SEGA’s Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties* drops players into a familiar yet drastically altered world. Where the original Yakuza 3 (2010) was a sprawling, side-quest-heavy adventure, this remake pares down the experience—replacing nearly 90 substories with a new narrative centered on Yoshitaka Mine, the Tojo clan’s enigmatic financier.
The result is a game that trades depth for polish, offering a tighter, more focused story but leaving behind much of what made the series beloved. For Kazuma Kiryu, this means no more weapon upgrades, no Golden Gun quests, and a combat system stripped of its signature flexibility. Instead, players wield eight Okinawan-inspired weapons in a more rigid, button-mapped fighting style—swapping out the original’s improvisational brawling for a structured, almost arcade-like approach.
Yet despite these changes, the remake delivers on its core promise: a fresh perspective on Mine’s backstory, unfolding through Dark Ties, a standalone campaign that explores his early career, ambition, and the events that shaped his rivalry with Daigo Dojima. Where Kiryu’s campaign clocks in at around 30 hours, Mine’s runs a lean 8–10, offering a sharp, character-driven narrative that contrasts sharply with the original’s sprawling open world.
What’s changed—and what’s lost
- Kiryu’s campaign: The orphanage storyline is fully realized, complete with market and farming mechanics, but the substory count plummets from 119 to fewer than 30. Minigames like Hostess Club and Bad Boy Dragon (now expanded with 100-man melees) replace lost content, but purists may find the trade-off jarring.
- Combat overhaul: Ryukyu Style introduces eight weapon types, each tied to specific button commands. No more picking up salt shakers or upgrading gear—just pure, streamlined brawling. The equipment system is gone, replaced by phone charms and lock screens.
- Mine’s Dark Ties: A rapid-fire prequel exploring his origins, from startup failures to his first brush with the Tojo clan. While engaging, it’s a far cry from the original’s expansive world.
- Controversial casting: Major recasts—including a kabuki actor replacing a previously voiced villain—have sparked backlash, though the director defended the choices as intentional character design.
The remake’s $59.99 price tag reflects its ambition, but the execution leaves much to be desired. What was once a pillar of the series—its side content and improvisational combat—has been whittled down, leaving behind a game that feels more like a condensed drama than the open-ended adventure fans expect.
For those who loved Yakuza 3* for its chaos and depth, this remake may feel like a hollowed-out shell. Yet for newcomers or players drawn to Mine’s story, it offers a sleek, if familiar, experience—just one that sacrifices much of what made the original unforgettable.
