[12/21/2023]
This game has... a lot.
Yakuza 4 had the benefit of primarily taking place in Kamurocho so that the casts each character has deepens the world contained entirely within it. This benefit gets even cooler when each of their stories eventually intersect. So naturally, we gotta follow up the fourth game having 4 characters with the fifth one having 5, but in order to not retread old ground we force them into different cities. As for the characters in question, Kiryu (obviously), Akiyama (the GOAT), and Saejima return. The two new characters are Shinada, the definition of washed, and Haruka. Shinada's fighting style is focused on weapons and his tackle making him the most unique fighter, and Haruka is a teenager and cannot fight. Instead, we play rhythm minigames so she can pursue her dreams of becoming an idol. Lots of rhythm minigames here.
Honestly, playing Kiwami to 5 made me realize that there had been so many layers added at this point in the series that Yakuza 0's story being more streamlined felt very necessary. I'm not going to assume that this game did poorly outside of Japan when it released, but there had to be something that this game lacked that 0 had. It's probably just the fact that 0 was a new starting point, and that this is the fifth fucking game.
Also, enemies are everywhere holy SHIT
This game has... a lot.
Yakuza 4 had the benefit of primarily taking place in Kamurocho so that the casts each character has deepens the world contained entirely within it. This benefit gets even cooler when each of their stories eventually intersect. So naturally, we gotta follow up the fourth game having 4 characters with the fifth one having 5, but in order to not retread old ground we force them into different cities. As for the characters in question, Kiryu (obviously), Akiyama (the GOAT), and Saejima return. The two new characters are Shinada, the definition of washed, and Haruka. Shinada's fighting style is focused on weapons and his tackle making him the most unique fighter, and Haruka is a teenager and cannot fight. Instead, we play rhythm minigames so she can pursue her dreams of becoming an idol. Lots of rhythm minigames here.
Honestly, playing Kiwami to 5 made me realize that there had been so many layers added at this point in the series that Yakuza 0's story being more streamlined felt very necessary. I'm not going to assume that this game did poorly outside of Japan when it released, but there had to be something that this game lacked that 0 had. It's probably just the fact that 0 was a new starting point, and that this is the fifth fucking game.
Also, enemies are everywhere holy SHIT