AND NOW I FINISH!!!
Yakuza like a dragon (which from now on I'll just call Yakuza 7) was a game I had for a while but never got around to finishing. It was actually my first Yakuza game I got on PS4, and I went in assuming it was a spinoff due to the new cast, setting, battle system, and the fact it wasn't a numbered entry on the box. So a reveal 2/3rds into the game that it did in fact tie into the main series combined with that part having an insane difficulty curve meant I never finished it. But that changed, and god damn, this might be one of my all time favorites.
The game ditches it's main cast for a new character, Ichiban Kasuga. And this man is an absolute legend. He's a bombastic goofball ready to help out anyone regardless of their current reputation, seeing the world as a Dragon Quest like fantasy for the hell of it, as he comes into his own with the help of a team of great characters as he uncovers the mystery behind a set of betrayals in his life.
And the main story is great. The new Yokohama setting and it's unsteady peace between rival factions leads to a lot of interesting conflicts, especially as more and more secrets collapse into a final conflict that had me greatly emotional by the end, even if the story falls into the usual Yakuza writing traps like giving a hint certain villains will redeem themselves only for them to die later (you know the part I'm talking about, and it's possibly the worst example in the series) and having themes of standing up for oppressed groups only to have you fight against the homeless people you stood up for ten minutes ago. The game also leans into the Yakuza wackiness in it's main story much more than in previous entries, and for the most part it pays off, managing to be serious when it needs to be with some real emotional gut punches. The other party members are also great, with all of them having great arcs (even if one gets resolved in a post credits cutscene) minus the optional party member who's just a real nothingburger of a character.
And one of the big things about this entry is the turn based combat, which is...fine. The moves all have the impact they need to feel satisfying to land, but the game is insanely easy minus the massive curve I mentioned, and another fight later on (although that one is also really easy to exploit) as well as the fact I didn't really feel the need to experiment with the job system, just picking a job for each character and sticking with it for the game. Also, finding decent weapons for some jobs (enforcer) is really obnoxious. And it's not long before you have a party and just spam the same moves through every fight (turns out all those villains could have thrown darts until they took over crime syndicates this whole time, who knew?)
But what I think this game does better than any Yakuza game is side content. The main way to get money like the Y0 real estate is a business management sim, which is pretty in depth as well as really fun, especially the part where you bring a chicken to a shareholder meeting and it becomes the MVP of the whole side campaign. And the game also has the best substories in Yakuza. The Korean actor, the ghost one, the Baby formula one, all amazing. Especially due to the new summon system allowing you to bring these characters back in really fun ways.
So yeah, one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played, and I'm so glad it started my journey through what is possibly my new favorite game series. Hopefully soon enough I can get a good deal on Judgment and IW, because once I do, I'll be ready.
Yakuza like a dragon (which from now on I'll just call Yakuza 7) was a game I had for a while but never got around to finishing. It was actually my first Yakuza game I got on PS4, and I went in assuming it was a spinoff due to the new cast, setting, battle system, and the fact it wasn't a numbered entry on the box. So a reveal 2/3rds into the game that it did in fact tie into the main series combined with that part having an insane difficulty curve meant I never finished it. But that changed, and god damn, this might be one of my all time favorites.
The game ditches it's main cast for a new character, Ichiban Kasuga. And this man is an absolute legend. He's a bombastic goofball ready to help out anyone regardless of their current reputation, seeing the world as a Dragon Quest like fantasy for the hell of it, as he comes into his own with the help of a team of great characters as he uncovers the mystery behind a set of betrayals in his life.
And the main story is great. The new Yokohama setting and it's unsteady peace between rival factions leads to a lot of interesting conflicts, especially as more and more secrets collapse into a final conflict that had me greatly emotional by the end, even if the story falls into the usual Yakuza writing traps like giving a hint certain villains will redeem themselves only for them to die later (you know the part I'm talking about, and it's possibly the worst example in the series) and having themes of standing up for oppressed groups only to have you fight against the homeless people you stood up for ten minutes ago. The game also leans into the Yakuza wackiness in it's main story much more than in previous entries, and for the most part it pays off, managing to be serious when it needs to be with some real emotional gut punches. The other party members are also great, with all of them having great arcs (even if one gets resolved in a post credits cutscene) minus the optional party member who's just a real nothingburger of a character.
And one of the big things about this entry is the turn based combat, which is...fine. The moves all have the impact they need to feel satisfying to land, but the game is insanely easy minus the massive curve I mentioned, and another fight later on (although that one is also really easy to exploit) as well as the fact I didn't really feel the need to experiment with the job system, just picking a job for each character and sticking with it for the game. Also, finding decent weapons for some jobs (enforcer) is really obnoxious. And it's not long before you have a party and just spam the same moves through every fight (turns out all those villains could have thrown darts until they took over crime syndicates this whole time, who knew?)
But what I think this game does better than any Yakuza game is side content. The main way to get money like the Y0 real estate is a business management sim, which is pretty in depth as well as really fun, especially the part where you bring a chicken to a shareholder meeting and it becomes the MVP of the whole side campaign. And the game also has the best substories in Yakuza. The Korean actor, the ghost one, the Baby formula one, all amazing. Especially due to the new summon system allowing you to bring these characters back in really fun ways.
So yeah, one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played, and I'm so glad it started my journey through what is possibly my new favorite game series. Hopefully soon enough I can get a good deal on Judgment and IW, because once I do, I'll be ready.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a celebration. Not just of Yakuza or JRPGs, but of people. Anybody who has ever found themselves at rock bottom yet managed to hold on to that light of hope.
This was a very risky direction for RGG to take the series in but despite some shortcomings, their efforts paid off immensely. I am incredibly glad to have followed Yakuza up to this point, and look forward to whatever else the series has in store for me.
This was a very risky direction for RGG to take the series in but despite some shortcomings, their efforts paid off immensely. I am incredibly glad to have followed Yakuza up to this point, and look forward to whatever else the series has in store for me.
Finishing this game gave me a glimpse into what Squidward was thinking and feeling when he ate his first Krabby Patty.
My first Yakuza game (though I'm familiar with the series), but mostly played because I hungered for a good turn-based JRPG. So, from a JRPG fan's perspective, does this game deliver?
I'd say yes. But note that this is a series that was action-based until this entry. The gameplay had to be accessible to those not used to turn-based combat, and as such the battles are very, very easy to anyone experienced with the genre. There's a decent amount of depth with a class/skill inheritance system, along with summons. But with one exception (Chapter 12 boss...), you won't need to strategize much. There are extra difficult options, but only for New Game+ and they just jack up the stats and levels of enemies.
Other flaws in the JRPG experience include characters moving around randomly in battle (both yours and enemies), making AoE attacks a crapshoot much of the time (not helped by their AoEs not being visually indicated). The job system is also wildly unbalanced, some characters' default jobs are awful, while others are so good you'd never let them be anything else. You also don't unlock the job switching mechanic until mid Chapter 5 (out of 15). Infinite Wealth apparently fixes both issues.
But what the game lacks in challenge, it makes up for in charm. Ever wanted a totally mundane modern-day JRPG? Where instead of a wizard, you have a hobo who attacks with summoned pigeons and rancid breath? Super attacks with names like "Essence of Facial Gone Wrong"? Fighting enemies like chicken cultists, dine-and-dashers and men wearing trash bags? And it's all justified by the protag being a massive Dragon Quest fanboy with an over-active imagination. So what if the combat is easy, it's FUN!
Speaking of fun, one of the pillars of Yakuza is the sheer depth of side content. This game features a fully fleshed-out kart racer, business sim, shogi, mahjong, poker, koi koi, recreations of Sega arcade games, a movie theatre where you play whack-a-mole with the protagonist's literal sleep demons dressed as sheep (yes, this is real)... and that's not even all of it! For a game that often goes for < $10 in Steam sales, you sure get your money's worth. The minigames are all excellent, even if I suck at mahjong. The business sim is by far the highlight though, it could easily be a stand-alone game.
What else do you get? Oh, a really heartfelt, emotional and tragic main storyline. That's also a Yakuza pillar, the series juggles comedy and seriousness insanely well, and the plot here is one of the best I've played through in a while. The main characters are all great, but Ichiban is the real highlight. I played with the English dub (I know, heresy) and it's very well done, with Kaiji Tang as Ichiban, George Takei as his old boss Masumi Arakawa, Greg Chun as Nanba, Will Yun Lee as a very important spoiler character, and, well, EVERYONE ELSE being massive standouts. These VAs BECOME the characters, you barely acknowledge them as acting.
As much as I want to explain why the story is good, it's kinda hard to without spoiling everything, so I'll just have to give a "take my word for it". Besides a few late-game reveals that felt like "twists for twists sake", I enjoyed the whole thing.
Advance warning though that this is the 7th game in a long-running story, and while it stars a new protagonist, some of the late-game moments will hit a LOT harder if you have history with the franchise. They're still understandable and enjoyable by a newcomer though.
But when you need a break from the "serious crime drama" (tm), there's sidequests. Yakuza's approach to balancing tone is interesting: leaving the true balls-to-the-wall insanity for sidequests. From meeting a Yakuza family who dress like babies, to fighting a giant Roomba, there's no shorting of amazing comedy here. One aspect I love is how the game uses sidequest rewards as a punchline at times. I laughed out loud at some of the Poundmates (summons) and business recruits you ended up unlocking.
Overall a really great game, and one I recommend to any adult JRPG fan. I might check out other Like A Dragon games one day.
I'd say yes. But note that this is a series that was action-based until this entry. The gameplay had to be accessible to those not used to turn-based combat, and as such the battles are very, very easy to anyone experienced with the genre. There's a decent amount of depth with a class/skill inheritance system, along with summons. But with one exception (Chapter 12 boss...), you won't need to strategize much. There are extra difficult options, but only for New Game+ and they just jack up the stats and levels of enemies.
Other flaws in the JRPG experience include characters moving around randomly in battle (both yours and enemies), making AoE attacks a crapshoot much of the time (not helped by their AoEs not being visually indicated). The job system is also wildly unbalanced, some characters' default jobs are awful, while others are so good you'd never let them be anything else. You also don't unlock the job switching mechanic until mid Chapter 5 (out of 15). Infinite Wealth apparently fixes both issues.
But what the game lacks in challenge, it makes up for in charm. Ever wanted a totally mundane modern-day JRPG? Where instead of a wizard, you have a hobo who attacks with summoned pigeons and rancid breath? Super attacks with names like "Essence of Facial Gone Wrong"? Fighting enemies like chicken cultists, dine-and-dashers and men wearing trash bags? And it's all justified by the protag being a massive Dragon Quest fanboy with an over-active imagination. So what if the combat is easy, it's FUN!
Speaking of fun, one of the pillars of Yakuza is the sheer depth of side content. This game features a fully fleshed-out kart racer, business sim, shogi, mahjong, poker, koi koi, recreations of Sega arcade games, a movie theatre where you play whack-a-mole with the protagonist's literal sleep demons dressed as sheep (yes, this is real)... and that's not even all of it! For a game that often goes for < $10 in Steam sales, you sure get your money's worth. The minigames are all excellent, even if I suck at mahjong. The business sim is by far the highlight though, it could easily be a stand-alone game.
What else do you get? Oh, a really heartfelt, emotional and tragic main storyline. That's also a Yakuza pillar, the series juggles comedy and seriousness insanely well, and the plot here is one of the best I've played through in a while. The main characters are all great, but Ichiban is the real highlight. I played with the English dub (I know, heresy) and it's very well done, with Kaiji Tang as Ichiban, George Takei as his old boss Masumi Arakawa, Greg Chun as Nanba, Will Yun Lee as a very important spoiler character, and, well, EVERYONE ELSE being massive standouts. These VAs BECOME the characters, you barely acknowledge them as acting.
As much as I want to explain why the story is good, it's kinda hard to without spoiling everything, so I'll just have to give a "take my word for it". Besides a few late-game reveals that felt like "twists for twists sake", I enjoyed the whole thing.
Advance warning though that this is the 7th game in a long-running story, and while it stars a new protagonist, some of the late-game moments will hit a LOT harder if you have history with the franchise. They're still understandable and enjoyable by a newcomer though.
But when you need a break from the "serious crime drama" (tm), there's sidequests. Yakuza's approach to balancing tone is interesting: leaving the true balls-to-the-wall insanity for sidequests. From meeting a Yakuza family who dress like babies, to fighting a giant Roomba, there's no shorting of amazing comedy here. One aspect I love is how the game uses sidequest rewards as a punchline at times. I laughed out loud at some of the Poundmates (summons) and business recruits you ended up unlocking.
Overall a really great game, and one I recommend to any adult JRPG fan. I might check out other Like A Dragon games one day.
Ichiban Kasuga taught me the way of life.
Masterpiece.
Yeah this is just about is great as folks makes it out to be.
The RPG battle system, while simple, was a really enjoyable change of pace, and even among RGG titles, this has one of the best casts and stories, with Ichi being a standout.
The RPG battle system, while simple, was a really enjoyable change of pace, and even among RGG titles, this has one of the best casts and stories, with Ichi being a standout.
Excelente documentário sobre o crime organizado no Japão.
This was my first Yakuza game and it was basically a masterpiece. I have a few nitpicks with it but they're not even worth mentioning.
The story and characters are excellent and the gameplay and side content are a very fun and entertaining vehicle for that story and characters.
Ichiban shot his way up into my top 5 protagonists of all time and the supporting cast were almost all bangers, as well.
The story and characters are excellent and the gameplay and side content are a very fun and entertaining vehicle for that story and characters.
Ichiban shot his way up into my top 5 protagonists of all time and the supporting cast were almost all bangers, as well.
An amazing story, with a great mix of humor, drama, and killer back dragon tattoos. There's so much to do! If you don't feel like fighting one day, then play casino games, or buy properties, or race go-karts, or play darts, and the list goes on and on! Ichiban is such a great character, and I eventually came to really enjoy the combat. The only annoyance happens during the second half of the game, where you're forced to grind several times through dungeons and arenas. It took several hours each time, and I ended up having to rewatch all of the cut-scenes to remember what was happening in the story. I would have rather had longer "story dungeons" with a more gradual challenge. Overall, I loved the game, and can't wait to play Infinite Wealth!
This game has one of the best yakuza stories in the whole series and Ichiban is such a loveable character. The amount of side content in this game is insane and my only complaint about that side content is that the main story is so amazing i forget to do substories. the combat isnt the greatest but it's still fun. The first 3/4 of the game is really easy but the last 1/4 is really hard even after grinding a certain place. All the new characters are so enjoyable to watch and they couldn't have done a better job of establishing the new era of like a dragon. (would have preferred brawler combat tho)
an absolute masterpiece. The gameplay is enjoyable, the cast and setting are incredible, the story is amazing, everything on this game was very, very enjoyable. probably on my top 2 with yakuza 0 and its hard to argue it doesnt deserve the top spot
funny. good combat. "good" story. interesting characters. and classic YAKUZA side missions. i spent most of my time playing this game creating a multi billion dollar business that has almost nothing to do with the main plot of the game. i cant wait to play more majhong. turn based yakuza what more could you ask for
This changed me
fun
I had always held the belief that Yakuza 0 marked the perfect entry-point into this franchise but after spending over 100 hours beating this behemoth of a game to 100% completion, I can safely say Yakuza Like A Dragon has taken that mantle. YLAD is dripping with genuine adoration for not only the previous Yakuza entries but for the medium of video games as a whole. It creatively took huge risks which paid off immensely, changing from the classic beat-’em up action to an interactive turn-based JRPG. Additionally, they pivot significantly from what came narratively before this release, choosing to follow the story of a brand new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, that genuinely rivals the iconic Kazuma Kiryu. The charismatic performance of Kaiji Tang skyrockets Ichiban to the forefront of my mind when it comes to my favourite video game protagonists of all time. He isn’t alone here either, 99% of the entire cast is absolutely goated and they’re able to demonstrate genuine emotional impact, humorous moments, and portray the relationships between characters with authenticity. The soundtrack is absolutely incredible too, this game has some absolute bangers
Of course this wouldn’t be a Yakuza game without the iconic worldbuilding and Isezaki Ijincho is filled to the seams with boundless content to enjoy. Whilst some familiar locations will undoubtedly return later in the game, this new city is perfect for a brand new start to the franchise and I have come to love all aspects of this diverse location. The draw of these games is the heart-wrenching, dramatic, and intense narrative juxtapositioned against the ridiculous, zany, and oftentimes slapstick humour. Whilst the previous games in the series have definitely had it’s emotional moments, YLAD genuinely made me cry with it’s beautiful story about loyalty, dreams, oppression, and friendship and it’s themes and story arcs felt much more impactful than it has ever been. I was blown away by the witty writing and insane scenarios Ryū Ga Gotoku Studios were able to implement into the story whilst keeping it cohesive.
As always with this franchise the characters were the highlight of the experience. Ichiban’s genuineness is sincere and embodies what it means to truly be a good person. His positivity is infectious and his journey has personally shaped my own life and I can't pay a greater compliment to a piece of media than it having a profound effect on my own character. Kasuga’s party were also incredibly fantastic, I found it difficult to decide which characters I wanted to accompany me and oftentimes found myself switching between 5/6 of them. The weakest party member is by far Eri Kamataki who’s narrative influence is entirely absent and exists primarily for the business management game mode, whilst she shines during this she is not involved at all in Kasuga’s personal journey nor the party’s greater motives which led me to neglecting her throughout most of my playthrough. The supporting characters and antagonists supplemented the story masterfully and safely cemented themselves to feel as important to the narrative as the main cast did.
It’s evolution from an action brawler style of video game into an entirely turn-based JRPG is not only the boldest move I have seen from a studio in recent times but also the correct move to breathe new life into the series. Inheriting the job class system from other JRPGs like Dragon Quest, it allows user variety and preference in their team composition, build, and playstyle to encourage creativity. Unfortunately this shift in gameplay style did lead to moments where I felt vastly overpowered at times and underpowered at other times. This required a lot of grinding which definitely slowed the pacing down but I wouldn’t detract this from the overall experience (except for the grind for the True Millennium Tower because that is insanely difficult and ridiculous).
The iconic humour previously demonstrated in limited scripted fight scenes or special heat moves in previous titles is now pervasive in every department. Whether you’re witnessing Adachi perform a Sonic The Hedgehog inspired spin-dash attack or Ichiban summoning an orbital laser strike on his enemies, the bar in it’s creativeness and hilarity is raised throughout the entire game. The enemy variety is also fantastic as the world is extenuated through Ichiban’s insane imagination which is an ingenious way of freshening up the rather mundane and unimaginative enemies that would be present otherwise.
I could write about this game for as long as I’ve played it, the music is outstanding, the side content is widespread and well-crafted, the environments are beautiful and feel as lively as ever. It’s balance in tone attaches you to the characters so deeply, you’ll be with them in their best and worst times. YLAD establishes itself as it’s own experience, carving a new path forward for the franchise whilst respecting it’s forefathers. Whilst you do not need to have played the previous entries, if you have committed yourself to this world you will be rewarded with a tonne of cameos and greater plot threads being tied up, thrusting this decade-long series into the modern era in a stylish way.
Of course this wouldn’t be a Yakuza game without the iconic worldbuilding and Isezaki Ijincho is filled to the seams with boundless content to enjoy. Whilst some familiar locations will undoubtedly return later in the game, this new city is perfect for a brand new start to the franchise and I have come to love all aspects of this diverse location. The draw of these games is the heart-wrenching, dramatic, and intense narrative juxtapositioned against the ridiculous, zany, and oftentimes slapstick humour. Whilst the previous games in the series have definitely had it’s emotional moments, YLAD genuinely made me cry with it’s beautiful story about loyalty, dreams, oppression, and friendship and it’s themes and story arcs felt much more impactful than it has ever been. I was blown away by the witty writing and insane scenarios Ryū Ga Gotoku Studios were able to implement into the story whilst keeping it cohesive.
As always with this franchise the characters were the highlight of the experience. Ichiban’s genuineness is sincere and embodies what it means to truly be a good person. His positivity is infectious and his journey has personally shaped my own life and I can't pay a greater compliment to a piece of media than it having a profound effect on my own character. Kasuga’s party were also incredibly fantastic, I found it difficult to decide which characters I wanted to accompany me and oftentimes found myself switching between 5/6 of them. The weakest party member is by far Eri Kamataki who’s narrative influence is entirely absent and exists primarily for the business management game mode, whilst she shines during this she is not involved at all in Kasuga’s personal journey nor the party’s greater motives which led me to neglecting her throughout most of my playthrough. The supporting characters and antagonists supplemented the story masterfully and safely cemented themselves to feel as important to the narrative as the main cast did.
It’s evolution from an action brawler style of video game into an entirely turn-based JRPG is not only the boldest move I have seen from a studio in recent times but also the correct move to breathe new life into the series. Inheriting the job class system from other JRPGs like Dragon Quest, it allows user variety and preference in their team composition, build, and playstyle to encourage creativity. Unfortunately this shift in gameplay style did lead to moments where I felt vastly overpowered at times and underpowered at other times. This required a lot of grinding which definitely slowed the pacing down but I wouldn’t detract this from the overall experience (except for the grind for the True Millennium Tower because that is insanely difficult and ridiculous).
The iconic humour previously demonstrated in limited scripted fight scenes or special heat moves in previous titles is now pervasive in every department. Whether you’re witnessing Adachi perform a Sonic The Hedgehog inspired spin-dash attack or Ichiban summoning an orbital laser strike on his enemies, the bar in it’s creativeness and hilarity is raised throughout the entire game. The enemy variety is also fantastic as the world is extenuated through Ichiban’s insane imagination which is an ingenious way of freshening up the rather mundane and unimaginative enemies that would be present otherwise.
I could write about this game for as long as I’ve played it, the music is outstanding, the side content is widespread and well-crafted, the environments are beautiful and feel as lively as ever. It’s balance in tone attaches you to the characters so deeply, you’ll be with them in their best and worst times. YLAD establishes itself as it’s own experience, carving a new path forward for the franchise whilst respecting it’s forefathers. Whilst you do not need to have played the previous entries, if you have committed yourself to this world you will be rewarded with a tonne of cameos and greater plot threads being tied up, thrusting this decade-long series into the modern era in a stylish way.
Well, now I definitely know that RGG isn't for me. It is a huge pity, because in concept it has a lot of things I would love.
Following my disappointment with 0 years ago and not enjoying the couple hours I put into both Kiwami 1 and the original Yakuza, I decided to give this series one last chance. While diehard Yakuza fans will protest, this game is often seen as another alternate entry point, just like 0, with Infinite Wealth being the one where you have to play everything from 0 to 6, as well as Judgement, which I would've done had I loved Y7.
So, anyway, the thing I usually like the least in media are usually generic, unambitious stories that just try to be "good" and not push themselves. In my opinion, both 0 and this game fall into this category despite being solid in most aspects. At the end of the day, despite all the silly side stuff (which 1) isn't my type of humor generally and 2) I was mostly doing to "experience what Yakuza is about" without sticking to just the serious main campaign, though the place it was most useful was getting money for gear) and the cool action sequences for some bosses, it's still just what I'd consider "a normal yakuza story", and crazy maneuvers and humorous side quests aside, I feel like everything in both this and 0 acts within the confines of that. Stuff about drugs, counterfeit bills, revenge, life after crime are cool ideas, but they're not that crazy to me. It's a very straightforward execution of what you'd expect from a yakuza-themed game. I would take a more flawed story that tries to be something more yet fails any day over this. I see both 0 and this as almost on the same level as just a normal fantasy JRPG which has a heroic hero defeat the big bad or a dragon with absolutely nothing else to add.
The gameplay is weird because it both has AoE and doesn't, which manifests itself as a pretty important factor since enemy positioning (and even your positioning), as well as positioning of some stuff like bikes or boxes that you can pick up to deal extra damage being completely out of your control. This leaves a bit too much to chance for my tastes. This game is also grindy as hell, which was pretty unexpected from a 2020 JRPG. I also like the idea of a turn-based yakuza-themed JRPG with an MC who images it as Dragon Quest, but unfortunately this gets old rather quickly due to the grind and other systems, especially encounters, which get really tedious compared to the action side of Yakuza when you're on your way to your next objective and are overlevelled.
The voice acting (especially Ichiban's) and music are generally good, some of the tracks are just random dubstep (?) but there's some really cool ones like ism, Triplet After Triplet, and this which I'm sure I'd find more impactful if I'd played the other games.
I like the setting but the story doesn't live up to it, in my opinion. I feel like it plays it very safe, and in chapter 15 especially it feels like shit just happens. The way the story ended before the credits kind of cheapened a pretty decent scene that was going on before that.
Overall, it's certainly not bad, but it's not for me, and I don't really see how this is one of the greatest JRPGs and/or video games of all time. If someone reading this thinks so, I am happy for you, I wish I could feel the same. At least now I know that Yakuza isn't for me since I didn't care for 0 nor 7, which are often considered top-tier games in the series rankings, so it was a good indicator.
Following my disappointment with 0 years ago and not enjoying the couple hours I put into both Kiwami 1 and the original Yakuza, I decided to give this series one last chance. While diehard Yakuza fans will protest, this game is often seen as another alternate entry point, just like 0, with Infinite Wealth being the one where you have to play everything from 0 to 6, as well as Judgement, which I would've done had I loved Y7.
So, anyway, the thing I usually like the least in media are usually generic, unambitious stories that just try to be "good" and not push themselves. In my opinion, both 0 and this game fall into this category despite being solid in most aspects. At the end of the day, despite all the silly side stuff (which 1) isn't my type of humor generally and 2) I was mostly doing to "experience what Yakuza is about" without sticking to just the serious main campaign, though the place it was most useful was getting money for gear) and the cool action sequences for some bosses, it's still just what I'd consider "a normal yakuza story", and crazy maneuvers and humorous side quests aside, I feel like everything in both this and 0 acts within the confines of that. Stuff about drugs, counterfeit bills, revenge, life after crime are cool ideas, but they're not that crazy to me. It's a very straightforward execution of what you'd expect from a yakuza-themed game. I would take a more flawed story that tries to be something more yet fails any day over this. I see both 0 and this as almost on the same level as just a normal fantasy JRPG which has a heroic hero defeat the big bad or a dragon with absolutely nothing else to add.
The gameplay is weird because it both has AoE and doesn't, which manifests itself as a pretty important factor since enemy positioning (and even your positioning), as well as positioning of some stuff like bikes or boxes that you can pick up to deal extra damage being completely out of your control. This leaves a bit too much to chance for my tastes. This game is also grindy as hell, which was pretty unexpected from a 2020 JRPG. I also like the idea of a turn-based yakuza-themed JRPG with an MC who images it as Dragon Quest, but unfortunately this gets old rather quickly due to the grind and other systems, especially encounters, which get really tedious compared to the action side of Yakuza when you're on your way to your next objective and are overlevelled.
The voice acting (especially Ichiban's) and music are generally good, some of the tracks are just random dubstep (?) but there's some really cool ones like ism, Triplet After Triplet, and this which I'm sure I'd find more impactful if I'd played the other games.
I like the setting but the story doesn't live up to it, in my opinion. I feel like it plays it very safe, and in chapter 15 especially it feels like shit just happens. The way the story ended before the credits kind of cheapened a pretty decent scene that was going on before that.
Overall, it's certainly not bad, but it's not for me, and I don't really see how this is one of the greatest JRPGs and/or video games of all time. If someone reading this thinks so, I am happy for you, I wish I could feel the same. At least now I know that Yakuza isn't for me since I didn't care for 0 nor 7, which are often considered top-tier games in the series rankings, so it was a good indicator.
a rare look at the third act of ones life and how we can start over at any time. ichiban kasuga is in every one of us and god help those that dare get in the way of our dragon kart
"ijincho has fallen, million must die" - kume the chud
This review contains spoilers
this game BROKE my HEART holy shit i love sibling connections in media .. oughh ilove you ichibn i hate you masato i will cry thi game was so fucking awesome dikmjneklfno
RAHJHHH THIS GAME IS SO FUCKING GOOD WEHFFJG
nada ve batalha de turno
i was tempted to give this 4.5/5 after playing the sequel, infinite wealth, which has wildly improved the gameplay beyond what i could have imagined. but having played before IW’s release, i don’t remember having a single complaint. addictive from start to finish & one of my favourite storylines in the franchise. ichiban & aoki’s characters are incredibly compelling. the only reason you might not like this is if you either hate turn-based combat or hate fun
When a middle-aged ex-con with a bad haircut is betrayed by the person he trusted the most, he decides to set out on an epic quest, not for revenge, but so he can ask him "why?" and be friends again. The series' good heart continues in this installment. Also, I got to call a satellite laser strike on some buskers.
strong beginning and ending
good character dynamics for a lot of the cast
gameplay is simple but fun
a lot of the minigames and social links were nice additions
good character dynamics for a lot of the cast
gameplay is simple but fun
a lot of the minigames and social links were nice additions
One of the best Yakuza games
One of the best JRPGs I've ever played
Peak story, gameplay, characters, humor
City is vibrant and full of life, legacy characters are treated with the respect they deserve
Main and side content are both as fun and appealing as each other
A cast of characters that feel like family by the end
One of the best soft reboots ever written, if only more franchises were treated with this level of love and care
A must play
(Series X/1440p/60fps)
One of the best JRPGs I've ever played
Peak story, gameplay, characters, humor
City is vibrant and full of life, legacy characters are treated with the respect they deserve
Main and side content are both as fun and appealing as each other
A cast of characters that feel like family by the end
One of the best soft reboots ever written, if only more franchises were treated with this level of love and care
A must play
(Series X/1440p/60fps)
The story does have its weak points however its still very good and has amazing characters, Ichiban especially
I'm not big on the RPG combat but for what it is, it gets the job done
Despite the complaints, I still loved every hour of play
I'm not big on the RPG combat but for what it is, it gets the job done
Despite the complaints, I still loved every hour of play
Itchyballs be like a dragon
this one hit way too hard what the hell were you guys thinking
Masumi Arakawa