Yakuza 3

 PlayStation 3
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Mar 9, 2010
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 284 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 205 out of 284
  2. Mixed: 56 out of 284
  3. Negative: 23 out of 284
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  1. JohnS
    Mar 16, 2010
    10
    Thoroughly enjoying my time playing this game. Having never played the previous two Yakuza titles, It was the PSN demo that persuaded me to give Yakuza 3 a chance. I'm really glad I did because it has been surprisingly addictive. This game has great atmosphere and is very cinematic. I love the combat, the storyline, the weird and wonderful characters, the cut scenes, sub quests and Thoroughly enjoying my time playing this game. Having never played the previous two Yakuza titles, It was the PSN demo that persuaded me to give Yakuza 3 a chance. I'm really glad I did because it has been surprisingly addictive. This game has great atmosphere and is very cinematic. I love the combat, the storyline, the weird and wonderful characters, the cut scenes, sub quests and mini games. Superb value for money.… Expand
  2. jayn
    Apr 13, 2010
    9
    For someone who loves Japanese culture and wants to experience living there, this game is definitely a must have. Of course there are lots of absurd and unrealistic situations but it's all fun. Gameplay is similar to previous titles but loading is faster in the PS3 so the game is more enjoyable. Fight mechanics are good, mini-games great. People like to compare this with GTA because For someone who loves Japanese culture and wants to experience living there, this game is definitely a must have. Of course there are lots of absurd and unrealistic situations but it's all fun. Gameplay is similar to previous titles but loading is faster in the PS3 so the game is more enjoyable. Fight mechanics are good, mini-games great. People like to compare this with GTA because of the free roaming atmosphere but this game is more like Shenmue (also from SEGA).… Expand
  3. brandaman69
    Nov 12, 2011
    10
    best game ever best story awesome combat a lot of stuff to do its so japanese that even japanese people say damn that game is japanese an all around fun game that I believe everyone should experience
  4. LegendaryBurger
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    this game is a masterpiece there are tonnes of things to do and the Yakuza series is reborn on the PlayStation 3™ and all our favorite characters are back including Kiryu,Majima,Daigo etc. along with some new awesome characters with an amazing storyline as usual great graphics and gameplay boy this game made my day! MUST BUY!
  5. Isaac
    Dec 7, 2011
    9
    At times I miss last gen's games, and this game reminds me of the PS2 era. While some may see it it as an insult, I say it as a compliment. The game is the third in the Yakuza series, and while I'v never played any previous title, I thoroughly enjoyed Yakuza 3. The game has recap videos that summarize the last two games nicely, and help you understand it's story. As a former Yakuza, KiryuAt times I miss last gen's games, and this game reminds me of the PS2 era. While some may see it it as an insult, I say it as a compliment. The game is the third in the Yakuza series, and while I'v never played any previous title, I thoroughly enjoyed Yakuza 3. The game has recap videos that summarize the last two games nicely, and help you understand it's story. As a former Yakuza, Kiryu Kazuma is trying to escape his criminal life by building an orphange(he is an orphange as well) and living a peaceful life. At times the story can be very interesting and tense while it can also be obtuse and over the top. Not looking at the story, you can enjoy a really good beat-em-up with a ton of brawls with other yakuzas and street gangs. There are many bosses, and some of them can be really difficult. The game is very fun and flows really well. There are many sidequests, which are varied and unique enough to encourage you to complete more of them. The game is lengthy and fun and It has a "last gen" feel to it and I think it deserves more attention. give it a chance.… Expand
  6. the_blueprint
    Dec 19, 2013
    8
    The story and characters are amazing. I've never felt more about a character then I do about Haruka. I always want to protect her. Even though I know she won't get attacked on the streets, I alway stay close to her, I really feel like a father to her. That said, technically this is not a very good game. The gameplay has it's quirks and it's basically still the same game it was on PS2. TheThe story and characters are amazing. I've never felt more about a character then I do about Haruka. I always want to protect her. Even though I know she won't get attacked on the streets, I alway stay close to her, I really feel like a father to her. That said, technically this is not a very good game. The gameplay has it's quirks and it's basically still the same game it was on PS2. The graphics are better yes but on PS2 they were amazing, here on PS3 they're just average.… Expand
  7. wspark
    Oct 16, 2018
    7
    I’ve just finished Yakuza 3 after playing through its PS4 remakes/prequels, and up to this point, this definitely seems to be weakest entry in the series so far. Sure, comparing Yakuza 3 to latter-PS4 entries is a bit unfair, but that is the context that I have, so be it.

    Someone else once stated that Yakuza is 3 more like a "gaiden" (side-story) version of the Kiryu saga, and I have    I’ve just finished Yakuza 3 after playing through its PS4 remakes/prequels, and up to this point, this definitely seems to be weakest entry in the series so far. Sure, comparing Yakuza 3 to latter-PS4 entries is a bit unfair, but that is the context that I have, so be it.

    Someone else once stated that Yakuza is 3 more like a "gaiden" (side-story) version of the Kiryu saga, and I have to agree. Everything is a bit slower-paced compared to the prequels; from a slower-pace Okinawa beach and smaller-city setting taking a large chunk of the gameplay. It's fine for what it is, but does feel a bit off kilter compared to the other sagas.

    Presentation is appropriate for an early PS3-era game, so if you keep your expectations in it's fine, but it didn't quite teleport me back to kabuki-cho/dotonbori like its PS4 prequels.

    The fight gameplay is fairly average - it just doesn’t have the bone-crunching effect of the PS4 entries, and the moves and the play seems a bit… plain-Jane. Mostly button-mashing with a few dodges thrown in here and there for the tougher fights, but nothing that will make you sweat for an extended period of time.

    The main story is decent – it’s maybe on par with part 1. Your typical crime-drama storyline here with some melodramatic plot points (with you running an orphanage and all). I can’t say the storyline was exceptional like that of part 0, but there’s nothing wrong here.

    The side-story missions are okay, but I feel the formula is starting to wear thin. I found myself just wanting to move on with the main story as I didn't find the side plots particularly compelling nor all the mini games interesting.

    All in all, Yakuza 3 is up to par or above average in most aspects, but the series is starting to become a grind at this point. I have pre-purchased the entire Kiryu-saga, so I will eventually finish up to part 6, but I’m definitely starting to run out of steam a bit. Series started out with a blast, but I think the entire saga could've been a trilogy (+ prequel maybe) or so, and they really should’ve capped everything off by about now. And this is coming from someone who has lived in Japan, speaks passable Japanese, and has a fair appreciation of the culture (and its subcultures like this). If I'm beginning to get tired of the series, I can only imagine it'd be much more so for the casual individual who might not have such an interest in Japanese (sub)cultures like myself.    … Expand
  8. melchaios
    May 27, 2011
    10
    Who would've thought being a message boy could be so fun? I didn't expect much from this game, but I have to say it held his own pretty well. The combat is intense and visceral, it may be clunky at first, but once you aquire more skills and moves it gets the depth you were waiting for. Never since the day of the final fight/double dragon era has a beat em up game given me such fun. TheWho would've thought being a message boy could be so fun? I didn't expect much from this game, but I have to say it held his own pretty well. The combat is intense and visceral, it may be clunky at first, but once you aquire more skills and moves it gets the depth you were waiting for. Never since the day of the final fight/double dragon era has a beat em up game given me such fun. The game starts incredibly slow, and in the first hours you just ache for something interesting to happen, story feels boring and cheesy, combat is lacking, and you can only wonder why do such banal sidemissions exist? (teaching a dog tricks? making banana juice? do shopping?). But before you know it, yakuza gets it's claws on you, you develop an addiction to finish sidequests, just for the sake of seing what will happen next; characters become charming and likable; story becomes interesting (although it remains cheesy); and the combat becomes the most rewarding skull bashing parade I've seen in years (with some minor annoyances). It has many rough edges, and many will hate it, but I can almost say that if you can get past the first few hours you won't be able to leave it before finishing it.… Expand
  9. GrumpyReviewer
    Aug 20, 2012
    8
    If you manage to SURVIVE the oh-my-God-this-game-goes-nowhere-initial chapters you'll find a rich, deep and engaging story, with many special characteristics that make this franchise so unique. People tend to compare Yakuza to GTA - and that's a HUGE mistake. If I had to compare, I'd say it resembles Shenmue. This is not a sandbox game, where you can roam freely, doing whatever you feelIf you manage to SURVIVE the oh-my-God-this-game-goes-nowhere-initial chapters you'll find a rich, deep and engaging story, with many special characteristics that make this franchise so unique. People tend to compare Yakuza to GTA - and that's a HUGE mistake. If I had to compare, I'd say it resembles Shenmue. This is not a sandbox game, where you can roam freely, doing whatever you feel like. There's a very linear structure of chapters and events with some sidequests in the middle. And a LOT of brawling. It's all about values, family and doing what it feels right. Great game, hidden gem.… Expand
  10. TimS.
    May 18, 2010
    7
    I played Shenmue 1 and 2 all those years ago and loved both of them. In my memory they are one of the best gaming experiences I HAD (note HAD). This game feels very much like Shenmue and that's the problem, this game feels very dated.In its day Shenmue was groundbraking but it has been well and truly surpassed.The streets in Yakuza 3 are beautiful and atmospheric but the old style I played Shenmue 1 and 2 all those years ago and loved both of them. In my memory they are one of the best gaming experiences I HAD (note HAD). This game feels very much like Shenmue and that's the problem, this game feels very dated.In its day Shenmue was groundbraking but it has been well and truly surpassed.The streets in Yakuza 3 are beautiful and atmospheric but the old style Low Res in game graphics don't show the scenery its true glory. Places I can see but can't go as I'm stopped by countless invisible barriers,I would love to explore but it is very limited. Downtown Ryuku for example is very small, there's only about 10 Streets to explore so not as big as you may expect. Very repetitive street fight encounters that are only really there to help you increase your abilities, useful for when you face a future boss but it gets repetitive very quickly. I purchased this game because I love all that is Japanese, sadly this fails to impress. The good points, the soundtrack is superb and the story not bad so far but it does have the odd cliche which amuses me when it shouldn't. Maybe I'm missing the point but I don't care for karaoke, fishing, or golfing (the bowling's good though). I want tons of atmosphere, stunning graphics, a large area to explore and a deeply involving story and character which sadly this game lacks. So an average game,not bad but I expected more.… Expand
  11. Ossy_King_99
    May 14, 2014
    10
    Truly a master piece, best game on the PS3 and quite possibly my favorite game of the 7th Gen.
    They messed up a bit with Yakuza 4 by introducing multiple characters and totally terminating kiryu's role in the game, that really sucked
  12. SeanM
    Mar 21, 2010
    5
    Most of the negative comments for this game seem to be from people who A) Are too used to be shovel-fed the usual tripe from EA and Ubi, or B) Way too used to playing the latest Call of Duty or Battlefield clone. Just play the game for your own sake and don't let the reviewers skew your opinion; this game (really, the whole series) is a rarity in gaming.
  13. SalarymanDaishi
    Dec 21, 2010
    8
    A dream come true for any Japanophile and quite a proficient sandbox game featuring an intriguing story and the most charismatic cast of characters ever. The game dares to be different and apart from cut content, plenty of invisible walls, and repetitive random encounters, succeeds at that. Not perfect but loads of fun just the same.
  14. Guivera
    Feb 28, 2011
    7
    An enjoyable game that just drags on a litttttle too long. If not for the tedious cut scenes that seem to never end and the repetitive fighting mechanics this game could have been a lot more. Still, overall this game is definitely worth a play.
  15. waynespetyoungn
    Oct 2, 2010
    3
    I have not played the full release of this game. I have only played the demo. But I actually took the initiative to sign up on Metacritic and post this review based on the demo. I was completely turned of by the text box dialog, with having to press X to continue. What makes it even worse is it is interlaced in typical cut scenes that have Japanese dialog and English subtitles. Then itI have not played the full release of this game. I have only played the demo. But I actually took the initiative to sign up on Metacritic and post this review based on the demo. I was completely turned of by the text box dialog, with having to press X to continue. What makes it even worse is it is interlaced in typical cut scenes that have Japanese dialog and English subtitles. Then it changes to a box, with no audio cept that of a typing out as it prints out the text. Then it migrates back to cut scenes. Was completely turned off by that. The fighting felt natural and solid.… Expand
  16. RezzaDee
    Feb 22, 2011
    6
    I am only about 2-3 hours into the game, but so far it is quite good but im getting bored of re taking shots on the golf course lol, there is a lot of text to read and loads of cut-scenes but i cant help think i would give my right arm for sega to make shenmue 3.
    I mean all the crap sonic games that keep coming out, bayonetta although it was quite good but i was ****** off with    I am only about 2-3 hours into the game, but so far it is quite good but im getting bored of re taking shots on the golf course lol, there is a lot of text to read and loads of cut-scenes but i cant help think i would give my right arm for sega to make shenmue 3.
    I mean all the crap sonic games that keep coming out, bayonetta although it was quite good but i was ****** off with gamestation stealing my pre-order gun, and all the other **** arcade games they keep releasing like crazy taxi and sonic adventure 1 (we all know that SA2 was the best) but please sega pull your finger out other wise ryo hazuki will have died before he can get the dragon seal back 0.o    … Expand
  17. Tokyochuchu
    Apr 2, 2012
    8
    If you're a fan of the late, great Shenmue, then you should immediately check out the Yakuza franchise. Whilst Yakuza 3 doesn't quite achieve the level of catharsis or the stately dignity of Shenmue, it does have a lot of similar elements (namely, the real world locations and the free roaming RPG mechanics). That said, the game isn't a Shenmue wannabe, as it's tone is completely different.If you're a fan of the late, great Shenmue, then you should immediately check out the Yakuza franchise. Whilst Yakuza 3 doesn't quite achieve the level of catharsis or the stately dignity of Shenmue, it does have a lot of similar elements (namely, the real world locations and the free roaming RPG mechanics). That said, the game isn't a Shenmue wannabe, as it's tone is completely different. Yakuza 3 has a hilarious Japanese sense of humor that sees you beating the holy crap out of anyone who even looks at you funny. Stamping on a man's face / using a traffic cone as a golf club and a dude's head as a ball / braining somebody with a bicycle wheel... FUNNY EVERY SINGLE TIME! Especially when said 'victims' get up from their beatings and profusely apologize to you. The actual combat is tight and fun, the plot is totally nuts but entertaining (and very convoluted) and there are a ton of mini games to distract you from your main quest. Yakuza 3 made me a full-on franchise fan and was great fun from start to finish.… Expand
  18. SuPaPooPeR
    Jan 10, 2011
    7
    When i picked up Yakuza, I did so due to my interest for the culture, the dramatic pronounciation of the language and facial expression and the adventure that came in the background. The characters are lovable even the children and villians have perfect dept and history. The main protagonist has charm and presence on screen however for the free roaming areas of the map, they could haveWhen i picked up Yakuza, I did so due to my interest for the culture, the dramatic pronounciation of the language and facial expression and the adventure that came in the background. The characters are lovable even the children and villians have perfect dept and history. The main protagonist has charm and presence on screen however for the free roaming areas of the map, they could have made it more accessible than the 4 streets and 2 side roads per location, surely in this day and age, recreating TOKYO in a game can't be that hard especially when TAKE2 recreated NEW YORK. The gameplay and fighting was solid, especially the brawls, I loved that completedly and couldn't wait to bump into people who wanted to beat my character up just to reverse the roles. The Story was addictive and a perfect length, well acted out with brilliant animation. Picking up new weapans is also a blast. I bought this for less than £20 from Play.com "Its like STREETS OF RAGE in 3D."… Expand
  19. progamer123
    Nov 11, 2011
    2
    This game is the defination of **** gameplay sucks. Seriously a total waste of time and money.
    The only thing a bit good about this game is the combat but only a bit. I even found the story lame.
  20. okunoin9
    Jun 21, 2012
    7
    I gave Yakuza 3 a 7. It's a patchwork combination of clunky gameplay and an awe inspiring attention to detail with it's environments. It has both touching emotional moments with genuinely likeable characters, and over the top campy camaraderie that suits this uniquely Japanese adventure.
    Yakuza 3 most certainly comes across as labour of love, and despite the shortcomings that tend to    I gave Yakuza 3 a 7. It's a patchwork combination of clunky gameplay and an awe inspiring attention to detail with it's environments. It has both touching emotional moments with genuinely likeable characters, and over the top campy camaraderie that suits this uniquely Japanese adventure.
    Yakuza 3 most certainly comes across as labour of love, and despite the shortcomings that tend to come hand in hand with an ambitious open-world natured title as this, it brings a great deal of fun and variety to the table.
    I feel as though the engine is somewhat holding back the ambitious vision the games creators had, and the vast array of mini games and fun gimmicks that we're given to enjoy come across as a 'jack of all trades, master of none' in that - there is a lot of content for us to dip into, but none of it meets a standard we would expect in other games. It's understandable however, because no other game sees you enjoying karaoke, playing a round of golf, escorting a young girl to various ice cream parlous and fighting street thugs amongst the streets of an almost surreal depiction of real life Kabukicho (or Kamurocho as the game would have you call it).
    Yakuza 3 essentially offers a fun adventure and a promise of great things to come for the Yakuza franchise    … Expand
  21. peite
    Sep 27, 2016
    8
    A strong 8. Not as good as Yakuza 5 content-wise but story-wise this could be the best in the series with the Okinawan setting where you will learn small details about the Okinawan culture by spending time at the Kyabakura!
  22. MixedKing
    Oct 6, 2015
    7
    Not bad, the only thing that was improved was the cut scenes which looked really good. I was quite impressed with them actually, I think they were the best cut scenes I have ever seen. It was like watching a movie. At some point though I got tired of all the fighting because I hate the combat style and you have to fight random people in the street a lot.
  23. Broyax
    Apr 15, 2017
    0
    C'est l'histoire de programmeurs japonais qui veulent faire un jeu à la GTA et dans un sens, c'est très réussi : je n'ai jamais autant ri.

    Ri devant ces graphismes de Playstation 2, ri aux voix japonaises (les seules disponibles) ri durant les nombreuses cinématiques ridicules (mais pas trop longtemps quand même, on finit par rire jaune). Ri devant ces boîtes de dialogues en anglais    C'est l'histoire de programmeurs japonais qui veulent faire un jeu à la GTA et dans un sens, c'est très réussi : je n'ai jamais autant ri.

    Ri devant ces graphismes de Playstation 2, ri aux voix japonaises (les seules disponibles) ri durant les nombreuses cinématiques ridicules (mais pas trop longtemps quand même, on finit par rire jaune). Ri devant ces boîtes de dialogues en anglais (appuie sur X pour lire la phrase suivante...?)

    J'ai ri aussi devant cette ville que l'on ne peut pas explorer, où l'on ne peut strictement rien faire à dire vrai, sauf suivre le chemin imposé : une ville-couloir, il fallait le faire... ils l'ont fait (Sega c'est plus fort que toi !).

    J'ai ri également devant cette pauvre histoire de yakuzas plus niaise qu'un épisode de Candy, ces combats de rue indignes du plus mauvais jeu de baston, ces boss débiles. L'ambiance sonore est pauvre voire inexistante, la musique... n'en parlons pas. Oh bien sûr j'oubliais, on peut utiliser des objets du décor pour tabasser les tatoués. Tout cela est désopilant et consternant. L'humour japonais sans doute !    … Expand
  24. hellacool
    Sep 10, 2021
    2
    cant stand the dialogues in between the cinematic scenes. Reading and pressing one button all the time... nah
  25. skeith
    Sep 7, 2012
    8
    I enjoyed this game very much, despite of its outdated graphic. The combat is really fun, thanks to the simplicity. The storyline of the game is interesting, and has a lot of humour. The revelations made me LOL all the times. It is not those dark story, but more like macho japanese man story. I liked it and I will play the up coming titles for the series. =)
  26. YellowMegaMan
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    Yakuza 3 is a highly underrated game which was overshadowed on release by the bad press it received for not including all of the side quests of the Japanese version. (Most notably, the ability to visit hostess clubs was removed.)

    Nevertheless, Yakuza 3 is well worth your time, especially if you are into Japanese culture and/or enjoy games with detailed story lines. Some will complain    Yakuza 3 is a highly underrated game which was overshadowed on release by the bad press it received for not including all of the side quests of the Japanese version. (Most notably, the ability to visit hostess clubs was removed.)

    Nevertheless, Yakuza 3 is well worth your time, especially if you are into Japanese culture and/or enjoy games with detailed story lines.

    Some will complain about the lengthy cut-scenes, but I think this is a bit overblown. The game always gives you an opportunity to save before showing you a long cut-scene, plus the scenes themselves are skip-able, and you can also re-watch them from the menu. So there's a good deal of flexibility there. Even without the removed content, Yakuza 3 has upwards of 50 hours of content to enjoy. If you're only interested in finishing the story, this takes about 20 hours.    … Expand
  27. ihatecheez
    Oct 22, 2017
    5
    started playing all the yakuza games in chronological order and this one has been worst so far. with one of the slowest opening acts, barely any voice acting, cut scenes, or anything interesting going on, i gave up quickly. and after looking up the story in the flashbacks in yakuza 4, i didn't miss much in terms of lore either. i'd recommend everyone to just skip this one.
  28. thepatient613
    Feb 16, 2016
    8
    It's not a GTA clone and it's also not a game that everyone will appreciate. What makes Yakuza 3 so special is it's unique charm and storytelling. It is a huge refreshment from what I'm used to. I felt truly engaged in the story and I really wanted to save the orphanage. In the end you feel greatly rewarded for all your work. Solid gameplay, not groundbreaking but solid. It's one of thoseIt's not a GTA clone and it's also not a game that everyone will appreciate. What makes Yakuza 3 so special is it's unique charm and storytelling. It is a huge refreshment from what I'm used to. I felt truly engaged in the story and I really wanted to save the orphanage. In the end you feel greatly rewarded for all your work. Solid gameplay, not groundbreaking but solid. It's one of those games that could easily feel repetitive over time yet manages to keep its charm all the way through.… Expand
  29. RenzyWenzy
    May 2, 2022
    8
    2022 EDIT: After revisiting Yakuza 3, the gameplay is not as strong and it definitely shows its age. The combat and upgrade system gets better in the sequels but it's pretty rough here. Going back to Yakuza 3 after playing Kiwami 1 and 2 was very jarring. Yakuza 4 and 5 will eventually refine this combat by adding more characters and by giving Kiryu more moves to work with early on. I will2022 EDIT: After revisiting Yakuza 3, the gameplay is not as strong and it definitely shows its age. The combat and upgrade system gets better in the sequels but it's pretty rough here. Going back to Yakuza 3 after playing Kiwami 1 and 2 was very jarring. Yakuza 4 and 5 will eventually refine this combat by adding more characters and by giving Kiryu more moves to work with early on. I will have to lower the score but it doesn't take away from the fact this was still an amazing game when I first played it and it introduced to what would eventually become my favorite game series of all time. Nostalgia goggles are real and I definitely do acknowledge that this game's mechanics are probably the weakest out of all the Yakuza games barring the first two. That said, I can't deny how much of an impact this game had on me so I will still give it a solid 8.

    Original review from 2014 below.

    I have never played previous Yakuza games before but now I regret it. I found out about Yakuza 3 when I downloaded it's demo, i forgot why I downloaded it but I'm damn glad I did. The story was immersive, I actually cared about the characters and the struggles they had to go through especially the main character Kiryu Kazuma. Without spoiling anything, Kazuma is a former yakuza member and is the fourth chairman of the tojo clan. He now runs an orphange with his stepdaughter Haruka (not official stepdaughter but you can't deny the strong bond between these two). Kiryu finds out that his orphanage is in danger of being demolished for a resort and travels to Kamurucho to get to the bottom of things but he soon realizes that it's much more complicated than that. The story is rather complex and one that you have to pay close attention too but if you do, you'll experience one of the most mature stories of politics, betrayal, greed and violence in video game history. The intro was just a tad confusing but I guess it's my fault for not paying attention to the subtitles. Oh and that's another thing, you're gonna have to read the subtitles to get what they're saying cause this game is in full Japanese (apart from a few lines spoken in English) with no full English dubbing which is actually very appropriate so I didn't really have a problem with it. Next is the gameplay. The hand-to-hand combat is somewhat simple to learn and a bit harder to master but very rewarding. At the beginning, you have a bare bones moves list with your standard punches and kicks and grapple moves but as you progress, you are given new combos, weapons and special "Heat" moves. These "heat" moves allow you to finish enemies quicker by doing things like stomping their face, suplex-ing them on a chair, spit a cigarette at their face then finishing with a punch and soooooooo much more. It provides a very deep combat system and rewards you for mastering your moves. It may seem a little too easy once you get really strong but don't worry, tougher opponents come in huge numbers from time to time and you are also given fresh challenges in the form of some awesome boss battles. Apart from the combat, there's exploration and the side quests. Now, these side quests are unique and fun to play as well. You get to go on dates (little repetitive though), run away from cross dressers, be a hitman, chase guys who stole from old ladies, sing karaoke even act as a detective and solve mysteries and so much more and hell there's even this segment where you take pictures of these certain citizens who do extraordinary and if you hit the precise buttons at the right time and answer a question correctly, it'll reward you with a brand new "heat" move and that is awesome. Though, I wish they would add waypoints to the map. Seriously, I keep pausing and opening the map every 5 seconds to know where the **** I should be going because the game only sets waypoints for main story mission but not for side quests which is annoying as hell. Another annoyance I had with this game is how it doesn't have a day and night cycle. Sure you can switch from day to night and vice versa but you have to go to your base first and take a nap. I don't get it, why can't the Earth rotate by itself without me getting some shut eye first? Hopefully they fix this in future Yakuza installments.

    So in conclusion, this game has a complex and mature story, compelling characters, some high quality voice acting (even though I don't understand them, i know they're saying it with real emotion) some wacky and fun side quests and deep, rewarding combat system AND it has a new game plus so once you finish the game, you can start a new game with all the moves and skills you unlocked in your previous game. This is one of the most underrated PS3 exclusives and one I would recommend to anyone who wants a damn good open-world experience.    … Expand
  30. eyelidsz
    May 22, 2017
    10
    Yakuza 3 was my introduction to the series. Initially, I played about an hour or two, was unimpressed, and shelved it for a year. Boy was I wrong. When I gave it a second chance a year later, I realized just how wrong I was. Once you get past the slow beginning and realize this is going to be a deeply intense experience, it is extremely rewarding. The characters are among the best (dare IYakuza 3 was my introduction to the series. Initially, I played about an hour or two, was unimpressed, and shelved it for a year. Boy was I wrong. When I gave it a second chance a year later, I realized just how wrong I was. Once you get past the slow beginning and realize this is going to be a deeply intense experience, it is extremely rewarding. The characters are among the best (dare I say the best?) I've encountered in a video game. They aren't bland 2D cutouts of typical action game heroes like so many are today. They have plenty of depth, personality, motivations, and demons within them. The story is always suspenseful and never boring. The soundtrack adds another layer of greatness to the experience. What a game.… Expand
  31. Coreyhardie
    Jul 30, 2016
    9
    The yakuza game that got me into the series and it is awesome, I feel this game too be terribly underrated by fans, the story was great if really slow at times, the bosses are fantastic, and the soundtrack is phenomenal, my only gripes are the slow pacing and the lack of side quest being shown on the map beside that amazing game.
  32. Editman3
    Jan 31, 2017
    10
    I'm personally giving it a ten because I really like the story (though it might be slow paced at times) and bosses and how difficult the game really is though most people don't see how difficult is this. The soundtrack I really like, this game doesn't have as much content as 5 or 0 but it still is pretty fun being my first Yakuza game i'm giving it a ten now to play all the other titles. :-)
  33. raccoondaddy
    May 20, 2017
    9
    Do you like beat-em up games, Shenmue and Japan?! If so, this game should be a 10 easily. Yakuza 3 is obviously the sequel to...Yakuza 2. What you care about is, if its good. That is a resounding, hell yeah!! A fair warning, the graphics are a little dated and look more like PS2 graphics, if you can get through that and the over-the-top story. This is a true gem!

    Yakuza is a mob    Do you like beat-em up games, Shenmue and Japan?! If so, this game should be a 10 easily. Yakuza 3 is obviously the sequel to...Yakuza 2. What you care about is, if its good. That is a resounding, hell yeah!! A fair warning, the graphics are a little dated and look more like PS2 graphics, if you can get through that and the over-the-top story. This is a true gem!

    Yakuza is a mob drama that puts you in the shoes of the most badass gangsters ever...whose now in retirement. Yet, just like Michael Corleone, this story ain't over yet...by a longshot.

    Fighting in the game is entertaining, as you get plenty of moves at your disposal and are capable of picking up just about anything to kick someone's a$$. Along with the fighting, there are minigames, side quests and all kinds of fun things to do. (From fishing and poker to batting cages)

    For those of us, who were fans of Shenmue, this is, to me the spiritual successor to the game. (Even though we may still be getting a sequel) As you explore the area you live in, with a vibrant community and can interact with that environment. Yakuza does this, without the need to search drawers and talk to random NPCs.

    Overall: Yakuza 3 is a FUN blend of a beat em' up, mob soap opera and an RPG. Highly recommended if you looking for something a little different with a nice Asian flair.    … Expand
  34. adam5599
    Mar 7, 2021
    7
    The combat doesn't hold up well at all, but what makes Yakuza such an enjoyable experience is still here.
  35. superpyro296
    Dec 28, 2021
    7
    I played Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kimwami 2 before this one and until now, Yakuza 3 is the weakest of those entries. Don't get me wrong...it is still a good game but nothing compared to the previous games. Yakuza 3 still has a really good story and I think it is one of the major assets of the game. The cinematics, voice acting, music, sound are super good. However, the combat canI played Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kimwami 2 before this one and until now, Yakuza 3 is the weakest of those entries. Don't get me wrong...it is still a good game but nothing compared to the previous games. Yakuza 3 still has a really good story and I think it is one of the major assets of the game. The cinematics, voice acting, music, sound are super good. However, the combat can be really tedious and that's why I would recommend to avoid the hard difficulty or to try to complete 100% of the game. I did a few substories buy my completion rate was only 11% for a 23 hours playthrough. One of the streamers I follow had a completion rate of around 8% and only focused on the main story which seem recommend for this game. It is still a solid 7/10 and I definetly recommend to don't skip this game. There is also a new location that has a unique vibe and we see the soft side of Kiryu.… Expand
  36. bullshark
    Feb 23, 2022
    9
    Yakuza 3 is the underrated RGG mainline game. While it looks meh compared to Kiwami 2 and Yakuza 4, remember that Yakuza 3 was made after the PS2 version of Y2 (non-Kiwami), thus was a great technological leap forward. Much of this game was groundbreaking, and watching vids of Y2, I'm greatful for what this game offers & what it introduced into the series. The gameplay is strong, theYakuza 3 is the underrated RGG mainline game. While it looks meh compared to Kiwami 2 and Yakuza 4, remember that Yakuza 3 was made after the PS2 version of Y2 (non-Kiwami), thus was a great technological leap forward. Much of this game was groundbreaking, and watching vids of Y2, I'm greatful for what this game offers & what it introduced into the series. The gameplay is strong, the storyline memorable, tho the combat and QOL coulda used a little more thought. Also, shame the remaster was censored and one substory which didn't appear in the '10 English release, had text basically changed (tho in fairness their backs were prob against a wall). But still, worth playing and NOT to be skipped by any Yakuza fan!… Expand
  37. JessBeast
    Oct 6, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Good game!! The Best XDXDXDXDXDDDXDXSXDXDXDXDXDX XDXDXDXDXDDDXDXSXDXDXDXDXDX… Expand
  38. MrIslamic
    Jan 27, 2021
    6
    (I played this on RPCS3) I wasn't a big fan of this game, the story starts good but the ending was weak. The open-world was good, I liked Okinawa a lot. The combat was ok. Overall the game is really mediocre.
  39. Ahmadovskii
    Jun 6, 2021
    10
    I beat this game on hard mode and finished all the ultimate challenges, I'm moving onto legend mode. This game is pretty cool
  40. GaAL
    Nov 23, 2021
    9
    Yakuza 3 is a controversial game within the Yakuza franchise. Many people refer to it as being the worst game in the series, but I have to thoroughly disagree there. I feel that the story flows very well with the antagonists involved and it goes on to create a fun and intriguing story. There are the downsides though. I feel the mini games arent at their best in this game and they feelYakuza 3 is a controversial game within the Yakuza franchise. Many people refer to it as being the worst game in the series, but I have to thoroughly disagree there. I feel that the story flows very well with the antagonists involved and it goes on to create a fun and intriguing story. There are the downsides though. I feel the mini games arent at their best in this game and they feel clunky and but polished enough. Overall though a great game.… Expand
  41. TIMOFEIKA
    Dec 6, 2021
    5
    this game is a bit sad, but i think this is one of the worst games in the serious because of its upgrading mechanics. it's a great game and all but i used to think the upgrading mechanics ruin the game
  42. shin777
    Jun 6, 2022
    0
    Game is 10/10, but Sega is so bad company not translating their games even after remastering them
  43. FatalErrorSyst
    Jan 25, 2023
    1
    Peut-on m'expliquer quel est l'intêret de changer complétement l'interface du jeu (le menu ressemble à un utilitaire DOS pour modifier son bios) , et la customisation des compétences est trés moche et hasardeuse.

    Parlons des personnages , les graphismes sont dans les choux, les personnages mal animés, on doit frôlé la densité de population de 200 personnes / m2, aprés avoir joué a    Peut-on m'expliquer quel est l'intêret de changer complétement l'interface du jeu (le menu ressemble à un utilitaire DOS pour modifier son bios) , et la customisation des compétences est trés moche et hasardeuse.

    Parlons des personnages , les graphismes sont dans les choux, les personnages mal animés, on doit frôlé la densité de population de 200 personnes / m2, aprés avoir joué a yakuza kiwami 2 , qui était trés franchement magifique, là c'est la grosse décéption .

    Enfin, j'imagine qu'il a dû y avoir une restriction budgétaire chez
    Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, où bien ce sont les stagiaires qui ont développé le jeu. mdr    … Expand
  44. JesseDillinger
    Feb 1, 2023
    5
    Worst one by far. The fighting is so stiff and the first few hours of the game are really slow. Ngl all these games kind of mix together when it comes to the story, but I don't recall being wowed by this one. Just remember the annoying fights.
  45. Heartbeat98
    Mar 5, 2023
    10
    Ps3 and xbox 360 version is way better than the remastered because it doesn't have the double framerate,causing double heat drain, double speed enemy turning,and double everything that could be against you.
  46. TianLong1
    Mar 31, 2023
    7
    New setting, new characters. I enjoyed this game a lot, not because of the plot but more because of the characters in the orphanage and your friends in Okinawa, it feels like living in some paradise island except it is tainted with corruption and yakuza plotting to take everything for you. The remastered graphics look decent enough, but you can tell this is an old game because of the veryNew setting, new characters. I enjoyed this game a lot, not because of the plot but more because of the characters in the orphanage and your friends in Okinawa, it feels like living in some paradise island except it is tainted with corruption and yakuza plotting to take everything for you. The remastered graphics look decent enough, but you can tell this is an old game because of the very cranky animations and gameplay. Still had a good time though.… Expand
  47. Kamurocholover
    Jun 25, 2023
    6
    i love this game with all my heart, it hurts me to put it on 6, but man the controls are horrible!!!, and the enemies are on super hard for no reason

Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Best PS3 Game of 2010
30
#30 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2010
49
#49 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 77 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 77
  3. Negative: 0 out of 77
  1. GameCritics
    Feb 21, 2012
    65
    Don't get me wrong; Yakuza 3 is still a good game that offers a uniquely Japanese experience and dramatic content an order of magnitude more mature than most of what's coming down the pike, but it just doesn't match up to the first two entries. I hate to say it, but the Dragon of Dojima's gotten soft in the middle-it's time for Kazuma to cut back on the yakiniku and get his ass back to the gym.
    Read full review
  2. Gameplayer
    90
    No other Japanese PS3 game to date provides quite such a vivid game-world in which to play. [JPN Import]
    Read full review
  3. Play UK
    80
    Tells a good story and is a fun game. [Issue#191, p.74]
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