The Black Sheep of the Ryu Ga Gotoku games is still a fun, if very flawed and frustrating, game.

Even when it was released on the PlayStation 3, Yakuza 3 was seen as a black sheep. Not because of (at least for the western release) cut content but due to the mechanics, the (initial) change in location and how the game feels somewhat stiff at times.

This is not to say that Yakuza 3 was seen as a terrible game or a misstep. Far from it. It was just that it was something that felt different and took a while getting use to but also paradoxicality not feeling like much has changed in the formula (this was felt even more in the West, due to how long it took for us to get it and again cut content.)

Which is what puts Yakuza 3 Enhanced in a weird spot. 1 and 2 got revamped with Kiwami, but Yakuza 3 Enhanced is basically just updated graphics with all content from the Japanese version. But the gameplay remains unchanged from the PlayStation 3 version. No revamp to the awkward combat, the experience and many of the mini-games are a shell of what you’d come to expect from Yakuza Zero, 1 and 2 Kiwami and the visuals don’t leap out like before. And if you’ve come from those games, it’s going to be an even rougher experience.

There’s the level up system which feels very restrictive. It may have been done to prevent grinding to make Kiryu into a near-overpowered badass early into the game but it also feels gated.

The same feeling goes for getting heat actions, weapons and armour, with the game’s modding system not being noteworthy until very late into the game and even then the available options still feel limited. It’s justifiable to not have Kiryu once again become overpowered early/midway into the game, but it’d be nice if Yakuza 3 Remastered was more generous in what you could unlock.

The combat feels off. It feels like they had to nerf Kiryu and so you don’t feel as badass as before. Some heat actions don’t feel as epic and it does have an awkward feel. This is especially noticable against bosses and tough opponents (e.g. the ones you face in the Coliseum activity), where it seems you have to cheese them more than use what you’ve learned up to that point. It’s not a total disaster, as its still solid enough to be enjoyable but you do feel like a handicapped badass.

Visually, even considering the time frame and how this is only a remastered and not a remake/overhaul like the Kiwami games are, it’s still a let down to an extent. This wasn’t a huge leap back in the PS3 and you can see the age and rough edges still present, such as sudden pop-up and sometimes NPC’s having derpy or dead-eyes look.

And of course, it has its own set of Yakuza restrictiveness: Save points are really far apart, you can’t accept more than one hitman mission, can’t buy more than one food at a time, item inventory is always a pain.

Again though, this must be stressed that DESPITE these issues Yakuza 3 Enhanced is still overall a fun game. When it hits its stride, the dopamine hits hard and you remember why you love the series;

Kamurocho feels like an old friend, vibrant, looking different but also similar and hiding its share of secrets underneath all the glitz and glamour and while Ryukyu isn’t Sotenbori (Osaka), it still has its character and charm, feeling like a place to visit and absorb a different aspect of Japan. While the visuals might not pop out, its still an impressive showcase of packing cities with details and small touches that still make it fun to explore and just run around.

The music is banging, as expected with the Ryu Ga Gotoku library (and this being Sega, who rarely drop the ball when it comes to music,) with a mix that ranges from techno to J-pop (and that’s not getting into the Karaoke songs.)

There is always moments that are dramatic or comedic (sometimes swinging around in the same scene) that make one actually care what is taking place and invest in characters, even those who just appear in a small substory. Speaking of those, the substories once again reveal the soul of Yakuza/Ryu Ga Gotoku series, with some amusing (and even downright heart-warming) scenes.

And yes, some of the activities aren’t that engaging or fully fleshed out (hostess ones spring to mind) but Yakuza 3 still has a lot of content that it hits more than it misses and just when you begin to flag or tire of one thing it throws something else to keep you hooked.

Yakuza 3 Enhanced is often seen as the “worst” of the games in the franchise and it is justifiable line of opinion. But it also hides a truth about it; That even the “worst” games in the Ryu Ga Gotoku franchise are still solid b-tier fun. This is enhanced (ahem) by the fact that the price of the game is dead-cheap (it’s also part of the Yakuza Remastered Collection, again a fantastic bundle).

It is best to come to Yakuza 3 Enhanced with expectation in check but also the fact that you’re still going to have a lot of enjoyment pounding solutions into people’s faces.

Rating: 7*/10
(*More towards a 6 than an 8)

This is exactly what I wanted XC3 to be.
New and returning characters banding together in a lore-rich story.

A more refined version of the main game in a tighter package all across the board.

A great ending point for the Xenoblade Chronicles saga and I cannot wait to see what is next.