Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a premium experience that redefines the third entry of the franchise. That which was previously a tedious endeavor, such as a combat system that felt sluggish and not really rewarding, is now top-notch gameplay. Everything has been expanded, improved and above everything else, the Dark Ties mode is just THE WAY to properly experience the story of one of the franchise's most beloved villains.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is, above all, a celebration of what the series does best. The package strikes a smart balance between nostalgia and modernization, revisiting a key chapter in Kazuma Kiryu’s journey while expanding the universe with an original story that adds depth to one of the franchise’s most compelling antagonists. It’s not a revolutionary game, but it is a very welcome refinement of a formula that still works.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a worthwhile remake that follows on from the great work achieved in the original Kiwami and Kiwami 2. The game feels fresh in all areas that it needs to be, without losing the identity of what made this game popular in 2009. The combat is fluid and fun, the graphics are sharp, the camera is not restrictive, and there are some new elements, such as cut-scenes, modes, and mini-games that help make the game feel somewhat fresh. Simply put, if you’re already in love with the Yakuza series, then you’re gonna love Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 continues the solid streak for Ryu Ga Gotoku and the series. The gripping narrative and fun combat deliver on what players enjoy. It doesn’t raise the bar in any way, but newcomers and returning fans will find it a thrill ride from start to epic finish.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a remake that dares to change just enough to feel fascinating—and frustrating in equal measure. There’s genuine heart here, especially in the expanded Morning Glory content, both games' sub-stories, and Mine’s surprisingly compelling Dark Ties storyline. Yet, those highs are constantly at odds with combat changes and narrative deviations that feel less like refinement and more like overcorrection. As someone who deeply adores the original Yakuza 3, this remake constantly left me torn between appreciation and disappointment, because it’s occasionally brilliant yet so undeniably polarizing at some levels, serving as fine evidence for me that not every black sheep in a series needs to be remade.

If you have never played Yakuza 3 before and want to experience it for yourself then Yakuza 3 Kiwami & Dark Ties is probably the way to go now. It feels modern and the newly added things and story beats fit perfectly fine into the game for the most part. Unfortunately the games engine starts to really show its cracks by now and the amount of reused “new” content is starting to reach a critical point.

Even without the controversies surrounding it, Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a huge disappointment, with no useful changes and a worthless new expansion.

This game…. Is a blast. I’ve played Yakuza 0, and Kiwami 1 and 2; Yakuza 3 is just as good if not better. The story (yes I know they changed it), the side activities (especially Morning Glory), the characters (even the replacements) are all soooooooo good. It gives me that sweet sweet Yakuza feeling I’ve come to know and love. I won’t get into specifics about all the negative takes on this game but let me tell you, they are dead wrong. Please give this game a chance, I loved it and there’s a good chance you will as well.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

I will say this if you liked OG3/R you may be disappointed at the lack of content they have/cut in the remake I do like that they didn’t bring back the climax battles or the legendary difficulty completion

Never thought id give a yakuza game such a bad rating but for me this game is full of flaws and just plain boring very disappointing considering how long Ive waited for kiwami 3

Kiwami 3 is a baffling mix of decisions made by the developer to change things up because they seemingly could, while taking out a TON of content from the original game. I personally never played the original game myself but, knowing they took out 2/3rd's of the side stories, the bread and butter behind these games, almost made me ask for a refund immediately. Let alone their changes to the combat and progression systems would be bad enough. However, they decided to retcon the ending by allowing a character who originally died, to live at the end to, presumably, be a main player in later games. Which doesn't make sense at all, considering where Yakuza 4 starts out at, and the role that plays in the overall canon of the series. They've clearly decided that the current storyline that all the games have followed, including the most recent games starring Ichiban, are not up to snuff for them and are going to make wholsesale changes for this new reboot series, as they've already said this the last Kiwami branded game, but have also stated that the remakes will continue on in the future. Personally I don't feel great by their flippant ability to disregard the story, one of the better and intriguing ones to come from a Japanese developer. Plus their casting decisions are truly baffling here, knowing that one of the actors for a main character you see alot in the story has been accused of SA in the past and he tellingly has never denied it. I'm worried for the future of the Yakuza franchise. I feel like we really need a new Ichiban-style game next to hopefully wash away the stink behind this game and move forward with the franchise. Because I can't recommend this to hardcore fans of the series at all.