Eliza Dushku

Yakuza — PS2 - Publisher: Sega - Developer: Sega

Following the release of last week’s gangster romp Saints Row, Yakuza heads to the other side of the planet, delving into the organized crime ring that’s the namesake of this week’s new gang-oriented action game.

Yakuza is currently earning a very good 81 percent average at GameRankings.com. Future’s PlayStation Magazine gave the game an 8.5/10, saying, "Don’t let its flaws deter you, however; with its compelling characters and story, Yakuza is still a remarkable game."

GameSpot gave the game a 7.4/10 "Good" score: "Don’t expect a one-of-a-kind gameplay experience from Yakuza, but the game captures enough cinematic drama and violence surrounding Japan’s notorious organized crime families to be worthwhile."

1UP stated, "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." The site gave the game an 8.5/10 "Outstanding" score.

Other ratings include a 4.5/5 from GamePro, 9.5/10 from Play Magazine and a disappointing 6/10 from Game Informer.

Sega displayed the game at E3 in May, allowing attendees to try out Yakuza on a few different kiosks. The game may however be somewhat overlooked as Sega pushes its next generation software lineup as the current generation trails off.

The publisher also set up an official webpage at YakuzaGame.com that gives a bit of background on the game and press coverage. Media coverage has included previews, Q&As, import impressions and related press releases.

In mid-June, Sega found it worthwhile to announce the notable voice talent that would be contributing to the game, including Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tru Calling), Michael Madsen (Resevoir Dogs), Rachael Leigh Cook (She’s All That), Mark Hamill (umm... Star Wars) and Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville).

As of this writing, Yakuza is the 55th most popular game on IGN’s GameStats.com, 58th most popular on GameSpot and fourth on 1UP.