I'm disappointed with this game. I was open to new characters in the franchise since Kiryu's journey (seemingly)
came to an end. However, aside from Ichiban who's great and actually a pretty loveable dork and a great contrast to Kiryu, the other characters are not really memorable. Like many other people, 0 was my first Yakuza game and my favorite in the franchise. I played all the other games and fell in love with the series as a result. So when they announced Yakuza 7 I was really excited but also concerned, because of the decision to change the combat to a turn-based system. The previous games were all amazing to play in its beat em up format, so I thought changing to turn-based will make the game play just like every other JRPG out there. And well..I was right.
The combat itself is your totally standard JRPG turn-based combat. Tactics and strategies are all well and good, but most JRPGs as well as LAD don't require them. Both turn-based combat and real time combat can be executed well or badly and both have advantages and disadvantages designers must consider when making their game. It really depends on how good the turn-based system is. Well designed turn based combat gives players direct access to the strategic elements of combat. For example, I love me some good SRPGs like Fire Emblem, but LAD and other JRPGs just happen to have a very bland and generic system implemented that require no strategy/tactics whatsoever.
The turn-based fighting system can be a change for the first few hours in the game, then it gets insanely slow and monotonous. What REALLY frustrated me was the grinding.
Previous Yakuza games didn't need this cheap way to make the game "last longer" while you need to go through hundreds of fights to farm exp points and level up the characters. What I usually most immerse in is the story. Unfortunately, to get through the story, you have to grind through thousands of boring encounters and repetitive fights. The turn-based combat is just not very engaging and most fights are without any challenge. The game is also very unbalanced. I just don't have the time and patience for a game that purposely wastes my time.
LAD seems slightly more campy and overacted, which is not a bad thing considering it's a completely new saga featuring new characters. It's also pretty fitting for a main character like Ichiban. For the Kiryu games, however, I prefer the balance of keeping overacted and cartoonish aspects in the substories and general side content of the game (which I always adore), while the main story remains serious and tense. So I'm curious how LAD 8 will handle this.
Overall, I'm not a huge fan of the JRPG mechanics. The story starts strong but goes off the rails very early on and gets really slow and boring. I don't think LAD is necessarily a bad game, but its not a good Yakuza game neither. I really wish this had been a spin-off instead.
came to an end. However, aside from Ichiban who's great and actually a pretty loveable dork and a great contrast to Kiryu, the other characters are not really memorable. Like many other people, 0 was my first Yakuza game and my favorite in the franchise. I played all the other games and fell in love with the series as a result. So when they announced Yakuza 7 I was really excited but also concerned, because of the decision to change the combat to a turn-based system. The previous games were all amazing to play in its beat em up format, so I thought changing to turn-based will make the game play just like every other JRPG out there. And well..I was right.
The combat itself is your totally standard JRPG turn-based combat. Tactics and strategies are all well and good, but most JRPGs as well as LAD don't require them. Both turn-based combat and real time combat can be executed well or badly and both have advantages and disadvantages designers must consider when making their game. It really depends on how good the turn-based system is. Well designed turn based combat gives players direct access to the strategic elements of combat. For example, I love me some good SRPGs like Fire Emblem, but LAD and other JRPGs just happen to have a very bland and generic system implemented that require no strategy/tactics whatsoever.
The turn-based fighting system can be a change for the first few hours in the game, then it gets insanely slow and monotonous. What REALLY frustrated me was the grinding.
Previous Yakuza games didn't need this cheap way to make the game "last longer" while you need to go through hundreds of fights to farm exp points and level up the characters. What I usually most immerse in is the story. Unfortunately, to get through the story, you have to grind through thousands of boring encounters and repetitive fights. The turn-based combat is just not very engaging and most fights are without any challenge. The game is also very unbalanced. I just don't have the time and patience for a game that purposely wastes my time.
LAD seems slightly more campy and overacted, which is not a bad thing considering it's a completely new saga featuring new characters. It's also pretty fitting for a main character like Ichiban. For the Kiryu games, however, I prefer the balance of keeping overacted and cartoonish aspects in the substories and general side content of the game (which I always adore), while the main story remains serious and tense. So I'm curious how LAD 8 will handle this.
Overall, I'm not a huge fan of the JRPG mechanics. The story starts strong but goes off the rails very early on and gets really slow and boring. I don't think LAD is necessarily a bad game, but its not a good Yakuza game neither. I really wish this had been a spin-off instead.
8 Comments
@Lemonstrade
LAD has kinda lowered my excitement for the next game, but let's just wait and see. But it really seems like I should do myself a favor and play Judgment instead.
LAD has kinda lowered my excitement for the next game, but let's just wait and see. But it really seems like I should do myself a favor and play Judgment instead.
Don't agree with your overall assessment, but it certainly seems like you're just not a fan of JRPGs in general, so I suppose that makes sense. 7 was heavily marketed being closely related to Dragon Quest in it's style of gameplay, and when it comes to imitating that series, it does a great job with it, jobs and all. 7 definitely needed more challenge to it though, you are right about that, rarely was I making strategies for bosses. Although the grinding amount that I needed to do were only when the "cameo" fights started showing up, and that was only 2 times, 1 of which was solved by taking on an optional arena, so im wondering why exactly you grinded so much if that was not the case.
I think this is easily my second favourite of the series after 0. I loved the cast and wacky aspects. I am a JRPG fan though so the way they integrated the class mechanics really amused me. I would have preferred more varied dungeon options though.
@FallenGrace
Yeah, I'm sure this game is a goldmine for JRPG fans but it sadly doesn't resonate with me. I guess I'm just not the target audience for this one.
Yeah, I'm sure this game is a goldmine for JRPG fans but it sadly doesn't resonate with me. I guess I'm just not the target audience for this one.
Totally understand, I can see your point of view on it especially if you aren't a fan of turn based RPGs! Well written review 👍🏻
@FallenGrace
Thank you!
Thank you!
Yeah I agree with you, other than it's strong opening and ending acts, rest is badly paced and forced grind makes the pacing even worse. I don't know why people praises the combat in this one. I only played 5-6 jrpgs yet this game's combat is too simple and basic to the point mind boggling. It doesn't even have something basic as "change class" option inside the combat
Lemonstrade
6 months ago