Summary
Yakuza/Like a Dragonis one of the deepest and most rewarding series that players can sink their teeth into. It may seem daunting, but RGG Studio has done a great job of giving players multiple avenues of entry, based on what genres they prefer and how much stock they put into following a story chronologically.
One thing that theYakuzagames are known for is an iconic brand of weirdness that embraces the joy of playing a video game over everything else. While the series' odd side took a while to manifest, most popularYakuzagames do a great job of embodying this weirdness and letting players enjoy some cathartic action games where enemies can be taken out in style.
The faithful recreation ofYakuza 2’s story means that the Kiwami treatment will struggle to add some elements of weirdness to the story. Sure, Majima’s inclusion coupled with some ridiculous plot twists make this experience a unique one, but the true weirdness ofYakuza Kiwami 2stems from its side content.
Clan Creator is a fun RTS tower-defense minigame that is more fleshed out than its first appearance inYakuza 6, while fans of Majima’s side activity inYakuza 0will be glad to know thatCabaret Club makes a return too. They may not be original inclusions, but they still do a great job of making this remake a weird experience in every way.
Yagami’s reception as a protagonist has been a bit of a mixed bag, andLost Judgmentdoesn’t help things. The high school setting andthe realities of bullyingare eye-opening to witness, but a lot of the story’s impact is dampened when Yamagi doesn’t shy away from smacking some sense into high school students in the most brutal manner possible if required.
This, coupled with its fair share of hilarious side activities that place the detective in some compromising scenarios, makes it clear whyLost Judgmentis one of the weirderYakuzagames players can enjoy. As long as they warm up to this protagonist during his second outing, they’ll have a great time playing as Yagami in a spinoff with tantalizing real-time combat.
Players who love theYakuzaseries for its unique brand of weirdness have the fifth game to thank for introducing this weird balancing act that fans have grown to love. Sure, some of the side activities could do with a bit of polishing (with Saejima’s hunting being infamous for how slow it can be), but the experience on a whole is an eccentric affair that fans will love.
It’s rare for a game that focuses on action-packed brawling to suddenly turn into an idol simulator and not lose the attention of fans. While the formula was eventually perfected to makeYakuza’s weird side more prominent than ever, players willing to look atYakuza 5with an open mind will love its odd activities and hilarious substories.
The firstYakuzagame was a tantalizing tale that took itself seriously, so it was hard to seehowYakuza Kiwamiwould be able to do justice to this story while still maintaining a balance of serious and weird moments. This was achieved with the help of Majima and his wacky personality.
It may be a bit grindy, but players love encountering Majima in the most unlikely locations toimprove Kiryu’s Dragon Style. Majima’s overbearing presence can lessen his impact on the story, but this is a price fans are willing to pay to enjoy a remake that is perfect for those who want to experienceYakuza’s story from the very first title.
Yakuza 0is one of the most important games in the series, providing a fresh jumping-on point for new players interested in checking out the rising popularity of theYakuzaseries. The incredible story of Kiryu and Majima, coupled with the hilarious nature of their side activities,turnYakuza 0into a must-play titlein the series.
It helps that most of the substories serve as a treat for long-time fans who encounter the iconic Ryuji Goda before he becomes the Dragon of Kansai and listens to a fortuneteller who accurately predicts Kiryu’s fate. Despite how weird it can be,Yakuza 0’s intensity comes at the right moments and helps them become immersed in theYakuza’s underworld dealings — right after they bowled multiple strikes and hired a chicken as a manager for their real estate management minigame.
Players who were worried about theshift to turn-based combatfor theYakuzaseries forgot just how much this series reveled in being odd and different. Classic JRPG battles ensured that RGG Studio could lean more heavily into the series' weirdness and let players enjoy one of the most bizarre and enjoyable turn-based JRPGs ever made.
Ichiban’s headcanon justifies the turn-based battles in a refreshing manner. Every character can take on a bevy of odd jobs that look ridiculous in battle, only to wow players with their tactical efficiency.
Given howYakuza: Like a Dragonwas a resounding success, it’s easy to see why the sequel would be just as bizarre, if not more. The new setting of Hawaii serves as a refreshing change of pace from otherYakuzagames while letting players enjoy even more outlandish jobs and side content.
Sujimon is an obvious highlight here, with new jobs letting characters become a hula dancer who looks hilarious in battle — only to surprise players with how effective this job is. IfYakuza’s shift to turn-based combat clicked with fans, then it’s easy to see whyInfinite Wealthwill appeal to these players too.
WhiletheYakuzaseriesrevels in its weirdness, the gameplay of these titles is strong enough for players to stick with them in their slow moments. This is whereYakuza: Dead Soulsfailed, serving as a rare dud in the series that has been mocked for its lack of quality numerous times.
The idea of everyone’s favoriteYakuzacharacters being stuck in a zombie apocalypse and relying on firearms to deal damage was fresh, but the shooting gameplay was too barebones, and it bored players in no time. As a result,Dead Soulsfailed critically and commercially despite being the weirdest game in theYakuzaseries.
