Yakuza spotted in Los Angeles

Fans of seedy mafia storylines will be happy to hear that the long awaited sequel to the sleeper hit Yakuza on the PlayStation 2 has finally made its way across the pacific and landed on U.S. soil.  Originally released in 2006, Yakuza caused quite a stir with respectable sales and a strong fan following. However, a bevy of complaints lobbied against the American voiceover acting kept the game from achieving mass appeal.  This time around, the game retains the original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles, creating a considerably more immersive experience.  Appropriately labeled by many as the Grand Theft Auto of Japan, Yakuza 2 focuses on the trials of retired mafia strongman Kazuma Kiryu and features a well written story with superbly developed characters.

To put it simply, if a Grand Theft Auto game were to be set in Japan, Yakuza 2 would be the result.  It’s about as close a representation of Japanese city life you’ll find in a video game.  Players will be able to thoroughly explore the streets and many establishments of the fictional recreations of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan’s two largest cities.  In fact, the Yakuza series actually outdoes the Grand Theft Auto series in terms of the number of interior locales that players can visit with convenience stores, jazz cafes, fast food restaurants, bars, and companion girl clubs recreated in stunning realism.

If you can’t afford a pricey ticket to Japan and always fancied a go at urban Japanese living, then give Yakuza 2 a go - especially considering that the game is a budget title priced at a mere $30.  It’s selling like hotcakes at popular game stores, so give online vendors like Amazon or GameStop a try if you’re having trouble finding it at your local store.