The greatest game you'll never get to play (?)
If you cannot speak & read Japanese then you can find ThePatricks excellent guide to the game including English translation on this website.
One of the main points of this game was to break down the modern day action of the previous yakuza game's to give players a break from pretty much the exact setting of all the other yakuza games which is getting extremely tiring no matter how awesome they are.
You play as Miyamoto Musashi based on the real life samurai who's famous for inventing the duel wielding swords style and writing a book and as you guessed it he looks exactly like Kazuma Kiryuu and uses the name Kiryuu throughout the game to hide his true identity (story related).
This is the third title in the Ryu Ga Gotoku/Yakuza series but is a standalone title and does not follow the chronological of the previous game, much like Ryu Ga Gotoku (Yakuza) of the end. And features of the same characters from the series (Haruka, Majima etc) but is set on an alternative time line.
Gameplay
Pretty much exactly plays like Yakuza 3 & 4 except you use swords over your fist. You can still use your fist but who brings their fist to a sword fight well Kazuma is more than happy to do that, also some of the common thugs will fight you bare handed or with wooden swords which is no match for your Japanese steel.
The button's are pretty much the same as the other games Square light attack, Triangle heavy attack, X evade ,O button is use to grab when unarmed but when armed it is used to kick (break guard) and the directional button is used to select between weapons big/small/Duel Swords & fists etc.
Using swords in this game is a lot better than picking one up and using it in one of the other Yakuza games and it should be, pretty much like the improvements in shooting in Ryu ga gotoku of the end as compared to using guns in the other Yakuza games.
I have to say I found moving Kazuma a little stiffer compared to Yakuza 3 &4 you will notice this when you stop and start
The game is quite linear up to the first 4 chapters but then at the fifth chapter you can access sub stories and other activities. Also there are no trophies in this game since it was released before they were mandatory (which actually didn't bother me & I love to Hunt)
Story
It's pretty much a typical Yakuza story but with a much more serious (mature) tone. It's also cut scene and text heavy not a import friendly game for someone who does not speak/read Japanese or doesn't use a translation guide.
Anyway the story starts with a young girl (Haruka) looking for Kazuma to hire him to kill Miyamoto Musashi the man who she believes killed her parents/family and the problem being Kazuma is Miyamoto Musashi (pretty sweet start eh!).
The game takes place in 1605 but is filled with flashbacks (first 4 chapters set in 1600 circa)
The acting in the game is probably the best I have ever seen in a video game and a period heavy soundtrack adds an atmosphere that brings the open world to life.
Overall
This is a great game that everyone should get to experience even if you are not a fan of the Yakuza series I believe the change of location can bring new comers and satisfy currant fans of the series.
It is pretty hard to believe that SEGA have been sitting on this gem for so long and deciding not to release it in the West especially considering the fact that the game was released at a time where the PS3 was dragging behind the Xbox360 and the only real good exclusive to show the PS3 capabilities was Metal Gear Solid 4.
This game holds up extremely well to AAA games released today, the graphics are on par with Yakuza 3 though I did find some of the buildings colours to be a bit bland (historical accurate?) Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan is probably one of the greatest games you'll never get to play.