According to the formula, Yakuza 4 should be a total disaster. Game developers that blatantly repeat themselves by re-using assets, environments and gameplay aspects are often seen as lazy or greedy and are usually accused of exploiting a past success for a second wave of profits.

That Yakuza 4 has been released stateside alone is a miracle. In Japan, it's popular enough to warrant a branded Twitter app . Over her...

The gritty & sometimes funny story; Hours and hours of diversions; Feeling adventurous just playing it

Long stretches without save points; Even longer; uneventful cut scenes; Starting over three times

[image1]Most gamers don't care about game reviews. Not you, of course, since you're reading this, but there is a particular crowd of forumites and naysayers who dismiss reviews and choose to make up their own mind.

Complex plot and protagonists; Satisfying combat system; Solid cut-scenes and city graphics; Tons of mini-games and strong replay; Variety of fighting styles

Satisfying combat system; Largely reused assets from Yakuza 3

Yakuza 4 is the newest entry of the, from SEGA published franchise about crime, love, hate, money and pride. The Sandbox/Beat 'em Up/RPG mix offers tons of content and a deep and interesting story line. Screenshots:

Content; Minigames; Deep story; Cutscenes; Length

Item system; Navigation; Localisation; Camera

SEGA's Yakuza series is one that has changed very little since the release of the first game back in 2005. Even the stories of the previous two games shared similarities with the original: big hearted ex-Yakuza Kazuma Kiryu is constantly being dragged back into the criminal underworld that he...

Yakuza 4 is the thinking man's brawler. Grab a drink, preferably in a very large glass, settle down and immerse yourself in the violent neon-lit streets of Kamurocho. Give it a chance and you'll find it hard to put down.

Yakuza 4 does not fail in these areas and even expands in a lot of ways but still has some nagging quirks that could really use a facelift.

+ Engrossing story and characters bring the world to life; + Mini-games provide nice break from the action

+ Mini-games provide nice break from the action

Yakuza 4 aims for realism almost the whole way through, which often makes it come across as a sterile experience. It fails to impress visually, but given the gameplay experience, I'm not sure the developers were really trying for that.

Yakuza 4 is once again another solid entry in the series, yet it still has a very niche appeal. Fans of the series will no doubt love the addition of three new characters, the return of the brutal combat system and the extension to the city, while others will probably wonder why anyone would want to...

Grand Theft Auto 's Liberty City and Red Dead Redemption 's Old West are justly hailed as console gaming's finest sandboxes to date, their breathtaking environments instilled with the illusion of life through the immense level of visual detail in every nook and cranny.