Introduction
Yakuza is a franchise that seems like a no brainer for me and other learners to try, and with the recent release of the Yakuza collection I can’t think of a better time! Yakuza 3 is my first step into the franchise and I will be honest, I was expected clunky and dated visuals but I was so pleasantly surprised. From the start of the game you are plunged into central Tokyo and it really feels like you are there in the midst of it. I spent the first few hours of gameplay walking around the streets, reading the signs, taking in the sights, speaking with the citizens and just immersing myself in this digital Japan. I cannot recommend this enough.
Glossary
Platforms and Language – 7/10
The Yakuza collection is currently available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. If you have Game Pass then you can download the entire collection for free. The language in game must be set through the console settings as opposed to the settings
Usability – 9/10
There are many aspects of Yakuza 3 that are usable for studying. To start with, the games cutscenes are voice acted in japanese with large and clear subtitles. Outside of major cutscenes the dialogue continues in paused textboxes meaning you have a nice balance of continuous voiced dialogue and standard text. Yakuza 3 is incredibly text heavy in terms of the interface. The pause menu has a wide selection of tabs to delve through, each one with its own vocabulary and layout. After the first chapter you also gain access to the Okinawa hub. From here you can review character files and the family tree as well as prepare your inventory and review your game progress.
If that wasn’t enough there is also a “Wii Sports-esque” mode where you can play bowling, darts, golf and billiards where each game has a written description of how to play and how to set up the game. Me an my partner (a non Japanese speaker) played hundreds of rounds of billiards in Japanese and enjoyed every minute of it. This comes with additional minigames hidden throughout the story too so you can find more and more hobbies you enjoy but in an over the top Japanese setting. The best aspect here is the immersion factor. Both in Tokyo and Okinawa it is easy to get lost in the environments.
If you really dedicate your time to learning the difficult vocabulary as you come across it you will bolster your day to day speaking. All of the dialogue in the game is very human, you will also find that the random NPC’s on the street can discuss the same topic but with varied viewpoints allowing you to establish more of an understanding of the use of language and context.
Challenges and Methods – 9/10
Read and say everything
With Yakuza 3 being as immersive as it is, my recommendation would be to try immersing yourself while you play. The combination of sights, sounds and dialogue can bring you into an environment where absorbing Japanese content is easier. Once you get past some of the more jarring cutscenes you can feel as though you are a part of the world. Try talking to yourself about what you can see, or thinking about how you would respond to NPC questions. Games that allow you to do this are few and far between so take advantage of the interactability and go get lost!
Location, location, location
One aspect of the game you may have trouble with is the place names. Often buildings, roads and cities are mentioned but it can be difficult to pick them out of a long dialogue. As you travel around you will see the street name or region appear in the bottom right or bottom left of the screen. Make a note of the kanji and pay attention to any of the conversations around that area. If you’re lucky you will find a cutscene that mentions the place specifically allowing you to confirm the reading, but you can often get a better understanding of the written dialogue if you can grasp these place names first.
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