Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties [REVIEW] – A Modern Makeover for the Awkward Middle Child 

With the massive success of Infinite Wealth in the rear-view mirror and a brand-new IP on the horizon, stepping back into the past for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties feels like a comforting detour. The original 2010 release of the third game was always the awkward middle child of the modern series, and even with its high-definition remaster a few years ago, it felt a bit clunky when compared to the other revamped entries in the series. Thankfully, this full Dragon Engine remake breathes desperate new life into Kazuma Kiryu’s island getaway, even if it does bring a few bumps in the road along with it. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

If you are new to this specific chapter of Kiryu’s life, you are in for a real treat. Following the explosive events of the second game, our stoic hero has packed his bags for the sunny, laid-back beaches of Okinawa, where he is trying to leave the criminal underworld behind to run the Morning Glory orphanage. 

Instead of tying Kiryu’s parenting duties directly to the main plot’s pacing – which famously caused the original game to drag in its opening hours – the developers have spun the orphanage into its own massive side campaign. You spend your free time cooking meals, sewing, fishing, catching bugs, and helping the kids with their maths homework to increase your ‘Daddy Rank’, which might sound a little bit silly on paper, but genuinely adds so much heart to the experience. Each child now has dedicated side missions that make Kiryu’s role as a father figure feel incredibly rewarding, and it helps ensure that Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties feels different to any other release in the series. 

Of course, life isn’t THAT easy for Kiryu, and whilst running the orphanage is a real joy, you do find yourself mixed in with the Yakuza. A messy conspiracy involving the government, the Tojo Clan, and overseas factions drags Kiryu back to the neon streets of Kamurocho. The overarching narrative is still as gripping as before and its twists and turns still hit hard, but the remake does make some noticeable tweaks. A few late-game story changes might rub purists the wrong way, and the pacing in the second half feels a bit rushed compared to the stellar opening chapters. I’ll admit, I’m not as experienced with the original Yakuza 3 as I am some of the other entries in the series, but even I was able to notice the changes. 

“Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is an impressive package that successfully brings an outdated classic into the modern era.” 

There has been some recasting with characters too, which has rubbed some people up the wrong way, but honestly? It’s not too much of a problem… well… for the most part. The recast of the villain Hamazaki is the elephant in the room, not because he has been reshaped from a hulking brute into a scheming mastermind (which is actually a brilliant new direction for the character), but because Teruyuki Kagawa has been cast in the role. Admittedly, I didn’t know a whole lot about the history of the actor prior to reading some news articles during the game’s release period, but he has a well-documented real-world history of sexual misconduct, which leaves a rather sour taste in the mouth – especially in a franchise that regularly goes out of its way to condemn that exact sort of behaviour. A weird decision, really, but one that won’t be held against the game as far as this review is concerned. 

On the technical side of things, the game can be a bit of a mixed bag. The city streets look absolutely gorgeous, but the character models don’t feel quite as expressive as those seen in other entries in the series. Don’t get me wrong, they’re animated fluidly in combat (more on that in a bit) and they look fine… they’re just missing that little something during cinematic sequences. 

Thankfully, the gameplay is anything but stiff, with the combat receiving a monumental glow-up, borrowing the fast, ragdoll-heavy physics from recent entries in the series. Kiryu’s classic Dragon style is as brutally satisfying as ever, but he also gets a brand-new Ryukyu fighting stance, which lets you seamlessly switch between farming tools and a shield for brilliant crowd control and perfect parries. It’s so fun to play and adds a whole new dimension to the gameplay for those returning to Yakuza 3 after a long time away… it’s a ton of fun. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

When you aren’t busting heads in the main story, there’s also a mountain of side content to get through, and while the developers have binned about two-thirds of the original game’s substories, the remaining content is far higher in quality. Sure, it would have been nice to have had EVERYTHING – especially since side content in the Yakuza series has always been so important – but if I’m being honest, it feels a little less bloated to get through. Again, purists might complain, but as a neutral player, it has all been fine for me, especially since the substories on offer are of such a high standard. 

Then there is Dark Ties, the brand-new prequel expansion bundled with the game. Clocking in at over ten hours, it’s a meaty escapade that follows the ruthless rise of antagonist Yoshitaka Mine. Mine is the complete opposite of Kiryu: he is cynical, entirely motivated by cash, and fighting alongside the genuinely detestable Kanda, with this adventure a far cry from the sometimes-feel good journey of Kiryu. 

Mine’s combat trades heavy weapons for a blisteringly fast, counter-heavy boxing style where you can bounce between enemies like a pinball, and whilst it is slightly simpler than Kiryu’s mechanics, it flows beautifully. The expansion also features ‘Hell’s Arena’, a brilliant roguelike dungeon-crawler where you recruit party members and hunt for loot across randomised floors – it is WILDLY addictive and almost justifies the price of admission on its own. If this is something that the team at RGG would look at expanding on in the future, I’d be all in. 

Developer: Ryu ga Gotoku Studios 
Publisher: SEGA 
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch 
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3937550/Yakuza_Kiwami_3__Dark_Ties/