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Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Draws Mixed Reviews Ahead of This Week’s Release

Early verdicts cite bold new systems with retro throwbacks, with many faulting intrusive rewrites, slow pacing, plus a recasting controversy.

Overview

  • The remake launches this week on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
  • Critical reception ranges from high praise to middling scores, with a PS5 Metacritic average reported around the mid‑70s as of today.
  • New features include a weapons‑based combat style for Kiryu, a greatly expanded Morning Glory orphanage life‑sim with a “Daddy” rank, and in‑game access to Game Gear and classic Sega arcade titles.
  • Dark Ties offers a separate 6–8 hour Kamurocho campaign starring Mine, accessible at any time and featuring its own acrobatic combat style.
  • Recasting and character redesigns have drawn criticism, including the use of an actor accused of sexual assault for a villain role, while technical performance is generally solid with noted load times and occasional slowdowns on Switch 2.