Yakuza: Dead Souls™

Story

Dawn of the dead

Things are not a pretty sight in Kamurocho, the setting for Yakuza: Dead Souls on PlayStation 3. The Japanese district of Tokyo has been overrun by a zombie outbreak which has left the remaining population fighting for their lives and the neighbouring districts panicked.

With the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force trying to quarantine Kamurocho, Yakuza: Dead Souls follows four unlikely heroes - Kazuma Kiryu, the series' main character since the first Yakuza title, the mysterious Shun Akiyama, maniacal yakuza Goro Majima and the Gatling gun wielding Ryuji Goda.

These four men are Kamurocho's only hope - but can they survive the undead masses to discover the conspiracy at the heart of this disaster?

Presentation

Soul glow

Yakuza: Dead Souls on PlayStation 3 is the closest you'll want to get to experiencing a zombie-infested Tokyo. Set in the bustling district of Kamurocho, the game throws you into an urban nightmare where thousands have been turned into the brain-munching undead. And SEGA's open city game delivers a haunting atmosphere to complete the gruesome scenario.

Kamurocho is full of burnt out buildings, creepy underground areas, abandoned streets and dark, hostile hallways. It's the perfectly bleak setting for Yakuza: Dead Souls, as the convincing visuals make you feel the desperation of the situation with every step.

Each blind corner you encounter in this desolate district is a potential danger to your characters' lives, and there is a spine-tingling sense of dread the first time you hear a zombie's howl. The blood-curdling moans and groans of the infected hordes act as both a warning and powerful tension building effect in this brutal action adventure. Do you have the steel in your soul to survive?

Gameplay

Live by the sword

The undead have taken over in Yakuza: Dead Souls on PlayStation 3 - and it's up to you to survive the zombie onslaught and save the overridden Tokyo district of Kamurocho. Are you up to the task?

Thankfully, this deadly duty is not your sole responsibility. Four characters are at your disposal: Kazuma Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Goro Majima and Ryuji Goda. Each has their own reasons as to why they are dealing with the undead outbreak, and using their unique skills is the only way to stay alive.

While set in an open city that you can explore, Yakuza: Dead Souls is mission driven, leading you to complete tasks to move the story forward. These objectives range from collecting a particular item to defeating a fearsome, mutated beast. That's right - it's not just zombies you have to look out for. Other nightmarish monsters that will give you a scare include the brutish Meathead and the wailing Cry Baby.

Don't panic, though. There are plenty of weapons to keep the gruesome ghouls at bay and you can increase your chances of survival by enhancing the abilities of your character, such as making their shots more accurate or giving them the chance to retaliate with an attack when knocked down.

Even more effective is your Heat Sniping technique, which allows you to perform incredible precision shots that spark gigantic explosions, destroy otherwise impervious obstacles and deal massive damage to foes. It takes a keen eye and quick reactions to take advantage of Heat Sniping, so stay sharp.

True to the Yukuza series, it pays to remember that just because it's the end of the world, it doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself in the odd club or video arcade. There are plenty of diversions to keep you entertained, from crane machines to bowling alleys.

Yakuza: Dead Souls is a big, challenging game, and you'll have a blast working your way through it. There is an incredible variety of missions and challenges to mix things up, while the online ranking mode lets you score your performance against others in the world via PlayStation Network. You can also go head-to-head with friends in the special two player sports such as pool and darts, and download extra costumes and modes to keep things fresh.