:):) i did enjoy the first one quite a bit, and don't get me wrong, the voice acting wasn't bad. but it was a bit...off hearing American voices go Kazuma-chan this, Kazuma-chan that.

Nihon no Purin

:\

Not having played the first one yet, I was thinking about picking it up and then getting this when it came out.

But playing one game dubbed and then the next subbed leaves me with an iffy feeling. I'd like to have both subbed, but I'm sure that's never going to happen.

Also: this is definitely because they didn't feel like paying a voice cast to dub this old game that's getting a last minute American port so they can bring Yakuza 3 here >_>

Mit

I like subtitles on...whether they are speaking my language or not...

Vecha

niace niace.

Snakeman

after experiencing both english and japanese language tracks for yakuza, this is great news. the english dub really took liberties with the amount of cussing.. geez....

push eject

Awesome, but any release date yet? :\

NeoNess

I'm just glad that Bowser went back to being subtitled in Super Mario Galaxy. English-speaking Bowser in Sunshine reminded me too much of the old Super Mario Bros. cartoon, and not in a good way.

Kyattsuai

Sorry SEGA, you can't do anything right. =/

It's really hard to satisfy everyone. That's really too bad.

@Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic:
I completely agree with your idea for GTA4. I think that the immersion level would be a lot better.

Channing

this game just got a lot more exciting.
sad i never got into part 1, it was the most shenmue-like thing id seen in a while and i wanted to love it. hopefully, this delivers.

TheIrishNinja

@Malyonsus:
Ditto.

Personally, I prefer to listen to a language I can actually understand. And in most cases, no, the dub isn't horrible (unless it's something like this). I find that it's just some whiny folks who are in the mindset that the Japanese language track is always "pure" and "superior" whereas the language track they actually understand is "terrible" and "garbage."

Still, it'd be nice if both parties could be pleased.

BPMκ

I can't fricken wait for this game. The first one was awesome.

NoahSteam

@GusherKid: I don't know...when it comes to a title about yakuza or samurai (or really any game that's steeped in a particular culture), I'm of the mind that the original language should always be utilized (or at least presented as an option).

I definitely would've liked to see GTA 4 (for example) use Russian and subtitles (when appropriate) instead of accents and English.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

@Green-clad Gamer Dude: -_- i keep forgetting its a ps2 game.

Original + Subs > Dubs.

Megan Fox iz Hot ^-^ -ph15h

Man, you know what would be great? If there were an option that somehow acknowledged the fact that there is a somewhat large division among American gamers as to dubs vs. subs. I mean, it's really a shame that we always have to pick one and stick solely to it.

Malyonsus

if a game offers me a japanese voice track i normally put it on. i didn't mind yakuza's english dub though XD.......
FUCK YOU! /smashes random yakuza' face into the wall

Alpha85

Thats great to hear! I've been looking forward to this game. Even though the gameplay was not "all that", somehow, the game... I found it very memorable.

Reetesh

Awesome news. Really happy about this. Screw that english dub bulllllshit. I'd much rather have the original Japanese voice cast with english subtitles. I wonder how long this will take to get over here to the states.

dead_red_eyes

I'm pretty much sold. Loved the first game and hopefully this will make the sequel even better. I'm really tired of weeaboos who try to act all high and mighty about dubs even though they can't speak a lick of Japanese.

GusherKid

I'm one of those people that absolutely hates subtitles. Can't stand 'em. Given a choice, I will always pick dub over sub, no matter how bad the dub supposedly is.

In fact, if Yakuza 2 is subtitle only, then I'll probably skip it, even though I played the first one. Not that I'm missing much... The first one got old after a while, in my opinion.

GlassAdam?

Neat. I would walk by that giant mechanical crab once in a while when I'd get off work. Can't wait for this game to finally get its U.S. release. Here's hoping for a similar localization of part 3 (and a rerelease of part 1 with the Japanese VO...hey, I can dream right?).

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

Finally!, Can we PLEASE have more foreign games with the OPTION of the ORIGINAL voices and just have subtitles added? Is that so hard? Some of the English voice overs for games make me cringe, and actually make me reconsider getting a game.

Azriel77

Awesome... thank you Brian!

Garo

That does look pretty good for a PS2 game.

Green-clad Gamer Dude

Was the first game any good? It seemed that the critics slammed it pretty hard.

Deviation59

@Deviation59:

I don't remember this game being slammed by any reviewers,
or critics, but I wouldn't be surprised because people aren't use to a game thats good and isn't HD these days.

But yeah, the first is marvelous and a great
comeback for SEGA.

Kayeliminal Antithesis

@Nullzero: Maybe it is a Tuesday afternoon.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

Wow, that's a pretty faithful representation of Dotonburi... Does need more people though. That's like Dotonburi on a Tuesday afternoon or something.

Nullzero

So there won't be an english dub of the game or what? I'd personally prefer to play it in Japanese but I think fans of the original (who liked the english dubbing) and the US crowd in general will hate to have Japanese only with subtitles.

If there isn't an english dub, it seems like a move to save some money.

LittleBigPlaneteer

Oh shit. The world is ending.

Next thing you know, Capcom is going to issue a press release stating that they've decided to allocate more than $10,000 to the voice-acting budget for Resident Evil 5, and Kojima Productions is going to announce that they've hired a professional voice director and a qualified translator to re-dub MGS4 for the "Super International Edition".

Seriously, though, the original Japanese voices in this whole series are excellent; the first Yakuza game perhaps missed the point by paying medium-sized-named actors Decent Money to coldly read a hack-job script translation under the guidance of a director whose true occupation (and sole hobby) is applying collision and physics information to polygonal trash cans, crates, and vending machines.

108

@Brian Ashcraft: I'd like to see the main character visit Akihabara. He'd stalk down the street, his coattails flapping, a brooding scowl on his face... which is then shattered as he's confronted by a cute maid cosplayer. "Myew," she'd say, tilting her head, and he'd melt into a puddle as he moaned "moe" and "kawaii" over and over.

@Nihon no Purin: At least they left in the honorifics! That wasn't as acceptable when the first Yakuza was released as it is now.

Does Not Equal

Awesome... This will be my next game... I just hope it sells well enough for Sega to bring Yakuza 3 to the US... The PS3 may not get Shen Mue 3, but at least we get it's spiritual successors...

bobtheduck

@Nullzero: @Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic:

I've played the game.

Oddly enough, it takes place on a Tuesday afternoon.

108

Took them long enough. SEGA dubs are the worst. I'm sure their dub helped Shenmue 1 & 2 bomb.

Shinryoma

@Deviation59: i got it for 10 bucks; definitely worth that price (to me at least...), otherwise i'd say gamefly that shizzle

Nihon no Purin

i got a bright idea sega, why not just do both?

munchausen

@BPMκ: We can flip your argument around and it'll still make sense. Huh.

'I find that it's just some whiny folks who are in the mindset that the English language track is always "pure" and "superior" whereas the language track they don't actually understand is "terrible" and "garbage."'

umiman

They should have both options. Sega just doesn't have an ear for a good dub. Anybody remember shenmue? I remember Yu saying he enjoyed the English dub more than the orignal! Now on the other side lost odessy has a great dub and shows that it's possible with the right talent. Saying that I enjoy the dubs even if there are bad because reading in a very cinematic game pulls me out of the experience. Over time you get used to it, if the gameplay is good.

Gunloc

Hooray! Dub, sub, I don't care. Just get it into my hands in September and all is forgiven. I'm just confused, I thought Sony originally moved to block its release without a dub? That's what the holdup supposedly was, but I never heard more about that.

The first game is outstanding and I can't believe how many people overlooked it. Up there with the best on PS2. Seek it out if you haven't. The dub has rough spots, sure, but nothing game-ruining.

Grave

I've been waiting for this game for awhile, I could care less wether its dubbed or subbed.

ratix240sx

Well now I'm going to have to pick up the first one.

SuperSplashBro

for a variety of reasons, sega was unable to include the japanese dialogue on the original version -- these reasons were all out of sega of america's control.

it's nice to see that sony is giving them a pass on the "games must have english voices" rule, though. this is a genuine rule, by the way, and it also explains things like why the US version of arcana heart has no story mode voices at all.

if you can think of an exception, then it's because sony cut the game a break, specifically. i'm not talking about games that have both english and japanese here; games that only have japanese are no-go.

i'm actually going to miss the english voices -- the actor who played kazuma in english got him just right, and mark hammill's majima was totally perfect -- but i'm not exactly complaining about playing a yakuza game in japanese. as has been pointed out repeatedly, it simply makes sense.

i am very, very looking forward to this one.

ferricide

The game is spanning 2 disk already. The original didn't have the 'Japanese audio' because of size. It didn't fit on the disk.

fruitsofherwomb

Truth be told, I enjoy the English dub in Yakuza 1..I just would've like the option of the original Japanese VO for the sake of immersion. I actually thought the characterizations of the principle cast was pretty spot-on.

Though for a series as steeped in Japanese culture as this one happens to be, I'd always choose a Japanese dub if I had to pick only one.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

@umiman:
Actually... the way you put it doesn't make any sense. [shrugs]

BPMκ

Will this be coming out in England? I've always been intrigued by this series.

Spiraltribesman

I didn't mind the dub at all in the first Yakuza. Though if they're going to localize Yakuza 2 with just subtitles, I'd expect them to have it done a little sooner since they won't have to deal with voice actors and editing dialogue which just consumes more time. Maybe they'll even get it out by Christmas.

solidsnakeotaku

Didn't Anthony Bourdain go to that crab restaurant in an episode of no reservations? :)

Nowell

AWESOME.

The only way to play Ryu Ga Gotoku is in Japanese. "Yakuza" had absolutely terrible English dubbing when compared to the stellar Japanese voice cast. All of the gritiness, the gangster slang, the attitude and emotion, all were stripped out by the English cast, and it's a much worse experience for it.

What they really need to do now is re-release the first game the same way. I doubt it will happen, but that's what they should do.

Atheist Jew

More games should feature the Japanese language, especially if they weren't produced in Japan.

No translators, just an English to Japanese dictionary. Then pick out voice actors who can't speak Japanese. Then mail a copy of the game to every goddamn Japanese game company CEO with a properly translated note: "Keep an eye on your localization"

Ghede (Follow me for no raisin)

I've never seen so many suits in doutonburi...Maybe they are all there to see Kuiadore Taro before he's gone...forever.

francoamerica

@Reetesh: Hey, is that Crecente in your icon?

Fenris Wolf

now that is a move I welcome, I might actually buy this.

...
wait does this count for a PAL release as well, doest it? DOES IT?

infi

@infi: Yes, it does. PAL release confirmed by Sega, press release here: [www.videogaming247.com]
When they announced it for North America, I was sure it would never see the light of day in Europe. Glad I was wrong.

Has anyone seen the Ryu Ga Gotoku movie, by the way? Miike is one damn fine director. Well, sometimes.

Antiterra - No Country For Old Snake

@Fenris Wolf:

The icon is Kenji Harima from School Rumble. I also like this anime a lot.

francoamerica

I loved the first game's engish dialogue. I hope both options are present.

Ashurahori

I don't get why Yakuza 2 for the PS2 is coming out over here in the West, while they released the third game for the PS3 in Japan? The third one looks really cool >.<"

ray89

so is it dated for amurica yet?

pandafresh

Props, I'll definitely be picking this up unlike the first one where they killed the mood by having to hear American voices add -san at the end of sentences...

RPGr

@BPMκ:

Original language tracks - whether english, french, spanish, japanese, german, russian, polish and whatever other language you can think of - are almost always superior to any dub. There's nuance you can pick up by ear no matter the language that's for the most part completely lost in a dub.

Try watching an english movie dubbed in french sometime - ranges from pathetic (say, True Lies) to incredibly comical (e.g. Taxi Driver). Ugh. Or hey, try reading the english translation of the Battle Royale novel. Nigh unreadable.

I'd suggest learning more languages if subtitles bother you so much. It's fun and useful.

Koztah

I enjoyed watching Shenmue I / playing Shenmue II on my old Xbox.
But I hated, HATED, the American dub.
Seeing Japanese faces talking with Brooklyn accents using american slang just didnt work.

At least the movie of the first game included the original soundtrack, however it didnt have the subtitles!

Andronix

The first yakuza was a blast, I loved exploring the virtual world at my leisure. I've been waiting for these games to get the proper release they deserve. This is Arcade Cinema.

h-town

Oh my god, that picture brings back memories. The only thing they missed is the thousands of bikes parked up and down the middle of the street.

chaos242

@Atheist Jew: The guy who plays Kazuma (in Japanese) is an ace.

But... EVERYONE, I gotta let you know... the story in Yakuza/RgG2 is nonsensical and convoluted, even by video game standards.

SPOILER ALERT (mild)

Dopplegangers, secret underground castles, everyone being related to everyone, the ridiculousness causes it to lose a lot of the gritty edge that the first game sets up so well.

I loved the first one.
Lower your expectations for this one by about 15%.

Nawara_Ven

I loved the first game, but I couldn't help thinking how much better it would have been without most of the script sounding like "Fuck that fucking fucker!" It was like playing on Xbox Live in a single player game.

So put me in the pro-subtitle camp.

KapuKapper

Got to say I am in the pro subtitle camp. vocal performances involves much more than just words and alot of the subtle nuances of the performance are often lost during the dub.

weblet51

日本語！

ｷﾀ━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━━ !

fuzzycuffs

I cross my fingers they'll do the same for the 3rd title as well...(if they ever decide to release it on western shores)

badmoogle

I think that this had more to do with wanting to save money rather than caving to the demands of the internet. A few people have mentioned that the nuance of the original language performance is missing in a dub, but that is part of the point of localization. If you do not speak a language, you do not understand the nuance or the words. I am trilingual and I have spent extensive time in England and the US and I can say that I definitely prefer dubs. It is nice to hear foreign languages as background, when they are supposed to be foreign languages that are not understood by the main character (think Nazis speaking German in a WWII game) but if the main character is speaking in a foreign language then it completely takes you out of the experience.

Those that prefer subtitles are an extremely vocal minority, and they are frequently people that already speak the original language. As someone who was once a translator, I can definitely say that translation is more than just translating what was literally said; translation involves interpretation and translating the meaning rather than the words.

kingofallcosmos

Do you think Yakuza 2 will be broken on partially-compatible PS3's like the first? For that matter, do you think they'll fix the first one to preempt the second one?

badramen

@Koztah:
If I tried to watch a French dub, I don't think I would be able to tell if they were doing a good job or a bad job, as I don't understand French.

Also, nowhere did I say subtitles bother me. Just that I prefer to listen to a language I understand. I've watched a lot of subbed anime.

My annoyance is more with the people who slam any anime language track that isn't Japanese (except Cowboy Bebop... Nearly everyone seems to think that dub was okay). In most cases, I can't see what's wrong with the dubs these people complain about.

Oh, and sure, I'll learn new languages overnight. So simple! -_-

BPMκ

Wow, this is just like official 1 year ago too?

Risby

SWEET!

Now get me the PS3 version of Yakuza 3 here in the states STAT!!!

EnigmaNemesis

Sega listening to fans? Unlikely.

This decision is purely financial. Creating a dub is expensive, especially when hiring voice 'talent' as they did for Yakuza.

Also, two years too late.

hokuto_no_rob

this needs to have progressive scan. i'm playing the first one on my hdtv atm and it looks bad with no 480p.

nutty

Ooh... Dotonburi!

evilonion