The format of these posts is simple: let’s discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss the Like a Dragon / Yakuza series. What is your favorite game in the series? What do you like about it? What doesn’t work for you? Feel free to share anything that comes up and react to other comments. Let’s get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Assassin’s Creed, UFO 50, Platformers, Uplifting Games, Final Fantasy, Visual Novels, Hollow Knight, Nintendo DS, Monster Hunter, Persona, Monkey Island, 8 Bit Era, Animal Crossing, Age of Empires, Super Mario, Deus Ex, Stardew Valley, The Sims, Half-Life, Earthbound / Mother, Mass Effect, Metroid, Journey, Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
I have played all of the mainline games in the series in the last year, plus Ishin. It’s hard to pick a favorite, and the way they handled the transition to an RPG with the Ichiban games was very impressive. I think my favorite might actually be Ishin. I really enjoyed the feudal Japan setting, and it was a refreshing change from the usual Yakuza setting.
I will also add that the best thing I ever did to enhance my enjoyment of these games was to play them on easy. It allowed me to progress at my own pace and just enjoy the story and the side stuff without getting frustrated by massive boss difficulty spikes, although there were still a few boss fights that took a lot to beat even on easy difficulty.
The retooling starting with Like a Dragon really is impressive. Crafting was in prior games but the job system gave it a purpose. The addition of a party added both banter and way more options for cutscenes. Lampshading the RPG elements fits so well with the overall series absurdity.