I'm getting real sick of writing that Like A Dragon/Yakuza games are good. They're all good. LAD: Gaiden is continuing the streak of very good games they've made. It feels weird to review this before LAD 8, as I don't know if this game will feel more like required reading before LAD8, or more just like a spinoff, fun side story of Kiryu's storied life.
For the story, I have mixed emotions. I think the game's ending is one of the most heart-wrenching moments in the series, and it's worth playing through and getting to watch that moment unfold. However, maybe it's just all the Judgment and Yakuza 7 in my mind, but the main party for this game just sucks. Hanawa is about as bone dry as they come, Akame is just there to give you boring substories and plays hero, most of the characters from the Yakuza just seem retreaded rather than new ground. It all somehow comes together as RGG intends, and there are some great moments in the story with fun action-packed sections as well as moments that will drain your tear ducts.
The gameplay is great, it's a lot like how Kiwami 2 should have felt. Kiryu has two different movements, both of which work in his favor. The agent style is a bit broken and unlike much of what you're used to as Kiryu, especially when fully upgraded, it's very easy to break the game in your favor. The Dragon style probably should have been what stayed more, as it's the classic Yakuza combat with rush combos, etc. I found myself more in this style for bosses, Agent is a great clean-up style with rooms of enemies.
I think my biggest gripe that lowers the score here is what I ran into with Judgment, but even more grave. There is not a single memorable side piece of activity in this game. You get "Akame Requests" in which most are beatdowns of gang goons, sandwiched between some line of dialogue in which they're mistreating homeless people, which Akame seeks to eliminate. I understand Gaiden is not a full game, but if anything, I'd rather them cut the fat on the story and provide even more fun things to do outside of that rather than giving us nothing but Ubisoft-level fetches quests and "go to this spot to beat up a group of guys". It's insulting, and it's the worst Yakuza has ever been on side content. It does make Judgement and the Fist of the North Star spinoff look more flushed out, and this game's been made years after. I want to reiterate - I understand this is a small game that was not to be the same size as a Yakuza game - but I'd much rather have 20 substories and a few more activities they could have taken from 5, 6, 0, you name it; rather than 40 substories that are all mostly single-fight encounters that end with Kiryu spanking them and walking off.
Overall it's a great game, probably best to play it on Game Pass and beat it in a short amount of time rather than dumping $50 on it. Super excited for LAD 8 coming next month!
For the story, I have mixed emotions. I think the game's ending is one of the most heart-wrenching moments in the series, and it's worth playing through and getting to watch that moment unfold. However, maybe it's just all the Judgment and Yakuza 7 in my mind, but the main party for this game just sucks. Hanawa is about as bone dry as they come, Akame is just there to give you boring substories and plays hero, most of the characters from the Yakuza just seem retreaded rather than new ground. It all somehow comes together as RGG intends, and there are some great moments in the story with fun action-packed sections as well as moments that will drain your tear ducts.
The gameplay is great, it's a lot like how Kiwami 2 should have felt. Kiryu has two different movements, both of which work in his favor. The agent style is a bit broken and unlike much of what you're used to as Kiryu, especially when fully upgraded, it's very easy to break the game in your favor. The Dragon style probably should have been what stayed more, as it's the classic Yakuza combat with rush combos, etc. I found myself more in this style for bosses, Agent is a great clean-up style with rooms of enemies.
I think my biggest gripe that lowers the score here is what I ran into with Judgment, but even more grave. There is not a single memorable side piece of activity in this game. You get "Akame Requests" in which most are beatdowns of gang goons, sandwiched between some line of dialogue in which they're mistreating homeless people, which Akame seeks to eliminate. I understand Gaiden is not a full game, but if anything, I'd rather them cut the fat on the story and provide even more fun things to do outside of that rather than giving us nothing but Ubisoft-level fetches quests and "go to this spot to beat up a group of guys". It's insulting, and it's the worst Yakuza has ever been on side content. It does make Judgement and the Fist of the North Star spinoff look more flushed out, and this game's been made years after. I want to reiterate - I understand this is a small game that was not to be the same size as a Yakuza game - but I'd much rather have 20 substories and a few more activities they could have taken from 5, 6, 0, you name it; rather than 40 substories that are all mostly single-fight encounters that end with Kiryu spanking them and walking off.
Overall it's a great game, probably best to play it on Game Pass and beat it in a short amount of time rather than dumping $50 on it. Super excited for LAD 8 coming next month!