Yakuza: Dead Souls

 PlayStation 3
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Mar 13, 2012
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 55 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 55
  3. Negative: 1 out of 55
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  1. PSM3 Magazine UK
    Apr 9, 2012
    80
    It's the equivalent of a shrapnel grenade rather than single, well-placed sniper bullets. Some bits will miss, others will lodge deep enough to leave a lasting impression. [May 2012, p.106]
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  2. Eurogamer Sweden
    Mar 26, 2012
    80
    Sega's Yakuza team goes way off the beaten path with Yakuza: Dead Souls and infuses its otherwise serious, grounded series with a fresh injection of zombie mayhem. With gunplay as clunky as Resident Evil 4 it manages to emulate Capcom's franchise quite well, and in pure chaos and weirdness, actually manages to outshine the latter attempts. Not as much of a world to explore as in Yakuza 4, but way more zombies to murder and a nice catch-up of some of the series' strongest characters.
  3. Machinima
    Mar 19, 2012
    80
    Conceptually, the Yakuza series might appear to have "jumped the shark," but Sega has designed the game well enough and with such enthusiasm that you can't help but be impressed.
  5. Game Informer
    Mar 19, 2012
    78
    It has a blemished, blood-soaked face that's going to scare off some gamers, but there's a lot of heart and fun to be found by those willing to dig beneath the ghoulish surface.
  6. Games Master UK
    Apr 27, 2012
    76
    Packs a charming city hub, but dull repetitive combat lets it down. [June 2012, p.80]
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  7. Pelit (Finland)
    May 11, 2012
    75
    Well, you certainly didn't see this one coming. Zombie invasion in Yakuza controlled Kamurocho is certainly something you don't see every day. The game isn't an Asian version of the Left 4 Dead, thanks to the sloppy controls. [May 2012]
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  8. GameWatcher
    Mar 27, 2012
    75
    Going into Yakuza: Dead Souls I had some reservations, but after playing it, I'm happy to say that this works surprisingly well.
  9. PlayStation Universe
    Mar 13, 2012
    75
    Yakuza: Dead Souls doesn't reinvent the zombie shooter with its simple combat scheme, but mowing down the walking dead in their hundreds and executing some neat special moves provides some frantically-paced arcade-styled thrills.

Awards & Rankings

75
#75 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2012
42
#42 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2012

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 95 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 95
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 95
  3. Negative: 13 out of 95
  1. JackKazuma
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    I beat this game twice already. The game is huge,you will def get your moneys worth that's for sure. It's a spin off and also the end of theI beat this game twice already. The game is huge,you will def get your moneys worth that's for sure. It's a spin off and also the end of the Tokyo location and game engine..Hence the title "of the end". Part 5 is being developed as we speak with tons of work to be done considering they are making a whole new engine. Now I won't go into heavy detail as I did with my Yakuza 4 review, but give my pros and cons.

    Pros:

    Storyline- Can never say more than enough for a STELLAR storyline.. you will not find better from any series including cutscenes.
    Characters- The loan Shark,Dragon of Kansai and Majima join Kazuma into gunning hordes of zombies popping heads like it's going out of style. Can't ask for a better team.
    Graphics- Same as 4,same engine..Love it or hate it, it works.
    Mini games- Are all here..Whether you like to bowl, play slots,arcades,cards,mahjong,hostess bars,batting cages,karaoke,massage parlors tell me when to stop..And many many side missions for each character(One example is saving store fronts and reopening businesses).
    When complete you can have the option to travel around a normal town or apocalyptic town with zombies.

    Cons:

    Sadly the controls are a little problematic at first,but as you play you will be popping heads with a hostess in no time.
    Some Framerate issues at times.

    Overall it's a great end to this engine and the Tokyo location. I hope when 5 is complete they bring it to the West. Sadly other reviewers will sway hordes of people from even touching the series. Thank you Sega for supporting your fans.    … Full Review »
  2. Jwhite
    Apr 6, 2012
    10
    This isn't just a Zombie shooter; Bowling, darts, dating sim, fishing, karaoke, poker and a whole lot of other things going on.It's a shooterThis isn't just a Zombie shooter; Bowling, darts, dating sim, fishing, karaoke, poker and a whole lot of other things going on.It's a shooter that actually has some personality, charismatic characters, and a villain that actually has a greater motive than just " kill everyone". Calling Dead Souls just another Zombie shooter is an offence because it's so much more.… Full Review »
  3. JPoppaWUSC
    Apr 6, 2012
    9
    In every hardcore gamer's library, there are a handful of slightly clunky titles that are just fun enough that the player overlooks theirIn every hardcore gamer's library, there are a handful of slightly clunky titles that are just fun enough that the player overlooks their flaws for the sake of originality and enjoyment. Deadly Premonition, Nier, Sacred 2, and Dead Rising are good examples from the Seventh Generation, for instance. While Yakuza games would typically fall among the more polished releases of their, an aging graphics engine and a somewhat awkward shift to third-person shooting mechanics place Dead Souls into that "guilty pleasure" category. Reviewers have trashed Dead Souls for failing to conform to the Gears of War standard, which has somehow become the litmus test for a great TPS. In truth, Yakuza: Dead Souls is far more reminiscent of Gungrave, and even that comparison might appeal to some of its potential players. This chapter takes place in an alternate universe, where many of the events of Yakuza 4 have not yet transpired, some previously dead characters are back with altered backstories, and completely new people show up without a lot of wasted exposition. It's all in the name of fun and fanservice, though, and there's plenty of cameos and inside jokes that long-time Yakuza players will appreciate. That being said, it's not a bad way for new players to jump into Yakuza for the first time, either. Like every game in the series, Dead Souls is chock full of mini-games, side quests, quirky Japanese humor, and other quality content to fill 60+ hours. The main story would only take 15-20 hours, which is still above average for an action game, but surprisingly deep representations of golf, billiards, darts, bowling, karaoke, various casino games, batting cages, fishing, and a ton of other mini-games make Yakuza: Dead Souls a one-stop shop for all of your entertainment needs. It also features some of the most disarmingly suggestive (but hilarious) dating sim elements ever to reach our shores, with Hot Spring Ping-Pong and Aromatherapy Massage (complete with a "Happy Ending Bonus") topping the list of activities you can enjoy with Kamurocho's nightclub hostesses. It may seem odd that you can do all of this stuff in the middle of a zombie outbreak, but Yakuza's weird internal logic makes it all seem pretty natural. You'll understand when you play it. And you SHOULD play it. Sure, the shooting mechanics are a bit frustrating when the camera hangs up on a wall or your auto-aim plugs more holes in the wall than in a nearby zombie's head, but it doesn't take much time to get adjusted. Besides, Dead Souls packs in an overwhelming number of ability upgrades, weapons and armor to craft, and items to pick up amongst four respectably varied characters (Kazuma Kiryu, Ryuji Goda, Goro Majima, and Shun Akiyama, all series favorites). Heat Snipes are a fun addition to the gunplay, as they allow potentially massive assaults against enemy hordes, and some of them are combined with the abilities of your current partner. On that subject, dozens of characters, some new and some familiar, will join you when entering the zombie-infested quarantine zones. They'll offer commentary, guide you on mission objectives, and help keep you alive, though you will also need to watch their back in the process. As the game progresses, the quarantine zones will grow to overtake more and more of Kamurocho, so the only real downside to Dead Souls is that if you don't enjoy the gunplay elements, the game could get increasingly frustrating as the story nears its end. Still, when you consider all of the steps that Yakuza's developers took to make it an exercise in fanservice and stupid fun, Dead Souls deserves some serious respect for what it does right. And even with the same graphics engine that serves as a foundation for 4 games (Kenzan, 3, 4, and now Dead Souls), the cutscene motion capturing and accompanying voicework is still pretty staggering, even if all the dialogue is in its native Japanese. The bottom line is this - Yakuza: Dead Souls is a varied and enjoyable piece of gaming entertainment, and if you can get past a few clunky flaws in its TPS mechanics, there is a wealth of content to explore that is unlike anything else on the market... well, unlike everything but Yakuza 3 & 4. Enjoy!… Full Review »
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