E3 2008: Yakuza 2 collects September 9

Sega's underworld epic continues as the PS2 sequel finds its way to North America and Europe later this year.

While Sony spent the PlayStation 2 portion of its E3 Media & Business Summit press conference touting mass-appeal products like SingStar and Lego Batman, some companies think there's still money to be made with "hardcore" games on the system. Sega is one such outfit, as a representative with the publisher confirmed for GameSpot today that Yakuza 2 will arrive in North America and Europe on September 9.

The PS2 action game will pick up from the 2006 original, putting players once more in the stylish shoes of Kazuma Kiryu. Set in Tokyo and Osaka, the game lets players explore the seedy underworld of the Japanese mafia, including run-ins with the law, local gangs, and the Yakuza's Korean counterparts.

Sega is promising a game world twice the size of the original Yakuza, populated by real-life Japanese, nightclubs, bowling alleys, and other establishments. Other improvements set for the sequel include lessened load times and "smoother camera angles."

However the story of Yakuza 2 plays out, it won't be the end of the series. A Yakuza spin-off set 400 years ago has already been released for the PlayStation 3 in Japan, and a third proper installment of the series has also been announced.

59 Comments

  • Pfilosophy

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 12:19 pm PT

    This, P4, Poison Pink (and Mercs 2 being a lot more like the first) for the PS2. Hell, I'm more interested in the very last PS2 games than I am in the killer apps for the PS3. They really should've waited a bit longer.

  • Mamikapapo

    Posted Aug 31, 2008 9:47 pm PT

    No, it wasn't terrible. It was fantastic! You just need to spend more time with it to get used to it.

  • scorch-62

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 6:17 pm PT

    Wasn't the first one absolutely terrible?

  • aoshi_shinumori

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:40 am PT

    go go go PS2!

  • leofiregod

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 7:37 pm PT

    probably a rental for me

  • ognen

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 9:17 am PT

    I think I'm not getting this.

  • aarun27

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 2:36 pm PT

    Making my mind up whther or not to get this game, can't decide.

  • CVM_123

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 12:16 pm PT

    it looks bad..

  • ps3thabest

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 7:23 am PT

    im gonna buy it

  • TehFuneral

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 12:22 pm PT

    Uh, i don't know what to say about this game.

  • Macgyver40

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 11:57 am PT

    the first one was not that good why make a sequel?

  • Jebril

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 2:19 am PT

    Hungry Bunny is right the PS2 needs to die already

  • Mattyrock

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 1:30 am PT

    It's awesome that it's finally coming out. It's kinda funny since the newer installment is already released in Japan.

  • edubuccaneer Site moderator

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 6:06 pm PT

    I simply cannot wait for Yakuza 2. The first one was incredible.

  • aygol

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 3:05 pm PT

    A PS2 game? ROFL

  • lettuceman44

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 2:32 pm PT

    Don't know about this game.

  • Gaz9000

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 2:16 pm PT

    like shemnue this game has very cool, likable characters..the battles in the first game never got boring for me,i could do them over and over again and would still get a buzz from picking up somthing like a bike and beating someone up with it..it really felt like you were dishing out some severe punishment

  • grambyte

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 6:19 am PT

    Just don't get the entire PS 2 thing. Guess it's just me.

  • hannify

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 5:53 am PT

    Forget yakuza and get SHENMUE III

    I AM DIEING OF WAITGING!!

  • shinchy

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 1:45 am PT

    @ LindBergh2007 - The thing you have to remember is that when they released the first Shenmue game nothing like it had ever been done before. It was the best looking game ever made, with a big rich world and large areas to explore. What's more it was fully voice acted, had night and day life cycles for npc's and also contained an large soundtrack. It's why it was the most expensive game ever made at the time.

    Back then it was very unique, bold and expensive, however. If they were to make Shenmue now, they could do it at a fraction of the cost and it would be a hell of a lot easier to develop too. I really see no reason why Sega haven't already started work on it.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:40 pm PT

    about time this happen anyway

  • dulun19

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:32 pm PT

    t his is one of the up coming games for the PS2 that on my wanted list the PS2 is still doing well..!!

  • V-r0cK

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 10:19 pm PT

    @Yuck Too..boy you must be retarded or trying to pick on me without thinking. Can it occur to you that I own a PS2 as well? I too can be one of the 120 million+ PS2 owners. So why would i care about BWC on PS3 if i own a PS2 rite? Know stuff before you start to talk stuff.

  • WeWerePirates

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 8:33 pm PT

    This is hardly news, it seem that retailers were told this months ago. All the same one this is one of the games I've been most looking forward to this year.

  • IKKF

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 8:28 pm PT

    For some reason, I'm kind of pissed that the PS2 is still alive. After a while it just seems annoying to hear games coming out for it. Anyway, was the first Yakuza any good, because I remember seeing some negative reviews.

  • Lord_Daemon

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 8:03 pm PT

    Finally! Well it's nice to know that Komaki is a lot easier to defeat in Yakuza 2 but I have to wonder if they have active plans to release Ryu Ga Gotoku - Kenzan or if they are just going to wait and see how well Yakuza 2 sells.

  • lettuceman44

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 8:00 pm PT

    I never heard about this game.

  • kenshinhimura16

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 6:39 pm PT

    finally. Been ages since it was released in Japan and Ive been dying to play it. PD: Why would there be a 360 version?

  • ElZilcho

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 6:06 pm PT

    no 360 version for this?

  • rikhan_z

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 5:56 pm PT

    I can't wait, the first Yakuza story got me sucked in, When it's released, I'm giving this game a go.

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 5:47 pm PT

    About time they brought this overseas at last.

  • Hungry_bunny

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 5:46 pm PT

    Throws holy water on the ps2, die dammit.

  • MalakTawus

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 5:30 pm PT

    I'm happy about this..... but i want Yakuza 3 for the ps3 asap

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 4:32 pm PT

    September...? A PS2 game? That's way too close to Soul Calibur 4, Gears 2, Rock Band 2, GH World Tour, etc, for me to plug in my last gen PS2 again... I have a feeling this game will fly under the radar.

  • TTDog

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 3:51 pm PT

    Hope its better than the original, that sucked big time.

  • Trajectorize

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 3:33 pm PT

    @fishnpeas1:

    Um, it was stated twice (in the sub-headline and the article itself) that it was coming out for both North America and Europe..

  • PumpkinBoogie

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 3:25 pm PT

    I so absolutely psyched about this--grant I've already play through the JPN version (since about a yr or 2 ago)! I definitely don't mind getting this one again for NA.....well that and seeing as though my Japanese absolutely lame, if not close to non-existent, LOL. Great to finally see it 'officially' touch state-side. Hey at at least I'll get to see if some of the stuff I think I picked up in the dialogue was right.

    ....and yes, it will be subbed (thank goodness).

  • UltraViolent9AD

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 2:46 pm PT

    t's cool that the game is coming out, but if there's not gonna be a english dub, i'm not getting it.

    I hate reading subtitles, it's 2008 put some $$$ into a dub and make optional.

  • LindBergh2007

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 2:40 pm PT

    Gaz9000 Sega won't make another Shenmue game until they release another console, the game was a sales dissapointment despite the good reviews it recieved it wouldn't make any sense for Sega to make a sequel knowning that it probably wont sell, the same thing happened with Nights last year.

  • Marvel_Toxin

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 2:32 pm PT

    About dang time!

  • fishnpeas1

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 2:18 pm PT

    waheeyyyy bout time, this US or UK though?

  • Gaz9000

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 2:14 pm PT

    yes at last..ive been waiting a long time for the pal version of this to come out,i never thought it would so late in the ps2 life cycle,dam its been so long since i finished the first one ive forgotten how alot of the story went now lol,come on now sega bring on shemnue3 for the ps3 or 360..oh and i dont understand why people are puzzled why this isnt coming out for the ps3 instead of ps2..this has been a ps2 game for over 18months in japan..and a ps2 game it will remain for the us and europe versions..

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 2:11 pm PT

    Alright... y'know, I think PS3's fortunes would improve if they weren't still pushing an 8 year old console.

    I'd rather have heard that the Edo-period spinoff was headed to US PS3s at some point.

  • OracleXIII

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 2:00 pm PT

    hell yeah, finally.

  • Masterjimmy

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:48 pm PT

    At bloody last . Well done Sega took your time but it is better late then never

  • Cube_of_MooN

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:46 pm PT

    A PS2 game? Wow, why not just release it for PS3?

  • tok1879

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:45 pm PT

    hey Yuck_too, long time no see, sorry to hear of the passing of hd-dvd....

  • LivingDeadNinja

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:35 pm PT

    Yes, it's announced! Now bring on the PS3 Yakuza...

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:12 pm PT

    i don't see why it isn't on the PS3, but I'm thankful that it's much bigger than the last.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 12:58 pm PT

    --V-r0cK --
    LOL...did you not just recently post about "who cares about BC in the PS3".

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