If any of you guys are like me, then you’ve been looking for a game to satisfy your craving for something like Shenmue. There isn’t much out there, but one game I found that is strikingly similar to Shenmue is Yakuza for the PS2.

Yakuza is a free roam action beat-em-up created who else but… SEGA! The story revolves around a Yakuza, or a Japanese gangster named Kazuma who was framed for the death of his gang’s leader, and is trying to get revenge on the person who framed him. This game is both graphic and violent, so any 11 year olds looking for a good Shenmue experience STAY AWAY!

The gameplay in Yakuza is staggeringly similar to Shenmue. You walk around talking to random people, and trying to find out where to go next and what to do. This game is definitely more action-based then Shenmue, as you fight many random battles on the streets with all the thugs of Tokyo. The fighting in this game, although it can be clunky at times and difficult to get used to, it is truly where this game shines. You will do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to win your battles. Kazuma smashes enemies heads into walls, with garbage cans, umbrellas, and virtually anything you can find on the streets to help you. Of course,   this leads to tons of blood being literally splashes all over the place, so again, if you are queasy, you might want to keep your distance from this game.

Personally, I think this game is the poor man’s Shenmue. There isn’t as much to collect, there are no arcade games to play, and it has a story and style that is totally different from Shenmue. For example, while there is very little vulgar language in Shenmue, it comes by the gallons in Yakuza. Don’t let all that steer you away from this game. It has become one of my favorites on the PS2, and with the sequel on its way over to the US come September, there is no reason to not pick it up.  Plus, it’s only 15 bucks at Gamestop, so even if you don’t like it, it’s not like you spent a fortune on it.

In all, Yakuza is one hell of a fun game that will keep you entertained from beginning to end, and I couldn’t recommend to a Shenmue enthusiast anymore!

Comments (2)

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written by Mike, August 12, 2008

true so true, it was so different than anything else they had to make its own category

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written by Master Chen, August 12, 2008

Wll actually there is no game can be compared with shenmue.....so i try other genre even if Yakuza might be an realy good game......i realy cant say they have the same level but origin...so shenmue indeed obtians its own genre....sth between a realy life adventure on to a cinema movie and also one of the best role playing games ever made.

It realy cant be replaced

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