YAY!

Best news I've had all day. I bought a PS3 JUST TO PLAY YAKUZA 3, and I've played Yakuza 2 too many times in Japanese. Can't wait to not need a translation. ^_^

WANT THAT!! BADLYYYY!!
Lets see what the future brings ;)

Is that chick farting on him?

I believe Yakuza 2 is nothing like Yakuza 3 right?? interested now may buy this when it comes out

@godrifle: OH MY GOD THIS SMELL IS HORRID.

@Ashurahori: I've been playing Yakuza 3 lately (see name). It is the most beautiful game I've ever played.
Unfortunately I can only understand about 1/8 of the Japanese in it.
But this is great news! Hopefully this means we get it in the US soon.

The hell....just bring Yakuza 3 right now Sega!

At this slow step,Sega got to bring Yakuza 3 in a year (2009) for this lands,damn it I hate them >:(

Are these games really that good? I played the demo for the PS2 and just didn't get it. It played like a more actiony version Shenmue, except with mashier combat and less random wondering.

The combat was way too stiff for my tastes.

@Thorax: Now, maybe I'm stuck in 1999 or something, but how in god's name is "a more actiony Shenmue" a bad thing? If memory serves correctly, Shenmue was fucking awesome! With more action, it woulda been double awesome.

Sega is slow as hell. I want to play Yakuza 2, and there is no reaso that it is taking this long to get it overseas.

Oh my god! Awesome!!!

@Thorax: The combat gets smoother the more you upgrade your character. Pretty soon you become an insane badass who beats the crap out of people using bicycles and trash cans.

dear sega

HURRY THE FUCK UP

sincerely Mossberg

Great, great news! I loved the first one, despite its flaws (it's true that the combat feels clunky, but, as someone else already mentioned, once you start to get a hang of it and especially when you start building up your character and getting new moves and such, it becomes a whole lot of fun).
I hear the second one is considerably better than the first, so I'm quite excited. I truly hope that they keep the original voice acting, though.

so is there CO-OP or something. because all the screens I've seen of two people kicking the shit out of some one

@mossberg: I don't think so. If I'm not mistaken, during a few parts of the game, that woman will be around and she'll participate in the fights and you'll be able to perform special moves with her. I guess they chose to show these screens because they look cool.

YAHAHAHHAAHHAHA!!!! I thought SEGA would do so, because it would seem quiet confusing to see a real nice looking prestige game for the PS3 without consequent release of the sequels.

'll be able to beat up american asses too in the near future. :D

@Carroceiro: aww crap i was kinda hoping i'd be able to smash faces with a friend oh well

...what IS this game about anyway?

As the name implies, it's about Yakuza. You know, the "Japanese Mafia". You go around a city (actually, just one district of Tokyo (Yakuza 2 will take place in both Tokyo and Osaka!) and you talk to people, take side-quests, quests that allow you to proceed with the great (at least in the first game) main story, get into really rough street fights with other Yakuza members and all sorts of thugs, which involve not only your fists and feet, but plenty of makeshift and real weapons, indulge in countless mini-games, learn new moves, go to hostess bars (which are like brothels, but instead of paying to fuck, you pay to talk to women while drinking and eating (I can't believe there are people who actually spend money on that, but we're talking about Japan here)). And there are also some boss fights, of course.
Basically, it's a whole package of cinematic fun. And I can't really think of any other game (at least in the West) that allows you to explore the world of the Yakuza in modern day Japan.
Also, I suggest you look at Yakuza 2's official website (it's in Japanese) and look at some of the videos, especially the ones which show some "heat action" or "heat moves". Those would sell the game to anyone.
The third game, which just came out in Japan is set in early 17th century Japan, with a lot of sword fights and such, so it has quite a different setting. It does look awesome.

Man I can't wait.

I hope this means it will include the JP track.

@godrifle: Is that chick farting on him?

Looks like a modern remake of J.J. and Jeff. Seriously though I can not wait for this game to be released in the U.S. Never thought it would happen. Much thanks SEGA.

@godrifle: LOL

Seriously SEGA this is the last PS2 game I am ever going to buy, and is the game I am going to really going get my monies worth out of my 60GB PS3's backwards compatibility on, so could you please hurry the fuck up with it?

-WPack911

Oh finally! I really thought I was going to miss out on that game. Yakuza remains one of my favourite PS2 games, flawed though it was. It was a modern day Streets of Rage almost, and I look forward to dipping my toes into this pool of gaming goodness.