The Yakuza series has become one of the great bastions of the video game industry in recent years. Its creators have managed to extract the full potential of the franchise to turn it into a practically annual series that delivers new games on a regular basis, at a pace that is surprising, even more so considering the timescales usually followed in the current landscape. Through a trend that alternates between new releases and remakes, the franchise is more alive than ever.

This move is helping many players discover one of the most popular series in the East and continue their adventures, usually full of humour, in chronological order. The Kiwami series is fundamental to this, as it is reviving the first instalments of the franchise with a fresh look and new features that allow players to enjoy even more the games that captured the attention of millions when they first released.

With Yakuza Kiwami 3, SEGA provides access to one of the most controversial games in the series, adding all the additional content prepared for this occasion, especially the 'Dark Ties' chapter, a new standalone game focused on Yoshitaka Mine, with its own story that fleshes out the narrative so that veteran players can find an incentive to try this new version of the game.

The awakening of the Dragon Engine for a better visual style

One of the biggest draws of this re-release is undoubtedly the technological leap that comes with leaving behind the limitations of the PlayStation 3 era to embrace the benefits of the Dragon Engine. Yakuza 3 was always a divisive instalment due to its change of pace: after the intensity of Kamurocho, Kazuma Kiryu seeks peace on the shores of Okinawa, managing the Morning Glory orphanage. In this Kiwami version, the tropical beauty of the Ryukyu beaches reaches a level of photorealistic detail. The sunlight on the sand, the swaying of the palm trees and the daily life of the local markets feel more alive than ever, allowing Kiryu's 'quiet life' to be as immersive as his moments of action.

However, the change is not merely aesthetic. The Dragon Engine allows the transition between exploration and combat to be completely seamless, eliminating the loading screens that interrupted the experience in the original title. The physics have been completely redesigned to address one of the most criticised aspects of the 2009 game: the excessive guarding by enemies, colloquially known by fans as 'Blockuza'. Now, combat is dynamic, visceral, and allows for much more creative use of the environment. Kiryu can interact with virtually any object on the streets of Okinawa or Kamurocho to execute his iconic Heat Actions, which have been recreated from scratch with more brutal and cinematic choreography that takes advantage of today's hardware.

In addition, the city of Kamurocho has also received a facelift to remain consistent with what we saw in Yakuza Kiwami 2 and Like a Dragon. The verticality of the buildings, the density of passers-by and the improved artificial intelligence of citizens make walking through the red-light district a complete sensory experience. For new players, it's the perfect opportunity to see how Kiryu's world evolves without feeling the weight of time in the gameplay mechanics, achieving a visual and gameplay cohesion that unifies the entire 'Dragon of Dojima' era.

A completely new story as a major incentive

The real jewel in the crown of Yakuza Kiwami 3 is the inclusion of the 'Dark Ties' expansion. In the original instalment, Yoshitaka Mine emerged as one of the most complex and fascinating antagonists in the entire franchise, but many details of his rise to power in the Tojo Clan were left up in the air. This new standalone chapter allows players to take control of Mine, exploring his motivations and his ruthless business and criminal philosophy. Mine's fighting style is diametrically opposed to Kiryu's; while the protagonist relies on brute force and martial arts technique, Mine uses prodigious agility and precision strikes that offer a breath of fresh air to the traditional gameplay.

This additional content not only expands the series' lore, but also masterfully connects the events of Yakuza 0 with the political ramifications we see in the third instalment. Through 'Dark Ties', veterans will discover a more mature and sombre narrative that justifies why Mine made the decisions that led him to confront Kiryu on the hospital rooftop. It is an exercise in narrative justice for a character who deserved more screen time and who here becomes the perfect vehicle for understanding the shadows that haunt the Tojo Clan in a time of transition.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 positions itself as the definitive bridge between the past and present of a franchise that continues to grow. By revisiting one of Kazuma Kiryu's most human and personal storylines and enriching it with Yoshitaka Mine's new content, Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio proves once again why they are masters of the remake. With this instalment, the modern chronology of the series is practically complete, setting the stage for whatever the future holds for the brand's new protagonists.