RGG/Yakuza games have been phenomenal so far ever since Yakuza 5, and this game takes the title as the best game in the series by a mile.
Encapsulates everything i ever wanted from a yakuza game ever since i played Y0 and adds even more to that. The fact that they took the risk with the combat switch as well as the the protagonist and deliver on top of that shows just how capable they are. The cast is phenomenal and the game does a good job at creating a really good chemistry between each character and Ichiban and it's all thanks to the leveling up the companion bonds mechanic.
The new Ijincho map was one of my favorite additions to this game as well and allows for much more explorations especially with the new party chat gimmick which encourages you to delve into different places of the map. While also having the old Sotenbori and Kamurocho maps to visit.
I mentionned in my review of "Judgment" about how that game's story is on the same scale as 0 but LAD is comfortably my new favorite story. Ichiban is such an amazing character and has an amazing and intricate dynamic with the main antagonist, I only wished we got to see more fleshing out of the main antagonist pre timeskip.
The new turn based combat was great, yet still has its own shortcomings that i hope they address in the future entries but all in all as a first experiment with the change it was a solid experience.
Overall, this game for me was a succesful attempt at changing the old formula of the yakuza games, with some really good additions that allow for a more fleshed out cast of characters and I'm excited for what the rest has in store for me.
Encapsulates everything i ever wanted from a yakuza game ever since i played Y0 and adds even more to that. The fact that they took the risk with the combat switch as well as the the protagonist and deliver on top of that shows just how capable they are. The cast is phenomenal and the game does a good job at creating a really good chemistry between each character and Ichiban and it's all thanks to the leveling up the companion bonds mechanic.
The new Ijincho map was one of my favorite additions to this game as well and allows for much more explorations especially with the new party chat gimmick which encourages you to delve into different places of the map. While also having the old Sotenbori and Kamurocho maps to visit.
I mentionned in my review of "Judgment" about how that game's story is on the same scale as 0 but LAD is comfortably my new favorite story. Ichiban is such an amazing character and has an amazing and intricate dynamic with the main antagonist, I only wished we got to see more fleshing out of the main antagonist pre timeskip.
The new turn based combat was great, yet still has its own shortcomings that i hope they address in the future entries but all in all as a first experiment with the change it was a solid experience.
Overall, this game for me was a succesful attempt at changing the old formula of the yakuza games, with some really good additions that allow for a more fleshed out cast of characters and I'm excited for what the rest has in store for me.