What a game. Absolutely incredible experience.
Story
This game manages to be both another step on Ichiban's journey while also being the "last" step on Kiryu's. Seeing their respective experiences and views on the events of the story simultaneously is incredible.
This game feels the most like a sequel more than any other Yakuza/LAD game has, with so much building off of 7 and a bit of Gaiden and 6. And it works well in that respect. Seeing what everyone has been up to since 7 is fun, seeing tbe direct results of this whole 6, 7, Gaiden arc of this universe and how they apply to the events of 8 makes for an amazing overarching journey for this series.
The mystery in this game is incredible, the new characters Tomizawa and Chitose are both amazing additions to the cast, I loved both of their journeys in this game.
Honolulu is a great setting, story wise I love how the real world situations of tourism, pollution, poverty, the economy etc. All tie in to how Hawaii is presented and used in the story. RGG has always been great at openly criticizing the conditions of Japan in their games, so seeing that they're able to branch out and still act with the same criticism is great.
Kiryu and Ichiban work well together as a duo, both standing on their own and supporting each other while having a natural flow and bond. Their respective personality traits and tendencies work well together while also having some contrasting traits that make them distinct.
My only notable issues with the story is that one character should have been in it more, but from what I understand they originally weren't going to be at all so I guess it's good we got what we did.
Also the climax overall is good, but definitely not my favorite and I found 7's was a lot more emotional and better executed. Similarly with the main villains, again they're good, just not up with the best in the series.
Characters
Mostly going to focus on the new additions here, Chitose and Tomizawa were great additions to Ichiban's party, I love Tomizawa as a "normal guy" perspective looking at the insane things Ichiban and Kiryu do regularly, he gives the audience someone to relate to if they need it. And his own story was great. Chitose I was surprised as she's like, nearly the third protagonist of this game with how important she is. Both her and Tomizawa work incredibly well with Ichiban and his established patterns as a character. And Seonhee, a welcome addition as well, making her playable was a great decision as she is a fun member of the cast, all of her interactions are so entertaining and I found her interesting quickly. I hope all these new characters stick around for the next game.
Other new characters not playable, were great too. Yamai and Eiji especially I enjoyed their stories a lot.
The returning cast of 7 remained good even if they didn't have as much to do in this game. They're just a great group to follow.
Gameplay
As the second turn based game in the series, the improvement to the depth of the combat is astounding. There is so much going on in every action you take now that takes full advantage of how unique LAD's approach to turn based combat is. The positioning of your party and enemies, the environment around you, the physics engine, so many things influence even just one basic attack, it's possibly the best turn based combat system I've ever played. And that's not even mentioning all the new jobs, old jobs, skills, weapons, items etc. That all have their own contributions as well.
Overall the gameplay outside of combat has just unbelievable amounts of content to it. There's essentially a pokemon and animal crossing game inside of this one. Those are the two larger minigames but there's a ton of smaller ones as well. There's so much to do always on the map that you will always feel like you're keeping busy. Whether it's the main story, substories, Sujimon, Dondoko Island, smaller minigames, bond conversations, collectibles etc. There's so much content packed in here I'm genuinely baffled.
A few things I don't like would be not having Skill Shortcuts, I kinda get why they were removed but I really feel like thy could have stayed. They were appreciated in 7 as starting fights with one move you want is always nice, not having to scroll 12 skills down for the one you want is nice.
I feel like crafting materials for endgame weapons should be more available without grinding minigames/the dungeons. I didn't need everyone to have maxed out weapons, but it would have been cool.
I feel like I have to end this soon, there's legitimately so much I could talk about STILL. But will leave for another time. Yakuza/LAD has never failed to make a game I will like at the bare minimum and love to death at the maximum, and this is in the "love to death" end. I think for now at least it's certainly my favorite in the series even if other games do some things better like the villains and climax.
I'm still I'm awe at what this game pulled off, and am looking forward to the future of the series as always. I'm with you till the end of the line, Ichiban Kasuga.
Story
This game manages to be both another step on Ichiban's journey while also being the "last" step on Kiryu's. Seeing their respective experiences and views on the events of the story simultaneously is incredible.
This game feels the most like a sequel more than any other Yakuza/LAD game has, with so much building off of 7 and a bit of Gaiden and 6. And it works well in that respect. Seeing what everyone has been up to since 7 is fun, seeing tbe direct results of this whole 6, 7, Gaiden arc of this universe and how they apply to the events of 8 makes for an amazing overarching journey for this series.
The mystery in this game is incredible, the new characters Tomizawa and Chitose are both amazing additions to the cast, I loved both of their journeys in this game.
Honolulu is a great setting, story wise I love how the real world situations of tourism, pollution, poverty, the economy etc. All tie in to how Hawaii is presented and used in the story. RGG has always been great at openly criticizing the conditions of Japan in their games, so seeing that they're able to branch out and still act with the same criticism is great.
Kiryu and Ichiban work well together as a duo, both standing on their own and supporting each other while having a natural flow and bond. Their respective personality traits and tendencies work well together while also having some contrasting traits that make them distinct.
My only notable issues with the story is that one character should have been in it more, but from what I understand they originally weren't going to be at all so I guess it's good we got what we did.
Also the climax overall is good, but definitely not my favorite and I found 7's was a lot more emotional and better executed. Similarly with the main villains, again they're good, just not up with the best in the series.
Characters
Mostly going to focus on the new additions here, Chitose and Tomizawa were great additions to Ichiban's party, I love Tomizawa as a "normal guy" perspective looking at the insane things Ichiban and Kiryu do regularly, he gives the audience someone to relate to if they need it. And his own story was great. Chitose I was surprised as she's like, nearly the third protagonist of this game with how important she is. Both her and Tomizawa work incredibly well with Ichiban and his established patterns as a character. And Seonhee, a welcome addition as well, making her playable was a great decision as she is a fun member of the cast, all of her interactions are so entertaining and I found her interesting quickly. I hope all these new characters stick around for the next game.
Other new characters not playable, were great too. Yamai and Eiji especially I enjoyed their stories a lot.
The returning cast of 7 remained good even if they didn't have as much to do in this game. They're just a great group to follow.
Gameplay
As the second turn based game in the series, the improvement to the depth of the combat is astounding. There is so much going on in every action you take now that takes full advantage of how unique LAD's approach to turn based combat is. The positioning of your party and enemies, the environment around you, the physics engine, so many things influence even just one basic attack, it's possibly the best turn based combat system I've ever played. And that's not even mentioning all the new jobs, old jobs, skills, weapons, items etc. That all have their own contributions as well.
Overall the gameplay outside of combat has just unbelievable amounts of content to it. There's essentially a pokemon and animal crossing game inside of this one. Those are the two larger minigames but there's a ton of smaller ones as well. There's so much to do always on the map that you will always feel like you're keeping busy. Whether it's the main story, substories, Sujimon, Dondoko Island, smaller minigames, bond conversations, collectibles etc. There's so much content packed in here I'm genuinely baffled.
A few things I don't like would be not having Skill Shortcuts, I kinda get why they were removed but I really feel like thy could have stayed. They were appreciated in 7 as starting fights with one move you want is always nice, not having to scroll 12 skills down for the one you want is nice.
I feel like crafting materials for endgame weapons should be more available without grinding minigames/the dungeons. I didn't need everyone to have maxed out weapons, but it would have been cool.
I feel like I have to end this soon, there's legitimately so much I could talk about STILL. But will leave for another time. Yakuza/LAD has never failed to make a game I will like at the bare minimum and love to death at the maximum, and this is in the "love to death" end. I think for now at least it's certainly my favorite in the series even if other games do some things better like the villains and climax.
I'm still I'm awe at what this game pulled off, and am looking forward to the future of the series as always. I'm with you till the end of the line, Ichiban Kasuga.