After watching many of this past year’s E3 conferences and multiple developer interviews, one game in particular caught my eye that promoted some very cool and unique ideas that haven’t been explored too much in the gaming realm. While Hydrophobia’s interactive environment isn’t something new being brought to the table, the ability to manipulate water in a realistic fashion proved to be quite interesting and really carved a place in my most anticipated titles of the second half of 2010, even with its episodic nature.

Yet, where there’s much promise, there is also equal room for disappointment. Does Hydrophobia live up to Dark Energy Digital’s ideal of a successful AAA title being released over XBLA?

Hydrophobia is set in the mid 21st century aboard a massive ocean vessel, the Queen of the World, housing the world’s more affluent populace during what is called the “Great Population Flood,” where population growth has exceeded resource production and the rest of the non-seafaring citizens have been thrown into complete chaos. Those upon the Queen prosper until a group of terrorists known as the Malthusians (after Thomas Malthus, who predicted the “Great Population Flood” hundreds of years ago) begin a hostile take over by bombing the ship, and they promote their ideology of “Save the World – Kill Yourself” all over the giant vessel.

As Kate Wilson, you’ll play the reluctant and inexperienced hero trying to discover the truth behind the attack. While the ideals may come off as a bit preachy, the story is pretty solid. It combines a good deal of history and fiction to create a fast paced narrative that will keep you wanting more. The “Great Population Flood” provides a superb backdrop for the aqua-intense gameplay, with both feeding into each other as the plot unfolds.

As expected, Hydrophobia’s gameplay heavily revolves around the water-engulfed environment through third-person-action mechanics. You can destroy much of your surroundings to flood the ship’s corridors and change the area drastically, allowing you to choose how you want to tackle each encounter with the Malthusians. However, the controls aren’t the tightest, and this is hazardous to the game’s fun factor. Most of the combat must be taken head-on underwater or behind cover, yet you can only duck behind or stand against objects when you have your weapon out, which proves to be frustrating as you fight to survive.

Shooting is just as mediocre and frustrating, as you’ll have limited direct damage ammo. You’ll rely mostly on the environment, such as fuel barrels and loose electrical wires to kill your foes, or you can simply stun them multiple times until they drown. Enemy AI also feels unbalanced, for the first few waves are fairly simple, yet as you progress to the second and third act, they prove to be completely overpowering, hitting you at seemingly impossible angles when you have not so much as your elbow unprotected by cover.

Besides combat, you’ll also search the Malthusians and narrow corridors for ciphers in order to progress using Kate’s engineering tool, the MAVI. Because of the hostile takeover, all of Kate’s security access has been wiped, and you’ll need to use the MAVI to hack into consoles or unlock doors with the ciphers you’ve collected. Hacking involves a minigame where you’ll need to match wavelengths utilizing the dual analog sticks. The first couple of times are pretty entertaining, but it quickly becomes tedious as each one feels exactly the same and provides no real change in difficulty. The MAVI can also be used to access the ship’s CCTV cameras, allowing you to open doors to progress through alternate routes or flood rooms to help with the overwhelming Malthusians. The cameras proved a slight strategic edge when attempting to confront the terrorists, but most of the time it just gives you a preview of the frustrating massacre that lies in wait.

Unsurprisingly, the most impressive feature of Hydrophobia is the flow of water due to Dark Energy’s HydroEngine. I’ve never seen water in a game that follows the laws of physics so precisely, flowing freely from cracks in the wall and when submerged rooms are opened into empty hallways. I stopped multiple times to admire the aqua effects; it’s simply a realistic beauty. Yet it’s undeniable that most of the developing effort was put into the HydroEngine, while other aspects are just mediocre, such as the hit or miss voice acting of Kate and the supporting cast, respectively. Yet, the sound work is rather exciting, as the rush of water and exploding fuel mains boom from even the weakest of speaker systems.

However, the coolest part of the game, having complete control over the flow of water, isn’t unlocked until you finish the game and begin the challenge room. Thankfully, the campaign won’t last any longer than 3 or 4 hours, which is a bit short for a 1200 ($15) MSP asking price , even if it’s the first episode, and particularly because the challenge room is just a horde mode with the same frustrating combat with the added, although super-awesome, Hydro Kinetic powers.

While not exactly the AAA title Dark Energy had envisioned, Hydrophobia does amazing work with the HydroEngine and unleashes a wicked ability in the challenge room, yet it’s a shame you don’t have access to the Hydro Kinetic powers in this first episode of the campaign. If the same effort had been utilized throughout the entire developing process, Hydrophobia might be on the top of the list for XBLA game of the year, if not game of the year in general. Hopefully with the next installment we’ll see more use of aquatic powers and an improvement in combat in general. However, as it stands, it’s simply a beautiful mediocre third-person-shooter. Until then, I’ll see you in the challenge room leaderboards.

Besides some notable RPGs, not often do we come across a game that goes out of its way to provide the community with a lengthy, playable backstory in order to prepare gamers for what’s to come in the main installment. While some may argue that something like Dead Rising 2: Case Zero can be considered a demo or should be included with the game itself, others (myself included) see it as a great opportunity to get acquainted with the gameplay, become engrossed with the plot and character development, and get our hands on a game almost a month before its release, especially if said game is a sequel to one I never really completed.

Case Zero is such a game, providing a thorough explanation of leading man Chuck and his daughter Katey’s exploits. With complaints concerning Case Zero being nothing more than Dead Rising 2′s demo aside, it’s certainly worth the measly 400 MP ($5) asking price.

Case Zero takes place three years before the events of Dead Rising 2 (two years after the first game), detailing how Chuck ends up in the fictional Fortune City, fighting off the zombie horde in order to protect his infected daughter and continue administering Zombrex, the medication that staves of zombification. Much like the main game will incorporate, you’ll be working against time, as it gives you basically twelve-in-game-hours to accomplish the missions that are presented before Chuck. While the story is definitely entertaining and engaging, the time limit somewhat puts a damper on the initial experience, making you rush through the town of Still Creek and it’s living and reanimated inhabitants. However, all is not lost, as your Prestige Points (EXP) and cash will remain the same through multiple playthroughs, allowing you to easily reach the level cap and transfer over both your level and money into the main game, and get in as much zombie massacring as you can handle.

Though the main gameplay mechanics generally remain unchanged since the first Dead Rising, Case Zero introduces some interesting and much needed tweaks to freshen up the experience. Besides introducing the constant constraint of time, shooting has been revamped for the better, enabling an over-the-shoulder view while aiming, which makes using guns useful and fun, as you now actually have control over what you want to shoot. Combat itself feels more fluid as well, and is more brutally pleasing than ever with the newly introduced combo weapons that Chuck can create at the workbenches scattered around the desolate Still Creek. Weapons with a wrench above them, such as the leaf rake and car battery, can be combined to make more devastating (and in most cases, hilarious) weaponry like the electric rake. It adds an incredibly fun customization factor, as well as added PP, that will make you want to search your surroundings for more interesting and effective combinations to help boost your level, and they’re definitely some of the more gruesome and amusing ways to dispatch the horde with.

Even though Case Zero is “essentially” Dead Rising 2′s demo, it gives a pretty big bang for your buck. The entire story will take anywhere from 2-3 hours, much longer if you hope to reach that level cap, find and rescue all of the survivors in Still Creek, and create every combo weapon available to you to experience the unique effect each weapon has on the beautifully rendered and animated zombie horde. On top of the striking visuals, which include some gorgeous cutscenes involving the other limited amount of survivors, Case Zero carries a killer soundtrack reminiscent of some of the better zombie flicks of the past decade, and one that’s perfect for hacking, shooting, and bucket-drilling the seemingly endless amount of reanimated corpses that appear on screen. One of the most notable improvements comes with the sheer amount of zombies that can appear on screen with no slowdown whatsoever, a problem I encountered often with the first installment and am very happy to see has disappeared.

With a compelling story, impressive visuals, and innovative and revamped combat and shooting mechanics, respectively, Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is very deserving of your 400 MP, and feels much more like DLC than what many are calling a mere “demo.” You really shouldn’t pass it up for such a cheap price, especially if you plan to get the main installment later on this month.

Besides, except for Zombieland (which is technically a comedy), when was the last time a pure, great zombie movie even came out? You should be buying it for this reason alone.

For my older brother and I, Duke Nukem 3D was a staple of our childhood. Not only was it one of the first FPS games that I became completely enamored with, but it was also quite possibly the first time I saw a pair of tits, virtual or not. With superb gameplay and a script that kept any prepubescent boy laughing for hours, it was sheer genius in our eyes, and as we all know, it has become the stuff that legends are made of.

Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project first released on the PC in 2002, ten years after the original sidescroller first saw the light of day on IBM PCs. Now, after nearly a decade, the King has made his way to the XBLA. Is it hail-worthy after so many years have gone by?

Beginning in very typical fashion of a Duke Nukem game, the entire world is celebrating Duke’s most recent exploits – until, that is, a race of mutants led by Mech Morphix attack Manhattan. Duke must be called to duty once again to eradicate the 25 unique species littered across the city. The plot is fairly straightforward, though it’s definitely nothing to write home about. It tries awfully hard to capture the quirky and funny atmosphere of Duke Nukem 3D, but it fails miserably. Unless you’re a fourteen-year-old who’s late to the puberty party, I’m confident you’ll feel the same way.

Manhattan Project is very much like its early predecessors, as it is a pure run and gun sidescroller that offers a small sense of exploration, but does not include a map, which makes navigating some of the larger levels a bit frustrating. Each stage requires Duke to find a keycard and disarm a GLOPP bomb attached to a buxom babe, while massacring the diverse mutant population across the Manhattan landscape that ranges from Chinatown to space (the REAL NY), as well as 9 other locales.

While Duke’s arsenal is versatile, the weaponry is similar to his 3D days as well as any FPS from the mid to late 1990′s. There’s the GLOPP Ray and “The Mighty Boot Kick,” among others. Being a port from the PC, I didn’t expect anything new, but it would have been a great addition to see some bonus firepower that was more unique than the rocket launcher, pistol, or assault rifle. After 8 years, the gameplay just doesn’t hold up, and with games like Shadow Complex wowing the Xbox Live Arcade community last summer, DN: Manhattan Project is just plain boring in comparison.

Like the weaponry, the rest of the game has not aged well at all. Character models are void of intricate detail, are quite polygonal, and quickly become an eyesore. While the backdrops of each level are much better looking than the rest of the game, each stage in the overarching level looks exactly like the last one, and within ten minutes they become tedious to stare at and eventually forgettable as you move on to the next chapter. To keep DN:MP “fresh,” leaderboards have been added, but that won’t make you want to play any longer than you actually have to, which is a short nine-chapter ordeal to being with. The one saving grace (if you can call it that) is the surprisingly addicting soundtrack that helps to muffle Duke’s obnoxious and unfunny quips throughout the campaign.

With XBLA’s “Summer of Arcade” beginning last week with the marvelous and intuitive LIMBO, I honestly find it hard to recommend spending your hard-earned cash on such a game, one devoid of fun. The script is uninteresting, combat is stale, and Duke is just generally annoying. Stay away, and start spending ‘dem points on the (hopefully) superb games waiting just around the bend, and reap those 400 or 1200 free points from Microsoft.

Capcom announced yesterday at Comic-Con a brand new fighting game that will bring two of the most beloved video game franchises together for the very first time. Street Fighter X Tekken, being developed for the PS3 and Xbox 360, will use the same technology behind the über successful Street Fighter IV and Super Street Fighter IV, bringing the Tekken fighters into a 2D world with the same highly detailed and stylized artwork we’ve all come to love.

Excuse me for a second as I need to pick up my jaw from the floor real quick. In the mean time, hit the jump to learn more.

Like SFIV, Street Fighter X Tekken will feature fully realized 3D characters against a 2D stage, a first for such Tekken fighters as King and Marshal Law (my personal favorites). On top of the normal Arcade and Versus mode, which have gotten their own enhancements to keep the title fresh, the game will also feature a Tag Team Battle mode, allowing for knockout assists and special super combos.

In San Diego, producer Yoshinori Ono stated that “This is history we’re making. Two fighting games that have rivalled each other are finally standing on the same stage. This isn’t just a showdown between Tekken and Street Fighter, but a decisive battle for Capcom and Namco Bandai Games. So I’m going to give it my all.”

This is indeed exciting news. We’re still waiting on a release announcement, but I’m sure a vague date will be given some time in the near future.

Edit: Thanks to Jamie Obeso for pointing out that Tekken X Street Fighter is also in development by Namco, and will play in the same fashion as previous Tekken games.

Today, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy XIV is set for a global release on Windows PC on September 30th, with the PS3 version following suit in March 2011. If you’re hankering for some MMO FF beforehand, the Beta phase goes live in the first couple weeks of July.

In addition to the normal release, there will also be a collectors edition, which will grant you access to the game 8 days early (September 22nd, for all of you math geniuses), as well as in-game items and a large amount of exclusives. Read on, good sir (or ma’am)!

On top of the standard edition preorder item, the Garlond Goggles, and the early game access, the collectors edition will also include the Onion Helm, which increases recovery while falling in battle, a behind-the-scenes DVD, a travel journal, special artwork, and a security token that ties in with your normal account password. Also, if you registered your copy of Final Fantasy 13 Campaign Codes, you’ll get another in-game item, the Asuran Armguards, which enhances the effectiveness of your characters equipped arm or tool.

The standard edition is priced at $49.99, while the collectors edition will run you a surprising $74.99, on top of the $12.99 monthly subscription fee. Are these exclusives actually worth an extra 25 bucks?

I’ve never been one “in-tune” with the Transformers franchise, as I was much more of a G.I Joe and Ninja Turtles kid. The idea of a non-movie licensed Transformers game didn’t get me as excited as our own resident robot nerd and podcast junkie Paul Clark. Yet, as I was highly entertained by the first movie, I was pretty interested to see how High Moon Studios were planning to execute a brutal war in the far reaches of deep space between enormous transforming robots in disguise.

While at first it may seem just like another run-of-the-mill shooter, once you get into the nitty and the gritty of the Cybertronian War, there is definitely more than meets the eye. Hiyoooo!

Though my knowledge and expertise within the Transformer universe isn’t exactly my strong point, I still have a pretty good grasp on the basic lore and feel of the series. Setting out on the campaign, which is split into Decepticons and Autobots that form one coherent story through 10 chapters, I was greatly impressed with how High Moon Studios were able to capture the classic atmosphere of the animated series. Everything was right, from Optimus’  iconic, stoic attitude to the struggle for power between Megatron and Starscream.

War for Cybertron is no metaphor; you’ll be under constant weapon barrages as you fight your way through the heart of the city as Megatron and the rest of the Decepticons struggle to take control over the uber-powerful Dark Energon and become the rulers of the mechanical planet. The  Autobots’ campaign picks up shortly thereafter, throwing you into the shoes of temporary leader Optimus and his companions as they discover that the Autobot’s commander, Zeta Prime, is dead. Many a fan have been waiting for a visualization of the war between our beloved Transformers before their arrival on earth, and High Moon Studios delivers a finely crafted depiction that is sure to please, whether you’re a Transformers fanatic or not.

For the most part, War for Cybertron plays just like any other third-person-shooter, complete with a wide range of traditional and Transformer-esque weaponry and powerups. Most importantly, you can transform at any time into vehicle form for unique artillery, which depends on the character and the class you choose: Leader, Scout, Scientist, or Soldier. Each character also receives two distinct cool-down abilities that operate differently depending on what each character transforms into, such as jets being able to hover and cars having the ability to dash. While some characters, in terms of their transformations and abilities, are more unique and effective than others, particularly the airborne Transformers, it still adds a degree of innovation and awesomeness that’s otherwise not seen throughout the game.

However, as original as some of the gameplay may be, T:WFC falls victim to some archaic problems. There is no cover system, and because of the over-the-shoulder view, it makes it difficult to tell if you’re completely behind an object or not. Another problem arises with not having any sense of radar. You’d think that highly advanced sentient machines would have some basic radar capabilities, if not a complete digital picture of the surrounding area. They’re definitely not deal-breakers, but it still can get annoying, particularly during one of the many firefights where you can be easily dropped quite rapidly.

Transformers: War for Cybertron holds some great multiplayer options. Besides the normal “Deathmatch” and “Conquest” modes, where you can customize the class and look of your character, the campaign is fully co-op with up to two other friends over Xbox Live or PSN. However, it doesn’t provide any split-screen offerings, which is kind of a major letdown, as more and more games seem to be going down this route in order to earn some extra cash by making every player own a copy. There’s no problem playing over the internet, but I’d like to have the ability to sit back with a friend who doesn’t have access to online gaming.

The other multiplayer mode, Escalation, is almost a carbon-copy of Nazi Zombies from Call of Duty: World at War fame, except the zombies have been replaced by Transformer replicas made of Energon. Though it’s not exactly original (ahem), it still holds the same fun factors as it had a couple years ago in Call of Duty, if not more so because of the added abilities and transformations.

Now, as I mentioned before, High Moon Studios did a fantastic job capturing the overall atmosphere of the series, and they did an equally impressive job with the look of the entire game. Each Transformer looks like its animated counter part, spliced together with some of the newer aspects from the two movies. The planet itself holds a superb mechanical look, and is exactly how I pictured Cybertron to appear, complete with giant structures that are essentially non-sentient machines themselves.

While graphically the game is well done, the sound work could have used some more developing. The soundtrack and voice acting, including series veteran Peter Cullen as Optimus, are admirable, as are most of the other effects, yet the transforming chng-chng-chng-chng-chng is off. The basic feel of it is there, but it’s nowhere near spot-on, and any Transformers enthusiast will more than likely be disappointed.

Besides some problems in regards to a cover system and radar, as well as the portrayal of the chng-chng-chng-chng-chng, Transformers: War for Cybertron is a solid third-person-shooter, however, it doesn’t really do anything groundbreaking in terms of the genre, which prevents it from becoming one of the year’s best. It’s still leagues in the right direction for the video game aspect of the Transformers franchise, and sets up the inevitable sequel for instant success.

While we knew that Dead Space 2 was supposed to come out some time during 2011, today at the EA media conference they announced that we’ll be able to step back into the shoes of Isaac Clarke and the twisted world that surrounds him on January 25th of the new year.

The live-action-demo looked superb, consisting of the same creepy atmosphere and overly demented mutations that made the game so prominent. I’ve been waiting to dive back into the world of Dead Space since it came out, as Dead Space: Extraction, while fun, didn’t possess the same feel that made the original so amazing. It’s good to hear we’ll be able to get our hands on the true sequel very early in 2011.

[UPDATE]: Gameplay video now added.

In the Microsoft Press Conference today at E3, Hideo Kojima and producer Shigenobu Matsuyama displayed, for the first time, gameplay footage of Metal Gear Solid: Rising featuring the cybernetic ninja Raiden of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4 fame. Most of the footage showed Raiden running around, sword in hand, slicing and dicing his way through multiple enemies, with the Metal Gear flare we’ve all come to love.

The most intriguing part came with what was simply dubbed in the video as “Cut what you will,” followed by Raiden carving his way through building columns, vans, and in Hideo Kojima fashion, a watermelon. At the end, the video asks “What will you cut?” I don’t know about you, but I plan on cutting just about every-damn-thing at midnight the day it comes out. Check back at Gamer Limit later for gameplay video once the Microsoft Press Conference is over, as well as all of your E3 2010 coverage needs!

With Captivate 2010 (Capcom’s industry showcase) having just come to an end, many are still awestruck by the announcement of Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, having been in development since 2008. In continuing with this ninja approach, Capcom has just recently trademarked Mega Man Universe with the U.S Patent and Trademark Office.

Speculation has been running rampant with what could be next for our blue robotic hero, but I know it can only mean one thing: Mega Man Hentai!

Wait! No! I meant MMO, I swear!

Everything is anybody’s guess at this point, as there has been literally no disclosure from Capcom about what type of game it’s going to be. I think an MMO is the most logical choice; not based only on the name, but the trend of the industry since the incarnation of WoW has lead many-a-publisher and developers towards a massive multiplayer scale and, at least for a little while, it’s a cash cow. Besides Monster Hunter Tri (which doesn’t apply to the U.S), Capcom doesn’t have their hand in any MMO at the moment, other than that “secret game” they’ve been working on with Monumental Games since sometime last year. Seeing that MvC3 has been in the works since ’08, Mega Man Universe and the “secret” Monumental Games project could very well be one in the same.

Or I could just be a huge asshole and be totally wrong. Keeping checking Gamer Limit to find out!

via: Siliconera.

If you’ve got a casual-game playing significant other, then come this fall, you better put a dozen or so padlocks on your console cabinet. Today, EA announced that their habit-forming, critically acclaimed “best-selling PC game of 2009,” The Sims 3, is strolling its way onto the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and Nintendo DS.

It’s really not surprising, as previous iterations made it to the last generation of consoles, but if you don’t want your systems taken over by your Sims crazed girlfriend, I’d suggest investing in a set of blinders. Trust me, they work.

In the mean time, hit the jump to find out all the exclusives that are coming to each platform.

EA Executive Producer Sam Player explained that “we’re bringing players the best console and handheld game for The Sims franchise to date and are excited to offer a unique experience for all types of gamers on their platform of choice. Building on the unique traits system, living open neighborhood, lifetime wishes, and endless customization options, we’ve tailored each platform of The Sims 3 with exclusive features to allow for even more control, creativity, and connectivity.”

Each version holds an exclusive aspect of The Sims 3 that won’t be found on the PC or the other console versions. On the 360 and PS3 iterations, players will be able to work with a seamlessly integrated exchange system, where players can download others’ designs without ever having to exit the game. It will also feature a Karma system, which will aid your Sims in “getting lucky” or when Karma comes back to bite your Sims in the nuts (or ovaries), an “epic fail.” The Wii version will include an all new beach town with unique residents, traits, careers, and lifetime wishes, and on the Nintendo DS, players can use the stylus to build their Sims’ homes with tools, draw walls and floors, and customize virtually everything from décor objects, textures, as well as their Sims’ facial expressions and personalities. The DS will also feature a “Story Mode,” which will allow players to go through a “complete life simulation.”

I’m not surprised that The Sims 3 is coming to the console market. It was inevitable. I am, however, surprised it took so long, seeing that EA has reported a $2.5 billion revenue from the franchise over the last 10 years.

Look for The Sims 3 on the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Nintendo DS some time this Fall.

Ready to return to the gritty mobster world of the 1940′s and 50′s Americana? 2KGames announced today that the sequel to everyone’s favorite mobster epic Mafia will be available in North America on August 24th and breaking the rest of the world’s legs August 27th on the Xbox360, PS3, and Windows PC.

If you can’t wait till then, hit the jump for some more details, or if you live on the East coast in the U.S, make your way up to Boston for PAX East this weekend and be one of the first to play it!

From 2K Games:

“Through a compelling narrative, Mafia II transports gamers into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mafia. The fiction is embellished by a sophisticated, era-evoking atmosphere that meticulously replicates the clothing, cars, music and advertising of 1940’s and 1950’s Americana. Players will easily become immersed in the game’s cinematic Hollywood-style experience with strong, believable characters in a living, breathing metropolis. By fusing high-octane gunplay with white-knuckle driving and an engaging narrative, Mafia II looks to be the industry’s most compelling Mafia title to date.

Born the son of a poor immigrant, Vito is a beaten down Italian-American who is trying to escape the life of poverty that consumed his childhood. Vito, along with his lifelong friend, Joe, will descend into the world of organized crime. Looking to escape the life of hardship that his father led, Vito dreams about becoming a “made man,” and together with Joe, will work to prove themselves to the Mafia as they try to make their names on the streets. However, the two quickly realize that life as a wise guy isn’t quite as glamorous as it seems.”

If you can’t make it up to Boston this weekend, you might as well feel sorry for yourself and check out the latest trailer in the mean time.

Over the course of three games, the Yakuza series has always yielded mixed reception in the Western market, failing to solidify itself as a third-person action powerhouse amongst stiff competition. Who would have thought that running a muck in the confines of Tokyo’s diverse criminal underground would have trouble appealing to western audiences?

Fortunately, these preconceived notions did not seem to affect developer Toshihiro Nagoshi and the Sega CS1 Team, as Yakuza 3 brutally makes its way to Western PS3s, looking to not only alter perceptions of the series, but of the genre itself.

Being my first foray into the criminal substructure of Tokyo, I thought it would be best to freshen up on my knowledge of Yakuza, that is, what Yakuza actually are. After satisfying my stupidity curiosity, I set forth with my interest piqued. Yet, I knew of the expansive backstory behind the Yakuza series, and was a bit worried in terms of familiarity with the characters and setting. However, it seems that Sega was one step ahead of me.

Before you jump into (and during) a new game, you’ll have the option to “reminisce” about the previous two titles (Yakuza 1 & 2). They essentially provide a recap of the past two canonical titles, but are finely crafted with cutscenes from the original PS2 games, and new voice overs from series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Games of this magnitude should take this into serious consideration; both retellings were very enjoyable, but more importantly, they provided a familiarity with the characters and story that, without it, newcomers would be more than a little confused.

Yakuza 3 initially sees a change in setting from the seedy underground of Tokyo and Osaka, as Kazuma takes to the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa with his adopted daughter Haruka, and becomes the caretaker for the Sunshine Orphanage. However, the orphange lies on land being brokered for a deal that would see a seaside resort built in its stead – a deal that will make many politicians very rich, and also involves Kazuma’s former Yakuza organization, the Tojo Clan.

After an assassination attempt on the current chairman of the clan goes awry, Kazuma sets out to return to Tokyo’s crime infested streets, and with the help of some old friends, unravel the mystery surrounding the Tojo Clan and the Sunshine Orphanage.

Living up to series standards, Yakuza 3‘s story features lengthy, engaging cutscenes to bolster the solid yet quirky plot. It takes a bit to pick up, as you’ll be doing missions for the children in the orphanage for the first couple hours (with required brutality spliced in), and the 295 minutes of cinematics might be off-putting for some, but once you return to Tokyo and get into the meat of the story, it becomes a thoroughly captivating narrative featuring amazing voice acting.

While the series is generally regarded as an action-adventure title, Yakuza 3 breaks the mold, essentially becoming an open world, action-JRPG. For the most part, combat plays out like other action games, but as you progress, it evolves into a gratifyingly deep system. Using combos, finishers, and a variety of weapons and objects found on the street with the X and Triangle button, you’ll work towards building the Heat gauge, opening up a wide range of heavy-hitting moves.

Once the Heat gauge is full, you can use an assortment of objects and weapons purchased from stores or picked up around Tokyo to perform special attacks with visceral brutality. Some of the most enjoyable moments will be had stomping a street punk’s head into the pavement and teeing up on a Yakuza’s face with a nine iron, as you revel in the blood spurting from their orifices.

Learning new techniques is where the JRPG aspects begin to come into play. With each battle and sidequest, you’ll receive experience to use in one of four trees: Soul, Tech, Body, and Essence, gaining new attacks and increases to health and Heat gauges. Many abilities are used in situational fighting, such as being grabbed from behind or swinging an enemy around, bashing into others waiting for a piece of Kazuma, creating a more realistic combat experience. Maxing out each tree will take some good old fashioned JRPG grinding, and will require many sidequests to be accomplished. But it’s a welcome change to the “orb collection” that has saturated the genre, allowing for more freedom when choosing from the unique ability pool that can be tailored for any style of fighting.

Obtaining new abilities is not simply limited to Kazuma’s upgrades. Throughout the sandbox-style cities of Tokyo and Okinawa, you’ll find some side missions that will grant a Revelation, resulting in a new technique for Kazuma. Using a cell phone in a first-person-view, you’ll seek out extraordinary events from regular citizens, capturing photos and posting them on Kazuma’s blog (yes, I’m serious). Each Revelation features a bizarre scenario along the lines of a drunk man pretending to pole dance on a street lamp to a woman on a scooter too distracted by her favorite actor on a billboard. Some are funny, while others are just tend to be way too wacky, but they all provide special attacks that are a blast to use during the game.

These are only a fraction of the 101 different side stories you’ll find throughout the game, adding to the 20-25 hour main story. To give you some perspective, after getting about an 85% completion rating, I was close to 50 hours. Getting 100%, that is, finishing every side mission, opening all 100 coin lockers, and competing in the Underground Arenas, amongst a plethora of other content, will take even longer. There is a tremendous amount to do around Tokyo and Okinawa that’ll keep you on your couch for hours on end, particularly the Underground Arena. Pitting you against 50 fighters in 11 different modes, you’ll fight your way through the ranks in single and tag-team battles with a variety of rules that has its own unique style of play akin to Virtua Fighter 5.

Like other Sandbox games, Yakuza 3 features an array of minigames for your entertainment, a total of 16 to be exact, ranging from baseball to golf to karaoke to traditional Japanese games. Some of them are really fun and play great, like Boxcellios (a shoot-’em-up) and surf fishing, while others often feel like a chore and very clumsy, such as the batting cage and golf. Even though there are many games to play, the same amount of polish wasn’t devoted to each one. Sometimes, less can be so much more.

Other times, this proves to be very false. Yakuza 3 will most likely not impress you graphically, especially since the game is already more than a year old, having been released in Japan during February of 2009. The event scenes in each of the 12 chapters, all done through motion capture, are beautifully rendered, but the rest of the game looks only slightly better than some PS3 launch titles.

Another problem arises concerning the voice work. Although it’s top-notch, there is no English voice acting, as Sega decided to subtitle the entire game rather than rerecording for localization. Personally, I felt it made for a more engaging atmosphere, creating a deeper connection with the characters and their surroundings, but at the same time, if I happened to be distracted I could have potentially missed major plot events.

Despite its slow start, Yakuza 3 shapes up to become a fulfilling hybrid adventure, packed with equal parts sandbox, JRPG, and beat-’em-up action. After returning to Tokyo, the story really fleshes itself out, becoming a riveting narrative backed by gorgeous cinematics and some truly inspiring voice acting, regardless of the language choice. Top it all off with excessive brutality and a devastating medley of weapons, and Yakuza 3 shouldn’t be passed up. You’re in for a treat.