A week or so ago, the first art for Yakuza: Of the End was released. It revealed a destroyed city of Kamurocho, the classic setting some assumed had been hit by a weapon of mass destruction. More like a mass of zombies, amirite? Yeeeeaah... this sure is an odd one. You need to see the Famitsu scans to believe them.

This isn't the first time the Yakuza series has tried something a little different with its setting. The never localized, Yakuza Kenzan, actually took placed 500 years in the past in feudal Japan. So yeeeaaaah, this is like the same thing. Right?

Believe it or not, I'm actually REALLY excited about this game. The series is already insane and over-the-top, and I love it for that. What's a few zombies going to change? I mean look... LOOK!!!


HOLY FUCKING SHIT THIS IS RAD!!!!!!!!

LOL! Look at the screenshot of Haruka all bound up. Of course she has been kidnapped. Why wouldn't she be? This is a Yakuza game after all. Zombies don't change her love for candy and the inside of stranger's cars. Hell, maybe zombies even took her.

The Dragon of Kansai, Ryuji Goda, has a gun arm!! A GUN ARM!!! BAAAARREEETTT MOTHAFUCKAAA!!!!

Look at the smile on Majima's face!!! He's like: LET'S KILL SOME ZOMBIEEESS MOTHAFUCCKKKKAAA!!!!!

Is this game co-op? It looks like it might be co-op!!! HOLY SHEEEEIIIIT!!! I CALL MAJIMA!!!

FUUUUUUCCKKKKK I WANT TO GUSSY UP A ZOMBIE HOOKER AND SELL HER AT A HIGH PRICE!!!! WOOOOOOOOOT!!!

Detective Date wants... WaNtS... BRRRRRAAAAAAAAAIIIINNNNNNNNSSSSSS!!!!!

The real question: How many shirtless zombies can the PS3 render for that final rooftop fight?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

MMMMMMMMMMMMM

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

I WANT THIS NOW!!!

(UPDATE)

Okay, we have the footage. The first is the official story trailer, and the second is cam footage of the gameplay trailer from the conference. It starts like every other Yakuza trailer, but wait till the action starts. It certainly isn't the Yakuza game we are used to.

Comments

  • Avatar
    TheFlameLurker
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Zombies, this will make it to America guaranteed. I just hope Yakuza 4 can do for me what 3 didn't and this will be a day one purchase for me.

  • Avatar
    Xalgar
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I'm really surprised that you are excited about this Brad, I thought you would be in an outrage.

  • Avatar
    zekana
    14 years, 2 months ago

    so this a spin off/alternate world of the main yakuza series or are they just throwing all the remaining realism yakuza had and just made something more extreme?

    ps, wonder if gunplay will be the main focus or if normal hand to hand fighting will still be the default style?

    I can kind of see this being a minor trolling on their part where it turns out the zombie thing IS part of the next yakuza but as a minigame.

  • Avatar
    Cody218
    14 years, 2 months ago

    This is fucking weird and unexpected, but as long as it's simply a spin-off and won't affect the main series (I can't imagine it will whatsoever) it's crazy enough for me to be interested.

  • Avatar
    TemjinZero
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I'm surprised you're so warm to this game Brad... though you're right, this is just more over the top crazy and in line with the kind of stuff you do in Yakuza anyways.

    I guess VC's transition to PSP wasn't so lukewarm because they strayed pretty far from what made VC such a hit in North America.

  • Avatar
    Dimensaur
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Upon first seeing this I saw the zombies as a desperate attempt to sell a Yakuza game to the western audience, "They like zombies, let's try that!" I assumed this is what sparked the creation of this game. The first theory that I had was these "zombies" were simply a gang who used makeup and fake blood (we've come a long way since Thriller kids) to intimidate others who enter their turf.

    Dwelling on the idea of actual zombies will make it seem silly at first but the more time you spend thinking about it the more sense it starts to make. If there is a series that could pull this off and have me believe it whole heartedly it would be Yakuza. Zombies in World War 2? Pffffftttt. Zombies running wild in a derelict section of urban Japan getting beat on by guys in fancy suits? Absolutely awesome.

    The only worry I really have was their unwillingness to admit if this is a side game or Yakuza 5.

  • Avatar
    Phoenix
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Meh, don't really share the optimism myself. It doesn't look bad per se, but it's a little too wacky for me. I like the wacky side of Yakuza, but I also like it being rooted in reality at its core. Just my opinion of course.

  • Avatar
    Brad Simons
    14 years, 2 months ago

    If you guys are not excited about this, then you take the series WAAAY too seriously. This shit is awesome.

    Also, Yakuza 4 is supposedly far better than 3, as it is supposed to have a really great story revolving around the 4 main characters.

    And yes... this isn't Ryu Ga Gotoku 5. This is a spinoff like Kenzan.

  • Avatar
    Epiphone
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Zombies mean more things to kill, killing is fun, Yakuza is awesome, I am sold.

  • Avatar
    MasterVader
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I like how in a zombie apocalypse there's always time for hostess clubs. Can't wait.

  • Avatar
    Absolutely Daft
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Now I'm pumped for this game, it's just so awesome. I wonder how the gunplay will be since you might not use your fists as much.

  • Avatar
    specdotsign
    14 years, 2 months ago

    It's a Yakuza game, I'm gonna have to give it the benefit of the doubt. But zombies? I dunno. Shooting zombie Yakuza would be cool and all, but I want to be able to smash their faces in with my size 10's. As long as I can still punch dudes, I'll be happy. And really, Goda Ryuuji is back...with a gun arm?! There's some Umbrella Corporation sh*t going on here.

  • Avatar
    bamchaos
    14 years, 2 months ago

    well as long as it's a spinoff and not an official sequel then this looks cool.

  • Avatar
    BloodGatts
    14 years, 2 months ago

    lol, it seems really interesting. The only thing that has me worried is that it's a Japanese game and it seems to be focusing on shooting. Hasn't been all that great of a combo other in my experiences (Minus Vanquish, that seems to be the only japanese shooter to feel that I've played so far).

  • Avatar
    Checkout2
    14 years, 2 months ago

    this reeks of pure AWESOMENESS! Sure it will be different, but I applaud the designers for being adventurous and mixing up their formula. I can just imagine suplexing a zombie or beating them down with a giant traffic cone. Maybe even the return of a zombified Ryukia.

  • Avatar
    Fady
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Zombies?
    Overthetopness?
    Yakuza?
    Gun arm?
    CRAAAZY side character?
    Fucking sold.

  • Avatar
    Urgot
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Fact: Zombies make games better.

  • Avatar
    Hydra
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I'm excited about this. For a while I've thought that GTA should do some kind of apocalypse/Day of disaster spin off series under another name. Seems like a waste of perfectly well constructed digital cities not to see them destroyed.

    Also glad to read your comments about Yakuza 4, all that orphanage crap in 3 really made me bitter.

  • Avatar
    roughplague
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Gatling-gun-arm?
    I'M IN =D
    hell, I was in before that, but these screens and very positive impressions from those who have played it, I'm definently in =D

  • Avatar
    zzman305
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I take it Brad is pleased

  • Avatar
    Windalfr
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Ha, I can already see many laughs to be had playing this. I can't wait to bash on a few zombies... as Kiryu friggin Kazuma!!!

  • Avatar
    ZCaliber
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Holy crabcakes...

    Too awesome for words.

  • Avatar
    Stannis23
    14 years, 2 months ago

    That looks fucking awesome i cant wait but what i dont understand is why Toshihiro Nagoshi said that if this game does not sell it might mean the end of the yakuza series?

  • Avatar
    Heman98
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I was sold on the gun arm, and it's not just a normal gun it's a fucking mini gun. Awesome.

  • Avatar
    Rendrak
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Holy shit, that looks fucking awesome. I need to get my hands on Yakuza 1-3 in the meantime.

  • Avatar
    The_Australian_Ashman
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Hopefully they fix up the firearm combat; because the gun fighting in 3 was the worst part, but you really weren't meant to use them.

    And I actually enjoyed 3, so if that's the worst of the series, I'm pretty exicted for 4.

    Gawd, beating in the skull of the zombie with a flip kick, I'm excited.

  • Avatar
    Warpedpixel
    14 years, 2 months ago

    HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG God I'm excited......DON'T GOT A PS3 THAT TOTALLY SLIPPED MY MIND, DAMNIT

  • Avatar
    J52
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Can't wait to spit a cigarette in a zombie's face. Hell yes!

  • Avatar
    Henry Chan
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I'm cool with this game since it's not connected with the real story. I'm curious of how this game will turn out.

  • Avatar
    Delta_03
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I have to agree with Brad, when someone posted a trailer in a forum, I shit my pants.. This looks so over the top that I cannot wait for its release, I've loved zombie films and games and what better way to make a zombie game than put it within the Yakuza franchise, ANOTHER awesome series.. I sincerely hope this is released in the EU!

  • Avatar
    Shit Eating Troll
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I played Yakuza 3 (and actually had to force myself to get through to the end) and the game sucked overall. Everytime they milk this series it makes me care less & less about it. I don't care if Yakuza 3 was supposedly the worst one. I've looked at the others and they all seem like rehashes taking place in the same environments with the same dull sidequests and bland combat. Sega loves milking shit like Yakuza & Sonic but Shenmue has yet to get a 3rd game.

  • Avatar
    zekana
    14 years, 2 months ago

    thanks to the trailer, I had to do it
    http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1215/left4deadjapan.png

  • Avatar
    HawkeyetheReaper1
    14 years, 2 months ago

    this game looks
    can't wait for it to come out in north america

  • Avatar
    Yakuza: Dead Souls European Trademark Found, Yakuz
    13 years, 1 month ago

    [...] The End was announced last year and for all intents and purposes it didn’t have a chance at coming to our shores until TGS a [...]