Tefio
10 reviews liked by Tefio
Kill the past. Secure the future.
This review contains minor spoilers for Yakuza 5, 6, 7 and Gaiden.
Kiryu has to move on from his past mistakes. Put his trust in others for the first time.
Ichiban has to secure the future for all the ex-Yakuza he helped tear down. They are human too.
Ichiban has to use the past as a stepping stone to reach for even greater highs. If he got up from rock bottom, he is capable of dreaming of greater heights. His father’s footsteps. His failed confession. A brother he didn’t have the chance to change.
Kiryu has to see a brighter tomorrow, secure what little future he has left. Even if he himself tries to deny this fact. Still too afraid to let others into his life.
Wandering around the city with Kiryu, reminiscing on all the past events you and him have been through together. The hardships you have faced against the insurmountable foes behind the many multi-layered conspiracies. The laughs you had with the side characters. The infuriation you felt whilst fighting the near-immortal Amon, or the fun you had batting your stress away at the cages. Finally being able to see some of the long lost characters. This is the life Kiryu has lived. You have seen it all through. Reminisce on it one last time.
But he can't wallow in despair. He has new friends to keep his chin up. You have been an empty, depressed shell of your former self since 2011. It’s time to gain back some of that old spark. Enjoy life whilst it lasts Kiryu. Gather some positivity, if anyone could tell you how to do that, it’d be Ichi and his gang.
This is partially Ichiban’s story after all, and what is Ichiban’s story if not a spontaneous bundle of misfits reaching for the sky?
Ichiban’s tale is always penned in the love he has for his friends. The pals he can always confide in, Adachi and Nanba. The person most unapproachable to him, Saeko. The unpredictable ex-mafia who can whip up a mean dim sum, Zhao. The initially cold, but ultimately human members of the Geomijul, Joongi and Seonhee.
Joining Ichiban’s group of middle aged do-gooders are the helpful wheelchair-bound Eiji. The cabbie who tried to rob him at gunpoint, Tomizawa. The girl who knows more than she lets on, Chitose. Lastly, the brick-faced Yakuza legend, Kiryu Kazuma himself.
Putting Kiryu in Ichibans crew was an interesting decision. These are people he has never had a heart to heart with before. Complete strangers as far as he is concerned. But it worked. The relationship between Kiryu and these people clicked. Ichiban’s cheerfulness can even tear down the greatest of walls. Kiryu quickly found that he had a lot more in common with this pick ‘n’ mix of Japan's (and Hawaii’s) most bold.
What really, really helps the bonds you forge with the party is all of the gameplay additions surrounding it. Wandering around the map could trigger a conversation where Seonhee mentions Joongi watching videos of rubber bands blowing up watermelons. Or a discussion between Ichiban and Tomizawa about hermit-crab real estate. Every one of these conversations is as enamoring as the last.
But it's not limited to just this, eat at restaurants and the crew might burn their tongues on sesame balls or talk about how their sensitive molars make the party weak to ice magic. Levelling up your bonds allows you to do tag team attacks, combo enemies with your allies, and unlock new skills and jobs to experiment with.
Everything you do with your party increases their bond level, as you increase their bond you can go out and grab drinks, usually resulting in a small character arc for that party member. Unlike 7, the characters have plenty of good moments and screen time. So it's not like Zhao or Joongi get a particularly short end of the stick like they did previously. Most of these drink links have nice conclusions, or add particularly entertaining bits of depth to the characters.
So all of this makes the party fantastic. But what's a good band of heroes without some ruthless masterminds?
The majority of the villains are quite good. Together they form a super solid antagonistic cast, though individually they are a bit hit or miss.
Yamai is the standout here. Solid design, fantastic arc, great boss fights and extremely memorable voicework to boot. You’ll be hard pressed to find someone among the fanbase who didn’t end up a fan.
Ichiban’s final boss is not bad, but it definitely will not make it to the hall of fame of RGG’s greats like Aoki, Shishido or Mine. However, Ichiban’s story does not end there. His big moment comes afterwards. His final scene, helping up someone from rock bottom through a naive, one-sided love is just so… Ichiban. The dream present in this scene never came to fruition before. But he made it possible now.
Kiryu’s final boss has a few minor issues. I really don't know why they felt the need to include a “we are not so different, he and I” moment, when I think that much was made clear. But at the same time,
I…
I APOLOGISE.
This game is nothing short of fantastic, following up on every idea, every core concept in this 9-game series is nothing short of monumental work. To be able to do it in this fashion, and deliver it with this much purpose is stunning.
Something as special as this does not come around often.
This review contains minor spoilers for Yakuza 5, 6, 7 and Gaiden.
Kiryu has to move on from his past mistakes. Put his trust in others for the first time.
Ichiban has to secure the future for all the ex-Yakuza he helped tear down. They are human too.
Ichiban has to use the past as a stepping stone to reach for even greater highs. If he got up from rock bottom, he is capable of dreaming of greater heights. His father’s footsteps. His failed confession. A brother he didn’t have the chance to change.
Kiryu has to see a brighter tomorrow, secure what little future he has left. Even if he himself tries to deny this fact. Still too afraid to let others into his life.
Wandering around the city with Kiryu, reminiscing on all the past events you and him have been through together. The hardships you have faced against the insurmountable foes behind the many multi-layered conspiracies. The laughs you had with the side characters. The infuriation you felt whilst fighting the near-immortal Amon, or the fun you had batting your stress away at the cages. Finally being able to see some of the long lost characters. This is the life Kiryu has lived. You have seen it all through. Reminisce on it one last time.
But he can't wallow in despair. He has new friends to keep his chin up. You have been an empty, depressed shell of your former self since 2011. It’s time to gain back some of that old spark. Enjoy life whilst it lasts Kiryu. Gather some positivity, if anyone could tell you how to do that, it’d be Ichi and his gang.
This is partially Ichiban’s story after all, and what is Ichiban’s story if not a spontaneous bundle of misfits reaching for the sky?
Ichiban’s tale is always penned in the love he has for his friends. The pals he can always confide in, Adachi and Nanba. The person most unapproachable to him, Saeko. The unpredictable ex-mafia who can whip up a mean dim sum, Zhao. The initially cold, but ultimately human members of the Geomijul, Joongi and Seonhee.
Joining Ichiban’s group of middle aged do-gooders are the helpful wheelchair-bound Eiji. The cabbie who tried to rob him at gunpoint, Tomizawa. The girl who knows more than she lets on, Chitose. Lastly, the brick-faced Yakuza legend, Kiryu Kazuma himself.
Putting Kiryu in Ichibans crew was an interesting decision. These are people he has never had a heart to heart with before. Complete strangers as far as he is concerned. But it worked. The relationship between Kiryu and these people clicked. Ichiban’s cheerfulness can even tear down the greatest of walls. Kiryu quickly found that he had a lot more in common with this pick ‘n’ mix of Japan's (and Hawaii’s) most bold.
What really, really helps the bonds you forge with the party is all of the gameplay additions surrounding it. Wandering around the map could trigger a conversation where Seonhee mentions Joongi watching videos of rubber bands blowing up watermelons. Or a discussion between Ichiban and Tomizawa about hermit-crab real estate. Every one of these conversations is as enamoring as the last.
But it's not limited to just this, eat at restaurants and the crew might burn their tongues on sesame balls or talk about how their sensitive molars make the party weak to ice magic. Levelling up your bonds allows you to do tag team attacks, combo enemies with your allies, and unlock new skills and jobs to experiment with.
Everything you do with your party increases their bond level, as you increase their bond you can go out and grab drinks, usually resulting in a small character arc for that party member. Unlike 7, the characters have plenty of good moments and screen time. So it's not like Zhao or Joongi get a particularly short end of the stick like they did previously. Most of these drink links have nice conclusions, or add particularly entertaining bits of depth to the characters.
So all of this makes the party fantastic. But what's a good band of heroes without some ruthless masterminds?
The majority of the villains are quite good. Together they form a super solid antagonistic cast, though individually they are a bit hit or miss.
Yamai is the standout here. Solid design, fantastic arc, great boss fights and extremely memorable voicework to boot. You’ll be hard pressed to find someone among the fanbase who didn’t end up a fan.
Ichiban’s final boss is not bad, but it definitely will not make it to the hall of fame of RGG’s greats like Aoki, Shishido or Mine. However, Ichiban’s story does not end there. His big moment comes afterwards. His final scene, helping up someone from rock bottom through a naive, one-sided love is just so… Ichiban. The dream present in this scene never came to fruition before. But he made it possible now.
Kiryu’s final boss has a few minor issues. I really don't know why they felt the need to include a “we are not so different, he and I” moment, when I think that much was made clear. But at the same time,
I…
I APOLOGISE.
This game is nothing short of fantastic, following up on every idea, every core concept in this 9-game series is nothing short of monumental work. To be able to do it in this fashion, and deliver it with this much purpose is stunning.
Something as special as this does not come around often.
Infinite Wealth was a ride which left me giving alot of hope with it's huge ambitious story. The tale of Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu who have to face things together this time, while one deals with facing the past of it's kind and the other is entrusted with the future of it.
There's alot to talk about, with it's amazing gameplay, quality of life improvements, side content especially the Dondoko Island, Sujimon battles and last but not least the bucket list which I spent alot of hours on having the most joy and sadness while playing, it unbelievably is it's magnum opus made for us long running fans who've stuck with it from its beginning, it's unbelievably rewarding and ultimately pays off from the culmination of its 9 games.
It stays core to its series and delivers one heck of a story worth remembering, seeing the best in all of people and to change whenever you still have time left. To be courageous and face your own battles ahead whenever the time comes up. While it has it's usual flaws in it and leaves questions unanswered it doesn't invalidate the approach taken with it's whole ending which I can say is one of the greatest conclusions to my favorite character ever.
The Dragon of Dojima who has faced alot of people throughout his life, which left an impression on them and in turn gave him back the strength to push forward in his most difficult times which continues to influence him in this game much more than ever, every foe he's faced in his life to keep the dragon of his unwavering continues to do so towards his final chapter.
Ichiban's journey as always was great and finds ways to make friends along the way this time facing a foe which was a perfect foil to everything he stands for, while the villains were weak and dumbed down with it's motivations here it was still something to come through his character arc and it hit home to me yet again.
This game gave me alot of hope to where the series would look forward to go and I'm really looking forward to it's future adventures with our protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and the gang. I wish I could talk more about this game, but I feel more than satisfied with how I'm writing this down now to what means something special to me, I'll love this series forever. Kazuma Kiryu you're the greatest of all time.
Thank you RGG.
There's alot to talk about, with it's amazing gameplay, quality of life improvements, side content especially the Dondoko Island, Sujimon battles and last but not least the bucket list which I spent alot of hours on having the most joy and sadness while playing, it unbelievably is it's magnum opus made for us long running fans who've stuck with it from its beginning, it's unbelievably rewarding and ultimately pays off from the culmination of its 9 games.
It stays core to its series and delivers one heck of a story worth remembering, seeing the best in all of people and to change whenever you still have time left. To be courageous and face your own battles ahead whenever the time comes up. While it has it's usual flaws in it and leaves questions unanswered it doesn't invalidate the approach taken with it's whole ending which I can say is one of the greatest conclusions to my favorite character ever.
The Dragon of Dojima who has faced alot of people throughout his life, which left an impression on them and in turn gave him back the strength to push forward in his most difficult times which continues to influence him in this game much more than ever, every foe he's faced in his life to keep the dragon of his unwavering continues to do so towards his final chapter.
Ichiban's journey as always was great and finds ways to make friends along the way this time facing a foe which was a perfect foil to everything he stands for, while the villains were weak and dumbed down with it's motivations here it was still something to come through his character arc and it hit home to me yet again.
This game gave me alot of hope to where the series would look forward to go and I'm really looking forward to it's future adventures with our protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and the gang. I wish I could talk more about this game, but I feel more than satisfied with how I'm writing this down now to what means something special to me, I'll love this series forever. Kazuma Kiryu you're the greatest of all time.
Thank you RGG.
Persona 3 Reload
2024
I don't have much to say that's new about this game or the original, this is a remake that lives up to the original- and even surpasses it. Something I was hopeful for yet didn't quite expect with how most remakes turn out.
The team that made this clearly holds love for the original and took tons of care to preserve its essence in as many ways possible. While it does miss some of the ludo-narrative poignance of the original and certain charms or scenes the original had, it makes up for it fully in reimagining Persona 3 in such a fresh, vivid and more satisfying manner by delving deeper into characters they couldn't do the same for in the original.
My few gripes are with the audiovisual aspects, I like the OST a lot but it's certainly not as iconic as the original which is fine but in certain songs it's a little too off. And for the visuals, on most fronts this is one of the prettiest games I've ever played yet the lighting can be completely out of sync in certain areas. Besides the things I've mentioned, this game is essentially perfect.
Now for a little personal footnote, this game came into my life when I started questioning the meaning of life and why I was alive at a very tender time of my pre-teen years, still unaware of how to deal with a loss. Back then, this game was a guiding light to me, it helped me sit with my fear of death despite how much it posessed me. Death is something I fear even to this day, this moment. But unlike 10 years ago, this time I know the meaning of my life is mine and the people I surround myself by to find. It's alright if I can't find it as long as I'm alive, my life already means something to the people that love me.
And that's fine enough, no matter when or how I pass. This realization only came to me then due to this game and today it comes back into my life in a further fully realized manner to pat me on my back and remind me of the same, to keep walking on and adore the burning glimmer and brilliance in life even if it means enduring all the suffering I have to face or that it'll all come to an end.
And as the game says, "Nothing's a waste...my life will have meaning."
The team that made this clearly holds love for the original and took tons of care to preserve its essence in as many ways possible. While it does miss some of the ludo-narrative poignance of the original and certain charms or scenes the original had, it makes up for it fully in reimagining Persona 3 in such a fresh, vivid and more satisfying manner by delving deeper into characters they couldn't do the same for in the original.
My few gripes are with the audiovisual aspects, I like the OST a lot but it's certainly not as iconic as the original which is fine but in certain songs it's a little too off. And for the visuals, on most fronts this is one of the prettiest games I've ever played yet the lighting can be completely out of sync in certain areas. Besides the things I've mentioned, this game is essentially perfect.
Now for a little personal footnote, this game came into my life when I started questioning the meaning of life and why I was alive at a very tender time of my pre-teen years, still unaware of how to deal with a loss. Back then, this game was a guiding light to me, it helped me sit with my fear of death despite how much it posessed me. Death is something I fear even to this day, this moment. But unlike 10 years ago, this time I know the meaning of my life is mine and the people I surround myself by to find. It's alright if I can't find it as long as I'm alive, my life already means something to the people that love me.
And that's fine enough, no matter when or how I pass. This realization only came to me then due to this game and today it comes back into my life in a further fully realized manner to pat me on my back and remind me of the same, to keep walking on and adore the burning glimmer and brilliance in life even if it means enduring all the suffering I have to face or that it'll all come to an end.
And as the game says, "Nothing's a waste...my life will have meaning."
i couldnt have asked for anything better than this
Thank you Yakuza, Thank you Like a Dragon. For everything. For whatever may come, for whatever passed. This series has left a mark of the highest significance in my heart after this despite being an immense fan for quite a few years.
I'll probably make a more deep-diving review someday but this is all I can write in the flooding tears and emotions I have right now.
I wrote about it a little, spoiler-free on here
https://twitter.com/ldealAndTheReal/status/1752357474663903677
I'll probably make a more deep-diving review someday but this is all I can write in the flooding tears and emotions I have right now.
I wrote about it a little, spoiler-free on here
https://twitter.com/ldealAndTheReal/status/1752357474663903677
That was very fun! I really liked the Somniums themselves the most because of the way they were designed. The Somniums also perfectly display the two halves of AI: The Somnium files which is Crime drama mixing light-hearted humor. The Psychological sense and strange design vibe in these somniums also go super hard.
The split between the more light-hearted comedy and full-on human drama might turn some people off. I thought this double-edged nature made the game more interesting and unique.
The route structure is used nicely too. Slowly uncovering different facets of the story through the use of these split-up routes made it even more enjoyable for when things came together.
Curious as to what the sequel is going to be like.
Don't have much else to say, i had a good time. Aiba <3
The split between the more light-hearted comedy and full-on human drama might turn some people off. I thought this double-edged nature made the game more interesting and unique.
The route structure is used nicely too. Slowly uncovering different facets of the story through the use of these split-up routes made it even more enjoyable for when things came together.
Curious as to what the sequel is going to be like.
Don't have much else to say, i had a good time. Aiba <3
haram
5 stars. 10/10. Kodaka. You win. You win. Bye Bye Danganronpa. Goodbye. Theres no more. No More Danganronpa. Love it. Hate it. Malfunction Malfunction. Meta. Meta as fuck. Error. Error. There is no point in living anymore. This is the end of Danganronpa. I can't fucking live without it. I need Danganronpa. I dont need anything else in my life. I. need. Danganronpa. No one understands it like I do. Makoto Naegi is me. He is a metanarratively driven creation of broke nigga from pennslyvania. Thats me. I am Makoto Naegi. the Ultimate Hope. This shit is Ultimate Real Fiction. Its peak. Yes. Inject more. I am gay. I am transgender. Devil twerking. I love it so much. @Kodaka We fw you. Brainwash Brainwash Brainwash. Love it. Love Danganronpa. Fraud Uchikoshi. Fraud. VLR Bad. Zero Doors Escape Bad. Error. Malfunction. I love it. Nothing else matters. This is my final message. I am a starving child. Goodbye.
Boy, do I love listening to the same three terrible soundtracks for hundreds of hours.
Do you enjoy aimless stories?
Do you enjoy pointless and over-the-top rape scenes in every second chapter?
Do you enjoy characters changing their mind after listening to redditor villains?
Do you enjoy endless exposition about irrelevant shit?
Do you enjoy your cast being full of flat characters?
Do you enjoy neverending lectures regarding swordsmanship in the middle of a fight?
Do you enjoy said fights being decided by random asspulls?
Do you enjoy every single chapter ending in the same identical manner?
Do you enjoy small screen resolution?
Do you enjoy reading from even smaller text box?
Do you enjoy your main characters falling in love with little girls at first sight?
Do you enjoy little schoogirls beating elite soldiers to death with bare hands?
Do you enjoy edgelords perpetually wallowing in self-hatred?
Do you enjoy forcefully thrown flashbacks that add virtually nothing?
Do you enjoy hyper generic and tone deaf vocal tracks?
Do you enjoy dilemma being resolved with cop-outs?
Do you enjoy random CGs and backgrounds that tell you nothing aside from people having figures?
Do you enjoy 'caricature villain of the chapter' plot structure?
Do you enjoy every single sorry excuse of an antagonist dying immediately after they do something minor?
Do you enjoy stories about heroism where there is not a single character representing the population?
Do you enjoy adult trying to act like an animal by writing a poem while fucking a schoolgirl?
Do you enjoy juxtaposition being presented as some deep argument?
Do you enjoy themes set-up in initial chapters never being brought up ever again?
Do you enjoy non-main characters looking and being bland?
Do you enjoy 'I am not like other girls' route system?
Do you enjoy choice system that does opposite of what is generally done and considers itself as subversion?
Do you enjoy said 'subversion' (of harem tropes, allegedly by some readers) having literally zero cohesion and correlation to this story's narrative?
Do you enjoy climax of your choices being off-screened and bearing zero consequences?
Do you enjoy a curse that kills closed ones attached to a person who does not know a single person and has no attachments whatsoever?
Do you enjoy plot randomly making up jobbers just for MC to bypass the curse?
Do you enjoy plot for some reason demanding from the cursed to kill people he just met instead of you know, people he has been chilling with at government?
Do you enjoy relatively grounded and self-serious stories snowballing into Dragon Ball?
Do you enjoy routes being heroine centric and abandoning literally everyone else?
Do you enjoy sprites that do not ever move?
Do you enjoy lack of dynamics and dialogue not having a semblance of interesting or/and likable conversations and banter?
Do you enjoy 3D toy transformations?
Do you enjoy repetitive and flashy closed-up special effects?
Then this product is for YOU!
(Special cheers to people who enjoy it for being funny rather than considering it as something 2deep4u and well-written, though)
Do you enjoy aimless stories?
Do you enjoy pointless and over-the-top rape scenes in every second chapter?
Do you enjoy characters changing their mind after listening to redditor villains?
Do you enjoy endless exposition about irrelevant shit?
Do you enjoy your cast being full of flat characters?
Do you enjoy neverending lectures regarding swordsmanship in the middle of a fight?
Do you enjoy said fights being decided by random asspulls?
Do you enjoy every single chapter ending in the same identical manner?
Do you enjoy small screen resolution?
Do you enjoy reading from even smaller text box?
Do you enjoy your main characters falling in love with little girls at first sight?
Do you enjoy little schoogirls beating elite soldiers to death with bare hands?
Do you enjoy edgelords perpetually wallowing in self-hatred?
Do you enjoy forcefully thrown flashbacks that add virtually nothing?
Do you enjoy hyper generic and tone deaf vocal tracks?
Do you enjoy dilemma being resolved with cop-outs?
Do you enjoy random CGs and backgrounds that tell you nothing aside from people having figures?
Do you enjoy 'caricature villain of the chapter' plot structure?
Do you enjoy every single sorry excuse of an antagonist dying immediately after they do something minor?
Do you enjoy stories about heroism where there is not a single character representing the population?
Do you enjoy adult trying to act like an animal by writing a poem while fucking a schoolgirl?
Do you enjoy juxtaposition being presented as some deep argument?
Do you enjoy themes set-up in initial chapters never being brought up ever again?
Do you enjoy non-main characters looking and being bland?
Do you enjoy 'I am not like other girls' route system?
Do you enjoy choice system that does opposite of what is generally done and considers itself as subversion?
Do you enjoy said 'subversion' (of harem tropes, allegedly by some readers) having literally zero cohesion and correlation to this story's narrative?
Do you enjoy climax of your choices being off-screened and bearing zero consequences?
Do you enjoy a curse that kills closed ones attached to a person who does not know a single person and has no attachments whatsoever?
Do you enjoy plot randomly making up jobbers just for MC to bypass the curse?
Do you enjoy plot for some reason demanding from the cursed to kill people he just met instead of you know, people he has been chilling with at government?
Do you enjoy relatively grounded and self-serious stories snowballing into Dragon Ball?
Do you enjoy routes being heroine centric and abandoning literally everyone else?
Do you enjoy sprites that do not ever move?
Do you enjoy lack of dynamics and dialogue not having a semblance of interesting or/and likable conversations and banter?
Do you enjoy 3D toy transformations?
Do you enjoy repetitive and flashy closed-up special effects?
Then this product is for YOU!
(Special cheers to people who enjoy it for being funny rather than considering it as something 2deep4u and well-written, though)
9-nine-: Episode 2
2018
May Allah guide me