Gaming News - February 2006

San Francisco, CA (February 23, 2006) - SEGA today announced that Yakuza (Japanese title: Ryu Ga Gotoku)will be coming to North America for the PlayStation 2.

From SEGA:

Yakuza takes players deep into the world of Japan's infamous underground organization.

In a society where respect and honor holds great importance, there is an even higher regard for these traits within the one organization that is most feared by all: the Yakuza. Kiryu Kazuma – a former rising star in the Yakuza who is rebuilding his life after serving a 10-year prison term for murder – suddenly finds himself caught in a spiraling underworld plot involving a mysterious girl known as Haruka and a missing $100 million. Kazuma must use his fists and his wits to stay alive as he unravels the complex web of truth and lies that surrounds the notorious Yakuza.

"Yakuza is a game like none other as it delves into one of the most mysterious and iconic aspects of Japanese culture," says Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "Players will have the opportunity to take on the world's most notorious and sophisticated underground organizations as they embark on a series of dangerous missions set in the gritty and seedy underbelly of Tokyo."

Yakuza delivers a perfect balance of action and adventure with its immersive storyline and stylish fighting mechanics created specifically for the game. Players can string together attack combinations to take out multiple enemies in sidewalk showdowns, while defending the Yakuza territory and reputation by picking up weapons to crush opponents. Kazuma can also "educate" delinquent debtors through visceral shakedowns by grabbing and smashing them against walls and tables, then delivering final skull-shattering blows when the Heat Gauge is maximized. With a customizable status gauge, players can increase strength, stamina, and skills through combat.

Freely explore Tokyo's hidden urban nightlife from sprawling neon-lit streets and nightclubs to actual shops licensed specifically to deliver the authenticity of this enticing metropolis. Players can strategically increase Kazuma's skills and attributes by accumulating weapons and items, engaging in numerous side missions, interrogating and bribing informants, gambling, and even hitting baseballs in a batting cage. Yakuza is an all-encompassing, immersive chronicle that captures the full scope of the Yakuza by authentically recreating Tokyo's underground nightlife, while unveiling the mystery surrounding the Yakuza's traditional honor, respect, and loyalty system.