- Joined
- Apr 5, 2025
- Messages
- 38
- Reaction score
- 48
- Points
- 127
I follow RGG on Insta and I am getting sick of just hearing about Yakuza 0. Which is a fantastic game don't get me wrong. I think the focus on cash for upgrading or doing anything streamlines gameplay and strengthens the theme of the story and grounds it in the bubble period. But I wish casual enjoyers would dive into the great, the good, and the bad of the rest of the series. Like I love Yakuza 3 and hate it at the same time, but I get blank stares when I start to talk about it. I pray that more people play the series and fall in love with it like I did. Beyond 0.
I am so passionate about this because Yakuza was my way out during the lockdowns in 2020 and most of 2021. I got out of high school with dreams of seeing the world, but as soon as I started adult life and got a job, I was locked in a concrete shoebox with nothing to do. My hopes were dashed and I was feeling restless. Until I saw the whole mainline series on Gamepass. Life still sucked but I had an outlet/obsession. I started like 99% of new fans with 0, I devoured that moved on to the Kiwami duology, the PS3 era games, then the Dragon engine games. And I loved all of it, except for 6 because why does bitch ass Daigo Dojima get a heartfelt goodbye letter and not Haruka or the rest of the Morning Glory kids?!! 6 aside each game has a special place in my heart as games and as times in my life. That's why I want to get my thoughts out and hear from you guys.
Unrelated Opinions on each mainline game
I am so passionate about this because Yakuza was my way out during the lockdowns in 2020 and most of 2021. I got out of high school with dreams of seeing the world, but as soon as I started adult life and got a job, I was locked in a concrete shoebox with nothing to do. My hopes were dashed and I was feeling restless. Until I saw the whole mainline series on Gamepass. Life still sucked but I had an outlet/obsession. I started like 99% of new fans with 0, I devoured that moved on to the Kiwami duology, the PS3 era games, then the Dragon engine games. And I loved all of it, except for 6 because why does bitch ass Daigo Dojima get a heartfelt goodbye letter and not Haruka or the rest of the Morning Glory kids?!! 6 aside each game has a special place in my heart as games and as times in my life. That's why I want to get my thoughts out and hear from you guys.
Unrelated Opinions on each mainline game
Yakuza 0: Good game. You know this and I know this. But a lot of missed potential when it comes to Kiryu's side of the story. Since he starts the game as a noble and kind man with a hard edge and ends as a noble and kind man with a hard edge.
Yakuza Kiwami: decent little remake, but it definitely should've cut some of the fat from the original story and strengthened the revisions more. The depth they added to Nishiki was great, but there should've been more. It was like a tangy sauce on the side of an expensive meal, elegantly presented dots against the bulk of the meal, while I wanted that sauce smothering the meal like barbeque sauce on a rack of ribs.
Yakuza Kiwami 2: First experience with the Dragon Engine and I was impressed. I even liked the green filter if I'm being honest. Kaoru Sayama is an total badass and I was really happy to see how much chemistry she had with Kiryu. I also love the way eating and drinking affect gameplay. Bonus points go to the game for letting me beat the tar out of Daigo Dojima in the opening hours
Yakuza 3: Shortly after playing Yakuza 3 I had the privilege to visit Tokyo and Okinawa and I was blown away by how I already felt home on the streets of Kabukicho and the cozy shopping streets of Okinawa. I am not ashamed to say that the story in Yakuza 3 from the jump made me cry like a bitch. I don't know what it was but so many moments had me sobbing ugly tears. Granted in terms of gameplay it was hard to readjust to an older style, but it is absolutely fascinating how all of the building blocks for the rest of the series are right here.
Yakuza 4: Was fantastic. I loved Akiyama, Saejima, Tanimura, and a returning Kiryu let loose on a Kamurocho that was bigger than ever. Going up, down, and all around Tokyo was great. And while the story is really shaky in the broad strokes, Damn did it have some killer moments and deeply charming characters. All the side quests were really fun, and really accentuated the 4 leads distinct personalities. Bonus points once again for letting me beat the hell out of Daigo Dojima
Yakuza 5: God Damn, this game is denser than a brick. I had to put it down for a month or two because it was so overwhelmingly BIG. 5 characters, 4 cities, and 5 mini games deep enough to be their own games. I spent the most time on Kiryu, Saejima, and Haruka. The story was complicated for me since I really liked Saejima's escape, Haruka's rise to the top, and Shinada's finding his place in the world. But Akiyama felt like an after thought and I was furious at Kiryu for abandoning his kids. Bonus points once again for being able to smack around Daigo Dojima.
Yakuza 6: mostly a tech demo for the Dragon engine. Really didn't care for the changes to Heat and the inability to use weapons. I liked the calm Hiroshima town in terms of vibes, but hated the lack of activities and stores. Fuck Daigo Dojima
Yakuza 7: This was a breath of fresh air. I love Ichiban Kasuga, as a hero he is a perfect contrast to the stalwart Kazuma Kiryu. The story hooked me, and made me cry plenty of times. I love how everyone chats with each other while walking around. But I wish you could skip fights with fodder enemies and Yokohama was so damn big that it was a trek to get anywhere. The English dub is pretty damn good, Kaji Tang really makes Ichiban his own, his performance has a real warmth and earnestness.
Yakuza 8: This game was great, gameplay is focused and improved in every way, but it officially killed any drama of nearly killing Kiryu for me. I was genuinely scared that Kiryu would die, but he didn't for like the 5th time. Fool me once shame on you, fool me 5 times then shame on both of us for keeping this up. Also Ichiban proposing to Saeko on their first date had me screaming at my TV like your Dad shouts at the referee penalizing his favorite team.
Yakuza Kiwami: decent little remake, but it definitely should've cut some of the fat from the original story and strengthened the revisions more. The depth they added to Nishiki was great, but there should've been more. It was like a tangy sauce on the side of an expensive meal, elegantly presented dots against the bulk of the meal, while I wanted that sauce smothering the meal like barbeque sauce on a rack of ribs.
Yakuza Kiwami 2: First experience with the Dragon Engine and I was impressed. I even liked the green filter if I'm being honest. Kaoru Sayama is an total badass and I was really happy to see how much chemistry she had with Kiryu. I also love the way eating and drinking affect gameplay. Bonus points go to the game for letting me beat the tar out of Daigo Dojima in the opening hours
Yakuza 3: Shortly after playing Yakuza 3 I had the privilege to visit Tokyo and Okinawa and I was blown away by how I already felt home on the streets of Kabukicho and the cozy shopping streets of Okinawa. I am not ashamed to say that the story in Yakuza 3 from the jump made me cry like a bitch. I don't know what it was but so many moments had me sobbing ugly tears. Granted in terms of gameplay it was hard to readjust to an older style, but it is absolutely fascinating how all of the building blocks for the rest of the series are right here.
Yakuza 4: Was fantastic. I loved Akiyama, Saejima, Tanimura, and a returning Kiryu let loose on a Kamurocho that was bigger than ever. Going up, down, and all around Tokyo was great. And while the story is really shaky in the broad strokes, Damn did it have some killer moments and deeply charming characters. All the side quests were really fun, and really accentuated the 4 leads distinct personalities. Bonus points once again for letting me beat the hell out of Daigo Dojima
Yakuza 5: God Damn, this game is denser than a brick. I had to put it down for a month or two because it was so overwhelmingly BIG. 5 characters, 4 cities, and 5 mini games deep enough to be their own games. I spent the most time on Kiryu, Saejima, and Haruka. The story was complicated for me since I really liked Saejima's escape, Haruka's rise to the top, and Shinada's finding his place in the world. But Akiyama felt like an after thought and I was furious at Kiryu for abandoning his kids. Bonus points once again for being able to smack around Daigo Dojima.
Yakuza 6: mostly a tech demo for the Dragon engine. Really didn't care for the changes to Heat and the inability to use weapons. I liked the calm Hiroshima town in terms of vibes, but hated the lack of activities and stores. Fuck Daigo Dojima
Yakuza 7: This was a breath of fresh air. I love Ichiban Kasuga, as a hero he is a perfect contrast to the stalwart Kazuma Kiryu. The story hooked me, and made me cry plenty of times. I love how everyone chats with each other while walking around. But I wish you could skip fights with fodder enemies and Yokohama was so damn big that it was a trek to get anywhere. The English dub is pretty damn good, Kaji Tang really makes Ichiban his own, his performance has a real warmth and earnestness.
Yakuza 8: This game was great, gameplay is focused and improved in every way, but it officially killed any drama of nearly killing Kiryu for me. I was genuinely scared that Kiryu would die, but he didn't for like the 5th time. Fool me once shame on you, fool me 5 times then shame on both of us for keeping this up. Also Ichiban proposing to Saeko on their first date had me screaming at my TV like your Dad shouts at the referee penalizing his favorite team.
