Yakuza 2 destined for PS2

Mike Bantick
Thursday, 27 March 2008 05:53

Your IT - Entertainment

SEGA have announced the follow-up to 2006’s Japanese underworld lifestyle brawler Yakuza .  Remaining on the aging PS2 Yakuza 2 is set to deliver more gangsta style thrills.

Yakuza 2 will pick up a year after the end of the original game. Kazuma Kiryu, the protagonist of the first Yakuza, is named Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan but unexpectedly retires from life in the clan the same day. However, his personally chosen successor is assassinated by a former allied gang called the Omi. These events set in motion an engrossing storyline that sees Kazuma travelling through Japan, on what could be the last opportunity to stave off an all-out war between the Tojo and Omi clans.

Aiming for a European (including Australia) release during 2008 European Marketing Director for Sega Europe Gary Knight is obviously delighted with the announcement; “We are thrilled to treat the gamers in Europe to the sequel of the critically acclaimed Yakuza, Yakuza 2 is one of the most requested Japanese titles in our portfolio and we’re delighted to finally announce a European version.” he said

Targeting the PS2 only does seem to be a slightly odd decision, but given the popularity of the original, not much in the way of changes to the proven Yakuza formulae and the huge install base of the popular Sony platform, SEGA are bound to be on a winner.