No hostess/cabaret clubs in US version of Yakuza 3

One of the absolutely wonderful things about the Yakuza series of games is how it introduces Western gamers to niche elements of Japanese culture while also giving Kazuma something to do when he’s not beating guys up, getting revenge, saving the day and what-not. Yakuza 3 however, will be a little lighter on the niche Japanese content though, since Sega decided to not localize it.

Specifically, two fairly substantial segments from the original Yakuza 3 ended up on the cutting room floor when making the North American and European versions. Sega told IGN that the quiz game and the hostess club are gone. The quiz game is understandable, since Sega says it revolved around Japanese history and a lot of gamers who aren’t from Japan would probably have trouble coming up with correct answers, but the removal of the hostess club seems inconceivable.

As Siliconera points out, the hostess bars have been a fixture in the Yakuza games. Sega localized and included the hostess bars as cabaret clubs in both Yakuza and Yakuza 2. There were even special missions related to them. You’d even meet girls Kazuma could date by visiting the clubs. In Yakuza 2, Kazuma could even take a job at the Host Club Adam and manage the Cabaret Club Marietta. In managing Marietta, Kazuma would have to choose how the club looked, decide on a menu, recruit girls to work there and make sure the girls are happy working there. Yakuza 3‘s host club managing experience even went a bit further, allowing you to decide what the women working at your club would wear.

The specific reason given to IGN by Sega for the hostess club removal this time around was that it wouldn’t “resonate” with North American or European gamers. Surprisingly, Sega left the strip clubs in Yakuza 3. As for dating, the IGN story says that the hostesses you would have met in the clubs and then dated are still there, but doesn’t go into how you’ll meet and date them without the clubs.

Now, no more managing or visiting a hostess club for you! You’ll get out there and focus on taking down bad guys, not earning a small fortune running a bar or meeting women Kazuma can spend tons of time and money on!

Read [IGN] Via [Siliconera] Also Read [Kotaku] Site [Yakuza 3]