There are a lot of improvements from 7 in here. The movement around the map is a lot better, you can move in a limited space in combat now to setup for stuff better, and the random debris Ichiban could use to attack with is now much more accessible and usable by everyone. With all of the improvements, some stellar new characters, and a hot new setting; Infinite Wealth on paper seems like a killer game.
Unfortunately, it probably comes at the cost of one of the weakest Yakuza stories ever. It's a very messy narrative with an intro that would put Persona 4's to shame. It jumps back and forth after a point in a very obnoxious splitting of events and the antagonists of this game outside of two particularly notable ones are pretty terrible. While some aspects like the remembrance chapters appeal to someone like me who's been playing these games since 3, newcomers are probably going to find it hard to connect to some of those scenes too.
Despite my complaints, this game is still very good. However, I don't feel it outright usurps 7 and in a decent number of cases I think it's honestly weaker. Less than the sum of its parts is a phrase that comes to mind. Also for as funny as the idea of Sujimon and Dondoko Island are, I did not enjoy contributing hours of my time to two thoroughly dull minigames. The money I got for Dondoko Island came in handy so that was at least worthwhile. I really dislike how much minigames play into this one in particular. Hope a future game can be a bit more focused, because coming off of Man Who Erased His Name left me wanting something more... whole, I suppose.
Unfortunately, it probably comes at the cost of one of the weakest Yakuza stories ever. It's a very messy narrative with an intro that would put Persona 4's to shame. It jumps back and forth after a point in a very obnoxious splitting of events and the antagonists of this game outside of two particularly notable ones are pretty terrible. While some aspects like the remembrance chapters appeal to someone like me who's been playing these games since 3, newcomers are probably going to find it hard to connect to some of those scenes too.
Despite my complaints, this game is still very good. However, I don't feel it outright usurps 7 and in a decent number of cases I think it's honestly weaker. Less than the sum of its parts is a phrase that comes to mind. Also for as funny as the idea of Sujimon and Dondoko Island are, I did not enjoy contributing hours of my time to two thoroughly dull minigames. The money I got for Dondoko Island came in handy so that was at least worthwhile. I really dislike how much minigames play into this one in particular. Hope a future game can be a bit more focused, because coming off of Man Who Erased His Name left me wanting something more... whole, I suppose.