Hollywood stars shine for Sega

SEGA has announced a celebrity vocal line-up for the forthcoming western adaptation of its acclaimed Yakuza videogame, including veteran actors Michael Madsen and Mark Hamill.

Scripted by noted Japanese author Hase Seishu, Yakuza aims to immerse gamers in a clandestine underworld fuelled by the principles of loyalty, honour and revenge, blending intense action and stylised combat with an engrossing plot and complex character development.

Topping the bill of vocal talent for the western adaptation is veteran actor Michael Madsen, who will voice Shimano, a physically imposing and brutal Yakuza boss. Star Wars legend Mark Hamill will provide the voice of Majima, an insane, violent Yakuza boss with a twisted sense of honour.

Other stars lending their voices to the game - which has already been a huge hit in Japan - include Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum, Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Eliza Dushku and Rachel Leigh Cook, the heroine of geek-to-chic teen flick She's All That.

Sega of America's VP of marketing, Scott A. Steinberg, commented: "Yakuza was an immense hit in Japan, and in bringing the game to the US market, we wanted to ensure that the subtle nuances of the game were brought to life. The title delivers the cinematic visuals and fast-paced action gamers demand, and with these top notch performances, they will experience a deep, character-driven storyline like nothing they have encountered before."

Yakuza is scheduled for a September 5th release in the US on PlayStation 2.