All things Yakuza/Like a Dragon! - new games announced

[deKay]

I started 0 this week. It’s acebest.

 

I’ve played 3 (years ago), 4 (a couple of years ago) and 5 (earlier this year), and have Kiwami ready for when 0 is done.

 

Yakuza is the best.

[Kevvy Metal]

Sugar Moobs! 

[Jamie John]

I'm about five and a half hours in now. I've just met Majima (and what a great introduction that was). I'm enjoying it, but it's not really the game I thought it was going to be: I was expecting GTA Japan with the Arkham games' fighting system; the closest thing I can compare this to is probably something like Persona 4, or what I imagine Shenmue to be like, not having played it. The fighting is pretty button mashy at the moment, and every fight apart from the boss ones have been pretty easy. I've learnt a few new moves but haven't really needed to use them.

 

It is, however, frequently hilarious and has made me laugh out loud a lot. Apart from maybe the dominatrix training side quest, the funniest thing so far has been this guy:

 

[Down by Law]

Kiwami 2 Demo on PSN - 10GB.

[Mr. Gerbik]

Oh god

[Mr. Gerbik]

Already posted this in the Yakuza 6 thread, but I guess it's better suited here:

 

Had a quick go on the Kiwami 2 demo and I'm happy to report that the performance has improved dramatically over Yakuza 6! It looks even better than 6 (but that may also be because Sotenbori at night looks better than Kamurocho during daytime anyhow), the streets seem busier, wider, and more detailed,  but even so performance seems solid without tearing. Feels a fuckload more responsive to control than 6 too thanks to the improved performance, and not just when walking around - the fighting for example is less floaty.

 

This is going to be awesome because I remember Yakuza 2 being awesome, and this remake is an awesome work of awesome art going by this awesome demo. Whether you remember Osaka from Y2, from Y5, or from Y0, this is Osaka like you've never experienced it before. The Y6 engine makes a massive difference in making everything feel more alive and 'real'. Might be the best Yakuza yet, I will have to play it from start to finish before definitely making that call, but it's the most immersive one for sure. Can't wait until August 28th

 

For now I'm going to stop and return to 6. I'm going to save this fantastic experience for until the full game is out

They've also learned their lesson from the Y6 demo; instead of giving you the entire start including the traditionally looooong intro which makes you wait forever until the game finally gets going, the Kiwami 2 demo starts some way in. You're immediately let loose in the goddamn gorgeous Sotenbori district in Osaka after a short cutscene and free to start exploring from the get go. Check it out!

[smac]

Started Kiwami, and I love that I just immediately recognise the layouts of the streets and know where to find stuff like the pawn shop without looking at the map, for example.

 

I may just roll right on from this into Kiwami 2. That would be sweet.

[deKay]

Playing through 0. Just started the Majima chapter.

 

Oh my. Majima!

[Down by Law]

Kiwami 2 Demo is straight up amaze. Sotenbori looks incredible, especially down by the river. Also the arcade has Virtua Fighter 2 and Virtual On in it (albeit unplayable as demo)

 

The cut scenes look incredible, and I managed to get into loads of fights and use new weapons and heat moves. The demo ends when you watch the final cutscene in the Grand.

 

As a demo it is far better than the poorly judged demo for 6. I'm well hyped for this! The fighting engine seems more solid than the 6 demo, the physics have been toned down a lot for the better, everything has more weight and impact. You can sprint through crowds of enemies without engaging them so the constant fights won't be an issue for some players. Naturally the music, atmosphere and cutscene staging are still top drawer so I can't wait to see this story and how it all pans out. Nani.

[smac]

28 minutes ago, deKay said:

Playing through 0. Just started the Majima chapter.

 

Oh my. Majima!

 

That is just the best character intro ever, isn't it?

[deKay]

1 hour ago, smac said:

 

That is just the best character intro ever, isn't it?

 

"I've always said I'd like to bathe in my favourite brand. You've made my dream come true!"

[deKay]

I'm hoping (don't spoil it for me) that since Majima is in Sotenburi and given the dates, he meets Mirei Park.

[Kevvy Metal]

I literally own all the Yakuza games (released in the west) but I've only played small chunks of the original PS2 Yakuza and a bit of Yakuza 3. 

 

So getting my teeth into Yakuza is my next thing. I'm a good while into Yakuza Zero and a little past the Majima introduction, which was something else! 

It's totally great of course, although yes.. way more slanted to that Visual Novel/Manga type thing that a lot of Japanese RPG's go for. Lots of story, lots of text. 

 

It is a bit like a mix of Shenmue & Persona but with the combat from Dynamite Cop. 

[Vorgot]

Just got some PSN credit so am going to jump into Yakuza Zero. Never played one of these before but reading the thread makes me realise its not the game I thought it was. Comparisons to Persona are what have pushed me over the edge. Can't wait to get cracking

[Mr. Gerbik]

It's not Persona. Think of it as Shenmue reimagined by Miike Takeshi in a Yakuza setting crossed with Streets of Rage.

 

Edit: @Vorgot you're going to be seriously disappointed if you're going in expecting it to be anything like Persona. I literally can't think of anything it has in common except for being Japanese. Yakuza is pretty much its own genre, there is no really good comparison to any other game. Go in without expectations and you'll have a blast because it is brilliant.

[JoeK]

I might have posted this up a while back (can't remember!), but anyone wondering just what it is about the Yakuza games that makes 'em so damn unique and special could do worse than have a look at this little vid by Supereyepatchwolf. It's great.

 

Also, I've got some sort of man-crush with Yakuza's creator...

 

 

[fat flatulent git]

5 hours ago, Vorgot said:

Just got some PSN credit so am going to jump into Yakuza Zero. Never played one of these before but reading the thread makes me realise its not the game I thought it was. Comparisons to Persona are what have pushed me over the edge. Can't wait to get cracking

 

It doesn't have much in common with Persona, but it's a great series.

 

Brawling with excellent, responsive controls, great stories and incredible cut scenes, awesome characters, fun distractions and a great, real setting are the highlights for me.

 

Definitely worth trying one.

[Kevvy Metal]

5 hours ago, Mr. Gerbik said:

It's not Persona. Think of it as Shenmue reimagined by Miike Takeshi in a Yakuza setting crossed with Streets of Rage.

 

Edit: @Vorgot you're going to be seriously disappointed if you're going in expecting it to be anything like Persona. I literally can't think of anything it has in common except for being Japanese. Yakuza is pretty much its own genre, there is no really good comparison to any other game. Go in without expectations and you'll have a blast because it is brilliant.

 

The visual novel / interactive Manga thing is what drew me to comparing it to Persona. 

There’s a lot of dialogue. 

[Vorgot]

5 hours ago, Kevvy Metal said:

 

The visual novel / interactive Manga thing is what drew me to comparing it to Persona. 

There’s a lot of dialogue. 

 

Well I love a visual novel, any game that is story and character driven is a win for me. 

[Mr. Gerbik]

5 hours ago, Kevvy Metal said:

 

The visual novel / interactive Manga thing is what drew me to comparing it to Persona. 

There’s a lot of dialogue. 

That there is! That there is indeed

12 minutes ago, Vorgot said:

 

Well I love a visual novel, any game that is story and character driven is a win for me. 

Yakuza is a big win in that case! Have fun, take your time and don't forget to save

[gossi the dog]

3 hours ago, Vorgot said:

 

Well I love a visual novel, any game that is story and character driven is a win for me. 

 

You should like it then. Things to note are 1. You save in telephone booths 2. you replenish energy by eating food or by drinking energy drinks (you can buy them from supermarkets and convenience stores). That's it. Enjoy.

[Kevvy Metal]

4 hours ago, Vorgot said:

 

Well I love a visual novel, any game that is story and character driven is a win for me. 

 

But when you smash people's faces in, it plays kinda like Dynamite Deka on the Saturn (Die Hard Arcade). 

 

It is totally great. I'm loving it so far and am defo gonna smash my way through the whole series! 

Hope they get the PS4 remasters of 3-5 out by the time I've finished Kiwami 2.

[Calashnikov]

Equip shit from your inventory to boost stamina and reduce damage and shit like that. Could be easy to miss all that. I reckon it’s one of the more RPGy aspects of the series.

[smac]

Yeah, I missed using weapons with Kiryu for a lot of the game because I didn't equip them. You should occasionally, if only for the 'as-salt with a deadly condiment' finishing move...

 

You can switch your loadouts while you're actually in most battles.

 

Also, make sure you visit the guy with the clown face - he gives you additional boosts in exchange for points you get for completing stores (CP). So you have two ways to level up - exchanging CP for boosts or items with buffs, and XP points for improving your various skill wheels.

 

Oh, and on the subject of guy with the clown makeup, I didn't realise he had two different sets of boosts until I had completed one whole set - press L1/R1 to switch between them.

[womblingfree]

Yakuza 2 is still my favourite Yakuza by quite a margin. Oh god, I’m going to have to get Kiwanis 2 aren’t I...

 

4, 5 and 0 still unfinished.

[Vorgot]

All good tips guys, cheers. I always saw these as GTA style games, and I don't get on with those, but from reading around I may have massively missed the point previously. Even the trailer for zero which switched from super serious punching game to complete bonkers side stuff should have tipped me off.

[Vorgot]

Its downloading now. Can't wait

[Garwoofoo]

I’m now several chapters into Yakuza Zero, having never played any of these games before, and I’m utterly obsessed with it. It’s one of the best games I’ve played in years. It’s certainly the funniest. 

[Calashnikov]

It’s honestly and easily the funniest fucking game I’ve ever played. Warioware Inc and Earthbound complete that holy trinity FWIW.

[Garwoofoo]

I may have become a little sidetracked by managing my real estate empire.

 

The ability of the silly little diversions in this game to completely take over your life is like nothing I've ever seen. The fact there are seven of these games to play and I've only just got into it is quite frankly blowing my mind a little. I'm looking at the completion list and just boggling in disbelief at how much there is to do.