It hasn’t been confirmed yet but Yakuza and Yakuza 2 are coming to PS3 in an HD collection. How do I know this? Well, the teaser SEGA recently put up was on the main Yakuza portal and not the Yakuza 5 site. Plus, Tale Tale Source, a Japanese gaming blog, managed to get its hands on the newest edition of Famitsu magazine early and found Ryuu ga Gotoku (Yakuza in Japanese) 1 & 2 HD EDITION as one of the games to be discussed. I, myself, am convinced that the major announcement to be made on Thursday is going to be about being able to relive Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima’s adventures in Kamurocho and Osaka.
Keep in mind that the following information hasn’t actually been confirmed by SEGA itself, but there’s a very high chance that it’s true. The two PS2 games are planned to be released together in Japan on November 1st, 2012 for ¥5,290 (roughly $67 in USD. However, since it’s an HD collection, it will probably go for $30 or $40 in the States). In addition to the improved visuals, the loading times for the two games will be reduced, an item box will be available in the many phone booths that serve as save points and for the completionists, every food item that’s been eaten at least once will have a check mark in the menu to keep track of what you have and haven’t eaten. It also goes without saying that the trophies (which have become mandatory for all PS3 games) will also be included for both games.
The Japanese will be able to pre-order the HD bundle and receive bonuses that resemble the original PS2 versions’ packaging. Eager customers will not only receive a clear file showcasing the two games’ original packaging, but also dummy packaging of said packaging remade in a PS3 style. There may be pre-order bonuses for those of us outside of Japan, considering that the last three North American Yakuza titles all all offered them.
Unfortunately, no other platform was mentioned in the Famitsu article. This isn’t too surprising though, seeing as how the first two Yakuza games were released as Ps2 exclusives. There’s always a chance that another console might be able to enjoy Kiryu’s beat down of Japanese gangsters, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. I’m personally excited to play these two classics in HD because Yakuza provides one of the best ways to experience the Land of the Rising Sun from the comforts of home.