Fans Express Concerns Over Yakuza 3 Remake’s Unappealing Alleyway Design
Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have dropped a new demo for Yakuza 3 Kiwami, a remake of the classic PS3 title. However, a single alleyway in the demo has sparked a heated online debate about whether this remake is a visual downgrade compared to the original.
On January 21, Sega made the demo available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC. It didn’t take long for players to voice their concerns. Some are frustrated that, similar to the original, every enemy you face is a master at blocking. Others argue that the remake’s map feels smaller than its predecessor’s, and there’s also discontent over the recasting of a character with actor Teruyuki Kagawa, who faced allegations of sexual assault in 2019. Although he issued an apology in 2022, his involvement in the remake has left many players unhappy. The most significant controversy, however, revolves around the alleyway featured in the demo.
On the same day, a Twitter user shared a side-by-side comparison of an alley from the original Yakuza 3 on PS3 and its remake version. While the original alley appears realistic and inviting, the remake’s rendition has been criticized for looking garish and unattractive. The original poster noted that the rest of the demo holds up well against recent RGG titles. Another user pointed out that the alleyway looks decent from outside, while someone else suggested the issue might be linked to a technical glitch with the game’s lighting, a problem that has affected previous Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, including Pirates in Hawaii.
The lighting issues in Yakuza Kiwami 3 stem from an auto-exposure bug. When players enter darker areas, the game brightens the scene to enhance visibility, which can lead to overexposure in brighter sections, resulting in a washed-out appearance.
Despite the controversy, the original comparison post gained traction, prompting more players to share footage and screenshots of the problematic alley on platforms like Twitter, BlueSky, and Reddit.
Fortunately, the community is already addressing the lighting issues in Yakuza 3 Kiwami. A mod has surfaced that reportedly removes a visual filter RGG applied in this game and other recent Yakuza titles. The difference is striking; without the filter, it’s clear that the game isn’t inherently ugly. Instead, it appears that the filter and some shading problems are responsible for the less favorable comparisons to the original Yakuza 3 in certain situations. While it would be great if the developers added an option to disable the filter, given the controversy surrounding the recast actor, it’s hard to be optimistic about that happening.
