jesus fucking christ, where do i even begin with this game.
this game is RGG's second game in the year, launching ahead of Like a Dragon 8 in early 2024, the purpose of this game is to bridge the gaps between Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and Yakuza: Like a Dragon, as well as introducing the "Like a Dragon Gaiden" subseries, which are dedicated to telling small scale stories regarding key figures in RGG's story. This entry not only did that, but outdid itself on every possible scale expected out of a smaller "Like a Dragon" game.
Without spoiling, it answers many of the questions that players had playing the series in numerical order between 6 and 7 (aka Yakuza: Like a Dragon). As well as introducing new areas, points of interest, the Akame Network system and a new fighting style with its own level of depth in the "Agent Style", which allows you to use 4 different high-tech gadgets during fights, the Coliseum is introduced as well as this game's fighting arena, where you'll be able to recruit new members and go into massive fights with your comrades, or fight in 1v1 fights against other arena contenders. The ability to customize Kiryu's clothing is also introduced for the first time in this game (without the need of a New Game+), among other returning minigames, a revamped arcade, a whole SEGA GENESIS in the hideout, and other insane features.
Despite its shorter storyline, it fleshes out many characters, which honestly is impressive for an RGG game with only 5 chapters. This game broke many of RGG's traditional storytelling methods as well, which I can't get into due to not wanting to spoil this fantastic entry.
My biggest criticisms are honestly regarding the upgrading path, as the game requires both Akame Points and Money to upgrade, at the beginning, I realized Akame Points are my biggest hurdle, but by the mid to end of the game, my biggest problem was the money, as the game would demand like 3 million for extra heals or a new heat action but you'd barely even be able to scrape together 1 million as is.
That, as well as not giving certain characters a dynamic intro for their fights.
This game's soundtrack and ending are fantastic, everything regarding this game is beautiful, and honestly sits up there for me as one of the best games of 2023. if you haven't played this yet, you HAVE to.
this game is RGG's second game in the year, launching ahead of Like a Dragon 8 in early 2024, the purpose of this game is to bridge the gaps between Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and Yakuza: Like a Dragon, as well as introducing the "Like a Dragon Gaiden" subseries, which are dedicated to telling small scale stories regarding key figures in RGG's story. This entry not only did that, but outdid itself on every possible scale expected out of a smaller "Like a Dragon" game.
Without spoiling, it answers many of the questions that players had playing the series in numerical order between 6 and 7 (aka Yakuza: Like a Dragon). As well as introducing new areas, points of interest, the Akame Network system and a new fighting style with its own level of depth in the "Agent Style", which allows you to use 4 different high-tech gadgets during fights, the Coliseum is introduced as well as this game's fighting arena, where you'll be able to recruit new members and go into massive fights with your comrades, or fight in 1v1 fights against other arena contenders. The ability to customize Kiryu's clothing is also introduced for the first time in this game (without the need of a New Game+), among other returning minigames, a revamped arcade, a whole SEGA GENESIS in the hideout, and other insane features.
Despite its shorter storyline, it fleshes out many characters, which honestly is impressive for an RGG game with only 5 chapters. This game broke many of RGG's traditional storytelling methods as well, which I can't get into due to not wanting to spoil this fantastic entry.
My biggest criticisms are honestly regarding the upgrading path, as the game requires both Akame Points and Money to upgrade, at the beginning, I realized Akame Points are my biggest hurdle, but by the mid to end of the game, my biggest problem was the money, as the game would demand like 3 million for extra heals or a new heat action but you'd barely even be able to scrape together 1 million as is.
That, as well as not giving certain characters a dynamic intro for their fights.
This game's soundtrack and ending are fantastic, everything regarding this game is beautiful, and honestly sits up there for me as one of the best games of 2023. if you haven't played this yet, you HAVE to.