Sega and Ryu ga Gotoku have made older games in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series available to wider audiences. The first two games (Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2), as well as previous PS3 titles, have been remade and remastered for current platforms.
They have revealed their next step: Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties. Despite the fact that Yakuza 3 Remastered is currently available, Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a complete remake from the ground up. The Dark Ties plot offers additional content to justify its existence.
Anime News Network spent 45 minutes with Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties and were impressed. The revamped graphics were the most noticeable change to me. One of the young men, Rikiya Shimabukuro, who finally joins forces with Kiryu, appears significantly younger. The corners of his hairline are no longer bald, and he no longer has short hair, as in the original. In Kiwami 3, he has a straighter hairline and a sleeker back haircut. He was almost indistinguishable at first. I appreciate his new look since it better represents his teenage naiveté
Kiryu learns a new combat style called Ryukyu, which was influenced by Okinawan martial arts. He uses weapons like tonfas, shields, and spears to defeat adversaries. Although I have barely scratched the surface of this new type, it was enjoyable to play. These weapons had a much longer range than Kiryu’s fists and were more effective in crowd control.
Dark Ties is the more intriguing aspect of Kiwami 3’s package. Yoshitaka Mine, the main antagonist in Yakuza 3, is the focus of this origin narrative.Sega stated that this is not a typical DLC. The scale and size are similar to that of the standalone game Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Despite being a “smaller” installment in the series, “Like a Dragon” remains a significant game in comparison to its larger counterparts
His style is similar to that of a boxer, and he can even defy the laws of physics by burying his knee into an opponent’s stomach, bouncing from it, and comboing into nearby adversaries. It literally contradicts reality.
Mine also has a unique mechanic in which he “awakens” his internal darkness. Mine’s meter gradually builds as he deals and receives damage, as indicated by the three heart icons beneath his HP. He can then use those emblems to make his attacks more lethal, but he is doused in a black and crimson aura around his body. I told you he was edgy!
Although I did not able to witness much of Dark Ties’ story, it showed how Mine met his business partner and clan brother, Tsuyoshi Kanda.
Mine depicts what Kiryu could have been if our original protagonist had chosen the wrong path, making him one of the series’ most iconic villains. One major critique of the original Yakuza 3 is that Mine did not receive adequate screen time. Dark Ties effectively addresses this issue.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 appears to be more than just a replica of the previous game. With the addition of Dark Ties, fans can now explore the series in new and exciting ways.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will be released on February 12, 2026, on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source : Anime News Network
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