Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Reviews
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is another enjoyable blend of hard-boiled drama and sidestory silliness, but as a package it’s not quite as well-rounded as the series’ more accomplished entries.
Overall, Yakuza Kiwami 3 is now the best way to experience Yakuza 3, especially since this retcon will likely now be the established canon. There’s no arguing that it has improved on the original in many ways, not only giving it a much-needed facelift and tinkering under the hood to make for a smoother experience, but adding a whole host of new content to whet our appetite. While I lament some losses during the creative overhaul and I am notably disgruntled by one major change, I can’t deny that the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Yakuza 3 has, despite its flaws, long been one of my favorites in the series.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 continues the solid streak for Ryu Ga Gotoku and the series. The gripping narrative and fun combat deliver on what players enjoy. It doesn’t raise the bar in any way, but newcomers and returning fans will find it a thrill ride from start to epic finish.
Getting to the end, in a way, took me back to the beginning, remembering Kiryu's walk in the cemetery. The scene symbolizes the culmination of a specific time and place for the series--one that's currently unable to shake off its phantoms.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a fair series entry, but one that's tainted by poor pacing and a recasting controversy that simply didn't need to happen. The main story has a lot to offer, but it's also bloated with way too much side content getting in the way of the core narrative. Dark Ties feels like a nice antidote to this, but I'm not sure whether this alone would be worth the purchase for anyone but series die-hards.RGG Studio fixed some visual blemishes in time for launch, so that's good news. Unfortunately, it seems Kiwami 3 will forever be associated with the recasting of one of its main antagonists, a controversy that undeniably affected my personal enjoyment of the game. If that doesn't bother you, and if an overabundance of side content appeals, you could probably add a point to the scoreline.
As someone who deeply adores the original Yakuza 3, this remake constantly left me torn between appreciation and disappointment, because it’s occasionally brilliant yet so undeniably polarizing at some levels, serving as fine evidence for me that not every black sheep in a series needs to be remade.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is the definitive remake of the franchise. If you thought the previous Kiwami games had already redefined the first two installments with exceptional quality, this remake of the third chapter simply takes it to a whole new level.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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Review in Spanish | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a combo of action adventures that longtime fans of the series will have hours of fun with. The added gameplay features and altered visuals, unfortunately, contrast with the story experience in a way that doesn't feel as authentic to the original experience as I would have liked.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a sad microcosm of the state of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio: a developer spinning its wheels, no longer caring for quality, content to chew up old assets and discard what made the original special in order to spit out a yearly release that cashes in on love for what the series used to be.
Removing a significant amount of content and replacing it with Mine's Dark Ties storyline hurts the narrative as a whole, but perhaps not as much as the other design choices at play for this remake of Yakuza 3.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a great intro to the series with fun bonus content besides, and most of its changes are for the better.
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Review in Italian | Read full review
It’s definitely a shame that the Dark Ties portion of this package never reaches its full potential, yet this is more than made up for by Yakuza Kiwami 3’s absolutely gorgeous take on Okinawa and the new-and-improved ways you’re able to interact with it. As far as beatdown-led holidays in the sun go, Yakuza Kiwami 3 serves as RGG Studio’s best reimagining yet.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is one hell of a package. Taken purely as an expanded remake, it's an absolute blast for fans both old and new - but questionable changes to the story and its cast will inevitably stain the experience for plenty of people.It's such a shame that these unforced errors muddy the waters, because we think Kiwami 3 is probably RGG Studio's best remake to date - and one of the strongest titles in the series with regards to gameplay.
If you've never played DQ7, then by all means check this remake out. It's an epic RPG that still has my favorite job system of any game ever. But if you're like me, and you've experienced the other versions of DQ7 before, you may be disappointed by how familiar you find Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined. For me, it was like visiting old friends I hadn't seen in a while, which ultimately outweighed its flaws.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a top-notch package brimming some great new content, with the Dark Tide side-story worth the price of entry alone. There's some questionable changes and additions to Yakuza 3 that will irk some longtime fans, but overall, this is a brilliant remake and easily the most ambitious in the series to date.
This pack not only honors 20 years of history, but also demonstrates that the saga continues to look back without being stuck in the past. Two games, two protagonists, and one shared conclusion: the bonds we forge define who we are, even when all seems lost.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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Review in Italian | Read full review