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TGS 2008: Sega's Yakuza 3 roughs up showgoers

By Randolph Ramsay, GameSpot AUPosted Oct 10, 2008 9:11 am PT

House of Sonic's booth features model-and-champagne-laden display for upcoming gangster game alongside Hula Wii and a full-size rampaging "Werehog."

Yakuza behind closed doors.

TOKYO--Sega's sizeable booth at this year's Tokyo Game Show was a showcase in contrast. On one side was a Scarface-style setup for Yakuza 3, complete with booth babes dressed as high-class gangster molls, champagne glass pyramids, and a behind-closed-door presentation which highlighted the brutal aspects of the upcoming action game.

On the other side was the family friendly Wii game Let's Tap, a title whose gameplay consists of laying the Wii Remote flat and...tapping it. (Confused? GameSpot's hands-on preview explains.) Other interesting games on hand were Hula Wii, a hula-dancing game for Nintendo's console, and the weird, over-the-top side-scrolling shooter Chou Aniki, which has been resurrected for the PSP.

Beware the Werehog.

While there were plenty of other titles for all consoles, the biggest was on the DS. Taking up plenty of booth space was Phantasy Star Zero, a DS action RPG which four players can play at the same time. Other DS titles included Shining Force Feather, Princess On Ice, Culdcept, and Seventh Dragon.

Of course, Sonic was also on show, and not only in the form of his upcoming multiplatform game Sonic Unleashed. A large Werehog (Sonic's alter ego in Unleashed) could be seen stalking TGS attendees, and was always happy to stop and pose for pictures.

Also on display were several other titles from other publishers which Sega distributes locally. THQ's Saints Row 2 was being shown behind curtains to keep young eyes from prying, while Codemasters' GRID was being shown off on several screens.

20 Comments

  • Lord_Dark_Flare

    Posted Oct 12, 2008 7:45 pm PT

    What are you talking about, the only REAL peripheral to Wii is the balance board, everything else is just a Ninfty thing some companies think consumers want(we do not).

    The tappping game does not use anything other than a cardboard box or a table, and the Hula game sounds like Wii Fit where you could put the Wiimote in your pocket to make it work.

    While i agree with you that i do not like Ninty's direction, lets remember that if one wants to criticize someone, one has to make sure that one does not sound like an unimformed moron.

  • tiamat555

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 5:16 pm PT

    Is it just me or is Nintendo seeming to be concentrating on making useless peripherals instead of spending money so their games don't look like PS1 games?

  • tdl346

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 3:44 pm PT

    sound nice but i hope the ps3 version come to in belgium out i played the firts one and i foun it great it had a very good story and good gameplay

  • Mattyrock

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 3:10 pm PT

    Yakuza 3 is something to look forward to. Sonic Unleashed, I don't expect it to be good but maybe better than the 2006 game (*cringes*).

    Shining Force Feather and Phantasy Star Zero is something to look forward to.

  • Henninger

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 3:08 pm PT

    I hope they bring this game 2 the states. They finally brought Yakuza 2 2 the states so i don't c any reason y they can't bring this 1 2 the states.

  • matdo

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 3:04 pm PT

    V-r0ck: Yakuza = Sony exclusive; Shenmue 3 = NEVER going to happen. Yu Suzuki doesn't work for SEGA anymore and without him there's no Shenmue ever. Yakuza is the closest we'll get to Shenmue. Nothing wrong with that, Yakuza is an amazing franchise. Paced much better than Shenmue IMO. If you want to play Yakuza 3, you'll most likely have to get a PS3.

  • V-r0cK

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 1:28 pm PT

    Just curious does anybody know if Yakuza is a Sony exclusive? If so, then xbox360 should get shenmue to like balance it hehe. Has there ever been talks about Shenmue 3 or are you all just wishful thinking? Random note, i would like to see a Yakuza for psp, i think it'd be neat.

  • The_Dude1212

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 12:57 pm PT

    That be one evil werehog, lol.

    Course, it took me a second to think of Sonic, cause I thought of an evil black-haired, red-eye warthog from Hell at first.

  • thug_angel123

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 12:44 pm PT

    codemaster was showing grid ? Why ? its been out ages ago..

  • Pfilosophy

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 12:16 pm PT

    Jedilink, if Kenzan's on the PS3 and Yakuza 1-2 were on the PS2, I highly doubt we're seeing this on the 360.

    However, with Shenmue 2 on the Xbox, I AM hoping for a 360 Shenmue 3. 7 years to go before I start losing some patience.

    Anyway, Culdcept and a Shining Force on the DS!!

  • perryg84

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 12:06 pm PT

    I agree about Shenmue 3. I have the money in my wallet right now to get it!
    Put the first two games as downloadable titles on the consoles services.

  • landisan

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 11:33 am PT

    Shenmue 3 absent as usual. Come on Sega before I'm a grandfather please.

  • ivan_the_one

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 11:29 am PT

    I loved the first two yakuzas, I hope they bring this one here.^_^

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 11:13 am PT

    The hedgehog universe keeps getting weirder.

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 11:09 am PT

    I hope Yakuza 3 gets released on the 360 here in the states...mainly becaouse I have the first 2 games and no PS3 for the third game.

  • omuntu

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 10:37 am PT

    yakuza looks as good as ever

  • Trajectorize

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 10:23 am PT

    Yakuza 3 is lookin' pretty sweet. I don't doubt it'll be published in the west eventually, and here's hoping we'll hear an announcement for Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! to be released here soon enough.

    Werehog almost looks like Shadow. Heh.

  • V-r0cK

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 10:15 am PT

    yayy Yakuza! my favourite Sega franchise game =)

  • baystatethrashr

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 9:54 am PT

    werehog lol

    yakuza 3 looks pretty sweet cant wait til that comes state side

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