So having never played a Yakuza game before we decided to get Yakuza 0 off the Xbox games pass. It's quickly becoming one of my favourite games. We're loving the gameplay, story and especially the characters. Also the mini games are amazing!!!
YAKUZA SERIES PLAY ORDER FOR NEWCOMERS - PS4/5 - XB1/SX/SX - PC
It's like Dunkey always says - "if you want something done right, you gotta do it all by yourself" TLDR play order for the mainline series:
Yakuza 0
Yakuza Kiwami
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 4
OPTIONAL - Yakuza: Dead Souls - NOT CANON TO THE MAIN SERIES STORY
Yakuza 5
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
OPTIONAL - JUDGEMENT - HAS REFERENCES TO THE MAIN SERIES BUT ISN'T INTEGRAL
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
OPTIONAL - Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise - PURELY SPINOFF TITLE USING GAMEPLAY FROM YAKUZA SERIES
Hey there kyodai, this is the New and Improved "I'm Tired of Seeing This Posted 300 Times a Day" Yakuza series play order post! We haven't had one of these stickied in a long time, and I doubt this one will be, but at least we will have something to link to! Please feel free to link to it as you see fit! This guide covers the titles on all available current/next gen platforms and PC. Yes I know Yakuza exists on PS2 and PS3, nobody cares anymore. This guide is also just in reference to the NA releases and doesn't go into the PSP titles or the JPN exclusives ISHIN and KENZAN. This is to help the influx of new Xbox and PC players. I will update this post as new releases on PS5 and the like become available! PLEASE NOTE! All physical releases for the PS4 and XB1 will work on new gen PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles. WHERE TO START WITH THE YAKUZA SERIES REGARDLESS of what console you play on, the games are meant to be played chronologically. There is the argument that the story is best played by release date and I will refute that statement until my dying breath. Because it doesn't make sense. Why would you play through the series, then go back to 0, a prequel, then BACK to 6, the end? That's dumb. In the same vein, if you want to experience the entire saga the way it's intended, DON'T SKIP GAMES. Just watching the cutscenes leaves sooo much to be desired. YOU START THE SERIES FROM YAKUZA 0. 0 is available on all platforms and can be had the following ways:
Digitally on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
Digitally as part of the Yakuza Origins bundle on Playstation
Digitally with GAMEPASS on Xbox and PC
Physically as a standalone blue case release on PS4
Physically as a standalone red case Greatest Hits release on PS4
NEXT IS YAKUZA KIWAMI Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of Yakuza on the PS2. It uses a very similar style to Yakuza 0 combat wise and is about half as long. Kiwami is available the following ways:
Digitally as a standalone title on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
Digitally as part of the Yakuza Origins bundle on PlayStation
Digitally with GAMEPASS on Xbox and PC
Physically as a standalone blue case release on PS4
Physically as a standalone red case Greatest Hits release on PS4
Physically as a standalone Steelbook release on PS4
AFTER THAT IS YAKUZA KIWAMI 2 Kiwami 2 is a remake of Yakuza 2 originally released for the PS2. This is the first CHRONOLOGICAL game to use the Dragon Engine. The combat is most similar to Yakuza 6 and JUDGMENT. It's available the following ways:
Digitally as a standalone title on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
Digitally as part of the Yakuza Origins bundle on PlayStation
Digitally with GAMEPASS on Xbox and PC
Physically as a standalone blue case release on PS4
Physically as a standalone red case Greatest Hits release on PS4
Physically as a standalone Steelbook release on PS4
NEXT IS YAKUZA 3 Yakuza 3 was first released on the PS3 in NA and Japan and acts as a sort of soft reboot for the series in HD. Until just last year it was only ever available on disc but now you've got the following ways to grab it:
Digitally as a standalone title on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
Digitally as part of the Yakuza Remastered Collection on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
Physically as part of the Yakuza Remastered Collection on PlayStation
Physically on PS3
LOGICALLY, YAKUZA 4 IS NEXT Yakuza 4 marked the first time RELEASE DATE WISE that you could play as someone other than Kiryu. 4 introduced 3 new protagonists to the mix and can be played the follow ways:
Digitally as a standalone title on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
Digitally as part of the Yakuza Remastered Collection on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
Physically as part of the Yakuza Remastered Collection on PlayStation
Physically on PS3
YOU GUESSED IT, YAKUZA 5 COMES AFTER THAT Yakuza 5 brings us 5, count em', FIVE protagonists and is arguably the largest game in the series (although 7 comes damn close). Until recently, 5 was a downloadable only title on the PS Store but can now be purchased as such:
Digitally as a standalone title on the PlayStation, Xbox and PC
Digitally as part of the Yakuza Remastered Collection on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
Physically as part of the Yakuza Remastered Collection on PlayStation
FINALLY WE END WITH YAKUZA 6 Yakuza 6 is the final chapter of Kiryu's saga and for now is only available:
Digitally as a standalone title on PlayStation
Physically as a standalone blue case PlayStation release
Physically as a standalone Artbook case PlayStation release
Physically as a standalone red Greatest Hits PlayStation release
THE SERIES STARTS ANEW WITH YAKUZA: LIKE A DRAGON The newest title in the Yakuza series is Yakuza: Like a Dragon. This game features a totally new protagonist and main area to explore, as well as introduces a brand new, turn based battle system. It's a fantastic game and a welcome change to the formula, despite what Reddit would have you believe. Grab it any of the following ways:
Digitally as a standalone title on PlayStation, Xbox or PC
Physically as a Steelbook release on PlayStation and Xbox
Physically as a standalone blue case release on PS4
And that's it! Feel free to browse but not to carouse!
Hey yall wanted to share my thoughts on all the games I completed this year some of which was back log some of it being 2020 releases but anyway im glad I actually completed a good handful of games this year and hope to finish even more in 2021 anywhere here we go. Borderlands 3 I put about 100ish hours into Borderlands 2 and beat it a few times both on my Xbox 360 and PC, its by far one of my all time favorite open world games and have been looking forward for the sequal for years. I got the game on release but barely played it until around March of 2020 when I finally decided to finish it. Honestly it was a bit of a disappointment in terms of story and characters (one of the greatest aspects of Blands 2. The villains are pretty forgettable along with most of the plot and the humor just didnt hit as much as the first 2 games but besides the gameplay was still great as ever its all smooth and rewarding feeling so at least there is that. Overall it was pretty mediocre and unfortunately not the great Sequel I waited 7 years for. Spongebob Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated. When I was a kid I had this game for the PS2 but never beat it cuz I was like 6? but anyway when I saw Rehydrated was coming out I was pretty hyped as it seemed this was really coming from the heart and from what I remember being 6 and playing they did the game really well! The new graphics looks great but keep that cartoony look and all the characters are talkative and expressive as ever. The gameplay is smooth and I dont think I ever ran into and glitches or bugs. Really the game is just pure fun and totally give it a recommendation to anyone who has ever slightly considered it plus its not crazy long it took me about 10 and a half hours to beat. DOOM Eternal I played DOOM 2016 back when it came out and thoroughly enjoyed it (I was 16 at the time and all I played was League of Legends and Battlefield) it definitely was a fresh breathe in the land of shooters so a sequal I was totally on board for, but this? Holy shit Id Software took DOOM 2016 and said nah that game was shit look at this. Seriously the amount of new stuff added to this game from D-16 is crazy and it just is so much damn fun to play. Im not one to really go out of my way for collectibles but this game really had me searching like an animal for everything. I beat it on Ultra Violence and damn let me say the game is a lot harder than the previous game but it really is up to your skill of switching weapons, dashing, killing, getting health, killing, throwing the wrong type of grenade and waiting for it to recharge. In fact right now its the only game I played from this year im replaying (this time on Nightmare) just to see if I can do it. Easily my game of the year for 2020 and im really sad it got gipped at the game awards especially for its soundtrack where it lost to an acoustic guitar from the last of us. Pokemon Sword Wont dwell on this long, I beat Shield the week it came out last year since Pokemon is my all time favorite game series. Um good game not great compared to the other pokemon games but ya know I liked it and got to add another game to the list of completed games so uh yeah. Halo Reach So I bought the Master Chief collection for PC in January and got around to start going through all the games in the later half of the year. Growing up I only ever played Forge or Firefight with my friends on Halo and never sat down and finished any of the stories except for Halo 2 for some reason? in 2017 I got Halo 5 and beat the story on that and since then got more interested in Halo and honestly have gone neck deep in Halo lore (as we speak im on the 2nd book of the Halo novels) Anyway Reach. Awesome game, a great re-introduction to the series that played perfectly on my PC. I played this and all the Halo games you will read about on Heroic and even if it pissed me off sometimes the accomplishment I felt afterwards was rewarding enough. I think the strongest part of the game is the story telling the fall of Reach from Spartans who arent the Master Chief. Its a sad game honestly and the music and environments reflect that but they also at some points do reflect that small glimmer of hope for Humanity. Ive actually been listening to the Reach soundtrack on occasion and cant get that line out of of my head "there will be another time..." Halo: Combat Evolved Should have stated in the Reach review that im playing the games in Chronological order so next on the chopping block was Halo CE and I can say yes this is definitely Combat Evolved. One thing I tried doing when playing this game was putting myself in the shoes of a gamer in 2001 and I can see why this game was as popular as it was (especially cuz I have played or at least attempted to play shooters from years prior) it just works. The gameplay is so fluid and everything works so well together that its crazy they got AI and Item interaction working like this on an Original Xbox. The story here is good, its nothing crazy...yet but Id say in terms of 2001 games especially shooters I stronger story than most. Guns just feel impactful, the way enemies interreact with the player in their attacks or how they dodge grenades is amazing. Id my only gripe comes with how much Back tracking is used in some levels or how one certain level that was already pretty long and a bit annoying is literally reused 2 missions later just in reverse. But still great game that I think holds up well 20 years later hell id even say certain gameplay aspects like enemy is some how better here than some modern games. Halo 2 What if we took Halo CE and put in new weapons like the legendary Battle Rifle, improved almost every aspect from the first game and made the story x10 better? Boom Halo 2. I beat this as a kid on my OG Xbox back in like 2012 so this was almost still a new experience for me and at least one I can appreciate now. Not much to say about the gameplay here since its stayed about the game but the introduction of the new selection of weapons and the option to duel wield is great. Really I just want to talk about the story (minor spoilers) But like the fact we got to play as the Arbiter with the covenant is awesome and seeing the development of a branded heretic Elite learn the truth of everything and the betrayals and the drama happening within the Covenant is amazing. I love the characters even if they arent crazily fleshed out but that might be from just good chemistry and performances like Johnson and Miranda and my girl Cortana of course. Really I could write a small essay on Halo 2's story but I wont, not now at least. Some minor gripes with the game for me the levels are great and while not repeated I say some are less memorable than the ones presented in Halo CE not to mention in later Levels when fighting the brutes the arsenal of weapons almost shrinks and maybe it was just me but it feels like you are ill-equipped in a couple later game levels where you only have plasma/covenant weapons to fight brutes where it seems to me at least Human weapons work better against them which kind of made the game harder and definitely helped up that this games had my most deaths this games Heroic hit different from the previous games. Its hard though, I dont know which game I liked better CE or 2 maybe in time I can give a definite answer but really they are both Bangers. (Also the updated Cinematic graphics are beautiful) Halo 3 Grinded this games story out pretty over the last week of Decembeearly January. The final game in the Trilogy, and Bungie just hitting us with Banger after Banger really just not much I can say here I havent already said in the previous it just kept building upon what the last game introduced with more weapons and equipment (Bubble shield hang) again a super memorable story I say somewhere between CE and 2 in terms of quality. I loved the dynamic between Chief and The Arbiter. For a game released in 2007 for the Xbox 360 id argue for the most parts the game holds up really well and makes for some of the most memorable levels in all of Halo like that damn Warthog run, and the difficulty here felt super balanced for the most part (We dont talk about the Cortana mission tho) I can see why Halo was such a big deal when they came out and I know it was also for the Multiplayer but I guess that just adds to how well made these games were and how they hold up all these years later. Going into 2021 I have Halo 3 ODST and Halo 4 left to play and finish and am very excited for both. Like I also mentioned ive been reading the books as well and am on the 2nd book with the next 2 ordered and waiting for me to read. Conclusion 8 games may not seem like a lot to some but for me it is especially since I tend to play lots of multiplayer games or games that are basically endless (hence games like No Mans Sky) I think for the most part I came away this year having played a lot of great games and cant wait to beat more in 2021 currently here is the list of games I have in my Library and will attempt to beat.
It is not recommended to skip any of the games since a lot of the plot relies on knowledge from previous games. This might cause you to feel lost at times and even if you don't, knowing the events of the previous game gives you a better experience. That being said, the story of most of the games are still somewhat self-contained so even if some of the previous games will be spoiled and you might not understand some things, you will still enjoy any of the games that you play. It is up to you.
Where can I play the games?
All of the mainline games are available on PS4/5, Xbox and PC. (starting from march 25th)
What are the differences between the original games, the kiwamis, and the remastered games?
Yakuza kiwami and kiwami 2 are remakes of the original yakuza 1 and 2 that feature updated graphics, gameplay and new content. Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 remastered are upscaled versions on the original games. The English version of the games was completely retranslated and some cut content from the original release where restored.
Which yakuza games have a dub?
Judgment and Yakuza: like a dragon have english dubbed voices as well as subtitles in French, German, Italian and Spanish. It is also highly likely that any future localisations will also have one. The original Yakuza 1 also has a dub but it's ummm... not the greatest thing.
What is Yakuza Like a Dragon? Is it a spinoff?
Yakuza LaD is the 8th mainline game and it is known as Ryu ga Gotoku 7 (Yakuza 7) in Japan. It's a soft-reboot of the series that focuses on a new protagonist and cast of charecters and unlike the previous games, this one is a turn-based JRPG.
Can I play Yakuza 7 without playing any of the other games?
Yes. Since it focuses on a new cast of charecters and story, you will understand it even if you haven't played any of the other games. However, it will contain story spoilers for a lot of the previous games, especially 5 and 6, so be warned if you're planning on playing those games in the future.
What are Ishin, black panther, Judgment, etc? Are they yakuza games? Are they canon?
Ryu ga gotoku kenzan and Ryu ga gotoku Ishin are Samurai spinoffs that take place during the Edo period. Kurohyo: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (or Yakuza: black panther) and its sequel are spinoffs developed by Syn Sophia for the PSP. The story takes place in kamurocho but it's not related to the main games. Yakuza Dead Souls is a non-canon zombie spinoff that takes place after yakuza 4. It is the only localised game that is stuck on the ps3 :( Binary Domain is a third-person shooter that was made the same creators as yakuza. However, it's not a yakuza game. (Funnily enough though, this is the very first game that was developed under the name RGGStudio) Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (or Hokuto ga gotoku) is a spinoff that's based on the FotNS manga. There's actually some debate about weather this is a yakuza game or not but we consider it one. Ryu ga Gotoku Online is a free-to-play Gacha RPG. The main story follows Ichiban as the protagonist. The game is not canon but it does have canon backstories for a lot of the series's characters. Judgment is a spinoff that follows the story of Takayuki Yagami, a Kamurocho detective. The story revolves around some Tojo Clan and Omi Alliance members but it's not directly related to the main series.
A live action movie directed by Takashi Miike called Like a Dragon
A 40-minute prequel to said movie
A stage play
A live action TV adaptation of Kurohyou
A 3-volume Manga adaptation of Kurohyou
A TV show that released with yakuza 6 called RGG: Tamashi no Uta
and a series of comics that retell the story of all of the mainline games
Why are some of the songs in the Japanese version different?
Due to licensing issues, a lot of the songs were removed from the English version of the games and were replaced by something else. Fortunately, recent releases like kiwami 2 and judgment have stopped doing this. You can see a list of these songs here If you have any other questions, feel free to ask them here!
These are the results of a 10 day poll thread in JRPG, where users voted on the best JRPGs of 2020. The original poll thread is here, and you can find the results for the 13 categories below. For most of them, only the top 5 are listed, but if you'd like to see which other ones were highly voted, you can check the previous thread.
JRPG of the Year (Overall)
Rank
Game
Votes
1
Persona 5 Royal
107
2
Final Fantasy VII Remake
99
3
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
71
4
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
58
5
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
49
Best PC JRPG
Rank
Game
Votes
1
Persona 4 Golden
126
2
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
41
3
Ys VIII (2020 update)
21
4
Trials of Mana (remake)
17
5
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
5
Best Switch JRPG
Rank
Game
Votes
1
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
131
2
Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore
34
3
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
13
4
Trials of Mana (remake)
9
5
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
4
Dragon Quest XI S received 69 votes and would've gotten second but came out in Sep 2019 for NS, so it was ineligible. It was eligible for other platforms though.
Best PS4 or PS5 JRPG
Rank
Game
Votes
1
Persona 5 Royal
106
2
Final Fantasy VII Remake
92
3
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
51
4
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
48
5
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
33
Best Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S JRPG
Rank
Game
Votes
1
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
93
2
Dragon Quest XI S
48
3-5
N/A
N/A
Xbox consoles have historically always had less JRPGs on them, and this year wasn't much different, with only two nominations.
Best Fan Project (Translation/Romhack/Mod/etc)
Rank
Project
Votes
1
Trails from Zero (English Translation) - by The Geofront
111
2
Final Fantasy VI Brave New World 2.0 (Mod) - by BTB
16
3
Final Fantasy VI T-Edition (Mod)
15
4
Tear Ring Saga Series: Berwick Saga (English Translation) - by Aethin.
8
5
Zanma Chouougi Valhollian (English Translation) - by aishsha, paul_met and Stardust Crusaders
4
Most Anticipated 2021 Release
Rank
Game
Votes
1
Shin Megami Tensei V
115
2
Tales of Arise
75
3
Final Fantasy XVI
71
4
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...
46
5
Bravely Default II
36
Best Music
Rank
Game
Votes
1
Persona 5 Royal
130
2
Final Fantasy VII Remake
96
3
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
55
4
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
32
5
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
16
Best Graphics (includes Art Direction/Style and Technical)
I've compiled a list of games with their known FPS. There might be mistakes, so please let me know if you find any. Gameplay videos are linked to the title. This will now be updated on the spreadsheet so you can filter the results. Now with resolution & game pass info! Step-by-step instructions to measure FPS here if you want to help me out and I'll link your video. Link to Xbox Series X list here.
"The turn-based combat is a welcome change however combined with some weird decisions and a somewhat bland story its not all sunshine and rainbows for this new kid on the street."
The transition from a top notch brawler to a JRPG feels totally seamless. The gameplay have all the good parts we expect from a JRPG translated to the language of the Yakuza series but it also has some of the bad parts like the need for grinding and some unfair boss fights. The story and new characters are presented in a way that make this new journey for the franchise very well worth taking.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the perfect update for a flagging series. Its clever storytelling, bizarre substories, and engrossing gameplay makes this one of the strongest entries in the franchise. Mixing deep societal messages with references to popular culture, the game is both hilarious and thought-provoking. It is very clear to see that with Ichiban Kasuga, the series is in safe hands
Yakuza: Lika A Dragon goes a different way but follows what made the series so great. The new protagonist, the story (besides some weak points), the crazy mini games, battle animations, summons and Ichiban Kasuga offer so much fun and action. Some boring dungeons in the middle of the game and balancing issues are the only downsides you should expect. Even if you are not a fan of turn based combat or haven't touched the series yet, you should give this a shot.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon has definitely made some drastic changes to the series but without losing its original charm. The fast pace turn base system has so much added depth while still feeling like a Yakuza game. The graphics are the best the series has seen to date, players will fall for the ridiculous Ichiban who is a well-worked new hero to the series. Other than the lag between different sections of the games and slightly clunky animations it's really hard to fault this reimagining of the legendary series.
Like a Dragon isn't my favorite Yakuza, and its fresh turn-based combat eventually grows stale, but I have a lot of love for it. If it's your first game, it'll quickly initiate you into this wild, one-of-a-kind series.
Who knows if this wild experiment will bear fruit and become its own series. Yakuza: Like a Dragon has everything it needs; an excellent crop of new characters, and even a new playground to base a series in, as we hadn't been to Yokohama previously. The future of the series would depend on how turn-based combat sells in comparison to action brawler combat, I would assume. Either way, though, Like a Dragon is a delight. It's a parody-homage to every turn-based JRPG trope you've ever known, set against brilliant character writing and the traditional urban playgrounds that have built this series into something beloved. I hope the development team is rewarded for the inherent risk that they took with this undertaking.
Like a Dragon is the story of a carp that turns into a dragon, of a gang of scapegoats who decide to defy the established order and come to the head of a desperate situation. Ichiban Kasuga is an individual far from dojima's stoic and serious Dragon but has an equally kind soul and crackling personality, which makes him - along with his strange clique - the symbol of Yakuza's rebirth. A rebirth that passes through a fun and enjoyable but also improveable role-making formula. With this seventh chapter, in other words, the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has shown us the potential of what would seem to be his idea for the future of the series, which with the advent of next-gen consoles could give us great surprises.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon has made the leap into the RPG genre with flying colors. The story is kept exciting and you can't stop following Ichiban's vendetta. The abundance of side tasks can be a bit overwhelming for the player at the beginning. But once you have played the game for a few hours, you know the most important points in the city. Time passes very quickly when playing darts or karting. By no means you need to believe that these actions are a waste of time. You get personality points which finally strengthen the fighting actions. The fights bring a breath of fresh air to the row and put a smile on the players' faces. Through the different creative classes you attack the opponents with pigeons or wrestling moves instead of casting disdainful fireballs. Unfortunately, the invisible AoE range of abilities spoils the fun of the game. Also the unusually long races until a comrade reaches the enemy seem strange. A timeline showing the next actors would have been helpful too. If you like the Yakuza series and are open for new things, you definitely have to go for Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Yakuza fans were anxious about whether the series would survive without the glue of Kiryu Kazama to hold it together. However, Ichiban Kasuga is a worthy successor to the Dragon of Dojima, and Like a Dragon is a great new start for this fantastic series that will please long-time Yakuza fans and newcomers alike.
You should look at Yakuza: Like a Dragon through the lens of it's protaginist. This game is unapologetically brash, unmistakable bold, life-affirming and insanely charismatic. The legend of Ichiban Kasuga journey, like a bright flame, tells us one familliar, but sweet and romantic idea - each and every one of us can become a true Hero, even if you have to fight the fate itself, while making your way through hundrends upon hundreds of random encounters.
Ultimately, despite all the changes that have been made, Yakuza: Like a Dragon feels very much like a Yakuza game. The combat may now be turn-based, and the scenery might be different, but this is still a game full of drama, thrilling battles, and a huge amount of side content, all smothered with an ample amount of humour. And I never thought I’d say this, but I didn’t miss Kazuma Kiryu one jot while playing it; Ichiban Kasuga is simply a more likeable fellow with more depth. So, if you like the Yakuza series, consider Yakuza: Like a Dragon a must-have.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon reminded me why I loved video games to begin with. I cannot think of a game this year that has gripped me this tightly and didn't let go. Here comes a game brimming with joy and excitement that is earnest with its drama and comedy. It's the sort of game you can gush about for hours, and I will long after this review is published. Anyone who loves RPGs, open world games, comedies, crime dramas, and games PERIOD should have a lot of fun with the newest Yakuza.
As the Yakuza franchise is still trying to become a household franchise in the West, the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio decided to flip the switch and create a turn-based RPG. The result of that experiment, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, is a resounding success. The "dynamic RPG" gameplay fits the Yakuza universe and tropes like a glove and its mechanics are surprisingly deep. And the fact that the game's new characters are lovable doesn't hurt. The turn-based gameplay will probably put off some gamers but Yakuza: Like a Dragon truly deserves a shot. The Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio made the JRPG genre proud.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon impressively pulls off the switch to an RPG in style, providing an excellent combat system supported by loveable characters, and a tantalising main storyline with meaningful side quests.
Yakuza is reborn in this brilliant and compelling new addition to series canon that recontextualizes series tropes and mechanics for an entirely new genre, delivering one of the best outings the series has ever seen.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has topped themselves once again with Yakuza: Like a Dragon! This new take on Yakuza brings a lot of fun, new ideas to the table while remaining its heartfelt self. Turn based combat is somehow a perfect fit for this new direction, the characters are all instantly loveable, and the story is endearingly melodramatic.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a phenomenal entry into the Yakuza franchise, with an interesting new protagonist, a compelling story, and a combat system that constantly mixes things up.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon largely succeeds at moving the series forward in a bold new direction. Kasuga and his band of unlikely heroes are incredibly interesting and make it so easy to care about their crazy antics. The new main locale is massive and plays host to so many compelling things to do. Getting wrapped up in everything Like a Dragon has to offer is worth it and you’ll easily pour 30+ hours into its captivating tale. The turn-based battle system works in parts, but its annoying character placement issues and faulty summons system keep it from being a total victory. Like a Dragon is still worth hopping into if you’re looking for an amazing parody of RPG tropes, however. It’s a Yakuza sequel that signals a bright future ahead for the beloved franchise.
No doubt about it, SEGA took some considerable risks when they decided to change their established formula so radically for Yakuza: Like A Dragon. But in the end, I think the gamble paid off. Ryū ga Gotoku Studio's latest offering may not pack the punchy, moment to moment gameplay of its predecessors. Still, it makes up for that with its more in-depth brawls, an engaging job system, and a story that focuses not just on a single protagonist, but on several compelling heroes with their own complex motivations. While beat-'em-up fanatics may find this change in direction blasphemous, I couldn't be happier. If you're a Yakuza fan who loves JRPGs, adding this underworld epic to your PS4 library is a no-brainer.
It keeps the great narrative and setting from the Yakuza series, using a new protagonist, a city that has more life than even Kamurocho and turn-based combats. It suffers from some of the classical troubles of the J-RPG, but it is a breath of fresh air and a great example of how to reinvent a franchise.
Yakuza Like a Dragon is a real and huge JRPG who knows how to maintain the essence of the saga. Fun fighting system and deep script with too many ups and downs to justify the new playable elements. I hope this new formula that works and gives new wings to the franchise will be repeated.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon makes for an excellent new entry in this long-running series. The developers took a chance on a new protagonist and battle system, which forces fans out of their comfort zone for a very different yet, familiar Yakuza experience. Although the opening exposition can be a bit overwhelming, this is a standout video game on its own with plenty of emotional story beats, insane sub-stories, and plenty of ways to spend your time around Ijincho.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a very good sequel to the popular Yakuza series which shows that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios still manages to create a great story and narrative. The game's turn-based battles are good in themselves, but due to the extreme use of enemies in the environment, they soon became repetition.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon is an impressive and quality JRPG that successfully acts as a jumping in-point for new fans and also ties itself to the series' past in exciting and engaging ways. The turn-based combat has been infused with some mechanics that help retain the action and over-the-top hilarity the series is known for. Mini-games once again shine and there is a lot packed into Ijincho. Like A Dragon paves the way for a bright future for the franchise.
It was a gamble on Sega’s part to make such major changes to a tried and true formula, even more bewildering given its recent meteoric rise in Western markets. If Yakuza: Like A Dragon proves anything, it’s that fortune does indeed favour the bold.
Like a Dragon's story attempts to touch on certain social issues that are relevant in present-day Japan, such as classism, social status, sex work, and government corruption on a prefectural level. However, the writing often lacks the nuance or range to address the topics at hand, and doesn't give any of them adequate room to breathe. The second half of the game gains some measure of focus as plot threads tie together and result in genuinely surprising twists, but when Like a Dragon drops the ball, it drops it hard. Despite this, the Japanese cast's performances sell the story with evocative deliveries that breathe life into the characters. The finale is an emotional one that brought me to tears and moved me, just as most previous Yakuza games have.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon, when all of its pieces are taken together, is not only a fantastic new direction for the series, it's also one of its best titles.
Yakuza Like a Dragon is both a fresh start and a shot in the arm that caters to series veterans and newcomers like. It bears all the hallmarks of a great Yakuza game, while making a damned good case for its revamped battle system. After Yakuza 6 topped the rest of the franchise with a matured and succinct focus it feels even more exciting to see the whole thing blown wide open again and have Ryu ga Gotoku just run wild. Kudos is deserved at Sega of America for their commitment to the game's localization as well, which is incredibly considered and comprehensive. I think I've found a new favourite Yakuza game.
With a new battle system and new main character, Yakuza: Like A Dragon aims to be a new entry point to Yakuza newcomers even though it is anything but that.
So, the takeaway is this – Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a successful experiment. So successful that I think it should be the template for much of the series going forward.
A brilliant reinvention of the series that still manages to faithfully capture its essence, with an eclectic cast of characters, the star being Ichiban himself. A great entry that goes toe-to-toe with Yakuza 0.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a successful pivot from traditional Yakuza mainstays. The game goes heavy on style, while still packing in enough substance to keep players satisfied. The party system and new RPG elements give players more ways to play than ever before. The turn-based combat is solid, and never feels too foreign. Longtime fans of the franchise will appreciate what Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and SEGA have to offer in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Much like Kasuga’s dragonfish tattoo feels like a quirky but faithful successor to Kiryu’s dragon, Yakuza: Like a Dragon rebuilds the franchise by leaving a lot of it in place. The new protagonist doesn’t feel like he has seven games of story in him, but his eagerness to join the fray could carry the next few entries.
After the culture shock of such a total change to the Yakuza recipe, I’m extremely glad the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio team took such a big leap when Kiryu’s tale came to an end. Like A Dragon is a revitalised game full of fresh ideas and proves that the series won’t be re-treading the same ground with Ichiban in the driver’s seat. If this is the first step into the new age of Yakuza, I can’t wait to see how bonkers the next game will be.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon refreshes the action with a turn-based JRPG that retains its charming identity, but it falls into some pitfalls that are emblematic of the genre.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is an interesting new entry into the criminal universe created by SEGA, and undoubtedly represents the most courageous and anarchic chapter so far. It's not entirely convincing, but what works bodes well for the future of the series.
Yakuza Like a Dragon is an enjoyable new twist on the series, although it's not hard to imagine that many long-time fans of the series will be put off by its slow pace. In a day and age where video game companies rarely take risks, Like a Dragon is a refreshing change of pace for a series that risked starting to feel stale.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a triumph, and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio should be commended for redefining such a seasoned franchise, despite the backlash it might have received. Leaving Kazuma Kiryu behind hasn't been easy, but Ichiban Kasuga and company have crafted a compelling path into the future that I cannot wait to see continue.
The mean streets of Yokohama offer the opportunity for a new cast, a new suit, and a new hero. Ichiban Kasuga might not be the role model in the same way that Kiryu-chan was, but this dragon's quest might be the most fun Yakuza title to date!
Yakuza: Like a Dragon feels like everything I ever wanted in a game. Once the game stomps on the gas, it very rarely slows down. Its unique cast of characters and gameplay had me hooked and wanting more, and it almost feels like it never stops giving. Even after the story ends at the 45+ hour mark, I was ready to fight more, complete more side missions, and squeeze out every drop of gameplay that this game has to offer.
The Yakuza series continues to grow and expand in the gaming world. I love its quirky humor and deep narratives. This new entry begins a new saga and I cannot wait to see how the story of Ichi evolves over time. If it is even half as good as Kiryu’s the studio will have another series of great games on its hands. Everything about this title feels good and for those worried about having previous knowledge, don’t be concerned. Like a Dragon is a wonderful jumping in point for the series and also one of the best titles in it to date. Don’t sleep on this game, it is worth digging into.
Story Driven/Heavy Games With Great Stories That I Haven't Already Played
I have played a lot of games, so you can probably cast aside your most obvious recommendations. I've been playing games since the NES, so while it's not like I have a comprehensive and complete knowledge of every story driven game, yes I have played most of the big ones. I don't tend to be a big fan of western games, especially CRPGs. I'm not a fan of how they feel like I'm playing someone else's character but want me to make the choices. Then the choices feel like they're not choices I'd make. The world's tend to feel lore driven, and choice driven, without as much of an emphasis on the characters and story. I do not like New Vegas, Dragon Age, Disco Elaysium, Planescape Torment, Outer Worlds, Mass Effect, or any games of those types. I have not played Cyberpunk, but would it really offer me a different experience? I'm also not a huge fan of the non RPGs like Grand Theft Auto, or Mafia. I'm not a big fan of open world games in general. Not a huge fan of Night in the Woods either. That's not to say Japanese games are perfect, as I don't really care for Yakuza and I feel like Nier Automata goes completely off the rails. I have a very complicated relationship with Persona. My absolute favorite games and probably top examples of storytelling I enjoyed would be Silent Hill 2, and Metal Gear Solid 2. I also adore Final Fantasy IX. I usually lean into darker stories, with complex themes and issues, and a message. I usually do not like romance heavy or focused plots. I'm currently playing through Omori, but it's a bit disappointing in how meme heavy and jokey it can be at the expense of the darker or more serious elements. Since I'm sure it sounds like Nier Automata would be the perfect choice for me, I will quickly summarize why I hate it: Beautiful Game, Great Soundtrack (something I normally care nothing about), Fascinating main character reminiscent of The Major in Ghost in the Shell, but the entire third act and every plot development, main character swap, and gameplay element should go right to hell. I hate 9S and I hate route B and I despise C. So to summarize: The game can be in whatever genre, even walking sims are fine. The game just needs to have a very good, preferably darker and more psychological story. Paranormal things are a big plus but not a requirement. I've probably played most big name games you can think of, though you're still free to ask if I played it and why I do/don't like it if I have. Pretty much any system that isn't an Xbox or Wii/Wii U is something I have access to. Old hardware, PS1/2/3/4/5, PSP/Vita, Switch, PC, SNES, whatever else are all fine. Games I'm Considering Dark Pictures Anthology: I enjoyed Until Dawn, though I thought it was a bit dumb at times. I'm told Dark Pictures is a bit hackneyed and mediocre at times though, and expensive for the length. The Walking Dead Telltale: I kind of hate TWD but I'm told this is considerably different. I have not really enjoyed other telltale games. The Wolf Among Us: I haven't enjoyed any other telltale games, so I don't know that I would enjoy this. The Medium: This looks like it completely misunderstood what Silent Hill was about on every level. It copied some of the aesthetics and music, but everything I've seen of the story is weak and sometimes outright offensive, if not cliche. To the Moon: Supposedly pretty emotional game but most things don't do a very good job of tugging my heart strings, especially not before the gameplay frustrates me. Common with indie games. Hotline Miami: Looks a bit like a meme. I realize this is getting pretty narrow, but I wouldn't need recommendations if I hadn't burned through quite a large selection of games. Yes I have played Katana Zero, Amnesia, Soma, Alan Wake, Control, House in Fata Morgana, VA-11 Hall-A, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, DMC 5, Danganronpa, Life is Strange, etc. I just don't want to make this post any longer. You really can probably assume that if it's been in the mainstream conscious I've probably played it unless I noted otherwise.
Graphics Quality Ranking of games available for the Xbox Series S
\Will be updating this post as I go through more of the Game Pass catalogue. But please, note it's only my opinion and you might see it differently. Video links are provided if you click on the titles for you to judge them yourselves.* Just thought I would share my ranking of the graphics quality of the Xbox Series S games: Poor: Low res textures made it so ugly, it's unplayable!
Ark Survival- this game looks really ugly on the Xbox Series S. Looks better after the update
Final Fantasy IX - glitchy cut scenes and low res background graphics made this unplayeable
Jedi Fallen Order- AAA game that seriously needs an update soon. Longer gameplayhere. **Just updated with higher res & fps!
Hyperscape: free to play game, running at 60fps but with low res textures. In danger of becoming irrelevant if they don't keep up with the rest offering 120fps or higher resolutions!
Outer Worlds - what were they thinking? This needs an update ASAP! Very disappointing considering this is a game MS advertised to show the low load times.
Outer Wilds - great game let down by poor res graphics
Age of Wonders Planetfall: abit blurry due to lower res textures but good enough to be played on the big screen (sorry for the oversaturated video capture)
Assetto Corsa: could do with higher res textures but cars look good.
Halo Master Chief Collection: I would say Halo Reach 3/4 still look good, Halo CE & 2 is OK but Halo ODST is horrendous!
The Hunter Call of the Wild: textures are quite low res, everything a little blurry so hard to spot the animals but good enough to play and enjoy a little. Runs at 30fps
Jedi Fallen Order - With next-gen update, it now has higher res textures and smoother gameplay at 60fps.
Killer Instinct: probably the best looking fighting game I've seen so far on the Xbox Series S
Cyberpunk 2077: I know the bugs can be quite disappointing but if you just consider the graphics quality, it is amazingly good for the Series S (even better than X performance mode) but runs at quite a stable 30fps.
Destiny 2: improved graphics and 60fps now after recent update
FIFA21: seriously not much of a visual improvement over FIFA20 if you play the classic mode. Most of the differences come in the cut scenes and rendering of players.
PHOGS! Zelda BotW style graphics in a puzzle game. 2 player mode is really fun!
Rainbow Six Siege: still so good after this many years. Can run up to 120fps at 1080p if you select "Prioritize Performance" in video settings. 60fps at Quality mode.
Rocket Arena: looks good and really fun to play + it's free to play if you're on EA Play/Game Pass!
I: Much studying, little free time (+ quick thoughts on some games)
Hey everyone, hope you had as good a start to the new year as possible. As always, looking forward to reading all of your progress posts for this month. At the start of the month (and in the last week or so of December), I've managed to play "a lot" and beat 4 games, so I thought this might be another double-digit month in regards to completions. Little did I know that most of my days would be spent studying for the exams coming up. Most of my free time I've either spent on my family or on "CS:GO Investing", believe it or not. I did find the time to play a bunch of Slime Rancher with my little brother, some Yakuza 0 alone and some CS:GO, Apex Legends and Elder Scrolls Online. I'll speak a bit about those experiences now and move on to the actual completions in a little bit.
CS:GO: As I said, I've gotten into investing in CS:GO skins and other items, which seems to be a thing that can be done. So most of my time when I did play CS:GO was in order to grind stars to spend on skins (long story) but I did play a few rounds alone and with my brother as well. It's actually a fun game but I'll probably stop playing it once the operation that is currently running ends.
Apex Legends: Only played 2 rounds and I'll probably uninstall it soon. Not a fan of battle royals in general but this one I particularly disliked.
ESO: I'm really in the mood for ES VI but we'll have to wait quite some time for that, so I thought I'd give ESO a try. And while it looks like something that I would have spent 1k+ hours on a decade or so ago, I'm more into single player RPGs and didn't really enjoy my time with this. There is ridiculous amount of content in this but doesn't look like MMOs are for me anymore.
And now onto the usual stuff :D
II: Games I've Quit | 5
Call of Cthulhu
Far Cry 5
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Resident Evil 6
The Witcher
Call of Cthulhu is a game that I've actually tried a few months back, never continued and decided to not bother again at the end of December, which is why I put it here in this report. I didn't play it for more than 30 minutes but I wasn't impressed at all with any of the mechanics and visuals. With time being more limited I'm not going to force myself through this with a bunch of more interesting looking games on my backlog. Same thing (kind of) goes for Far Cry 5. Played it a while back with a friend but we actually put about 10 to 15 hours into this before never playing again. Easily the worst Far Cry I've played. The story is just absolute garbage and feels so contrived. All antagonists just keep talking and talking and try to say anything meaning- or impactful but end up repeating the same things over and over. And I couldn't count how many times the game knocked you out so you would land in a cutscene with one of them. Poorly paced as well. Gameplay is basically like other Far Cry games but at least those had side characters who had interesting missions once or twice. Going around shooting bulls for a dude who needs eggs for an egg fest (and similar missions) was just dumb I thought. Plus we had a major bug during a main "boss" mission and a bunch of other smaller ones. As always, your mileage may vary. I wouldn't say Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a bad game at all, it's just that I don't think playing this game for 30+ more hours is something I'm really excited for. If you're into roleplaying games that pays A LOT of attention to detail, you'll love this but I don't think it's for me that much. Last year, I beat Resident Evil 5 in coop with my brother and we've (re)started playing Resident Evil 6 after dropping it over 5 years (!) ago. We played it for a few hours and thought we'll just grind through while laughing at the (unintentionally) hilarious parts of the game. After a few hours and the Deborah boss fight (which was, without a doubt, the worst kind of boss fight there could ever be in a functioning video game), we checked HowLongToBeat and yeah, suffice to say, we won't go through 20+ hours of this garbage. I guess the shooting is somewhat OK but literally everything else in this game ranges from boring to absolutely cringeworthy, mostly the latter though. I'll try Revelations, which is also in my backlog and I'll definitely play the newer games (2,3,7) but damn, 5 and 6 are terrible games. I've only played a few hours of The Witcher and the story itself might have pushed me through but it just didn't age very well and instead of pushing through, I'd rather go "straight into" The Witcher 2 (straight into meaning some time this year :D). ----------
III: Games I’ve Added | 8
Cave Story+
Cyberpunk 2077
Guacamelee! 2
Night in the Woods
Psychonauts
Resident Evil 3
Satellite Reign
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
I've gotten three games via Trade, Guacamelee! 2, Psychonauts and Satellite Reign. I don't know when I'll get to them or if I'll actually finish them but I had more interest in these games than the ones I gave up for 'em. My brother, the legend, got Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Resident Evil 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 on PC since my end of year post, all of which I can play through Steam Family Sharing. I don't think I'll get into RE3 for a while. Similarly to how I felt after completing RE5, I need a break from that series after playing the shit show that was RE6. I will however for sure play Wolfenstein II this year. I loved the first game when I played it a few years ago and I don't know how I still haven't gotten into the second game. As most of you will probably know, Epic gave away 15 free games and out of those, I've added two games to the backlog, which I will count as being added in 2021. These games are Cave Story+ and Night in the Woods. I've also added a few more after that, including Battlefront II, but I won't include those because as of now, I have no interest in them or their single player components. ----------
IV: Games I've Beaten | 4
A quick overview of all the games I've beaten this month. Reviews are in alphabetical order. (Bold = Game of the Month)
Batman: Arkham City
Mafia: Definitive Edition
The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
Youropa
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Owned Since: September 30th, 2020 Beaten: December 25th, 2020 Platform: PC Playtime: 10 hours While I know next to nothing about the Mafia, I really enjoy playing Mafia themed games, watching Mafia themed movies and reading Mafia themed books from time to time. So I was very excited to hear the news about the Mafia remake, even though I didn't enjoy my experience with the original years ago much. The game didn't age well mostly (obviously) but I also didn't think the story was anything special. In fact, I thought it was just reusing the same tropes in every medium that has to do with the Mafia ever. "It's the Mafia, at the end of the day, so what do you expect?". Right. Nothing wrong with that, you're free to enjoy this game very much of course. I'll just go ahead and explain my thoughts on the story in this review. To me, the story is the main attraction in anything that is about the Mafia, so I'll briefly go over everything else the game had to offer. I personally liked the new music and voice actors. The VAs especially add a lot to the experience in comparison to the original, though if you're someone who played the original multiple times, having different voices attached to the characters might sound wrong in your ears. Same goes for the music of course. The graphics look amazing imo and also add much to the experience. This was really a well made remake overall. They've added a lot of mechanics from Mafia 3 (driving, combat...) and it works really well. I don't have a great rig (1060 3GB + i5 6600k) but I've had a consistent 50 FPS with high graphic options. I'd say that's fair. Now to the story and my main reason for the rating (which is a solid 6 still): Games as a medium have an advantage over books and movies that this games story, in my eyes, doesn't really take advantage of. Now, the original is 18 years old, so I guess there were limitations to what they were able to do but what I personally would expect out of a good Mafia story doesn't really have anything to do with the technical side. Books have the advantage of time as well. They are hundreds of pages long and can go very in depth in terms of describing characters, describing scenery and telling stories. Movies, of course , have the advantage of bringing these stories to life on your screen. They are however limited to a few hours at most, so they have to prioritize characters that they want to focus on and develop. Games have the advantage of combining both the length of books and the visual aspect of movies. This game is 10 hours long, so more than 3x longer than the Godfather. Now, the Godfather is obviously amazing and it wouldn't be fair to compare Mafia to one of the best movies of all time but it's just to demonstrate that games can do something movies can't. And it's a big factor in Mafia themed media in my opinion: They can go in-depth when it comes to connecting the player to the "family" aspect of the Mafia. You do a bunch of missions with Sam and Paulie, you meet Frank, the consigliere, Don Salieri, Vincent and even the mechanic, Ralphie. So the game has a bunch of interesting characters that you could potentially meet and connect more in-depth with than any movie, apart from the best ones, would allow. Yet, all is just so shallow. There is no depth. After beating it, you know a little bit about Sam (and I mean just a little bit), you know a bit more about Paulie, you hear a couple things about Don Salieri's past but ultimately, I forgot about almost everyone of these characters since playing the original a few years ago and I'm sure I'll forget about them in a couple years from now as well. The game sets its focus on Morello and the "bad bad guys". This makes sense, as a game is interactive and has to give you reasons to kill people. Unfortunately this means less time is being spent learning more about all the members of your 'family'. You get to share a couple moments with Paulie and Sarah but even those are very few and far between. You never really know about anyone's motivations for joining the Mafia and their pasts apart from a few times where other characters tell anecdotes. But you do get to hear a lot about Morello and his lot. So yeah, I feel like the game doesn't really manage the balance between scenes with family and enemies. They've even added a few scenes with Sarah, so I guess the devs kinda agree with that sentiment (maybe I'm just reaching). Regardless, I had my fun with it. The scenes where everyone would meet up and talk about the upcoming mission were very nice and the times where the game would delve a bit deeper into some of the characters were definite highlights. I also will definitely be getting Mafia 4 whenever it releases because even average to below average Mafia stories like this one are fun to experience. Rating: 6/10
Batman: Arkham City
Owned Since: October 29th, 2016 Beaten: January 1st Platform: PC Playtime: 16 hours This is what happened during the final minutes of me playing this: I was in the middle of playing it and just like that, it was over. I legit was like "IS THIS IT?". And I still don't know how to feel about it. On the one hand, the ending was sick and even for me, who is not the biggest Batman fan out there, was a very meaningful moment. Batman carrying out Joker's body is the part I'm talking about. At the same time, the final boss fight sucked ass, very much unlike the rest of the game's boss fights (more on them in a bit). I feel like the ending also left a big plot hole by not answering one question: What happened to all the people in Gotham, who were also poisoned by Joker? I know Robin was sent to check the hospitals to see who had the poisoned blood in them but did they ever get the cure? Didn't Joker destroy the vial with the antidote in it? Maybe I've missed something. The story, other than that question mark that I still have in my head, was solid. I thought the game was going to destroy the sense of urgency a la most open world games these days but, apart from those few hundred riddles by the Riddler and a few side missions, the open world wasn't bloated with a bunch of activities. I don't care for the riddles but the side missions I did were enjoyable. Speaking of the open world, I definitely prefer Arkham Asylum's smaller space. In both games, you mostly enter specific locations and explore them before moving on to the next one, so all the open world has done is increase the amount of time it takes to move from A to B for me. It also wasn't as smooth to glide through the city as in 2018's Spider-Man game for example, though that one is obviously 7 years younger than Arkham City. I do think an open world Batman game can be much more enjoyable, though for that 1) gliding has to become smoother, 2) Batmobile must become available, 3) there needs to be more interesting and engaging side activities (Spider-Man did this extremely well) and the outer areas need to be actually utilized in the story. Apart from some parts of the Wonder Tower and a few small fights outside, almost everything I remember took place indoors (which is what I preferred in both Arkham games as I said, this just would make me enjoy an open world experience more). So I'm intrigued by what Arkham Knight has to offer, though I've already heard countless times how using the Batmobile is a pain. Everything else about the game has the potential to be really enjoyable, so I'm optimistic. Updated graphics obviously help matters as well. Ah, I mentioned the boss fights at the start, didn't I? I'll end this review with my favorite part about the Arkham games so far: The villains and how they're being utilized. I haven't played a game that does it much better. That's either 1) because the focus isn't on villains like in the Batman series, 2) because their villains suck or 3) they just don't know how to use them properly. I'd put a game like Far Cry 4 in the 3) section. Yes, the game is about exploring Kyrat but the story is also about helping Amita and/or Sabal, two characters I had forgotten even existed until I saw some Far Cry 4 gameplay recently again. Pagan Min is obviously the main event of the story and apart from a handful of cutscenes and a dozen or so phone calls, you don't see him. And I feel like he had so much potential as not only a very interesting antagonist but also as a character you'd talk about for decades when talking about best gaming villains. (Same goes for Far Cry 3 and Vaas, who you see even less than Pagan Min if I remember correctly. And then you play something like Far Cry 5, where they shove the siblings down your throat with interruptions and never ending monologues. Never seen people who talk so much, yet end up saying nothing at all. So maybe the way Far Cry 3/4 did it was the better way :D) Anyway, all villains in Batman Arkham City are well presented, they all are enjoyable to fight against (Ra's Al Ghul being my personal highlight) and they all contribute to the story in little and major ways. So yeah, very good game :D Rating: 8/10
The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
Owned Since: September 2nd, 2020 Beaten: December 28th, 2020 Platform: PC Playtime: 6.5 hours I won't go so in-depth with this review because I feel like I went a bit crazy with the other two games prior :D. I didn't play the first game, which might have improved the story experience by a little bit but I had a lot of fun with this game regardless. It's a Korean horror game, in which you play Mina Park, who's a student and gets trapped in the "shadow realm". In that world, you're being followed by one of your teachers and some other monsters trying to kill you, while you solve puzzles, collect notes and try to get the fuck out of there. The game has 6 chapters, or 6 different areas rather. In each, you do very similar tasks and have to avoid the monsters by running away and hiding. You can hear your teacher's footsteps when she gets pretty close and they get louder, as she gets closer to you. I loved this. She didn't get close to you constantly (like in Alien: Isolation for example) but every time she did, it was unnerving and kind of scary as well, without being a cheap jump scare or anything. The auditory horror mechanic - I guess you could it that - is really well done. Next to that, you have to constantly dodge bodies falling from the ceiling, monsters lying on the ground trying to strike you and some venomous plants releasing their toxins when you get near them. As I said, all 6 chapters play very similar but the gameplay is so fun that I didn't really feel the game being repetitive or at any point boring. I'd even go so far as to say that this is the best horror game I've played so far, only rivaled by the first Outlast game and probably something like the older Silent Hill games, of which I have very little memories left, though. The story is OK. It's nothing worth talking about much but for a horror game, it'll do. The real deal in this game is its gameplay and horror elements, so if you're looking for one to play, give it a shot. Or at least think about it when looking for games to play in October. Rating: 7/10
Youropa
Owned Since: September 2nd, 2020 Beaten: December 30th, 2020 Platform: PC Playtime: 10 hours I've beaten this "in coop" with my little brother. By coop I mean that I had the controller mostly but I let him have a try for a few hours as well. He'd mostly just goof around but he also surprisingly solved a few puzzles on his own. He's 3 years old, mind you. And if you have a child or a sibling at a similar age, I'd definitely recommend this game. There are 2 kinds of monsters, both of which my brother just laughed at, but other kids might possibly get a little scared by them. Youropa is a puzzle platformer and what makes it unique is that you can actually stick on a pathway, so that you can actually stand upside down. This is a key mechanic used for most puzzles and it's implemented really well. The game somehow manages to make these puzzles easy enough that a 3 year old can solve some of them, yet be difficult enough at times to even make me think harder in order to solve them. You start by not being able to do anything but walk and with every completed section, you learn how to jump, kick, sprint and more. My brother's eyes would open wide whenever we'd get a new skill and he'd immediately grab the controller to try it out. Some levels even add unique items that you can use (pogo sticks, motorcycles, cars) to do puzzles, which my brother also had A TON of fun doing. There are a lot of other cool things to do and the game manages to really keep fresh for the entire playthrough. I don't know how I've never heard of it but this is another game I can wholeheartedly recommend, even to anyone without a young child/sibling, if you're into puzzle platformers. Rating: 7.5/10 -----------------
V: Currently Playing
PC
Yakuza 0: Probably only put about 5-6 hours into this in January but I'm sure once I get done with my exams, I'll play it for a lot more. I've played for 2 hours or so today and just got into Chapter 6 after about 35 hours total. It's an insane game but one of those that I want more free time for to enjoy with more of a "relaxed mind".
Cyberpunk 2077: Abandoned it after 8 hours or so because I recognize there are a lot of bugs still, features missing and poor optimization. Do I think all of these things will be fixed with that big February patch? No but I'll definitely delay playing this any longer because 1) I'm busy anyway and 2) I'd like a more clean first experience. The parts I did play however were very promising, especially any main story scene with some of the characters. The presentation in those is top notch and the atmosphere in general, apart from braindead NPCs, is insane.
Slime Rancher: Just got to a door that needs a bunch of plorts to open and we also opened up the lab, so progress. It's a neat game and my brother loves it but I doubt I'd play it on my own.
Playstation 4
Horizon Zero Dawn: At the start of January I had a crazy open world game itch, so I started HZD form the beginning for the fourth time or so. I'll give it more time after exams but I'm not feeling it so far. The world is unique, yes but gameplay doesn't seem that great after 5 hours or so (or about 15 hours after 4 restarts). The story might go somewhere and will be the main thing that decides whether I'll finish this or not but based on gameplay I doubt this will be that much different to something like Far Cry 4 in terms of repetitiveness. Also the side missions so far have sucked, so I'm hoping those improve as well. And I feel like Aloy's voice actress, who's very accomplished for a good reason, is overacting soo much in so many scenes. It just feels unnatural.
Xbox One
Assassins Creed: Origins: As I said, I was really in the mood for open world games, especially for the newer AC games for some reason, so I restarted this and got about a dozen hours into it. I have to say, Ubisoft has done an amazing job with this game. Apart from the same thing that hurts all Ubi open world games (repetitive side content), and the world being way too large, the attention to detail here is commendable. Bayek is an interesting protagonist with an intriguing backstory and someone who's revenge story I really like following. The voice acting of Bayek is also amazing. Especially in the assassination scenes, where you can feel all the emotions that were boiling inside of him just spilling out. I also like how some side objectives actually deepen Bayek's relationship to characters further. A lot of characters are forgettable after the fact but it helps establish Bayek's place in this world and what he means to the people around him. So far I've enjoyed doing most of the side objectives as well. Though that might change after another 10+ hours or so because they are mostly the same after all. But I'm really positively surprised by how much effort went into this. It's also the first time that I'm not cringing at the dialogue in an AC game 9/10 times.
Nintendo Switch
Nothing: Nintendo games just cost way too much, man.
------------------
VI: 12in12 original list | 2/12 completed
Assassins Creed: Brotherhood
Batman Arkham City | COMPLETED
Cyberpunk 2077
F.E.A.R.
Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth
Layers of Fear 2
Mafia: Definitive Edition | COMPLETED
Metro 2033
Observer
Persona 5
Transistor
Yakuza 0
I'm determined to beat these 12 this year. Yakuza 0 will be done in a month or two and I'm interested in playing another horror game, so something like Layers of Fear 2 might be done next month as well. ------------------
VII: My Stats
Games Added: 8
Total Price: 0 €
Games Removed: 5
Games Finished: 4
Games Left in the Backlog: 85
0 € paid for those games thanks to all the freebies + having a brother who's buying a lot on Steam. Not bad. Though when I'll get to any of these I have no idea. Hope you enjoyed reading my post. Best of luck to you all for next month :)
RISE LIKE A DRAGON Become Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking yakuza grunt left on the brink of death by the man he trusted most. Take up your legendary bat and get ready to crack some underworld skulls in dynamic RPG combat set against the backdrop of modern-day Japan. Yakuza 0, Kiwami, and Kiwami 2 have already made their way to Xbox and PC, while Yakuza: Like a Dragon released last month on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Now, players will be able to experience the entire Kiryu saga on Xbox and PC as The Yakuza Remastered Collection arrives on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Windows Yakuza: Like a Dragon PlayStation 4™, Xbox One™, & Xbox Series X™ – US & EU. While we are waiting for the Western release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Sega has released new gameplay for this action-adventure game in IGN’s Summer of Gaming 2020 live stream. As of now, there’s no official release date of localization. The Yakuza Remastered Collection comes to Xbox, PC, and Xbox Gamepass, joining the three other Yakuza games to almost complete the Yakuza saga. Despite some clunky gameplay, The Yakuza Remastered Yakuza: Like A Dragon (Xbox One) Review a Dragon is the first core Yakuza title that dares to make fundamental changes to the franchise’s tried-and-true gameplay the Xbox One X version Yakuza 0 originally launched on PlayStation 3 in 2015 in Japan. Since then it's been available on PlayStation 4 and PC, but Xbox One owners were left out until now. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has With the addition of the Yakuza Remastered Collection to Xbox Game Pass, you can now start the series from Yakuza 0 and play each game in the series on Game Pass, either on PC or on Xbox One The Yakuza Remastered Collection gives the three mainline PS3-era Yakuza titles a much fresh coat of next-gen 1080p60 paint on Xbox and brings the Kiryu Kazama saga one step closer to completion Check out over six minutes of Xbox Series X gameplay footage (4K/60fps) from Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which will be released on November 10 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, and PS4. The third Yakuza game retains the basic premise of its predecessors: it is an action RPG set in a free-roaming environment. As before, the core of the gameplay are hand-to-hand battles and building Kazuma's abilities by acquiring and distributing experience points (divided into Mind, Technique, and Body).
The First 39 Minutes of Yakuza 5 Remastered Gameplay ...
Yakuza 0 (Yakuza Zero) Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 includes a Review, Intro and Campaign Chapter 1: Bound By Oath on PS4 Pro, Xbox One S and PC. This Yakuza ... YAKUZA 3 Remastered game passTWITTER https://twitter.com/Lancaster1222Canal principal https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUqlEN9Gg5O8KQFU5a9zI6g Yakuza Kiwami (Xbox One X) gameplay walkthrough part 1. The complete gameplay for Kazuma Kiryu - Chapter 1: Fate of A Kinslayer. Gameplay recorded in 1080p &... Yakuza Kiwami Xbox One X gameplay review of this first entry in the series, and the second on the console. Review: Coming Soon Xbox Store: https://microsoft.... Yakuza 0 is an action-adventure game set in an open world environment and played from a third-person perspective. The game takes place from December 1988 to ... Today we check out the first 25 minutes of Yakuza 0 on Xbox One, ... Today we check out the first 25 minutes of Yakuza 0 on Xbox One, available now and included in Xbox Game Pass https: ... Check out the first 39 minutes of Yakuza 5 Remastered gameplay for Xbox One, ... Check out the first 39 minutes of Yakuza 5 Remastered gameplay for Xbox One, played on Xbox Series X.Subscribe to ... My Gameplay With Commentary Of Yakuza 0 On Xbox OneEnjoy_____Check Out!!!!Twitter - http://twitter.com/steviet7Facebook - http://face... Check out the first 35 minutes of Yakuza 4 Remastered gameplay for Xbox One, ... Check out the first 35 minutes of Yakuza 4 Remastered gameplay for Xbox One, played on Xbox Series X.Subscribe to ...