this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2023
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Patient Gamers

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Stop sleeping on Yakuza/Like a Dragon (self.patientgamers)
submitted 1 year ago by seananigans to c/[email protected]
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A little over a year ago, my wife and I finished playing persona 5 Royal and were eager to find another big rpg to play together. We went to the store and this bold, yellow game case covered in wild imagery sat on the shelf. It was yakuza like a dragon. This would be our first time entering the like a dragon franchise and it certainly wasn’t the last. Since then, we’ve played like a dragon 7, 0, Kiwami, Ishin and the spin offs Judgement and Lost Judgement. All of the games fabulous and, importantly, all games have independent enough narratives that it doesn’t really matter where you choose to get on board.

If you like big, narrative games, chaotic characters, eclectic and deep gameplay, and you don’t shy away from some intense tonal whiplash, DO NOT sleep on this franchise any longer.

Where I live, most of the games are on PlayStation plus, so you don’t have to go out of your way to buy them if you’re a subscriber. Otherwise they’re on frequent sale.

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[–] Bluefold 7 points 1 year ago

I've played all the Yakuza games and while I didn't mind the frantic combat, Like a Dragon is just so much more approachable for me with its turn-based combat.

It's funny, Final Fantasy is getting more like classic Yakuza in its combat and Like a Dragon more like classic Final Fantasy. It actually gives me hope we'll one day see a return to form for FF as Like a Dragon proves you can do turn-based in a very engaging way.

However, Yakuza had its charm and mini-games to push me through FFXVI... not so much.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I appreciate OPs opinion but I disagree with it. I played Like a Dragon because the game and the whole series comes so highly recommended. Man oh man is it not for me. The characters are cartoonishly one dimensional, the plot has the depth of a childrens anime and the so called humour is cringeworthyly bad. I had to stop after 3-4 hours. I already got told I need to power through get to the meat of the game to appreciate it. I just don't have the time or the will to suffer for hours in the hopes that it gets better.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Same. I'm not a fan of the Jrpg genre typically but I tried it because it was included on PS plus for a while and had stellar reviews. On top of all your very valid complaints that I agree with, the pacing is just abysmal. At one point you literally see a long cut scene, do nothing but walk down a street, see another one. Then go down another street and turn left and the you guessed it, cut scene that goes into a SECOND cutscene.

I get that people like it/that style of game, and I'm happy they enjoy them but it's definitely not for me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Deleting duplicate

[–] BigBen75 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Dont generalize the whole series based on 7, its the only JRPG in the series for now, and if you dont like it just try 0. I love the series but 7 is my least favorite because its turn based.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I love turn-based, it's my favourite fight mechanic. Like I mentioned, it's the childish over the top slapstick story I have an issue with. Are the other entries more mature?

[–] BigBen75 3 points 1 year ago

The whole charm of the series is the contrast of the "serious" main story and the silly sub-stories, so I guess if you dont like that, it's really not for you. Every game has heartwrenching moments, but I wouldnt blanket them as mature.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

I think I got a little farther than you and I even appreciated the humor and goofiness but it's just too repetitive for me

[–] aln 5 points 1 year ago

I picked up Like a Dragon on a whim. I showed my wife 2 side-missions and she's almost done with Yakuza 0 herself. They remind me of games from back when games were fun, without the P2W/battlepass bullshit.

[–] zaemz 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah dude! Like a Dragon is $15 USD on Steam right now. I couldn't say no, even though I haven't finished Yakuza 0 yet.

I've heard what you've said so many times, that the games are just awesome. I've even heard a rumor that some actual Yakuza like them haha

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The rumor you mentioned originated from an article by Jake Adelstein, an American journalist writing about Japan, especially crime/yakuza. He claims he knows a lot of insiders in the yakuza and often covered stories about them.

In one such story, he claims he let a few yakuza guys play Yakuza 3 and they seemed to like the game and even praise some stuff as true to life: https://boingboing.net/2010/08/10/yakuza-3-review.html

However, this article (and others he wrote about the yakuza) may very well be fake - there are many doubts if Adelstein even knew any yakuza at all. I think one of the arguments is that it simply wouldn't be possible for a 'gaijin' reporter to get inside access into the yakuza to be able to talk to them like this, and some of the stories he published are too fantastical, involving sex, martial arts etc. - just makes him hard to believe.

Just saying this because I see this rumor repeated from time to time and while it seems cool, it's probably just fake.

[–] zaemz 2 points 1 year ago

Whoa, thanks so much for explaining the background behind that! I intentionally stated that it was a rumor because it honestly sounded farfetched to me as well!

Sounds like there might be some fun stories there, even if they are fictional. I'll keep it in mind and share the knowledge if I see it come up again.

(Sorry if I replied twice. I got an error first submission)

[–] Baylahoo 3 points 1 year ago

I was not the target audience because I don't care about story. I like push button and things happen. I usually have YouTube or something else on my other screen. This game had me pausing the other content to pay attention. Such a great game that it made me rethink my current strategy. I skipped cut scenes in Witcher 3. I'd strongly recommend it to people who want to live a story in a game.

[–] kratoz29 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have this game on my account thanks to PS Plus and I haven't started it, seems that it is kinda like a spinoff so you can play it without knowing anything about the other games?

[–] seananigans 3 points 1 year ago

That’s right! You don’t need to know anything else to judgment.

[–] Call_Me_Maple 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

fr, fr. It's such a treat too, there is no MTX, no modern gaming BS, just pure unadulterated game, with a great story, impressive visuals and the most handsome man in gaming - Kiryu Kazuma.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

It is an amazing series. I started from 0 and eventually ended up 100% completing all the games that are on Steam, including the Judgement games and Ishin (great game, but probably the only 100% I regret). I'm really looking forward to Gaiden and 8.

[–] Vub 1 points 1 year ago

I’m happy for you and it’s obvious that many people like these games but for me (and I know many others who agree) the Yakuza games are awful. I could never get into the “humour”, the gameplay, the slow cut scenes, the stereotypical characters, the way people interact. Felt exactly the same with Persona. Maybe it’s a cultural thing. It all felt comparable to a very VERY low budget movie.

But as I said, great for you.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I had the same experience with it being my first Yakuza game. Really looking forward to what they have in store for 8.