PSN Update: Yakuza 3 demo tops bill

By Oli Welsh Published 18 February, 2010

Sonic Racing, Peggle, Alien Zombie Death.

It's a bumper week in the PlayStation Store, as today's PSN update brings a fine selection of demos, discounts, PSN games and PSP minis.

SEGA has two demos to offer: the golf, brawling and orphanage management of the beguiling Yakuza 3 (check out Christian's recent preview) and the kart-racing fan-service of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing.

It's a big week for DLC releases, too, as Assassin's Creed II gets the Bonfire of the Vanities add-on (£3.19 / €3.99, or £5.49 / €6.99 including "secret locations"), and Resident Evil 5 is graced with with the fantastic Lost in Nightmares episode (£3.99 / €4.99) which Kristan just loved to bits all over our website.

In the land of PSP minis, we get PomPom's survival shooter Alien Zombie Death (£2.49 / €2.99), which we've been rather looking forward to, and the equally functionally-titled Retro Cave Flyer for the same price.

We've already mentioned the long-awaited appearance of the essential Peggle (£6.29 / €7.99) and the half-price discount on Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (please don't make me type that again today) and Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

There's more - check out the PlayStation Blog post for the full list.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (34) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • menage #1 2 years ago

    Yakuza demo yeay, at least, I've already played it, but not in Englsih

  • jonsaan #2 2 years ago

    Let it be known that I paid 11.99 for MvC2 only last week.

    /dons kick me sign

  • JonFE #3 2 years ago

    Thanks for the heads up on the Yakuza demo :)

  • Artemus #4 2 years ago

    The PS Blog is saying that the RE5 DLC "Desperate Escape" is also out.

  • wizlon #5 2 years ago

    Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix or Marvel vs. Capcom 2. What says you Eurogamers?

  • f00b_inc #6 2 years ago

    MvC2 if you own SFIV?

  • Tyranix #7 2 years ago

    Marvel vs Capcom 2 all the way. At least, I much prefer it ^^

    On another note, awesome i've wanted to try Yakuza 3 ever since Shenmue was mentioned in the same sentence.

  • Markitron #8 2 years ago

    Blog is also saying the Force Unleashed Hoth level is out. WOOO

  • timewarp87 #9 2 years ago

    Theres also "Revenge of the Wounded Dragon" Which seems a bit like the C64 classic "Bruce Lee"

  • Luckyjim #10 2 years ago

    Ooh, Yakuza 3 demo. I can finally find out what the hell was going on (presuming it's the same as the Japanese demo).

    /Crosses fingers it's in Japanese with English subtitles.

  • SleepyMagpie #11 2 years ago

    Yakuza!

    Arigatou gozaimasu!

  • Gaol #12 2 years ago

    The Force Unleashed Hoth level is pretty good (I got it as part of the Sith Edition). I'm not sure it's worth £7.99 though, it isn't longer than an hour or two.

  • M_of_the_sys #13 2 years ago

    I wish the Sith Edition wasn't discontinued :(

  • wanderingkid #14 2 years ago

    best update for a long long time,
    Yakuza 3 finally in english and RE5 dlc yeyy !

  • Toothball #15 2 years ago

    Half Minute Hero seems to be up, which I'm glad to see. Also Disgaea 2 which I want but not until I've finished the first one. A less disappointing week than usual.

  • Netweb #16 2 years ago

    Nice update.

  • captain_Carl #17 2 years ago

    RE DLC and Yakuza demo FTW

  • ShinMegami08 #18 2 years ago

    peggle, alien zombie death and disgaea 2 for me. YEEEESSSS!

  • konnsky #19 2 years ago

    Does anyone know if this is the same demo that was on the Japanese PSN a while ago, only in English?

  • Lee_Morris #20 2 years ago

    Peggle and Yakuza 3. Dam good update this week.

  • Mnia786 #21 2 years ago

    Yakuza 3 demo looks like tit will be worth the download. Now to try and make room for it on my 99% filled HDD...

  • hilts #22 2 years ago

    Yakuza excellent! Need to check this and heavy rain out!

  • TruSmiles #23 2 years ago

    Never played a Yakuza game, always wanted to. Thanks for the heads up on the demo! Downloading right away.

  • FabricatedLunatic #24 2 years ago

    There's a lot of combat. Did you pull off any heat moves? They're context-sensitive finishers triggered by pressing triangle when glowing blue or red and holding a weapon, or grabbing an enemy near certain pieces of scenery (try the balcony in the club). The game doesn't explain these things very well (or at all), and throws the player in at the deep end. Initially the combat seems underwhelming, I agree, but it needs time to click and there really is a ton of moves and combos.

  • varsas #25 2 years ago

    @farticusmaximus: There is a lot of combat and it is a lot of fun. The problem with the demo is that it doesn't give the player any instruction. The full game leads you through the combat system and improves as one learns more moves via experience points, other characters and "inspiration"; it's a lot like Shenmue's system but more brutal.

    I've only played about half way through the first game so far but there was an interesting update to the combat with a context sensitive throw; I grabbed a thug and when I threw him he landed on another guy for a finishing move. There seems to be a lot more context sensitive aspects in the combat that makes it more involving and not just in the finishers as in previous games. When fighting look out for PS pad button symbols!

    I thought the arcade shooter minigame included in the demo looked lovely but was a bit dull; I've not tried the karaoke yet.
    Edited by 2 at 19/02/10 @ 10:59

  • FabricatedLunatic #26 2 years ago

    Here's a video showing the finishing moves you can do in the demo. Just north of the club is a shop where you can buy an item called Tauriner+ that completely fills your heat gauge (the blue bar below your health). Stock up on those and you won't have to worry about building it through fighting.

    When you can execute a finishing move a prompt will appear on the top of the screen, which is easy to miss when you're fighting off multiple goons :-)
    Edited by 1 at 19/02/10 @ 11:27

  • RustyBullet #27 2 years ago

    Do they localise the speach in the full game. I like to play a game not sit there reading for long periods. If they dub it to english then i may buy if not then no way.

  • layleeloo #28 2 years ago

    RustyBullet

    NO they are not localising it - thank god! Not too many of us fancy playing a yakuza game where they all speak like teenage yanks. Voice acting in games is often sub par so with something like this I personally am glad they are leaving the original japanese language in it to add to the feel of the game.
    Edited by 1 at 19/02/10 @ 15:36

  • varsas #29 2 years ago

    @RustyBullet: Even if they localised the parts that are recorded there is a good amount of reading since it is not a fully voiced RPG.

  • Zebula77 #30 2 years ago

    Hmf, have to say the Yakuza demo didn't impress me one bit. Is the fighting a big part of the game? I thought it was horrible. Stiff animations, unresponsive controls and a lazy camera. Definitely don't wanna spend a lot of time doing that. Is the rest of the game worth it, perhaps?

  • JHuxley #31 2 years ago

    I had a little wander around, streets look alright and the cutscenes look okay, all going quite well so far. No obvious technical deficiencies and it had a nice Japanese atmosphere.

    I was then directed to a nightclub where I had to have a fist fight. This is where it took a nosedive. The sub-tekken combat was dull as dishwater. After smacking the boss around for about 5 minutes I got bored and switched off.

    Shenmue fans should lap it up, then :p

    Seriously, I was pleasantly surprised by the demo. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, and the combat isn't nearly as dreadful as some are suggesting. I think the slightly clumsy, pub brawl style combat suits a game about Yakuza perfectly. And I was glad to see some proper Mr T style head bashing in there, too.

    Quite a generous demo too. The only bit I really didn't like was the karaoke, but that's probably because I hate rhythm action games in general.

    Does anyone know if you can read the magazines in the full game? It would be pretty neat to read weekly manga in game...assuming it's translated!

  • FabricatedLunatic #32 2 years ago

    Stiff animation I'll give you, but I find the controls tight and responsive. It doesn't have the fluidity of, say, Arkham Asylum but there's a certain robustness to the combat engine that I really love.

    But then I've played and completed the first two Yakuza games and not just a newcomer-unfriendly demo. I certainly don't blame anyone who's new to the series for feeling underwhelmed with the combat but I would implore them to try the full game, if not at full price then when it hits the bargain bins.

  • varsas #33 2 years ago

    @Zebula77: I'm not sure why you think the controls are unresponsive? In any case, as has been mentioned earlier in the thread the combat is a big part, next to the story, and it's far more interesting and involving as Kazuma levels up. The demo has a taster of moves and combinations and even that is not properly explained in the demo; the full game eases you in and explains things.

  • davisorle #34 2 years ago

    I was expecting way more from Yakuza. Dont know why but i was way too dissapointed when i tried it..