severely underrated
great story
great character personalities
great story
great character personalities
DJ RIKUOH is one of the best characters in this franchise
eminim 2010da pspde böyle bi oyun oynasam keyif alırdım ama günümüzde hiçbir geçerliliği olmayan bi oyun
takdir edeceğim şeyler yok değil.
öncelikle oyunun yapımında bi tutku kesinlikle görüyorum. hikaye anlatımına verdikleri önem olsun, oynanış çeşitliliği için yapmaya çalıştıkları şeyler olsun asla bunu öyle pspye de oyun yapalım diye kopyala yapıştır bi oyun yapmıyo.
öncelikle dövüş mekaniğinde yakuza serisinden bambaşka bi yola gitmişler ki bence bu oyuna kadar olan yakuza oyunlarından (kiwamiler hariç) çok daha tatmin edici ve keyifli bir combatı var ve farklı dövüş teknikleriyle de bunu çeşitlendirmişler ki ben buna çok derin girmedim ama araştırdığım kadarıyla baya 15-20 tane dövüş tekniği var meraklısı için baya uğraşmışlar.
belli ki cutscene yapmaya bütçeleri olmadığı için çizgi roman tarzı denemişler fakat maalesef beni aşırı baydı ve hikayeyi takip etme isteğimi çok kaçırdı. oyunun %60ından sonra falan cutsceneleri hızlandıra hızlandıra anladığımı anlayıp geçerek izledim. oyun bittiğinde ne olup bittiğini az çok anlamış ama kim kim çok da bilmeden bitirmiştim. yine klasik yakuza serisi tarzı twistler var hikayede ki yine çok cheesyler.
açık dünyayı sabit kamera yapmaları çok canımı sıktı. büyük ihtimalle pspnin kapasitesi 3d böyle bi dünyayı kaldıramayacağı için sabit kamera arkasına görsel koyarak yapmışlar ama açıkcası çok ruhunu öldürmüş oyunun.
günümüzde çok vasat kalan bi oyun.
61/100
takdir edeceğim şeyler yok değil.
öncelikle oyunun yapımında bi tutku kesinlikle görüyorum. hikaye anlatımına verdikleri önem olsun, oynanış çeşitliliği için yapmaya çalıştıkları şeyler olsun asla bunu öyle pspye de oyun yapalım diye kopyala yapıştır bi oyun yapmıyo.
öncelikle dövüş mekaniğinde yakuza serisinden bambaşka bi yola gitmişler ki bence bu oyuna kadar olan yakuza oyunlarından (kiwamiler hariç) çok daha tatmin edici ve keyifli bir combatı var ve farklı dövüş teknikleriyle de bunu çeşitlendirmişler ki ben buna çok derin girmedim ama araştırdığım kadarıyla baya 15-20 tane dövüş tekniği var meraklısı için baya uğraşmışlar.
belli ki cutscene yapmaya bütçeleri olmadığı için çizgi roman tarzı denemişler fakat maalesef beni aşırı baydı ve hikayeyi takip etme isteğimi çok kaçırdı. oyunun %60ından sonra falan cutsceneleri hızlandıra hızlandıra anladığımı anlayıp geçerek izledim. oyun bittiğinde ne olup bittiğini az çok anlamış ama kim kim çok da bilmeden bitirmiştim. yine klasik yakuza serisi tarzı twistler var hikayede ki yine çok cheesyler.
açık dünyayı sabit kamera yapmaları çok canımı sıktı. büyük ihtimalle pspnin kapasitesi 3d böyle bi dünyayı kaldıramayacağı için sabit kamera arkasına görsel koyarak yapmışlar ama açıkcası çok ruhunu öldürmüş oyunun.
günümüzde çok vasat kalan bi oyun.
61/100
The story in this game could be better. Some parts of it were just unnecessary considering the protag is a minor.
Still, Tatsuya is a refreshing character to play since we don't usually see openly morally grey protagonists like him in RGG games.
Combat-wise it is also really great and although the PSP limits the fighting mechanics, there are many different styles you can use so it doesn't get boring. What makes fighting even better is the OST which is a banger.
Overall, as solid as a PSP game can be.
Still, Tatsuya is a refreshing character to play since we don't usually see openly morally grey protagonists like him in RGG games.
Combat-wise it is also really great and although the PSP limits the fighting mechanics, there are many different styles you can use so it doesn't get boring. What makes fighting even better is the OST which is a banger.
Overall, as solid as a PSP game can be.
this game takes itself too seriously tbh, from what i've seen even though the bosses are fun, the fact that enemies can parry your attacks is... strange to say the least, parry should be reserved to pvp imo since the ai doesn't have to build the skill to lean how to parry, even though it is kinda weird it does get balanced out by the ability to do unparryable attacks like one after a perfect doge
no way there exist a more awesome game than this
This game honestly is amazing just because I can bring my PS Vita with me and pick it up at any time (thru adrenaline). Even though I have a steam deck playing a game like this portably is a great experience. I do, however, think this game's combat is flawed, especially the diversity of fights. The story also gets more and more boring as you keep entering fights. Never enough to bore me, but when you have to redo some of the bossfights it can get kind of miserable. Also, the side content is such a slog that I would recommend anyone playing this game to wholly skip every single one. They never have that uniqueness in writing that allows the main games' side quests to be so unique and dynamic.
i think this game is a wee bit overhyped. i did like it but i thought the side content was lacking and the story got less interesting the longer it went on. substories are really dull this time around unfortunately and, as mentioned earlier, the side content in general is lacking. the only minigames are the part time jobs, and they get repetitive very easily. the game is carried by its combat system, which thankfully is really fun. overall its a good game.
msm sendo um joguinho escondido só pro psp, a história do jogo não só é mt boa como o combate também é ótimo
tatsuya definitivamente virou um dos meus personagens favoritos da franquia, teve um desenvolvimento mt bom. realmente esse jogo é uma joia escondida da RGG Studio, espero muito ainda por um kiwami ou remaster desse jogo pq ele MERECE e MUITO
tatsuya definitivamente virou um dos meus personagens favoritos da franquia, teve um desenvolvimento mt bom. realmente esse jogo é uma joia escondida da RGG Studio, espero muito ainda por um kiwami ou remaster desse jogo pq ele MERECE e MUITO
Really fun game. The combat is super addictive and the music absolutely speaks for itself. Some of the minigames are absolute dogshit but besides that this is one for anyone to try out, especially if they're a LAD fan.
8/10.
Quando toca your knife feels good e muppet, eu senti minha alma elevar.
Meu segundo jogo da ryu ga gotoku, gostei muito desse aqui, mais que yakuza 1, não vou dizer muito, serei bem breve.
A narrativa desse camarada aqui bem boa, a estética das custcenes a la mgs peace walker, agradou suficiente a mim e desfrutei da história, que acho bem ok, ainda assim me emocionei no final....
O combate desse camarada aqui é bem mais funcional que o yakuza 1 de ps2.
Ainda assim não espere muito de um jogo de psp, ainda assim as variações de estilos de combate e obter novos estilos é um parte boa, ainda que falta polimento e um balanceamento melhor, mas muito divertido.
Upa estilo é um porre, mas se prestarem real atenção em como cada estilo de comporta e os atks que mais alinham a ele, utilizar bem eles te ajudar a upar mais rápido, mas falta um balanceamento melhor...
As side stories das 40 que fiz, uma quantidade mediana achei proveitosa seja pelo fator cômico e outras pelo valor dramático ou encorajador de pegar um estilo novo com outro oponente que você derrotou no dragon heat, é definitivamente um ponto alto.
A progressão do protagonista é muito satisfatória, feijão com arroz na real, mas eu amo esse tipo de feijão com arroz, me senti bem confortável com os personagens.
A trilha sonora é sem dúvidas 10/10
Muppet
Your knife feels good
So unsual
Revenge of father
As mais memoráveis que me recordo de cabeça, mas a vista gama de osts são muito boas.
Qualquer coisa eu elaboro melhor no kurohyou 2.
Conclusão: eu gostei de verdade.
Quando toca your knife feels good e muppet, eu senti minha alma elevar.
Meu segundo jogo da ryu ga gotoku, gostei muito desse aqui, mais que yakuza 1, não vou dizer muito, serei bem breve.
A narrativa desse camarada aqui bem boa, a estética das custcenes a la mgs peace walker, agradou suficiente a mim e desfrutei da história, que acho bem ok, ainda assim me emocionei no final....
O combate desse camarada aqui é bem mais funcional que o yakuza 1 de ps2.
Ainda assim não espere muito de um jogo de psp, ainda assim as variações de estilos de combate e obter novos estilos é um parte boa, ainda que falta polimento e um balanceamento melhor, mas muito divertido.
Upa estilo é um porre, mas se prestarem real atenção em como cada estilo de comporta e os atks que mais alinham a ele, utilizar bem eles te ajudar a upar mais rápido, mas falta um balanceamento melhor...
As side stories das 40 que fiz, uma quantidade mediana achei proveitosa seja pelo fator cômico e outras pelo valor dramático ou encorajador de pegar um estilo novo com outro oponente que você derrotou no dragon heat, é definitivamente um ponto alto.
A progressão do protagonista é muito satisfatória, feijão com arroz na real, mas eu amo esse tipo de feijão com arroz, me senti bem confortável com os personagens.
A trilha sonora é sem dúvidas 10/10
Muppet
Your knife feels good
So unsual
Revenge of father
As mais memoráveis que me recordo de cabeça, mas a vista gama de osts são muito boas.
Qualquer coisa eu elaboro melhor no kurohyou 2.
Conclusão: eu gostei de verdade.
Another great and especially underrated RGG game with a great story, the most unique-feeling gameplay out of any of RGG's games to date probably, an absolutely BANGING OST, only bogged down by some PSP jank and some slightly lackluster minigames and side content (most of the substories aren't really noteworthy outside of the gang substory arc). Bless the community and translators for allowing us to play this absolute gem of a game. I absolutely recommend it if you haven't already, especially for RGG fans.
En iyi Yakuza oyunu.
As a fan of Yakuza/Like a Dragon series I only recently discovered this game. No wonder, because it was Japan exclusive and man... we really were robbed for that.
Thanks to the english translation team that made a patch. Really made an impact here.
Not many games on PSP were mainly story-driven, luckily this game offers a unique perspective on a new character, Ukyo Tatsuya. A usual two-bit thug who was a lone wolf but later in the game tries to find his philosophy of fighting. A really well-written character and player starts sympathize with him more and more as story goes on.
Substories on the other hand... weren't that memorising. Yeah, there are a few which goes on and on(i.e. gang wars), but mostly they are forgetful. And you also can collect 101 cats for an old man... it is a notorious experience.
Minigames themselves aren't that exciting comparing to the main series, however there is a variety. In karaoke you just mash a button until time runs out; In baseball you, as usual, hit the ball, but because of the bad camera placement, it's hard to tell when you must hit the ball and etc.
There are also part-time jobs, but they are mostly time-consuming if you aren't careful with money management(and believe me, you MUST have a certain amount of money for story at the very least).
Fighting is unique. Yes, it IS a PSP game, so you won't have a similar experience like in yakuza 1 or 2. However, it isn't bad! There are a lot of fighting styles and each of them has unique fighting animations and methods of dealing with an enemy.
There is a downside though, leveling up these fighting styles can be tricky and if you're not careful enough you'll be completing the game with maximum of half the style that are in the game. Luckily, I aknowledged the problem before it was too late and managed to discover almost every style.
Leveling up your punches, kick and etc costs money though, and I can't say that they are balanced. But it's not like you'll have a lot of money to begin with so whatever.
Also there's a random encounter problem which is similar to Yakuza 5. If you know, you know, but if you don't... let's say you're going to fight a lot of yankees(or run away from cops, it depends).
Music is FIRE! Every song was made specifically for this game and I find it really interesting on how composers were dedicated to make thess banger songs. Hideki Naganuma himself took part in making music for this game and you can hear it. Almost every song is awesome and you won't get tired of hearing it. I, in particular, fell in love with the main theme "MUPPET". So much drive and excitement in this song, I love it.
In conclusion, a good introduction of a new character in Yakuza/LAD series while being a PSP game. Such a shame that not many could experince this game in western territory. If you like Yakuza/LAD series then you should definitely try this game.
Thanks to the english translation team that made a patch. Really made an impact here.
Not many games on PSP were mainly story-driven, luckily this game offers a unique perspective on a new character, Ukyo Tatsuya. A usual two-bit thug who was a lone wolf but later in the game tries to find his philosophy of fighting. A really well-written character and player starts sympathize with him more and more as story goes on.
Substories on the other hand... weren't that memorising. Yeah, there are a few which goes on and on(i.e. gang wars), but mostly they are forgetful. And you also can collect 101 cats for an old man... it is a notorious experience.
Minigames themselves aren't that exciting comparing to the main series, however there is a variety. In karaoke you just mash a button until time runs out; In baseball you, as usual, hit the ball, but because of the bad camera placement, it's hard to tell when you must hit the ball and etc.
There are also part-time jobs, but they are mostly time-consuming if you aren't careful with money management(and believe me, you MUST have a certain amount of money for story at the very least).
Fighting is unique. Yes, it IS a PSP game, so you won't have a similar experience like in yakuza 1 or 2. However, it isn't bad! There are a lot of fighting styles and each of them has unique fighting animations and methods of dealing with an enemy.
There is a downside though, leveling up these fighting styles can be tricky and if you're not careful enough you'll be completing the game with maximum of half the style that are in the game. Luckily, I aknowledged the problem before it was too late and managed to discover almost every style.
Leveling up your punches, kick and etc costs money though, and I can't say that they are balanced. But it's not like you'll have a lot of money to begin with so whatever.
Also there's a random encounter problem which is similar to Yakuza 5. If you know, you know, but if you don't... let's say you're going to fight a lot of yankees(or run away from cops, it depends).
Music is FIRE! Every song was made specifically for this game and I find it really interesting on how composers were dedicated to make thess banger songs. Hideki Naganuma himself took part in making music for this game and you can hear it. Almost every song is awesome and you won't get tired of hearing it. I, in particular, fell in love with the main theme "MUPPET". So much drive and excitement in this song, I love it.
In conclusion, a good introduction of a new character in Yakuza/LAD series while being a PSP game. Such a shame that not many could experince this game in western territory. If you like Yakuza/LAD series then you should definitely try this game.
For a PSP game this shit's a BANGER
Unique plot when comparing to mainline Yakuza games, and some real nice and entertaining gameplay
Unique plot when comparing to mainline Yakuza games, and some real nice and entertaining gameplay
termine Kurohyou 1! siempre quize jugar los Yakuzas de PSP pero la verdad igual me decepcione un poco jaja ni el gameplay ni la historia son tan interesantes, Tatsuya y el tema principal son geniales eso si lml al nivel de Yakuza 4 6/10
Mechanically reinforces the brutality of MMA within the context of RGG's thematic sensibilities. Flawed combat that utilizes its difficulty curve to make Tatsuya's struggle just that much more worth it. Brushstroke stylization paints a beautiful narrative that places a violence-prone teen through a thorough character arc a lot of people can relate to. Even with some rushed segments in the recent translation, the script's intrigue and emotion are still present. Like Judgment, it's a fundamental understanding of what makes this series tick that allows Black Panther to feel at home with the other Yakuza games.
There's no way I'm gonna lose.
There's no way I'm gonna lose.
Tudo nesse jogo é exatamente o que você esperaria de um Yakuza, com todos os clichês da franquia e as características que a tornam tão icônica, mas em uma escala bem menor por ter sido um título feito pra portátil.
A gameplay é divertida e viciante, e ter tantos estilos de luta diferentes abre espaço pra uma diversidade surpreendente no combate, te deixando experimentar cada um deles pra usar o que mais te agrada. No início as lutas pareciam ser muito travadas e estranhas mas conforme você se acostuma cada batalha do jogo fica fluída e rápida, fazia tempo que eu não me divertia tanto com um sistema de combate assim.
Honestamente eu não achei a história central grande coisa, é um plot com as reviravoltas e tudo mais já esperados de um Yakuza, mas é tudo feito de uma maneira tão simples que não conseguiu me chamar atenção ou fazer eu me interessar por ela. Está longe de ser ruim, mas é bem sem sal e é inteiramente carregada pelo cast de personagens, que é o destaque principal do jogo.
Sério, TODOS os personagens desse jogo são muito carismáticos e bem construídos, eles tornam uma história "ok" em algo engajante de se seguir e evitam que ela se torne chata, todos os bosses tem algo de caricato que prende não só a sua atenção como a do próprio protagonista, e isso inclui não só os que se tornam recorrentes na trama como também os que aparecem apenas uma vez e somem.
Mas sinceramente todos os acontecimentos desse jogo são apenas um plano de fundo pro real ponto mais forte dele: Ukyo Tatsuya.
Ele foi facilmente o que mais me surpreendeu aqui e foi o principal motivo de eu ter amado tanto Kurohyou, poder ver o impacto que o clã Tojo tem nas pessoas de fora dele, principalmente em um personagem adolescente completamente perdido na vida, é algo tão único na franquia mas que ao mesmo tempo cai tão bem com ela. Ver o Tatsuya encontrando o seu lugar no mundo, crescendo como pessoa e adquirindo motivos pra seguir lutando, tudo isso é muito gratificante, acompanhar o desenvolvimento e crescimento do personagem e ver a diferença entre ele no início e no fim da história foi de longe a melhor parte do jogo e ele acabou se tornando um dos meus personagens favoritos da franquia.
A gameplay é divertida e viciante, e ter tantos estilos de luta diferentes abre espaço pra uma diversidade surpreendente no combate, te deixando experimentar cada um deles pra usar o que mais te agrada. No início as lutas pareciam ser muito travadas e estranhas mas conforme você se acostuma cada batalha do jogo fica fluída e rápida, fazia tempo que eu não me divertia tanto com um sistema de combate assim.
Honestamente eu não achei a história central grande coisa, é um plot com as reviravoltas e tudo mais já esperados de um Yakuza, mas é tudo feito de uma maneira tão simples que não conseguiu me chamar atenção ou fazer eu me interessar por ela. Está longe de ser ruim, mas é bem sem sal e é inteiramente carregada pelo cast de personagens, que é o destaque principal do jogo.
Sério, TODOS os personagens desse jogo são muito carismáticos e bem construídos, eles tornam uma história "ok" em algo engajante de se seguir e evitam que ela se torne chata, todos os bosses tem algo de caricato que prende não só a sua atenção como a do próprio protagonista, e isso inclui não só os que se tornam recorrentes na trama como também os que aparecem apenas uma vez e somem.
Mas sinceramente todos os acontecimentos desse jogo são apenas um plano de fundo pro real ponto mais forte dele: Ukyo Tatsuya.
Ele foi facilmente o que mais me surpreendeu aqui e foi o principal motivo de eu ter amado tanto Kurohyou, poder ver o impacto que o clã Tojo tem nas pessoas de fora dele, principalmente em um personagem adolescente completamente perdido na vida, é algo tão único na franquia mas que ao mesmo tempo cai tão bem com ela. Ver o Tatsuya encontrando o seu lugar no mundo, crescendo como pessoa e adquirindo motivos pra seguir lutando, tudo isso é muito gratificante, acompanhar o desenvolvimento e crescimento do personagem e ver a diferença entre ele no início e no fim da história foi de longe a melhor parte do jogo e ele acabou se tornando um dos meus personagens favoritos da franquia.
As a massive fan of the Yakuza series I decided to try and give Kurohyou a try after finishing all the mainline games and most of the spin offs. Now I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect getting into it, but I felt like I was in for a decent experience. I can gladly say after completing the game, this is by far one of the most unexpected surprises I’ve ever had when it comes to games I’ve played. Kurohyou didn’t seem like much at first but it left me just as invested as some of the better installments in the entire series. This game deserves more attention then it has.
Once I began the game, I noticed how despite it being on more limited hardware, the experience still felt like a complete Yakuza game. It takes after the PS2 games the most when it comes to the world and honestly I think it keeps the feeling of Kamurocho just as well. Nothing seems lost at all and if I were told that this was actually a PS2 entry without prior knowledge, I would’ve believed it. They didn’t make it feel more empty or cut noticeably large areas at all. In fact I enjoyed the jobs they added in Kamurocho because it also adds to that feeling that you’re part of the city. Now you will notice the reused NPC models more than the other games but that’s never really stopped my immersion. The only thing that I felt was off about the world was the substories but that’s only because most of them felt really similar to each other. A lot of them were forgettable to me and they felt like they didn’t add much else to the world. There’s still some decent substories though that stopped Kamurocho from feeling like it’s lacking in personality in this title. I enjoyed going through Kamurocho just as much as the other games, although with a bit more intrigue from how they handled it on a PSP.
As for the gameplay, I believe that this is definitely what caught me off guard the most. The combat takes a different approach, putting a higher emphasis on fighting enemies one at a time like a fighting game. Due to this direction, something about every fight felt more personal than usual and it works to its advantage. Every single boss fight felt like you put in two starving wolves in a cage that were forced to fight for survival. Every single punch, kick, and grab had a slightly heavier weight to them than normal, which I thought compliments the one-on-one style because when you land a good hit, it feels like you really put your opponent out. On top of that, everything you do is something that your opponent can do to you which makes the back and forth feel more eccentric. There’s 20 styles in the game but I feel like the thrill of the fight always carries over when you find a good opponent. Although I do have a few criticisms, starting with the grabs. The grabs are extremely powerful in this game, and although you and your opponents are supposed to be on equal grounds it always feels like the one who can get more grabs in always has the advantage. This issue isn’t as big on bosses considering they seem to do a better job at not getting grabbed but the majority of the time you won’t be fighting bosses. Another thing, is that the heavy attacks that require a rotation of the D-Pad seem less viable in my opinion due to how enemies either always block it or parry it if they’re barrages of punches or kicks. The last criticism I have that doesn’t bug me as much is that I feel like some fighting styles don’t feel different enough to feel satisfying sometimes. As an example, the weapon mania style just feels like a worse version of the street brawler style with minor differences, which only ends up making a few styles feel a bit repetitive to use. Other than that, the combat in the game is definitely one of the most satisfying in the franchise. It’s a welcome change that I can see many people enjoying.
The last segment I’d like to talk about is the story and characters. At first it felt sort of similar to Tanimura’s story in Yakuza 4 with how I wasn’t too invested from the beginning and I didn’t enjoy the protagonists. Just like Yakuza 4 though, I soon came to love both Tatsuya and the story the longer it went on. Tatsuya seemed like a superficial asshole at the beginning. I really wasn’t sure how I’d feel about him by the end of the game, especially with the shorter length of the story. Despite the story being shorter though, they nailed Tatsuya’s development with what they had. Some might say that it’s a bit too quick in pace but I was fine with the pacing. Seeing such an unlikeable douche go on to become a respectable and likable character felt satisfying to see. Now the side characters and antagonists I didn’t feel were as complex (except maybe Taizan, Tenma, and Hyuga) but I still cared for them a good deal. Seeing Tatsuya interact with Taizan and Saki never got boring to me. I could say the same about Kuki. As Tatsuya came to find a reason for why he fights, it also was more entertaining to see these conversations with everyone play out. Hell even most of the bosses I found myself feeling strongly about despite them usually being gone after a chapter or two. I do think they maybe should have put less emphasis on a few to make certain ones more prominent characters but I’m still happy with what we got. The story starts off weak but when it kicks up, it carries that momentum almost to the end. I never expected the story to be this captivating. Sadly I do think that the ending just felt a bit flat in my opinion. There was a lot of build up and strong emotions with what happens to these characters but I feel like when the real final antagonist is revealed, he just didn’t live up to the build up. The ending fight was really good but to be honest the weight of the fight wasn’t anywhere near the earlier fights just due to how the events of the story at this point weren’t as strong. I don’t know how to explain this but there wasn’t that much characterization to warrant a drive to destroy them. They could’ve benefited from a longer focus on them, starting from potentially chapter 6 because as is, at the end of the day they just felt like bad guys that needed to be stopped but not much more. Although I do think the rest of the story is very good that the ending won’t be too much of a bother for people.
Overall, I highly recommend people play Kurohyou. There may be a lot of skepticism considering how different it is but this really deserves to be called an overlooked gem of a game. Kurohyou is a hell of an experience and a surprise that I’m glad I got around to playing.
Once I began the game, I noticed how despite it being on more limited hardware, the experience still felt like a complete Yakuza game. It takes after the PS2 games the most when it comes to the world and honestly I think it keeps the feeling of Kamurocho just as well. Nothing seems lost at all and if I were told that this was actually a PS2 entry without prior knowledge, I would’ve believed it. They didn’t make it feel more empty or cut noticeably large areas at all. In fact I enjoyed the jobs they added in Kamurocho because it also adds to that feeling that you’re part of the city. Now you will notice the reused NPC models more than the other games but that’s never really stopped my immersion. The only thing that I felt was off about the world was the substories but that’s only because most of them felt really similar to each other. A lot of them were forgettable to me and they felt like they didn’t add much else to the world. There’s still some decent substories though that stopped Kamurocho from feeling like it’s lacking in personality in this title. I enjoyed going through Kamurocho just as much as the other games, although with a bit more intrigue from how they handled it on a PSP.
As for the gameplay, I believe that this is definitely what caught me off guard the most. The combat takes a different approach, putting a higher emphasis on fighting enemies one at a time like a fighting game. Due to this direction, something about every fight felt more personal than usual and it works to its advantage. Every single boss fight felt like you put in two starving wolves in a cage that were forced to fight for survival. Every single punch, kick, and grab had a slightly heavier weight to them than normal, which I thought compliments the one-on-one style because when you land a good hit, it feels like you really put your opponent out. On top of that, everything you do is something that your opponent can do to you which makes the back and forth feel more eccentric. There’s 20 styles in the game but I feel like the thrill of the fight always carries over when you find a good opponent. Although I do have a few criticisms, starting with the grabs. The grabs are extremely powerful in this game, and although you and your opponents are supposed to be on equal grounds it always feels like the one who can get more grabs in always has the advantage. This issue isn’t as big on bosses considering they seem to do a better job at not getting grabbed but the majority of the time you won’t be fighting bosses. Another thing, is that the heavy attacks that require a rotation of the D-Pad seem less viable in my opinion due to how enemies either always block it or parry it if they’re barrages of punches or kicks. The last criticism I have that doesn’t bug me as much is that I feel like some fighting styles don’t feel different enough to feel satisfying sometimes. As an example, the weapon mania style just feels like a worse version of the street brawler style with minor differences, which only ends up making a few styles feel a bit repetitive to use. Other than that, the combat in the game is definitely one of the most satisfying in the franchise. It’s a welcome change that I can see many people enjoying.
The last segment I’d like to talk about is the story and characters. At first it felt sort of similar to Tanimura’s story in Yakuza 4 with how I wasn’t too invested from the beginning and I didn’t enjoy the protagonists. Just like Yakuza 4 though, I soon came to love both Tatsuya and the story the longer it went on. Tatsuya seemed like a superficial asshole at the beginning. I really wasn’t sure how I’d feel about him by the end of the game, especially with the shorter length of the story. Despite the story being shorter though, they nailed Tatsuya’s development with what they had. Some might say that it’s a bit too quick in pace but I was fine with the pacing. Seeing such an unlikeable douche go on to become a respectable and likable character felt satisfying to see. Now the side characters and antagonists I didn’t feel were as complex (except maybe Taizan, Tenma, and Hyuga) but I still cared for them a good deal. Seeing Tatsuya interact with Taizan and Saki never got boring to me. I could say the same about Kuki. As Tatsuya came to find a reason for why he fights, it also was more entertaining to see these conversations with everyone play out. Hell even most of the bosses I found myself feeling strongly about despite them usually being gone after a chapter or two. I do think they maybe should have put less emphasis on a few to make certain ones more prominent characters but I’m still happy with what we got. The story starts off weak but when it kicks up, it carries that momentum almost to the end. I never expected the story to be this captivating. Sadly I do think that the ending just felt a bit flat in my opinion. There was a lot of build up and strong emotions with what happens to these characters but I feel like when the real final antagonist is revealed, he just didn’t live up to the build up. The ending fight was really good but to be honest the weight of the fight wasn’t anywhere near the earlier fights just due to how the events of the story at this point weren’t as strong. I don’t know how to explain this but there wasn’t that much characterization to warrant a drive to destroy them. They could’ve benefited from a longer focus on them, starting from potentially chapter 6 because as is, at the end of the day they just felt like bad guys that needed to be stopped but not much more. Although I do think the rest of the story is very good that the ending won’t be too much of a bother for people.
Overall, I highly recommend people play Kurohyou. There may be a lot of skepticism considering how different it is but this really deserves to be called an overlooked gem of a game. Kurohyou is a hell of an experience and a surprise that I’m glad I got around to playing.
the story is fine, the side content is mid as hell and the combat is amazing (for psp). great boss fights. i know it’s supposed to be edgy but it’s severely lacking in that humor and charm that yakuza games normally have, but some of this could be due to fan translation. worth a play if you’re a big fan of the series like me and have already played everything else. shoutout to the translators for making this possible!
Kurohyō
Okay, just beat kurohyō, and I did not expect to love this game as much as I did.
Firstly, Ukyo, such an original character, they nailed this depiction of a punk aggressive teenager but also mixing it with other interesting traits, introvert, explosive, distrustful, ignorant, no purpose but completely raw emotion.
I can see him as a real eighteen-year-old kid whose life has been tough, Tatsuya just feels so natural and human.
I think I resonate with the character a lot since his arc delves the same topics as my favorite manga of all time (Vagabond).
This usage of violence as a resource to survive, the only thing he knows and how the fucked situation he finds himself into helps him mold his fists into something meaningful, what Yuki calls "fists with emotion." and how it can transmit something more than rage.
To give a philosophy to your fists and the reason you fight is what the game primary delves into, and even if it's not VAGABOND's level, I loved it. You can see how with every fight he surpasses, he changes.
Understanding that surviving isn't the only approach to life.
Understanding strength can carry a message, emotions, knowledge and that it can be transmitted.
Understanding that fighting with a purpose changes the way you see yourself and everything around you.
Understanding how the person in front of you feels, how they struggle.
The moment in which Tenma tells Ukyo how he really cared about him... Ukyo's face.... really well drawn, and the voice acting was super fitting, you could tell how something sparked inside him, a purpose, something genuine to live for.
I really love how from that moment forward you can tell Ukyo's behavior subtly changes, starts thinking about others (Tenma, Saki, Taizan, Takenaka, Hyūga) in a caring way, abandoning this mistrust of him.
Starts saying thank you, sorry, expressing his ideas to other, you can REALLY note the differences, the Saeko scene at the bar ends remarking this fact beautifully.
Taizan...or Nogi.... I think more dialogue/cinematic between them would have done them good to make that bond stronger, making that final revelation much more emotional, but it's great regardless.
You can judge Nogi, and you would be on your right, he did bad, and the game doesn't want to excuse him, Ukyo obviously resents him, and the game doesn't want to force a father/son relationship, it feels natural.
The fact that the time Ukyo spends on dragon heat serves as that father/son time Nogi never gave to him, looking back, the old man trying to talk and teach him in every scene makes it more emotional.
I also like how Kuki is firstly presented as an antagonist but little by little he seems more morally grey, learning how he refused to commit arson and that he actually had a meaningful dream, desire, motive
(whatever you wanna call it) about dragon heat and Tatsuya.
His final scene... seeing how Ukyo accepts carrying his will of winning, like some type of impossible bond gets forged right there.... powerful!!!!!!!!!1
The antagonist ...... well ...... with Nagoshi it's usually a hit or miss, and this time is mostly a miss ....
I don't really care for him and his cliché villainous personality nor his pupil (zero screen time also.)
I think it makes a good parallelism between them and Ukyo/Nogi since both poured their knowledge on their respective "youth vessel", one carrying authentic violence, the other carrying authentic strength.
The plot itself was really thrilling tbh, gave me this yakuza 0 - yakuza 2 vibe that I love, lot of mystery, detective/noir thingy, gritty and grounded events (yes Osaka castle is not real) that unfolds naturally throughout the story.
Music was incredible, really transmits this underground street fight vibe, with that angry teen essence, it reminds me of how SH3 OST a lot of times sounds like what a teenager like Heather would listen to, probably was the idea here too.
I enjoyed the combat more than any yakuza game until now, if u play the game hard mode you can really feel the tension and rush of a real street fight.
Okay, just beat kurohyō, and I did not expect to love this game as much as I did.
Firstly, Ukyo, such an original character, they nailed this depiction of a punk aggressive teenager but also mixing it with other interesting traits, introvert, explosive, distrustful, ignorant, no purpose but completely raw emotion.
I can see him as a real eighteen-year-old kid whose life has been tough, Tatsuya just feels so natural and human.
I think I resonate with the character a lot since his arc delves the same topics as my favorite manga of all time (Vagabond).
This usage of violence as a resource to survive, the only thing he knows and how the fucked situation he finds himself into helps him mold his fists into something meaningful, what Yuki calls "fists with emotion." and how it can transmit something more than rage.
To give a philosophy to your fists and the reason you fight is what the game primary delves into, and even if it's not VAGABOND's level, I loved it. You can see how with every fight he surpasses, he changes.
Understanding that surviving isn't the only approach to life.
Understanding strength can carry a message, emotions, knowledge and that it can be transmitted.
Understanding that fighting with a purpose changes the way you see yourself and everything around you.
Understanding how the person in front of you feels, how they struggle.
The moment in which Tenma tells Ukyo how he really cared about him... Ukyo's face.... really well drawn, and the voice acting was super fitting, you could tell how something sparked inside him, a purpose, something genuine to live for.
I really love how from that moment forward you can tell Ukyo's behavior subtly changes, starts thinking about others (Tenma, Saki, Taizan, Takenaka, Hyūga) in a caring way, abandoning this mistrust of him.
Starts saying thank you, sorry, expressing his ideas to other, you can REALLY note the differences, the Saeko scene at the bar ends remarking this fact beautifully.
Taizan...or Nogi.... I think more dialogue/cinematic between them would have done them good to make that bond stronger, making that final revelation much more emotional, but it's great regardless.
You can judge Nogi, and you would be on your right, he did bad, and the game doesn't want to excuse him, Ukyo obviously resents him, and the game doesn't want to force a father/son relationship, it feels natural.
The fact that the time Ukyo spends on dragon heat serves as that father/son time Nogi never gave to him, looking back, the old man trying to talk and teach him in every scene makes it more emotional.
I also like how Kuki is firstly presented as an antagonist but little by little he seems more morally grey, learning how he refused to commit arson and that he actually had a meaningful dream, desire, motive
(whatever you wanna call it) about dragon heat and Tatsuya.
His final scene... seeing how Ukyo accepts carrying his will of winning, like some type of impossible bond gets forged right there.... powerful!!!!!!!!!1
The antagonist ...... well ...... with Nagoshi it's usually a hit or miss, and this time is mostly a miss ....
I don't really care for him and his cliché villainous personality nor his pupil (zero screen time also.)
I think it makes a good parallelism between them and Ukyo/Nogi since both poured their knowledge on their respective "youth vessel", one carrying authentic violence, the other carrying authentic strength.
The plot itself was really thrilling tbh, gave me this yakuza 0 - yakuza 2 vibe that I love, lot of mystery, detective/noir thingy, gritty and grounded events (yes Osaka castle is not real) that unfolds naturally throughout the story.
Music was incredible, really transmits this underground street fight vibe, with that angry teen essence, it reminds me of how SH3 OST a lot of times sounds like what a teenager like Heather would listen to, probably was the idea here too.
I enjoyed the combat more than any yakuza game until now, if u play the game hard mode you can really feel the tension and rush of a real street fight.
jogo criminalmente subestimado apesar de ter um combate bem meh comparado ao 2
HOW DOES RGG DO IT
La joya oculta de Ryu ga Gotoku Studio... Básicamente porque es un juego de la PSP que solo salió en Japón, pero gracias al equipo de héroes que se han currado la pedazo de traducción fan ahora es posible jugarlo en inglés.
En cuanto al juego es bastante difícil de calificar, ya que es algo muy único dentro de su propia saga. Que cojones es bueno. Es muy bueno.
El combate cuesta hacerte a él pero termina siendo tremendamente adictivo y sin lugar a dudas de los mejores de la saga, una serie de peleas 1 vs 1 o como mucho 2 vs 3 que, al hacer las peleas más "personales" permite una profundidad super interesante. Porque además hay chorrocientos estilos de combate, cada uno diferente, con sus ventajas y sus desventajas... Un autentico goce.
La historia al principio se hace cuesta arriba, pero cuando van pasando los capítulos más interesante se hace, sobre todo por la evolución del protagonista, Tatsuya Ukyo.
Ukyo es un desarrollo de personaje de manual, empieza siendo un camorrista gilipollas y termina siendo un campeón que ahora ve la vida con otros ojos. Me ha flipado el viaje del chaval, una historia como Dios manda.
La forma de contar la historia es prima hermana de Peace Walker (que además salió el mismo año), esos comics que aprovechándose de las limitaciones de la PSP avanzan la narrativa de una forma menos cinemática, pero tremendamente efectiva.
Y que decir de la Banda Sonora, innegable Top 3 de la saga (discutible si igual es la mejor) que hace ver donde se fue gran parte del presupuesto del juego. Y lo vale. Lo ha valido al 100%.
Es un juegazo, de lo mejor que ha parido la saga Yakuza, y una grandísima pena que esté abocado a perderse en el limbo del tiempo.
En cuanto al juego es bastante difícil de calificar, ya que es algo muy único dentro de su propia saga. Que cojones es bueno. Es muy bueno.
El combate cuesta hacerte a él pero termina siendo tremendamente adictivo y sin lugar a dudas de los mejores de la saga, una serie de peleas 1 vs 1 o como mucho 2 vs 3 que, al hacer las peleas más "personales" permite una profundidad super interesante. Porque además hay chorrocientos estilos de combate, cada uno diferente, con sus ventajas y sus desventajas... Un autentico goce.
La historia al principio se hace cuesta arriba, pero cuando van pasando los capítulos más interesante se hace, sobre todo por la evolución del protagonista, Tatsuya Ukyo.
Ukyo es un desarrollo de personaje de manual, empieza siendo un camorrista gilipollas y termina siendo un campeón que ahora ve la vida con otros ojos. Me ha flipado el viaje del chaval, una historia como Dios manda.
La forma de contar la historia es prima hermana de Peace Walker (que además salió el mismo año), esos comics que aprovechándose de las limitaciones de la PSP avanzan la narrativa de una forma menos cinemática, pero tremendamente efectiva.
Y que decir de la Banda Sonora, innegable Top 3 de la saga (discutible si igual es la mejor) que hace ver donde se fue gran parte del presupuesto del juego. Y lo vale. Lo ha valido al 100%.
Es un juegazo, de lo mejor que ha parido la saga Yakuza, y una grandísima pena que esté abocado a perderse en el limbo del tiempo.
I played this game before the translation was complete so a lot of the side quest dialogue and item descriptions were ** instead of actual words, but it's was an alright game. Beautiful for the cut scenes that looks straight out of a comic book and I think that alone gives the game a much needed sense of unique identity and helps it stay remembered and stand out against the other Yakuza games.. also on the topic of being unique the soundtrack includes songs done by the Jet Set Radio composer.
Outside of that, the combat feels like the PS2 Yakuza because it's very archaic and clunky, however it wasn't ever horrible to the point where I felt hindered by it, and I think it's pretty impressive that it's even relatively good to begin with. I would write about the story and Tatsuya as a character, but I don't think I could do it justice because of the unfinished translation. I'll replay it one day.
Outside of that, the combat feels like the PS2 Yakuza because it's very archaic and clunky, however it wasn't ever horrible to the point where I felt hindered by it, and I think it's pretty impressive that it's even relatively good to begin with. I would write about the story and Tatsuya as a character, but I don't think I could do it justice because of the unfinished translation. I'll replay it one day.
Another entry in the "Famous Franchise Puts Minimal Effort Into a PSP Sidegame" collection.
This is a hell of a budget title, where the budget went into the combat system and OST. Backgrounds are screenshots from the game, the fixed camera is the jankiest it's ever been, and the battle camera sometimes decides to cancel your movement because of a bad angle. It's really frustrating. And yet, it's pretty fun once you get it. It's also only about 15-20 hours if you don't want to grind styles (I did) or beat the Kamurocho Strongest Ranking (I did) or collect all the cats (meow). My file was 28 hours because of that.
Tatsuya is a nice contrast to Yakuza MCs usually being almost perfect good guys. I was foolish to expect Takiya Genji just because they look identical (and I would've preferred Genji than Tatsuya) but that's my fault.
The music is insanely good, courstesy of Naganuma. I don't think I've enjoyed a Yakuza OST this much since Y0. Favorite track is SO UNUSUAL. In contrast, the voice acting is pretty weak, kind of amateurish. Some characters sound like they were reading their lines in the office.
The usual Yakuza plot conveniences and inane decisions so bros can fight shirtless is also here, but I quite like how it turned out. Final boss is a massive letdown.
I like the combat a lot. It's way too complex to describe in a review, but basically, it forces you to think and watch your opponent 24/7 because every missed move gets countered HARD. You've got tons of styles, movesets, and special moves you can choose from, and they all look cool despite being very standard stuff.
Downside is every chapter boss is a fight in a tiny UFC cage and the trash camera makes some specific boss moves quite unfair. In contrast, the final boss is in a large arena and this makes him a joke.
If you've got nothing to do and/or are tired of the usual Yakuza 200 hour games, this is a nice change, assuming you can get past the flaws. At the very least, you should listen to the OST.
This is a hell of a budget title, where the budget went into the combat system and OST. Backgrounds are screenshots from the game, the fixed camera is the jankiest it's ever been, and the battle camera sometimes decides to cancel your movement because of a bad angle. It's really frustrating. And yet, it's pretty fun once you get it. It's also only about 15-20 hours if you don't want to grind styles (I did) or beat the Kamurocho Strongest Ranking (I did) or collect all the cats (meow). My file was 28 hours because of that.
Tatsuya is a nice contrast to Yakuza MCs usually being almost perfect good guys. I was foolish to expect Takiya Genji just because they look identical (and I would've preferred Genji than Tatsuya) but that's my fault.
The music is insanely good, courstesy of Naganuma. I don't think I've enjoyed a Yakuza OST this much since Y0. Favorite track is SO UNUSUAL. In contrast, the voice acting is pretty weak, kind of amateurish. Some characters sound like they were reading their lines in the office.
The usual Yakuza plot conveniences and inane decisions so bros can fight shirtless is also here, but I quite like how it turned out. Final boss is a massive letdown.
I like the combat a lot. It's way too complex to describe in a review, but basically, it forces you to think and watch your opponent 24/7 because every missed move gets countered HARD. You've got tons of styles, movesets, and special moves you can choose from, and they all look cool despite being very standard stuff.
Downside is every chapter boss is a fight in a tiny UFC cage and the trash camera makes some specific boss moves quite unfair. In contrast, the final boss is in a large arena and this makes him a joke.
If you've got nothing to do and/or are tired of the usual Yakuza 200 hour games, this is a nice change, assuming you can get past the flaws. At the very least, you should listen to the OST.
I wasn't expecting that fine combat in a PSP game, it really spins itself from LAD in a way that feels familiar and original in its own way. The story is Yakuza's same old, but the mission structure feels boring sometimes
This review contains spoilers
As one of the three Yakuza games still region locked to Japan, going through Kurohyou thanks to the fan made patch was a fun experience. It's definitely one of the messier games in the franchise, but also manages to carve its own niche thanks to its unique game play and grittier tone.
Unlike every other Yakuza game, Kurohyou plays more like a fighting game (which makes sense as this is from the Def Jam devs). Because of this fights tend to be more up close and personal with things like the limb system and directional attacks supporting this style of combat. Despite that it manages to be pretty damn fun throughout, with many styles to unlock allowing experimentation that wouldn't be seen in a mainline game until Ishin. Another big difference is the main star of the show Tatsuya Ukyo, who starts the game as a complete fucking asshole who gets forced into the hellhole that is Dragon Heat and has to claw his way towards freedom. This makes his eventual growth one of the best in the series, with a pretty solid side cast making the journey that much more interesting (DJ Rikuoh the goat). One last thing I'd like to say is just how impressive a title this is for the PSP, standing with games like the God Of War dualogy and Peace Walker as one of the more visually appealing games on the system (it helps that this game goes the classic route with fixed camera angles).
My biggest problem with Kurohyou comes from its narrative, which starts off pretty intriguing but loses itself with typical Yakuza shenanigans. I love the initial setup of Tatsuya needing to win 10 in a row to survive (and the opponents being connected to his past allows for some pretty nifty moments) but after a while the game tends to drag its feet pacing wise with tons of meandering and lots of lore dumps (doesn't help you CANT SKIP CUTSCENES WHY). Another weak aspect would be the main villain, who only gets a bit of (admittedly cool) lore before you face him (except not really) which makes the entire thing feel rushed. On the gameplay side of things I absolutely despise how the game handles Heat actions, with them being delegated to grabs only for some reason. This makes the pace of the combat feel incredibly schizophrenic at points since the opponent can just stuff whatever attempts you do to close the gap, and other bullshit like being able to near instantly counter your special moves (the limb system also feels a bit underutilized in this regard). Bosses have this the worst, with each one of them having the annoying as fuck mechanic of being able to transition from a combo to heat move if you get hit with ANY attack in the animation (which lead to running around the arena to avoid which felt so jank). Side content is also pretty weak, with substories being incredibly dull besides the gangs plotline and tournament arc (which lets you fucking break the game with what you get).
Despite these rough edges I'd still call Kurohyou one of the better entries in the series and a great way to start off the first spin-off series in the Yakuza franchise. Excited to see how Kurohyou 2 changes things up but for now I'll wait until I finish Infinite Wealth to go to that one.
7/10
Unlike every other Yakuza game, Kurohyou plays more like a fighting game (which makes sense as this is from the Def Jam devs). Because of this fights tend to be more up close and personal with things like the limb system and directional attacks supporting this style of combat. Despite that it manages to be pretty damn fun throughout, with many styles to unlock allowing experimentation that wouldn't be seen in a mainline game until Ishin. Another big difference is the main star of the show Tatsuya Ukyo, who starts the game as a complete fucking asshole who gets forced into the hellhole that is Dragon Heat and has to claw his way towards freedom. This makes his eventual growth one of the best in the series, with a pretty solid side cast making the journey that much more interesting (DJ Rikuoh the goat). One last thing I'd like to say is just how impressive a title this is for the PSP, standing with games like the God Of War dualogy and Peace Walker as one of the more visually appealing games on the system (it helps that this game goes the classic route with fixed camera angles).
My biggest problem with Kurohyou comes from its narrative, which starts off pretty intriguing but loses itself with typical Yakuza shenanigans. I love the initial setup of Tatsuya needing to win 10 in a row to survive (and the opponents being connected to his past allows for some pretty nifty moments) but after a while the game tends to drag its feet pacing wise with tons of meandering and lots of lore dumps (doesn't help you CANT SKIP CUTSCENES WHY). Another weak aspect would be the main villain, who only gets a bit of (admittedly cool) lore before you face him (except not really) which makes the entire thing feel rushed. On the gameplay side of things I absolutely despise how the game handles Heat actions, with them being delegated to grabs only for some reason. This makes the pace of the combat feel incredibly schizophrenic at points since the opponent can just stuff whatever attempts you do to close the gap, and other bullshit like being able to near instantly counter your special moves (the limb system also feels a bit underutilized in this regard). Bosses have this the worst, with each one of them having the annoying as fuck mechanic of being able to transition from a combo to heat move if you get hit with ANY attack in the animation (which lead to running around the arena to avoid which felt so jank). Side content is also pretty weak, with substories being incredibly dull besides the gangs plotline and tournament arc (which lets you fucking break the game with what you get).
Despite these rough edges I'd still call Kurohyou one of the better entries in the series and a great way to start off the first spin-off series in the Yakuza franchise. Excited to see how Kurohyou 2 changes things up but for now I'll wait until I finish Infinite Wealth to go to that one.
7/10
For a PSP game this shit's a BANGER
Unique plot when comparing to mainline Yakuza games, and some real nice and entertaining gameplay the side shit is not worth it tho in my opinion still a good game
Unique plot when comparing to mainline Yakuza games, and some real nice and entertaining gameplay the side shit is not worth it tho in my opinion still a good game
Banger