Ryu Ga Gotoku, Kenzan! (???? ??!) or Yakuza 3 PS3 Preview

The Ryu Ga Gotoku (known in America as Yakuza) series has reached the third chapter in Japan with the March 6th release of Ryu Ga Gotoku, Kenzan! for the Playstation3. Above are some screens from this week’s Famitsu magazine and a trailer for the game featuring some story elements and gameplay. This installment in the series is a milestone for the sandbox genre of games.

The player assumes the role of Kiryuu Kazumanosuke, the great, great, great, great grandfather of Kiryuu Kazuma from the first game in the series. The story takes place in Gion during the Edo period, in the year 1605. Kiryuu is an elite mercenary who will do anything for money, and people often come to him when they need someone bumped off. One rainy day, a little girl named Haruka approaches asking :

“Is it true that you’ll do anything for money?”
“Yea, thats right.” replies Kiryuu.
“I want you to kill Miyamoto Musashi.”

It turns out that Haruka sold herself into a life of being an oiran, or Japanese prostitute, just so she would have enough money to hire an assassin to kill Musashi. Unfortunately for Kiryuu, his alter ego is that of Miyamoto Musashi. According to the Famitsu article on the game, “someone” told Haruka to ask for Kiryuu specifically. Who could it have been? Thus the game begins.

(Sidenote: For those who don’t know, Miyamoto Musashi is a famous swordsman, known for wielding 2 katana. He also wrote the famous book of budo, The Book of Five Rings. )

Since the game takes place during such a unique time period, there are a number of authentic Edo period activities Kiryuu can take part in:

• Turtle Racing
  • Find turtles, raise them, mate them, race them, and gamble on them!
• Cho-han Bakuchi
  • a traditional style of dice gambling in ancient Japan
• Oiran (Japanese Prostitutes…. rough translation)
  • There are three different brothels the player can frequent to spend time the girl of their choice. Doing so offers some erotic yet comical scenes. The three girls vary in terms of price, so you may have to spend a lot if you are very particular.
• Shogi
  • Japanese-style Chess.
• Over 100 people and animals to interact with (that’s right, animals)
  • Get involved with the lives of many minor characters, and help them out if you wish. Doing so may bring great rewards, such as new abilities and variances in the story.
• Multiple ways to fight
  • Use 2 blades as Musashi, 1 as Kiryuu
  • There is also an Odachi and the option of fighting barehanded

There is so much to do in this game it is simply mind-boggling. The game’s main web page can be found here.

Given the minor success of the first Yakuza and the numerous Japanese cultural aspects of the game, I am not positive Ryu Ga Gotoku, Kenzan! will be released in English, but I remain hopeful (the PS3 sure could use a decent exclusive). One thing is for sure… we won’t be getting this beast.

The second installment of the Yakuza series is scheduled to be released in America sometime in 2008. Definitely watch out for this one!

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