Yakuza

"The one-time giant has managed to underwhelm us time and again over the last decade. But in the case of Yakuza, Sega has not only managed to conquer the tricky task of getting a 'gangster game' right, it's also succeeded in creating a game that owes nothing to any of its contemporaries. As the start of a new franchise, Yakuza is a wonderful foundation for a new fan-favorite series. And as an entry into the ever-growing criminal underground genre, Yakuza is a wholly unique, high-quality package that, while possessing as many flaws as it does triumphs, is a crime drama worth mentioning in the same breath as The Godfather (the movie, not the game)."

"It can be a bit clichéd, and you wouldn't mention it in the same breath as something like Deus Ex or Planescape Torment, but, a relative lack of puzzles aside, a comparison with fellow Japanese action games like Onimusha wouldn't be unfair - and it's certainly a game I felt like seeing through to the end. Definitely more than the sum of its parts, and a rare case of a game getting there before Hollywood."

"Yakuza vividly portrays modern Japan and its organized crime families, but it pulls its punches before delivering a truly great action game or a completely satisfying story."

"Yakuza tells a good story. Not only that, it backs it up with a satisfying combat system and one of the most atmospheric gameworlds so far this year. It takes something as traditional as third person brawling and blends it with a lengthy adventure filled with interesting characters, side-quests and a great sense of style. Fighting can get tedious at times, but furthering the story and uncovering the city's secrets make it worth the effort."