Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Review – A Brawler with Beautiful Flaws
A modern Kiwami remake that packs Kiryu-level brawls and a new Dark Ties side story — but fans are split over recasts, retcons and cut content.
I dove into Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties wanting that familiar mix of melodrama, miniboss street fights and late-night Okinawa neon. The package promises a full-on remake of Yakuza 3 plus a compact new tale starring Yoshitaka Mine, and on paper that sounds like a feast for series fans. In practice the game is a weird cocktail: moments of genuine Yakuza joy and surprisingly refined brawling sit next to odd retcons, recast faces and missing side content. If you love the franchise you’ll feel pulled in two directions — excited by gameplay updates, annoyed by some creative choices.
Brawling Through Okinawa and Tokyo
The core loop is very Yakuza: you walk bustling streets, push into alleys, get sidetracked by arcades and sidequests, then brutally beat your way through a handful of thugs until a story scene pulls you back. Combat in Kiwami 3 feels like a modernized brawler — heavier hits, smoother Heat Actions and some satisfying AoE interactions when enemies clatter into one another. There are multiple move sets at play and a skill tree to unlock, but don’t expect a radical overhaul of what makes Kiryu fun: it’s still about timing, environmental use and the occasional disastrous wrestling throw that makes you laugh. Dark Ties swaps Kiryu for Yoshitaka Mine and leans harder into boxing-based mechanics, which refreshes pacing and gives the package a second, more focused combat rhythm. Side activities remain abundant: substories, minigames, outfit tinkering and the flip phone customization bits keep you busy off the main road. If you’ve played recent Dragon Engine entries you’ll feel at home — exploration and combat blend into the larger soap‑opera momentum the series thrives on.
Two Tales, One Package — and the Problem of Changes
What lifts this release is the ambition to bundle a full remake with a separate new gaiden, but this is also where opinions fracture. Dark Ties is short but emotionally dense: Mine’s fall and reluctant climb back into the criminal world add a melancholic counterpoint to Kiryu’s saga, and the boxing focus is a neat counterpoint to usual brawling. The controversial stuff comes from creative decisions: several reviews and fans report retconned beats, removed substories, and recast performances that change how you perceive some characters. I felt those choices clashed with the nostalgia of long‑time players — the new scenes, half‑cutscenes and added voice work sometimes modernize moments but occasionally create uncanny facial or animation mismatches. There’s real value in the added scenes and some modern combat touches, but they sit beside content cuts that sting. Ultimately, the two‑game idea is smart on paper, messy in emotional execution for series purists.
Looks, Sound, and the Engine That Holds It Together
Visually the game is inconsistent in a memorable way: new character models and environments pop at times, while older cutscene assets look like they were lifted and lightly polished from the PS3 era. That mismatch shows up in facial animation and framing — some lines now have full voice and animation where there used to be text, which is a nice upgrade, but the aesthetic glue doesn’t always hold. The soundtrack borrows from the series’ best cues, and the Legendary BGM CD and outfit packs are nice collector’s treats if you’re into cosmetic flair. Performance on PC (my test rig) felt mostly stable, though community reports suggest players will use lighting, music and combat restoration mods to tweak the experience. Accessibility and quality‑of‑life are improved over older releases: the HUD and menus feel less clunky, and remapped controls allow smoother encounters. In short: technically competent, occasionally brilliant, but marred by visual mismatches and design choices that will make some long-term fans grind their teeth.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a paradox: it modernizes much of the gameplay and adds a solid new story, yet stumbles on choices that matter to longtime fans. I’d recommend it to newcomers and players who prioritize combat and side activities, but advise purists to research the content differences first. If you’re on the fence, try the demo, peek at community mods, and decide whether the new tone and cuts sit with you.
Pros
- Polished modern brawling and satisfying Heat Actions
- Dark Ties offers a tightly written supplementary story with distinct combat
- Lots of side activities, customization and collector DLC options
- Quality‑of‑life and controls feel improved over older releases
Cons
- Retcons, recasts and removed substories upset longtime fans
- Visual inconsistency between old cutscenes and new assets
- Some combat and skill tree choices feel underwhelming compared to expectations
Player Opinion
The community is loudly split. Many players praise the updated combat, the abundance of side content and the emotional punch of Dark Ties, calling it a worthwhile addition for newcomers and series fans who want fresh encounters. At the same time a persistent chorus of complaints centers on retcons, recasts and removed substories — things some veterans call unforgivable edits to a beloved narrative. Several reviewers also note uneven visuals: new models and scenes look great in places while older assets appear dated or mismatched. A noticeable number of users recommend using mods (lighting, music, combat restorations) or even sticking with the original Y3 for the purest experience. If you’re active in the fandom, expect heated threads; if you’re new, you’ll likely enjoy the gameplay but might miss context.