Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!

User Rating: 9 | Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! PS3
Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan or known as Yakuza 3 in the US is the third installment in the Ryu ga Gotoku series and first on the PS3. It has only been released in Japan. Kiryu, the main character of the series, is famous swordsman (or kensai) Miyamoto Musashi in this installment. The tale appears to follow parts of Musashi's life in the same vein as the Samurai Trilogy starring Toshiro Mifune, which is based on a novel.

Story - The story is very detailed and in-depth and makes importing this game a difficult decision. There is a lot going on for a non-Japanese speaker to understand, but for those fluent in Japanese or familiar with a lot of kanji understanding the story should be no problem. Conversations and cutscenes can be skipped but it definitely takes away from the story and atmosphere to do so. Having only played it for a few hours, I've barely scratched the surface but already there is intrigue, murder, and misunderstood actions afoot. It's quite compelling.

Graphics - The game puts the ps3 to good use. Characters and environments generally look crisp and colorful. In fights, connecting sword slashes sometimes leave a delayed mark of blood from the slice and heat moves look gorgeous and brutal. The fmvs look terrific with facial expressions and mouth movements timing up almost perfectly. Everything looks much better than the ps2 versions.

Gameplay
Combat - Combat is just like the first two installments. Typically, when players are roaming around, they will encounter a bandit or swordsmen itching for a fight. The game then goes to a short cut-scene that leads into the combat. Sometimes there are button-reflex sequences where you must press the correct button before getting hit or slashed. The player is then in a limited area with several enemy opponents to fight. Regular gameplay returns after the player has defeated the opponents or met the victory condition if there is one.

Combos and abilities initially start out simple but can become more complex as the game progresses. There are four fighting styles to choose from: fists, one sword, two sword, short or heavy sword. Players can switch at will using the d-pad with just a slight delay as Kiryu/Musashi sheathes or draws his sword(s). Combat looks and feels great but with some of the same problems from the first two games such as doing a combo on one opponent then another opponent behind the one you are slashing slashes you or stabs you. It can be annoying, but it can also teach you when to cut a combo short or learn how to dodge attacks better. A.I. fluctuates between good and bad and easy and hard which makes some fights seem tedious as you beat the pulp out of some push-over.

Non-combat - Outside of combat, Kiryu/Musashi walks and runs around towns and mountain passes interacting with npcs and performing various mini-games such as gambling, archery, turtle races, and picking up the ladies. Most of the mini-games can be figured out without much Japanese knowledge; however, there are some that may require a guide or a useful dictionary to figure out what to do. Once again there are storage lockers to acquire keys to and forges to...forge things with.

Overall, this game is well-worth purchasing even if one lacks extensive knowledge of Japanese. If one is a fan, it's a must buy since it is the best in the series. For those wanting to understand the story and be able to read directions and commands, it might be best to wait for a US release if it is indeed coming. Gameplay is familiar but worth playing.