Yakuza 4 Hard Mode

Ok it doesn't look like I will be able to revive my old system long enough to retrieve the save data onto the  new system. At the very least, I managed to get the disc struck inside back - Yakuza 4 which I have yet to complete at that time. I have been grinding the game to about 80 hours plus when my old system failed leaving the story unresolved just before the conclusion.

Once I realised I have to start all over again from scratch, I decided to jump straight to Hard mode and skip the side mission, focus on finishing the story. This is sort of uncharted territory for myself because when I finish the Hard mode for part 3, I had the luxury of using the leveled up characters from my Normal mode save.  I guess I wanted the extra challenge when playing the game again since I already played the entire game up till the last boss encounter.

So one weekend of nothing about Yakuza 4 later, I have finish the story mode on Hard mode in a new save file. I remember having a harder time on part 3 even with a leveled up Kiryu perhaps part 4 has a lower difficulty curve as Sega was incorporating three new characters into the fray.

Eye Opening Revelation

If you haven't notice by now, I have been playing a lot of SEGA's Yakuza lately. Upon starting slowly but surely on Kenzan, I went back to finish my second run of Yakuza 3. Playing Kenzan in Japanese made me realised I haven't got around to viewing the cut content from the english localization of Yakuza 3 which should be a breeze now that I'm taking the hard way with Kenzan. If only Yakuza 3 was a better game I would have felt more compelled to play the import but as it's, part 3 is pretty inferior when compared with the rest of the series.

Kenzan is a fun diversion even if only because of the novelty factor, like ThePatrick said it best "It's almost as if the cast of Ryu Ga Gotoku were suddenly hired to be actors in a play about Musashi". It makes you appreciate the characters even more, there's a scene in Kenzan where Majima Gorohachi loses his eye and although they aren't the same character, you can't help but glee in fanboy delight. Then there is Yakuza 4 I just started last week but haven't play enough to really get into it here, I did notice there were scenes of Majima before the eye patch in the opening video. Not sure if it’s revealed how he lost his eye in this timeline or if it’s as dramatic as Kenzan but I’m sure it will be a nice revelation for fans.

The Mystery of Kenzan

I forgot to mention that my copy of Yakuza Kenzan happened to be a brand new copy still in its shrinkwrap when purchased. I didn't really give it much thought as to why a black label version was still available when the budget edition was released quite some time ago. I did see a lot of japanese games in the game store so it could have been old stock waiting to be cleared. Then I got home and realised something was amiss with my copy as you will soon see here with these pictures.

Now if you look at the earlier post you will notice I stacked my copy of Kenzan next to my japanese import of Yakuza 3. If you are aware of the chronology Kenzan was released before Yakuza 3, in fact it's the first Yakuza game on the ps3 platform from team SEGA. Still with me so far? Good now take a look here at the top of the Yakuza 3 case, it has the old playstation 3 logo embossed onto the case like most old games back when the black label used to be on the side of the cover art.

Now since Kenzan came before 3, the case should also be embossed with the old playstation 3 logo on the top right? That's the weird thing, the case for my copy of Yakuza Kenzan happened to be the new type without the playstation 3 logo on the top despite being shrinkwrapped. This is the official Sony shrinkwrap mind you, where you see the playstation logo on the tape as you peel the plastic off. Now before you jump into any conclusions as to why an old game could end up in a new casing, I must say I also notice a similar copy of Kenzan appearing in another game store so I doubt there's anything fishy going on here. My only plausible explanation for all this is that the game are still being published in their original cover art in Taiwan.

Hurry Up and Wait

It's no secret that I used my ps3 a lot more often than my nintendo Wii, I liked the online functionality of the system and even when i'm not busy downloading a file off PSN in the background I would still logged in while gaming. Having my live community of gamer friends there online is like a reality check sometimes if i get too carried away into the wee hours I would be constantly remind to stop soon by presence of my friends signing off.

Another benefit of being signed onto PSN network while you are playing is the immediate access to any update patch that may be been made available to the game. This will improve the gameplay experience like the ability to have game data install for Bayonetta or even provide additional content such is the case for Yakuza 3 japanese edition.

During PSN network downtime this past week I rarely turn on the system without the online functionality there. I have grown used to having my new trophies synced the moment I quit the game and without that assurance, the drive to chase trophies just isn't there. I was almost done with my third run through Dead Rising 2 at a point where I would achieve a couple more trophies and I just stop momentarily while Sony sort out this mess. Apparently PSN will be back online within a week and during this time I have been keeping myself busy with the Wii. I feel sorry for my Wii now that its impending successor has been made official as I never got the most out of it. I kept waiting and waiting for the Wii to have a truly great year to call its own with a software lineup that will shed some of the public misconception of the system and it never really happened. Instead I waited and I found out that it's going to be replaced soon now.

Dragon's Quest

There's a dragon on a mission right now and that mission is to earn as many missing trophies as possible in Yakuza 3. Free from the constraints of the story mode, I'm able to focus my attention to areas which reward you with trophies for your hard work and so far, the trophy hunt has been the ultimate thrill. Some are getting exceedingly difficult to achieve like finding the remaining locker keys but having Kiryu adequately level up does help and certainly make you feel up beating the hell out of anyone who gets in your way.

I actually dislike trophies that require you to go out on a limb beyond the context of the actual game and the trophy that best describes this is the 'careless dragon' trophy. I'm just glad to have gotten that out of the way but there's still a ways to go as I'm only about 50% done with the game. Hopefully I should be able to get most of these done and also put some time into the japanese import before the localised Yakuza 4 ships early next year.

Burning Twice as Bright

Patience is not something most gamers would like to practise, myself being guilty of that many times as well. This one time when i decided to skip finishing Fatal Frame III on playstation2 and moved straight to Fatal Frame IV on the Wii did work out better than I thought and prove that patience is not always a virtue. By doing so, i avoided burning myself out and managed to finish part IV after playing the game consistently for about two to three weeks. Just as I started, I was struggling to juggle my playing time between Fatal Frame IV, Yakuza 3 and also Monster Hunter Tri which i recently got. Something had to give with Yakuza 3 seeing less and less playing time than rest, i decided to give that game a break and just concentrate on the two games on the Nintendo Wii. Truthfully I felt a little burnt out having to play Yakuza 3 after racing to finish Yakuza 2 a few months back and the slow pace at the beginning of that game certainly didn't help as well.

Now that I have finished Fatal Frame IV, Yakuza 3 didn't feel like such a drag as before and of course, Fatal Frame III still needs finishing touches before I can even think of playing part IV again. I guess games are always best played when you are not rushing to finish them for whatever reasons it may be.

When Grasshoppers and Ninjas Collide

You really have to tip your hat off to the translation team behind the Fatal Frame 4 english patch, they are clearly well-versed enough to enjoy the game in its original form but decided to produce a patch for everyone to have a chance to experience this great game. My japanese import of Fatal Frame 4 arrived promptly yesterday and since the only other game i'm busy with happens to be a bit of a slow-burner, i decided to play Fatal Frame 4.

Part of the eagerness was for the game itself and part of it was curiosity of how it all works with the patch installed onto the system. Thankfully after a quick restart, everything began to run smoothly as you hoped in fact, the translation work is so seamlessly you probably think it was an official localization of the game rather than fan-made. I have read that pretty much everything was already in placed and all that was required was a good understanding of the Japanese language and then it was just a matter of replacing the hiragana and kanjis with the ABCs. The fonts of the English text doesn't look awkwardly out of place or 'burnt-on' save perhaps for some of the menu but i have yet to load the game in its original form so i don't know for sure if the above statement is true. A huge thanks to the guys who made this possible, it's the stuff that fans always talk and dream of but rather ever happens. You guys have certainly prove it is possible, this game feels like such a quality product that i can't possible cram all my impressions into this one post.

Wild Search is Over

For the past few weeks i have been searching everywhere for yakuza 3 region 1, a search that is getting increasingly futile unless i started looking abroad. Then last weekend when i decided to show my support for a local game store grand opening, i ended up with not one but two copies of yakuza 3! Granted neither of those two were the coveted region 1 version but in the end i believe they offered a better value for money than if i had got the region 1 copy albeit having to spent a bit more than i intially thought.

One was the Yakuza 3 japanese import in first print and the other, the asian version of yakuza 3 at wholesale price for that opening day only. I have considered of playing the japanese import before but that proven unnecessary when Sega finally announced that they would indeed to bringing the game to western gamers. Then the announcement of cut material dampen everyone's excitement for the game and with no official reply from Sega, it seems the only way to experience the game in its complete form was to play the japanese version. This was actually old stock waiting to be cleared and once again i felt the urge to rescue it from the shelf when i first saw it there. It was down to about half its original retail price for a japanese import meaning a pretty chunk of saving if i had purchased the japanese import when it first came out.

When i told my friends that i was waiting out for the region 1 of yakuza 3, they question my decision to spent so much for a game with cut content and on top of that, a pretty dated game if you consider the original release in Japan. Already being deprived of content cut from the western release, i was adamant about not being deprived of the downloadable content as well (DLC). That and also other aesthetic reasons led me to relentlessly pursue the region 1 version. Until I found the japanese import which i didn't think would be possible anymore for first print now that the budget label release is out. Then all i needed was localised copy which i could play to make some sense of the game in japanese which didn't necessarily have to be region 1 anymore. The wholesale price was tempting to say the least but looking at the asian box art, it probably was not a bad idea as i don't worry about looking at a moody kazuma with white goatee on the box.

A Fighter's Blues

Since i have yet to play Yakuza 3 and got so bored of playing RE5 again, i decided it's about time to give Madworld another try. What a difference it was from when i first played the game back in July last year, the faults i have with the game are still there but Madworld does make a pretty good brawler especially when you compared the fighting with yakuza 3. Frankly when i first play the game i wasn't expecting a brawling game but Madworld is exactly that, Just Jack doesn't have a whole lot of different moves to take down his enemies nor does he dodge very gracefully away from attack but his impact moves and finishers are thoroughly satisfying. In the end I have come to accept that Jack just moves and attack a lot more like Kazuma rather than what I'm accustomed to with Dante and Nero.

The camera is still horrible, picking up weapons and facing your opponents is a nightmare especially when the game locks down the camera angle in certain situation but at least the game looks pretty even in 480i. The production design is pretty impressive for an action game where it's usually an afterthought but Madworld is good enough to make you take the time to stop and admire. The game is reportedly only 5 to 6 hours long so there should be no problems playing it till finish this time since i already can't wait to get back to playing it again. Maybe it was the longing to play yakuza 3 that has led me to back to Madworld but the game has got my undivided attention right now, at a time when I have nothing else better to play. Well at least until next month when i should have a bounty full of cool new games to play.

March Madness II

Right about this time last year I was experiencing my march madness where my spending just went up the roof for Resident Evil 5 and all other things RE-lated. This year things are not much different and i'm sure you will agree if you are an avid ps3 user with the slew of great ps3 games out this month. While i'm feeling the pinch myself, it's less apparent here seeing that i never developed much of any liking for RPG games and also i have always been much more of a devil may cry guy.

Most of the damage would have to be attributed to my trip to Singapore later this month and also my sister trip to US where i hope to score a couple of good bargains back. These aren't exactly new games which you will learn about over the coming few weeks but it should keep me busy until summer when Capcom's big sequels are out. With no sign of Yakuza 3 region 1 in sight yet, I still haven't figure out if i should continue to wait it out and add it onto my already long shopping list.

Day One No More

Yakuza 3 is scheduled for release tomorrow and i came to a decision not to make it a first-day purchase anymore. No, it's not because of the lack of hostess side-mission or the games i have unfinished as that is something i have learnt to come to terms with as an adult gamer. This has more to do with me being content with still playing Resident Evil 5 DLC while the prospect of getting some new games next month intrigued me enough to put off getting Yakuza 3 for now.

I do anticipate having to cope with my friends playing and finishing the game before I do but I realised I would still get the last laugh when i finally finished Yakuza 2 before starting Yakuza 3 in a haste like i would have now.

Host Gone Ghost

Yakuza is shaping up to be a series where Sega seems to never get things right from the beginning of the franchise up until now. Yakuza 1 was dubbed much to purists dismay though Yakuza 2 was left pretty much intact after localization, it was released way too late to even make an impact.

Now Yakuza 3 will have some content cut from its original Japanese version because of cultural differences and lack of time to properly localise everything. Its the kind of stuff that fanboys will chew and debate over for ages to come though it's unlikely to make or break the game. The problem is the content removed though trivial to the eyes of the Sega team happens to be the main appeal to many of Yakuza fans. Yes the hostess game which has evolved from each of yakuza game will not be featured in this forthcoming yakuza release. Not many will admit it but i have seen enough forums and friends to know that a lot of gamers play yakuza because of the hostess side missions.

Evil Now Has a Voice

I gave myself an early treat this chinese new year when i finally bought the official sony bluetooth headset for my playstation3. Despite constant urging from my friends since we started on the operation flashpoint 2 campaign, i didn't see that game as one worthy for me to spend any more money on especially since i have never made good use of any of my past nintendo peripherals. While that has not change, i did buy headset because i knew i didn't have enough time to get another game before Yakuza 3 ships and also i thought it would compliment my re5 dlc purchase rather nicely later this month.

With my PSN store credit in place and my new headset, i'm all ready to take a trip down memory lane when the 'lost in nightmare' episode is unleashed. It would be fun to reminisce about the series with long-time fans over the headset as the new episode promises to conjure up all sorts of old memories.

Stone by Stone

So i finished Bayonetta again on Normal mode, this time i managed to improve all my previous stone ranking to at least bronze, very rarely do i hit the platinum rank so i suspect i'm still a long ways off if i'm to unlock Jeanne for future replays. Often times it's my combo points that bring my ranking down as i tend to stick to my 1-2 preferred combo and once i exhausted them, i just button-mash my way through until the end. A bit disappointed i didn't unlock anything this time around but then again i do have a habit of taking my time with these things. While i would love to play it again to uncover all the secret missions i have decided to give my dualshock3 and disc drive a break as i noticed the disc drive has been emitting strange noise lately. No doubt the burden of having to load everything off the disc in Bayonetta has been straining the lens more than usual but i'm not about to lament here about how inferior the ps3 version is.

Since i still have yakuza 2 to finish before the third installment arrives soon, i guess it's time to get re-acquainted with the dragon of dojima again.

Coming To America (Not)

The truth is finally out, it looks like Yakuza 3 won't be leaving its native home Japan after all.

Can't say i'm really surprised though it does leave me with the inevitable decision which i knew i would have to arrive at, playing the import version. I foresee it to be a long and ultimately unrewarding process since the real charm of the Yakuza series has always lies in its side missions. To top it off, the game is still selling at its original price so it likely won't be cheap to import at this stage. I certainly have the time to go through this meticulous process of playing the import version but i would probably have to finish the second one before i even consider it right now.

Yakuza 2 on PS3

Yakuza 2 being a late entry into the Playstation2 game library plays very well on my backward compatible 80GB PS3 as expected. The graphics upscaled to 1080p still has a very soft grainy look on certain scenes such as the opening demo which i suspected was badly compressed judging from the sheer size and depth of the game. The other cutscenes which were rendered by the in-game engine i presumed, looks much better even when the game zooms in upclose to the characters. The game supports 16:9 widescreen so everything's in proper proportions on a LCD display unlike some ps2 games when you set your ps3 to upscaled the image to fill the entire display. The loading times has also improved significantly, you don't even have to wait for the option to press start to skip the loading come fight sequences. While it's not as fast to the point when it's seamless like in yakuza 3, gone are the days when i would dread getting into a fight in the first yakuza for fear of the long loading time.
You could certainly do much worse than yakuza 2 when looking for a game to play on your ps3 as my previous other ps2 games have been known to display a glitch or two during playback.

Handsome Devil with the Cigarette

When i first saw the japanese box art of Yakuza 3 revealed, i immediately thought of John Woo's Hard Boiled. Some one on the Yakuza 3 team must be a fan of the John Woo classic as there is a scene in the film where Tony leads his head back lost in his thoughts, the same manner as kazuma does here. Sure it could be a coincidence as i'm sure there are many other similar pose of one smoking but here's another coincident for you, when Hard Boiled was first released on DVD in Japan, it featured the same iconic shot of Tony Leung on the cover of the DVD box art. While i don't have the DVD in my possession to show or any reference for that matter, i certainly remembered it well enough. I also remember watching my Criterion Collection of WKW's In The Mood for Love and inside, Kar-Wai casually referred to Tony Leung as the handsome devil with a cigarette when they first worked together in Days of Being Wild.

Yakuza 3 is scheduled for release in February next year and i haven't even finish playing Yakuza 2 or heard anything of the Kenzan spin-off getting localised. If there is ever a reason to feel proud as a PS3 owner, this is it. Third-party exclusive doesn't get any better than this.