a 2nd.

I won my very first baccarat game with a tie. Since then, I'm about 0-20. That was all with Tanimura.

Had the lucky bracelet on but that didn't do shit.

 

[DiresuDR]

for the first part: i honestly gave up here. Kenzan! likely has better chances than say the PSP title, but as Segata put it, they'd have to go back on an 2008 title - a somewhat japanese historic spin-off of an already niche series - localize it, patch in trophies, etc etc. id love to be wrong here, but i too just cant see it being done. again, i bought my copy for $30 off a fellow Gaffer, and not only does GameFAQs have an excellent, largely spoiler-free translation, but the youtube page i linked in the OP has every CG fansubbed. i really think that's as good as we're gonna get.

and yeah, i guess it's somewhat cheap, i myself didnt spend nearly as much time looking in 3 because a) looking in 3D was a lot harder (vs 1/2) and b) i was eager to get to 4, admittedly. there's still some i cant find with the device, so i'm ok with it as an option. you can certainly unequip it if anything, i dont even recall seeing a trophy for getting them all this time around.

Yea I am not expecting it to happen. I will most likely just end up importing Kenzan! and the PSP game and fumble through with a translation FAQ. One of my friends played through both and loved them. He highly recommended the PSP game as well. I usually hate using translation guides but I will deal with it for the Yakuza games.

I definitely see the reasoning for having that radar in there, and like you said it's optional. It was just an odd addition considering coin locker keys were in all the games so far without such a tool to help track them down.

 

[valentine71]

Nah, I would say the most stupid part is definitely how Akiyama basically (Part 4 Spoiler)

Spoiler

has his one-hundred billion yen just lying around in his office. He went through all the trouble to build a huge treasure room in his office with a massive vault door that has NO security measures whatsoever. You just turn the rather conspicuous crank and that thing opens just like that. :lol

I think its about his character and that's what makes him great imo. He doesn't seem to give a fuck about anything so much or at all

 

[dgenx]

Why the hell freaking game keeps freezing in casinos?

 

[fernoca]

Was this posted?

Get in touch with the Japanese underworld, because we’re also offering Yakuza 4: The Men of Yakuza 4 Dynamic Theme, free to Plus subscribers.

 

[IrishNinja]

whaaaat

i was waiting on something just like that. dying to see this now - please dont tell me it's some shit you cant buy/have to keep PSN+ for.

 

[GeoramA]

Free theme, nice. Glad it's not the hostess one.

 

[fernoca]

Theme's on April 12, sorry.

 

[Riposte]

Ultimate Skill 7(I think). The one with Saejima where you have to do ALL of the rock breaking challenges in 3 mins or something.

This is stupid hard! Well, mainly the fourth wall. It has constant rocks fall on you preventing you from attacking the wall. If you get hit you take forever to get up and maybe lose all your life by being "combo'd" by the rocks.

Also having trouble with Saejima's fight challenge where you have to defeat 100 opponents. I think I am starting to turn on Saejima...


EDIT: Also LOL at the mission clearly inspired by "Of The End"

 

[Riposte]

Alright I take it back... once you do it right, it is not so bad. Kind of obvious now. You have to make use of your "super armor" on your charged finishing moves. (combo enders.)

 

[STG]

ok guys maybe someone can help because I have no idea what to do

I am doing the

Spoiler

Counterfeit Bills

submission with akiyama and the current "clue" is I should head over to Poppo on Nakamichi street, but nothing happens, I am sure it should trigger something mission related but all I can do is buy stuff at the shop and around the store I can also don't find anyone to talk to

edit: oh wow I am soo dumb! I never realized there is a second Poppo store

quest working again, oh god I feel so stupid....

 

[Riposte]

I am now a heir to the ultimate!

How hard is Ex-Hard?

EDIT: Like... I found the game to be too easy outside a few spots. If I am going to reply it, I don't want to deal with so many filler crap you find on the streets. A Yakuza game where every fight forced you to think would be awesome. I am pretty sure Yakuza 3 almost got like that towards the end, I mean with street fights. Hmmm, is my memory bad?

 

[IrishNinja]

^did anyone here plat yet?

 

[slaughterking]

I'm currently 35 hours into the game with 43,58% completion. Wasted the last few hours on Akiyamas never-ending hostess bar grind sidequest. That one is really holding me back.

 

[Trevelyon]

Super VIP massage course.

 

[IrishNinja]

cool. im taking my time in act 3 of chapter 1 cause Akiyama is awesome, finishing up a few quests (only knocked out 12 or so so far), collecting keys etc...so Fashionista is the only missable thing, yeah? like, any quests i dont finish up here with my boy, ill get a chance to do so later? i know the game switches characters, just dont wanna get locked out of anything.

also, any pointers on getting said Fashinoista done before the point of no return would be appreciated.

 

[Trevelyon]

Just make sure you have the 23 different styles of clothing unlocked at Elise before you S-rank/150¥ with Nanami, otherwise you'll lock yourself out, deliberately take her down a peg or two if you need an excuse to keep going back to the club.

 

[slaughterking]

Just make sure you don't S-rank at least one of the skills of your third girl so you don't accidentally let her become No 1 and finish the hostess bar quest.

 

[RedSwirl]

Main quest is done. Next up: Hostesses n' shit (not the managing game... yet).

Anything I need to know? I've already started on a couple of the girls from Jewel with Akiyama. Best way to make money? Side quests that pay out the most?

 

[White Man]

I popped this in last night for an hour or so. I loved the first Yakuza (never got the second, have the third but never played) but I got really bored really quickly this time. Does this just start off slow? Should I do 3 first? I started on 4 because I saw it mentioned it's a better entry point to the series than 3 is.

 

[Corto]

I popped this in last night for an hour or so. I loved the first Yakuza (never got the second, have the third but never played) but I got really bored really quickly this time. Does this just start off slow? Should I do 3 first? I started on 4 because I saw it mentioned it's a better entry point to the series than 3 is.

3 also has a rather slow start, away from Kamurocho on a beach. I loved it for that. The new setting felt very refreshing and Shenmueish... But I fear that you will feel bored the same as you did with 4 or even worst... But at least try it and update us here with your opinion.

 

[GeoramA]

I popped this in last night for an hour or so. I loved the first Yakuza (never got the second, have the third but never played) but I got really bored really quickly this time. Does this just start off slow? Should I do 3 first? I started on 4 because I saw it mentioned it's a better entry point to the series than 3 is.

I think if you played Y3, you would appreciate Y4 a lot more. Improves on just about everything.

 

[Riposte]

Am I crazy in my assessment that 3 was much more difficult than 4? Maybe my memory is failing me.

For one no one is near as tough as Lau Ka Long and the final boss in 3 is much tougher than any boss near the end of 4.

 

[corporate cheerleader]

Am I crazy in my assessment that 3 was much more difficult than 4? Maybe my memory is failing me.

For one no one is near as tough as Lau Ka Long and the final boss in 3 is much tougher than any boss near the end of 4.

Don't remind me, Lau was a nightmare. :l

 

[Riposte]

If I am correct, it was more than just Lau. I think it is fair to say 3 had better bosses. Wonder if 4 was hurt by the fact you played 4 characters.

 

[Red Blaster]

I popped this in last night for an hour or so. I loved the first Yakuza (never got the second, have the third but never played) but I got really bored really quickly this time. Does this just start off slow? Should I do 3 first? I started on 4 because I saw it mentioned it's a better entry point to the series than 3 is.

3 has by far the slowest intro of the series as you spend the first few hours doing lame daddy-daycare fetch quests. 4 does start off with a lousy cutscene to gameplay ratio but the later chapters get better and things really get rolling at the start of Part 2.

 

[corporate cheerleader]

If I am correct, it was more than just Lau. I think it is fair to say 3 had better bosses. Wonder if 4 was hurt by the fact you played 4 characters.

Yakuza 3 definitely spoiled us with the amount of bosses, but that's because the premise was exciting; family leaders of the Tojo clan who want to become the next chairman. Kanda was the best boss IMO, the way he talked to (and smacked) his henchmen was gold and the hotel gauntlet level was an amusing mix of excellent music and comedy (KANDA!) Another fun moment for me was the part where the Snake Flower Triad invades Kamurocho and you have to fight your way to Lau through the streets filled with thugs. Stuff like that really makes you feel like a hero and proud of your achievements. For me, there weren't many moments like that in Yakuza 4.

Also,

Spoiler

the death scene of Rikiya in 3 was way more emotional than that 100 million dollar (or whatever the amount was) skank's demise. Up until his last moment, he asked Kiryu if he became a real man, something that he wanted to be in the eyes of the person that he respected very much. The only scene in Yakuza 4 that I found emotionally strong was Saejima speaking to the underground audience about his murders. It definitely turned Saejima into someone deep and interesting, more than Akiyama and Tanimura. He also has a funny side when he tries to mix in with modern society (what's a Seedy?) I hope we see way more of him in Yakuza 5, it would be interesting to see how he will run his own family.

I should be working on college assignments now instead of ranting. :l

 

[Red Blaster]

Yakuza 3 definitely spoiled us with the amount of bosses, but that's because the premise was exciting; family leaders of the Tojo clan who want to become the next chairman. Kanda was the best boss IMO, the way he talked to (and smacked) his henchmen was gold and the hotel gauntlet level was an amusing mix of excellent music and comedy (KANDA!) Another fun moment for me was the part where the Snake Flower Triad invades Kamurocho and you have to fight your way to Lau through the streets filled with thugs. Stuff like that really makes you feel like a hero and proud of your achievements. For me, there weren't many moments like that in Yakuza 4.

Also,

Spoiler

the death scene of Rikiya in 3 was way more emotional than that 100 million dollar (or whatever the amount was) skank's demise. Up until his last moment, he asked Kiryu if he became a real man, something that he wanted to be in the eyes of the person that he respected very much. The only scene in Yakuza 4 that I found emotionally strong was Saejima speaking to the underground audience about his murders. It definitely turned Saejima into someone deep and interesting, more than Akiyama and Tanimura. He also has a funny side when he tries to mix in with modern society (what's a Seedy?) I hope we see way more of him in Yakuza 5, it would be interesting to see how he will run his own family.

I should be working on college assignments now instead of ranting. :l

Sorry, can't say I agree.

Spoiler

Rikiya's death scene is stupid as hell and is one of the most hilariously awful moments in the series. The guy died because Kaz was a moron who forgot to kick the gun away from the vicious psychopath he just defeated in a fistfight. The fact that he fucking cried for guy like Rikiya whom he met something like 3 weeks ago and not when Yumi and Nishiki, his childhood friends, died in the first game just makes the whole thing seem even more shockingly out of character for him.

 

[corporate cheerleader]

Sorry, can't say I agree.

Spoiler

Rikiya's death scene is stupid as hell and is one of the most hilariously awful moments in the series. The guy died because Kaz was a moron who forgot to kick the gun away from the vicious psychopath he just defeated in a fistfight. The fact that he fucking cried for guy like Rikiya whom he met something like 3 weeks ago and not when Yumi and Nishiki, his childhood friends, died in the first game just makes the whole thing seem even more shockingly out of character for him.

Well, I can't agree with you disagreeing with me. >:|

Spoiler

Oh, I'm not denying it's stupid. The don't-kick-the-gun-away-from-the-killer is a cliché, but Rikiya's final moments were still captured well. Also, I know you didn't mean it in a literal sense, but it's way, way longer than 3 weeks. Quite a lot of time has passed from the Yakuza 3 prologue until his death. I think they added crying to get an emotional reaction out of Kiryu that isn't drastic for his personal plot, because he nearly wanted to kill himself at the end of Yakuza 1 until Date told him to snap out of it. Maybe he has gone soft over the years, who knows? He's lived quite a peaceful life in Okinawa. In Yakuza 1, he was fresh out of a 10 year imprisonment and that might have something to do with his severe reaction. I'm probably just blowing it out of proportion, though.

 

[Mooreberg]

Can you go into stores to buy health items when you are supposed to be avoiding the cops? Otherwise I'll have to do a lot of time consuming blocking and rolling against the Majima gauntlet.

 

[Audioboxer]

GameTrailers review is pretty much spot on - http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-hd-yakuza-4/712384

8.3

 

[slaughterking]

I think I messed up with training my apprentices. I thought the 50 turn limit was per apprentice, so I wasted lots of turns on the first guy, but now I don't see the counter resetting after starting with the second dude. <.<

 

[BeeDog]

I think I messed up with training my apprentices. I thought the 50 turn limit was per apprentice, so I wasted lots of turns on the first guy, but now I don't see the counter resetting after starting with the second dude. <.<

It is per apprentice. o_o

 

[simtmb]

There are many dumb moments in every RGG/YAK game out, that's for sure.

But now I'm actually playing this again, trying to reignite my love for the series. As this one title was the biggest turn off for me.

I ran through the Japanese version when that got released, have actually done this with every RGG/YAK game out. Import and play Japanese version, then just buy the English localizations for support. It really WAS my favorite game series till i played 4, that's how much i liked it.

Not including the PSP game, i rate them in this order:
2 > Kenzan/1 > 3 > 4

They're mostly good games, but once the..how do you put it..'novelty' wears off, it really ends up feeling different, for me at least.

I just don't like the games anymore, and its especially odd seeing people comment on Y4 as having a good story, or even characters which it very much doesn't. Almost seems stated by some fans for the very reason of making those disappointed in 3's story, interested in the followup which is just as bad. "I was disappointed with Yakuza 3's story...not sure on this.." > "Yakuza 4's story is SOOOO much better!!" Yeah, just feels shorter, dumber, and is a complete mess.

As games, they're fun and it has that distinct style the series is known for which is too good, but playing them from 2005 till now, it's just lost its appeal for me in the recent releases. Mainly Y3 and Y4. Kazuma is still boss but they've done nothing to explore his character since...ever, and instead decide to 'change it up' in Y4 with completely forgettable characters whom are hardly developed well throughout the game.

As for the gameplay, it's still 2005.

*End of rant and wall of text D:*
tldr: The series is great, but Y4 to me, is definitely the lowest point of Yakuza.
It's a terrible game.

imo of course~! : )

 

[dgenx]

16 hours in ans still in part 3 , I want to keep the main quest going but there is always something to do!!

 

[ViralMarketingDrone]

GameTrailers review is pretty much spot on - http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-hd-yakuza-4/712384

8.3

The score is a bit low if you compare what they're saying to the actual score.
Dragon Age 2 got 9.2 after all and Yakuza 4 is clearly the superior game.

 

[Facism]

Why does Saejima sound like a 260 pound badass in the VO but reads like an ignorant flower loving inbred in the subs D:

 

[simtmb]

The score is a bit low if you compare what they're saying to the actual score.
Dragon Age 2 got 9.2 after all and Yakuza 4 is clearly the superior game.

Completely different games, it shouldn't matter what DA2 received when the games merits will essentially be judged differently. A 9.2 for DA2 doesn't mean it's the superior game of course, but unfortunately people may make this same comparison, and the ones that base the games worth on this, would be the ones ultimately missing out on something they might otherwise enjoy.

 

[Audioboxer]

The score is a bit low if you compare what they're saying to the actual score.
Dragon Age 2 got 9.2 after all and Yakuza 4 is clearly the superior game.

Maybe so, but I do fully agree Yakuza's presentation needs a facelift. A lot of the menus/interface and game mechanics are stuck in 1990. As well as some of the graphics.

By the way do you really need to collect a gazillion bags of rubbish to trade in for that bullet proof armor in the sewers? Or is there a way to "cheat" points? haha.

 

[corporate cheerleader]

Could you guys give some examples of horrible graphics? The only ones that I can think of are:

- awkward navigation and Geocities graphics in Hostess Creator
- everything in Karaoke; from the stretched lyrics to the timing bar that should never be in segments, EVER.

Spoiler

And the translations that aren't there.

- the JPEG quality 2 wallpapers for the lockers

It's a bit meh that the game has to install 5 GB, but in return, the loading times are pretty short. I imagine they'd be even longer if they made the graphics even better.

 

[Audioboxer]

Could you guys give some examples of horrible graphics? The only ones that I can think of are:

- awkward navigation and Geocities graphics in Hostess Creator
- everything in Karaoke; from the stretched lyrics to the timing bar that should never be in segments, EVER.

Spoiler

And the translations that aren't there.

- the JPEG quality 2 wallpapers for the lockers

It's a bit meh that the game has to install 5 GB, but in return, the loading times are pretty short. I imagine they'd be even longer if they made the graphics even better.

I wouldn't say the graphics are horrible, the in-game stuff just lacks the sharpness of the cutscenes. Bit blurrier.

The game suffers from some clunky menus/navigation and sometimes an overload of user-prompts to do a simple task.

If I'm not mistaken is this game not sub-HD? I'm sure Yakuza 3 was.

 

[Data West]

So if I go to

Spoiler

Kamurocho Hills

for the final battle and finish it. I can still go back later and do the substories right?

Because I did ALL of Tanimura's, and Saejima's but I'm starting to get burned out after 40 hours and just want to beat it

 

[slaughterking]

It is per apprentice. o_o

Yeah, you're right. I looked at the wrong number.

 

[corporate cheerleader]

The graphics do look a bit blurry, maybe it doesn't look as bad for me because my HDTV is 26 inch. Wouldn't know if the game is sub-HD, I'm not a tech junkie. :l

But really, give some examples of poor navigation, I'm pretty curious. I haven't bothered gambling, is it there where the game has menu problems?

 

[Audioboxer]

The graphics do look a bit blurry, maybe it doesn't look as bad for me because my HDTV is 26 inch. Wouldn't know if the game is sub-HD, I'm not a tech junkie. :l

But really, give some examples of poor navigation, I'm pretty curious. I haven't bothered gambling, is it there where the game has menu problems?

When you go bowling you have to go through about 4-5 selections before starting. I guess the bigger issue is sluggish menus, I find myself mashing X constantly when playing this game.

I finally caught a Tuna!

Memories of Yakuza 3, sadly this time around you don't get a trophy though