Yakuza 4
Encyclopedia
, is a video game developed and published by Sega
exclusively for the PlayStation 3
. The game was announced on July 24, 2009. A promotion video was presented at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show
and a preview presenting the main story was released on January 13, 2010.
The game is the sequel to Yakuza 3
and was released on March 18, 2010 in Japan. A playable demo was released to the Japanese PlayStation Store
on March 5, 2010. The game has been confirmed for release in Europe and North America in March 2011.
The game received an Award for Excellence from the Japan Game Awards 2010. It also received a score of 38/40 from Famitsu
.
, most of the action takes place in Kamurocho (a.k.a. Kamuro City), a fictionalized yet realistic recreation of Shinjuku's red-light district
, Kabukichō.
Three new locations have been added since Yakuza 3 - a rooftop area, which stretches across a large area of the town; the back streets of Kamurocho, known as ; and a third area called the underground (or ), which includes the city's sewers, parking lot and shopping arcades. The underground area is also known as , short for "Kamuro Chika" or "Kamuro Underground".
. These are Masayoshi Tanimura (Hiroki Narimiya
), Shun Akiyama (Kōichi Yamadera
) and Taiga Saejima (Rikiya Koyama
). These four men all become connected during the game's plot.
Other new characters include a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
detective called Junji Sugiuchi (Kenichi Endou
), a Tojo Clan yakuza called Hiroaki Arai (Ikki Sawamura
), a high-ranking police officer called Seishirō Munakata (Kinya Kitaoji) and a woman called Lili (Maju Ozawa).
Returning characters are Haruka Sawamura, Goro Majima, Makoto Date, Daigo Dojima and Goh Hamazaki.
, fishing, onsen bath
, table tennis
, hanafuda
and karaoke
(now including duets with certain NPCs). "Haruka's Wish" also appears in the game, in which the player must perform actions to raise Haruka's trust level.
Each main character also has his own "side-game" or goal that must be completed to earn 100% completion, most of which are related to a trophy.
Akiyama may create a with certain NPC characters by buying them items, or certain shop owners by being a regular customer. These characters will then help out at the start of battles that start nearby, by throwing an item to use as a weapon. Befriending the man at Asia enables the player to pick the kind of girl they want to see dance.
Akiyama's other mission, , is to scout girls for the cabaret club he owns - Elise, opposite the Millennium Tower - and, through dressing them up and training them, turn them into the No. 1 girl at the club. There are three girls to train, and after they become number one the player can choose a final outfit before them, after which they appear as a regular cabaret girl at Elise. A similar challenge was in the Japanese version of Yakuza 3, but was cut from the subsequent overseas releases.
Saejima's mission, is to train fighters to compete in, and win, tournaments, within 50 rounds of training. Training involves building up training move-sets, with different actions having different effects. This game can be found at the dojo next to the Children's Park.
Tanimura's mission, , is to keep the peace on the streets of Kamurocho; occasionally a report will come through on his radio telling him where to find the incident. The player must then defeat the perpetrator. Each unique case must be completed to "clear" the task.
In Kiryu's mission, , various gangs from around town will attack Kiryu, who will have to fight members of the team in order to get to their leader. There are seven teams to defeat.
actors who are Japanese celebrities.
artist Zeebra
featuring Ryo the Skywalker and Mummy D. (Rhymester) with music by DJ Hasebe (a.k.a. Old Nick) The music video was posted on Ariola Japan's official Youtube channel which revealed that R&B singer Double
had contributed vocals to the song. The CD was released by Ariola Japan
(SME
) on March 17, 2010 as a regular edition (BVCL-89) and a first press limited edition including a bonus video DVD (BVCL-87) and an alternate cover featuring Kiryu. Zeebra first contributed to the series with Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan!s opening theme Bushido.
s were made with real life shops; these are Watami's , on Nakamichi Street, and Cuez Bar and Milestone, which are located in the underground.
Adverts for various other companies (such as Nico Nico Douga
) can be found within the game, especially on the walls in the underground. Promotional flyers can be found in certain places, such as the underground of bowling alley, some of which offer discounts on in-game products. There is now also advertising on both sets of coin lockers. A staff member at Volcano, the pachislot building, will ask for a password that can only be obtained from 777town's website. There are also various topics of conversation that can be learned from listening in on Kamurocho residents' conversations. These can be used on the hostesses, and some of them feature promotion for companies such as 777town.
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
exclusively for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. The game was announced on July 24, 2009. A promotion video was presented at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show
Tokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
and a preview presenting the main story was released on January 13, 2010.
The game is the sequel to Yakuza 3
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 3 is a PlayStation 3 video game, originally released in Japan as , the sequel to Yakuza 2 and the fourth installment in the Yakuza series. It is developed by Sega Japan's CS1 Team and published by Sega...
and was released on March 18, 2010 in Japan. A playable demo was released to the Japanese PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
on March 5, 2010. The game has been confirmed for release in Europe and North America in March 2011.
The game received an Award for Excellence from the Japan Game Awards 2010. It also received a score of 38/40 from Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
.
Synopsis
Setting
As with the original gameYakuza (video game)
Yakuza, originally released in Japan as is an action-adventure fighter video game developed and published by Sega in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2...
, most of the action takes place in Kamurocho (a.k.a. Kamuro City), a fictionalized yet realistic recreation of Shinjuku's red-light district
Red-light district
A red-light district is a part of an urban area where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, adult theaters, etc...
, Kabukichō.
Three new locations have been added since Yakuza 3 - a rooftop area, which stretches across a large area of the town; the back streets of Kamurocho, known as ; and a third area called the underground (or ), which includes the city's sewers, parking lot and shopping arcades. The underground area is also known as , short for "Kamuro Chika" or "Kamuro Underground".
Characters
There are three new main protagonists alongside Kazuma Kiryu, the main character since the original Yakuza gameYakuza (video game)
Yakuza, originally released in Japan as is an action-adventure fighter video game developed and published by Sega in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2...
. These are Masayoshi Tanimura (Hiroki Narimiya
Hiroki Narimiya
, better known as , is a Japanese actor.-Early life:He was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. His parents are Okinawan, so he is of Okinawan descent. His parents divorced when he was young, and in his third year of junior high school, his mother died and he and his brother were raised by his...
), Shun Akiyama (Kōichi Yamadera
Koichi Yamadera
is a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's...
) and Taiga Saejima (Rikiya Koyama
Rikiya Koyama
' is a Japanese actor and voice actor who is a member of Haiyuza Theatre Company.He has done popular voicing roles in Hajime no Ippo, Utawarerumono and Kamen no Maid Guy.He is also known by the nicknames "Rikki" and "Riki-chan".- Biography :...
). These four men all become connected during the game's plot.
Other new characters include a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...
detective called Junji Sugiuchi (Kenichi Endou
Kenichi Endou
is a Japanese actor.-Filmography:*Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger The Movie: Full Blast Action*Nobody Knows*Ninja Sentai Kakuranger*Visitor Q*Origin: Spirits of the Past*Lion-Maru G*Kikoku*Big Bang Love, Juvenile A*Kōshōnin...
), a Tojo Clan yakuza called Hiroaki Arai (Ikki Sawamura
Ikki Sawamura
is a Japanese model, film and television actor, and television presenter signed to Ken-On.-Biography:Ikki Sawamura was born in Kagoshima in 1967. After graduating from the local high school, he moved to Tokyo and started his career as a fashion model. In 1996, Sawamura debut in a TV drama Matsuda...
), a high-ranking police officer called Seishirō Munakata (Kinya Kitaoji) and a woman called Lili (Maju Ozawa).
Returning characters are Haruka Sawamura, Goro Majima, Makoto Date, Daigo Dojima and Goh Hamazaki.
Adventure Mode
The available mini-games are pachinkoPachinko
is a type of game originating in Japan, and used as both a form of recreational arcade game and much more frequently as a gambling device, filling a niche in gambling in Japan comparable to that of the slot machine in Western gambling. A pachinko machine resembles a vertical pinball machine, but...
, fishing, onsen bath
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
, table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
, hanafuda
Hanafuda
are playing cards of Japanese origin that are used to play a number of games. The name literally translates as "flower cards". The name also refers to games played with those cards.-History:...
and karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
(now including duets with certain NPCs). "Haruka's Wish" also appears in the game, in which the player must perform actions to raise Haruka's trust level.
Each main character also has his own "side-game" or goal that must be completed to earn 100% completion, most of which are related to a trophy.
Akiyama may create a with certain NPC characters by buying them items, or certain shop owners by being a regular customer. These characters will then help out at the start of battles that start nearby, by throwing an item to use as a weapon. Befriending the man at Asia enables the player to pick the kind of girl they want to see dance.
Akiyama's other mission, , is to scout girls for the cabaret club he owns - Elise, opposite the Millennium Tower - and, through dressing them up and training them, turn them into the No. 1 girl at the club. There are three girls to train, and after they become number one the player can choose a final outfit before them, after which they appear as a regular cabaret girl at Elise. A similar challenge was in the Japanese version of Yakuza 3, but was cut from the subsequent overseas releases.
Saejima's mission, is to train fighters to compete in, and win, tournaments, within 50 rounds of training. Training involves building up training move-sets, with different actions having different effects. This game can be found at the dojo next to the Children's Park.
Tanimura's mission, , is to keep the peace on the streets of Kamurocho; occasionally a report will come through on his radio telling him where to find the incident. The player must then defeat the perpetrator. Each unique case must be completed to "clear" the task.
In Kiryu's mission, , various gangs from around town will attack Kiryu, who will have to fight members of the team in order to get to their leader. There are seven teams to defeat.
Battle Mode
Each new character has his own style of fighting and special moves. The game engine features an enhanced Chase Battle and it is now possible to use items as weapons during the chase sequence. The player no longer needs to hold down the R2 button to sprint as the character will now automatically run at full speed.Cast
The games's main characters have their face modeled in 3D, through Cyberware's head & face color 3D scanner (model PS), after their seiyuSeiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
actors who are Japanese celebrities.
- Takaya KurodaTakaya Kurodais a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and actor. He is affiliated with the Bungaku Company, formerly with Mausu Promotion and Aoni Production. He is currently a member of 81 Produce....
as Kazuma Kiryu (桐生 一馬) - Kōichi YamaderaKoichi Yamaderais a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's...
as Shun Akiyama (秋山 駿) - Hiroki NarimiyaHiroki Narimiya, better known as , is a Japanese actor.-Early life:He was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. His parents are Okinawan, so he is of Okinawan descent. His parents divorced when he was young, and in his third year of junior high school, his mother died and he and his brother were raised by his...
as Masayoshi Tanimura (谷村 正義) - Rikiya KoyamaRikiya Koyama' is a Japanese actor and voice actor who is a member of Haiyuza Theatre Company.He has done popular voicing roles in Hajime no Ippo, Utawarerumono and Kamen no Maid Guy.He is also known by the nicknames "Rikki" and "Riki-chan".- Biography :...
as Taiga Saejima (冴島 大河) - Maju Ozawa as Yasuko Saejima(Lili) (リリ)
- Kenta Kiritani as Takeshi Kido (城戸 武)
- Satoshi Tokushige as Daigo Dojima (堂島 大吾)
- George Takahashi as Goh Hamazaki (浜崎 豪)
- Kenichi EndouKenichi Endouis a Japanese actor.-Filmography:*Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger The Movie: Full Blast Action*Nobody Knows*Ninja Sentai Kakuranger*Visitor Q*Origin: Spirits of the Past*Lion-Maru G*Kikoku*Big Bang Love, Juvenile A*Kōshōnin...
as Junji Sugiuchi (杉内 順次) - Ikki SawamuraIkki Sawamurais a Japanese model, film and television actor, and television presenter signed to Ken-On.-Biography:Ikki Sawamura was born in Kagoshima in 1967. After graduating from the local high school, he moved to Tokyo and started his career as a fashion model. In 1996, Sawamura debut in a TV drama Matsuda...
as Hiroaki Arai (新井 弘明) - Kinya Kitaoji as Seishiro Munakata (宗像 征四郎)
- Hidenari UgakiHidenari Ugakiis a Japanese seiyū from Tokyo. He is currently attached to 81 Produce. He is best known for his roles in Mobile Fighter G Gundam , the TV Tokyo edition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the 2005 Doraemon series .-Television animation:*Class of 3000 *Digimon Adventure...
as Goro Majima (真島 吾朗) - Rie KugimiyaRie Kugimiyais a Japanese voice actress affiliated with I'm Enterprise.Kugimiya's most famous roles include Alphonse Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Happy in Fairy Tail, Kagura in Gintama, Nagi Sanzenin in Hayate no Gotoku!, Shana in Shakugan no Shana, Louise in Zero no Tsukaima, Taiga Aisaka in Toradora!, and...
as Haruka Sawamura (澤村 遥) - Aya HiranoAya Hiranofrom Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who has had roles in several anime, visual novels, and TV commercials in Japan. She was contracted to Space Craft Produce, a branch of the Space Craft Group, for her voice acting career, and for her singing career,...
as Hana
Soundtrack
The theme song, played during the introductory video upon starting the game, is called Butterfly City and is sung by Japanese hip hop musicHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist Zeebra
Zeebra
, real name , is a Japanese hip hop artist, who made his first appearance in 1995. Zeebra is a former member of the hip-hop group King Giddra, which also included DJ Oasis and K Dub Shine, and the older brother of fellow hip-hop artist SPHERE of INFLUENCE...
featuring Ryo the Skywalker and Mummy D. (Rhymester) with music by DJ Hasebe (a.k.a. Old Nick) The music video was posted on Ariola Japan's official Youtube channel which revealed that R&B singer Double
Double (singer)
Double is the stage name for Japanese R&B singer . Double used to be the name for the two member R&B group consisting of Takako and her sister Sachiko. After the death of her sister in May 1999, Takako started her solo career adopting Double as her stage name...
had contributed vocals to the song. The CD was released by Ariola Japan
Ariola Japan
, is a Japanese record label precedently part of BMG Japan and now subsidiary of Sony Music Japan. It is home to both former BMG Japan artists and new artists, including Buck-Tick, The Cro-Magnons, Deen, GO!GO!7188, Kenichi Asai, AZU, Takako Matsu, Misia, Kazumasa Oda, Seamo, Shikao Suga, Sukima...
(SME
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
) on March 17, 2010 as a regular edition (BVCL-89) and a first press limited edition including a bonus video DVD (BVCL-87) and an alternate cover featuring Kiryu. Zeebra first contributed to the series with Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan!s opening theme Bushido.
Tie-ins
Three new tie-inTie-in
A tie-in is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property...
s were made with real life shops; these are Watami's , on Nakamichi Street, and Cuez Bar and Milestone, which are located in the underground.
Adverts for various other companies (such as Nico Nico Douga
Nico Nico Douga
is a popular video sharing website in Japan managed by Niwango, a subsidiary of Dwango. Its nickname is "Niconico" or "Nico-dō", where "nikoniko" is the Japanese ideophone for smiling. Nico Nico Douga is the thirteenth most visited website in Japan...
) can be found within the game, especially on the walls in the underground. Promotional flyers can be found in certain places, such as the underground of bowling alley, some of which offer discounts on in-game products. There is now also advertising on both sets of coin lockers. A staff member at Volcano, the pachislot building, will ask for a password that can only be obtained from 777town's website. There are also various topics of conversation that can be learned from listening in on Kamurocho residents' conversations. These can be used on the hostesses, and some of them feature promotion for companies such as 777town.