2019
Yakuza fatigue started setting in with this one. Dumb plot moments I couldn't just gloss over anymore, some really annoying fights and mechanics, little improvement over its predecessor. The multiple protagonists is a neat idea, but it doesn't work well since you spend little time with them and the leveling system antagonizes it.
It's still a decent game but my least favorite so far. Definitely taking a break before 5 to avoid getting burnt out!
It's still a decent game but my least favorite so far. Definitely taking a break before 5 to avoid getting burnt out!
A very interesting narrative with some engaging character moments is brought down by questionable gameplay choices, jarring tone shifts and some other character moments.
2021
Basically Nier Automata without Yoko Taro or Platinum Games
This game is very ugly, has an uninteresting cast, drags on a lot in the middle. It also has a pretty dumb story... that ultimately works and makes the whole thing worth playing.
2019
An overly long and convoluted story plus an insane random encounter rate tarnish the biggest Yakuza so far, but it's still a great experience for fans of the franchise that are already six games into Kiryu's journey.
For the conclusion of its first big saga, Yakuza goes back to its roots with a more nuanced and tight plot that is sure to tug at some heartstrings. Although he combat and overall gameplay feels okay for a new engine, it needs a lot of improvements to reach the previous standards set by the series.
2008
As a kid, I was disheartened that I couldn't play this game, the sequel to one of my favorites. Thanks to streaming tech I was finally able to do it, 15 years later.
Was it worth the wait? Eh. It's still a charming, nice looking game, but its core gameplay mechanics haven't aged that well. Overall I'm glad I finally sated my curiosity!
Was it worth the wait? Eh. It's still a charming, nice looking game, but its core gameplay mechanics haven't aged that well. Overall I'm glad I finally sated my curiosity!
Yakuza reinvents itself in what could've been a masterpiece, but falls short at some key areas.
The new turn-based combat is a refreshing addition to the series, replacing a system that was good but getting stale. Unfortunately it comes with a few hiccups, like unbalanced jobs/skills, visually uninteresting effects/animations, sudden difficulty spikes and repetitive encounters. The most annoying flaw is the reliance on the positioning of enemies and allies - which you have zero control over - turning some fights into awkward dances. Luckily the developers seem to learn from their mistakes, so I'm confident the next game will be better.
Ichiban, the new protagonist, had some large shoes to fill coming into this game, given that Kiryu is a legendary character both inside and outside the franchise. I'm happy to say he succeeds: a true lovable idiot that leans more into loveable than idiot - a line that characters in weaker stories struggle with.
Speaking of story, it delivers big time. The secondary conflict that takes up many of the middle chapters is a little too slow at times, but everything comes together in a thrilling end, unraveling Yakuza's usual plot twists in a clean, satisfying way - something that the later games couldn't do. Except for "Mirror Face", that was stupid and unnecessary.
Also I do have to point out how anti-climatic it was to watch an epic 1v1 cutscene before certain bosses only for your party of ragtags to spawn behind you during the actual combat and beat the boss up 4v1. Kiryu would never!
I'm writing this just as 5 more Yakuza games are announced for the PC. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in...
The new turn-based combat is a refreshing addition to the series, replacing a system that was good but getting stale. Unfortunately it comes with a few hiccups, like unbalanced jobs/skills, visually uninteresting effects/animations, sudden difficulty spikes and repetitive encounters. The most annoying flaw is the reliance on the positioning of enemies and allies - which you have zero control over - turning some fights into awkward dances. Luckily the developers seem to learn from their mistakes, so I'm confident the next game will be better.
Ichiban, the new protagonist, had some large shoes to fill coming into this game, given that Kiryu is a legendary character both inside and outside the franchise. I'm happy to say he succeeds: a true lovable idiot that leans more into loveable than idiot - a line that characters in weaker stories struggle with.
Speaking of story, it delivers big time. The secondary conflict that takes up many of the middle chapters is a little too slow at times, but everything comes together in a thrilling end, unraveling Yakuza's usual plot twists in a clean, satisfying way - something that the later games couldn't do. Except for "Mirror Face", that was stupid and unnecessary.
Also I do have to point out how anti-climatic it was to watch an epic 1v1 cutscene before certain bosses only for your party of ragtags to spawn behind you during the actual combat and beat the boss up 4v1. Kiryu would never!
I'm writing this just as 5 more Yakuza games are announced for the PC. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in...
I can't believe I spent more than 40 hours on a BotW clone made by Ubisoft
2022
Removing a tank does ease the bloat that Overwatch 1 had become, so that's nice. Overall, however, it's just the same game with a more predatory monetization system.
2021
Deathloop is a culmination of the immersive sim genre and its mechanics as storytelling and world-building devices, a work that Arkane had been building up to from Dishonored to Prey: Mooncrash.
Unfortunately, along the way it also lets go of some details that make the genre so interesting in the first place. Deathloop has lower complexity and variety compared to their previous games, which makes it less replayable and not as interesting from a gameplay perspective.
It's still a great, stylish game that solidifies Arkane as one of the best working studios today, and it introduces a multiplayer element that I hope makes a come back in the future.
Unfortunately, along the way it also lets go of some details that make the genre so interesting in the first place. Deathloop has lower complexity and variety compared to their previous games, which makes it less replayable and not as interesting from a gameplay perspective.
It's still a great, stylish game that solidifies Arkane as one of the best working studios today, and it introduces a multiplayer element that I hope makes a come back in the future.
2022
An unique, memorable and disturbing experience that is held back by some jankiness.
2019
My main takeaway after 85 hours is that weebs are so damn easy to please.
Persona 5 Royal oozes confidence in its stylistic and gameplay choices. This confidence surrounds the player, and led me to believe I was playing one of the greats. Until the mask fell.
Unfortunately, that same confidence is nowhere to be seen when it comes to plot and characters. The narrative constantly seems like it's about to get bold and build upon its strong promise, but at the end of the day it goes back to uncertainty and the same old cop-outs. There's a lot of characters in this, so I was surprised that by the end none of their arcs really captivated me. The best parts of the story take place after the main plot is resolved, but sadly it feels tacked on, too little and too late by that point.
I don't regret my time with it, but I do wish it'd been a shorter time.
Persona 5 Royal oozes confidence in its stylistic and gameplay choices. This confidence surrounds the player, and led me to believe I was playing one of the greats. Until the mask fell.
Unfortunately, that same confidence is nowhere to be seen when it comes to plot and characters. The narrative constantly seems like it's about to get bold and build upon its strong promise, but at the end of the day it goes back to uncertainty and the same old cop-outs. There's a lot of characters in this, so I was surprised that by the end none of their arcs really captivated me. The best parts of the story take place after the main plot is resolved, but sadly it feels tacked on, too little and too late by that point.
I don't regret my time with it, but I do wish it'd been a shorter time.
It's a testament to the strength of this game's writing that even after all of Telltale's narrative tricks and questionable gameplay mechanics had been outdated for years, it still manages to offer an incredibly rewarding experience.
2022
why did they make another one
who's playing this
who's playing this