Yakuza Series Starter Guide | Welcome to Kamurocho
- Thread starter IrishNinja
- Start date
Welp, I am inspired to finally beat 5 after playing through the rhythm chapter and putting it down for a little bit. The hype for 0 is unreal. This series is incredible, although I'm in the minority of people who would recommend 3 as a starting point over 4. 3 has only one main protagonist, Kiryu, which really allows you to have time to get to know him and upgrade him which I felt really prepared me for the multiple characters in 4.
IrishNinja
Member
true - man, a group of them jumped me right by there, they were no joke!
Hold off until the PSX conference on Saturday, lets hope for a surprise announcement
PseudoViper
Member
the king.
2>>4>1>>5>3
Tears! As I was reading this thread I thought to myself... Yakuza 2 is still king tho. lol
KuwabaraTheMan
Banned
4's final boss was amazing from a story perspective (the best villain to tie everything together with that game, and one who felt very personally meaningful for Tanimura), but was a really annoying battle.
5's final boss was an amazing battle, but the character didn't really have that oomph as an actual villain. Taking him down just felt like another plot beat.
Hopefully 6 can combine the two facets, and give us a boss that is both an amazing battle and works really well for the story.
Hold off until the PSX conference on Saturday, lets hope for a surprise announcement
That's probably the best move. I'm hoping for something Yakuza at PSX whether it be Kiwami or 6. I'm thinking it'll be 6 just because they've only localized numbered entries (with the exception of Dead Souls). However, it does seem like they're kinda restarting this franchise in the West and Kiwami would fit right after 0. I don't think they'd announce both.
The Artisan
Member
I just want to stop by and say that Kazuma Kiryu should've been in PlayStation Allstars Battle royale.
IrishNinja
Member
would've saved the game, honestly
RoryDropkick
Member
I want to believe that they would announce 6.It just seems so unlikely with the game not out yet in Japan... but then again, it would take a year to translate and prep etc.. grr. Must not get myself too excited. I have to work that day too so I don't know if I'll catch the show live or not.
Well, if the contact sheet that leaked before PSX in 2014 was accurate, then Yakuza 0 was at least planned to be localized before it was released in Japan. Honestly anything can happen. I'm not gonna get my hopes up but if it is announced, it'll be better than MVC4 for me.
Shadowman16
Member
Agreed. Really they just need to do what Ishin did - that had an epic final boss both in story and in gameplay (oh, and in music, I LOVE that final boss theme).
allenpergallon
Member
Wrapping up my replay of Yakuza 1 tonight myself, really can't wait to see some of these faces again come 0. Also I've come to appreciate this game a bit more since I didn't just blaze through it on a whim like back in the day. Besides missing a few locker keys the first time through Millennium Tower 100%'ing things has been the goal, and the extra scenes and goodies it leads to were worth it to say the least. Maxing Haruka's trust may be off the table since I'm bad, lol, but thankfully everything before SSS is charming enough.
Here's to 0's Western success!
Here's to 0's Western success!
and announcement of 6 localization happening in 2017 plssegamakeithappensomehow
Shadowman16
Member
SSS Haruka Trust is damn tough in the original Yakuza. The baseball requirement (hitting all homeruns in the batting cage) was the one thing that stopped me from ever managing to platinum the origiunal game (on the PS3 HD port). Thankfully Kiwami fixed that by making the requirements more lenient.
IrishNinja
Member
hnnnghhh why's club sega boarded off in this demoooo
They probably assume most people wouldn't buy the game if you could play free games.
IrishNinja
Member
i mean i know in my heart that's the answer & it makes sense
but i ain't gotta like it
Aurelius
Member
I also love Yakuza 3 for this reason. The story and Okinawa setting in the first part of the game are great too. Yakuza 4 and especially 5 felt a bit too bloated with all those characters. Looking forward to Yakuza 0 were there are only two.
IrishNinja
Member
you won't be let down, D Lo! it's a fantastic game.
Shadowman16
Member
I was pressed up to the windows of the Theatre Square location peeping through the windows just to see what games were included! (its all the more painful that I could see NPCs enjoying the games while I could not
matrix-cat
Member
No this is Yakuza, you have to insert cutting off pinkie finger jokes.
Same here, feel like they could've made it so you can only play a few times in the demo but that probably would've taken too long to program in or mess up the way the game is locked. Either way I'm excited for the full release all around, the fighting definitely feels different than in the original demo. I'm thinking that a lot of the skills will open up though and make it feel more like the original demo, because I can't run and drop kick people yet but I remember doing that in the original demo and it felt great.
Son Of Sparda
Member
You're in for a treat man.
If by whatever reason you didn't like it, you can torture Irish in any Yakuza-ish manner that you see fit.
Son Of Sparda
Member
Hmm, I'm honestly not sure about that. To my understanding there is only one event that Y0 references to, that is from earlier entries (which is a flashback in Y4 that takes place before Y0) but I think that's pretty much it and the game should be totally understandable without the need to hunt down and see that cutscene from Y4.
Yakuza 0 shows you how these characters become the legends that they are in earlier (future) Yakuza games. So you and any other newcomers to the series should be completely fine in regards to understanding characters and their stories.
Playing the older games will definitely enhance your experience. To try Y1 or Y4 or both would be great to enjoy zero's story more.
I'd get Yakuza 4 and 5 because they're the easiest to get and you could probably finish them before 0. Yakuza 1 is the best starting point obviously, but trying to find a copy of Yakuza 2 that isn't more than $100 is a challenge by itself.
No matter what you do, get 0. Yakuza 0 should also be a good starting point too.
The Artisan
Member
Humdinger
Gold Member
Sorry, guys, I should've clarified -- I meant should I do anything besides playing earlier games, to prepare. I don't really feel like playing the earlier games at this point. Maybe if I really like Yakuza 0, I'll circle back, but I'm planning on starting with 0.
That's good. I'd rather just go in fresh anyhow, rather than have to study something first.
potatohead
Member
2 is definitely the goat of the series.
It's the ultimate sequel. Better gameplay, story, characters, world. A sequel experience that good for such an awesome first game is so rare.
It's the ultimate sequel. Better gameplay, story, characters, world. A sequel experience that good for such an awesome first game is so rare.
Dangansona
Member
Thanks for the thread OP. Subbed to read later.
If you have ~25-30hrs and a PS3, couldn't hurt to play Yakuza 4.
/edit/ read post above. No. Outside of playing the games there is no prerequisite to any entry.
Peroroncino
Member
Finally got my account accepted let me just start by saying that it's an amazing thread, very informative for new players and I definitely love those "Yakuza Is/Not" images, funny and straightforward.
I hope the series will grow in the west.
And of course 'I will be there Day 0'
let me just start by saying that it's an amazing thread, very informative for new players and I definitely love those "Yakuza Is/Not" images, funny and straightforward.I hope the series will grow in the west.
And of course 'I will be there Day 0'
Son Of Sparda
Member
Finally got my account accepted
I hope the series will grow in the west.
And of course 'I will be there Day 0'
Congrats. It's always great to see more Yakuza fans on GAF
Son Of Sparda
Member
Irish my friend, I think we may need to update the OP
CAUSE TWO MORE GAMES ARE COMING TO WEST!!!
CAUSE TWO MORE GAMES ARE COMING TO WEST!!!
lucebuce12
Member
2 Yakuza games in one year. My God.
Shadowman16
Member
2 Yakuza games in one year. My God.
I'm hoping for another Japanese game release next year (Kiwami 2) so I may end up with 4 games next year - Yakuza 6 (as I'll no way finish it this year), 0 English, Kiwami English and hopefully another Japanese title. Yakuza overload!
TheSuperSakura
Member
Hold me guys...I can't believe this is happening! 
2 Yakuza games next year on top of getting 6 localized for 2018! Yes!
2 Yakuza games next year on top of getting 6 localized for 2018! Yes!Hold off until the PSX conference on Saturday, lets hope for a surprise announcement
WELP
Son Of Sparda
Member
Shadow, my man, we are all overloading and IT IS FUCKING GLORIOUS.
Son Of Sparda
Member
Y0 ---> Y Kiwami
After that you can go play Y3 and trust me, you'll be so hooked that you won't mind the downgrade.
Really???
I should start with one of the last game made?? Shouldn't I start with the most boring one?
Don't start with Dead Souls...
I wouldn't recommend starting with 3 or 5.
Shadowman16
Member
I'm shocked as well. I really didn't expect to get a Kiwami confirmation alongside 6's. I imagined 6 alone was more likely (what with it being the newest game and a PS4 exclusive with brand new graphics, physics etc.)
Tell me about it. Most of that damn conference had me wondering how I'm affording next year (seeing X in a new Marvel Vs Capcom game sold it instantly for me, not to mention Crash, Wipeout, Last of Us and all the Vita/indie stuff and more I'm no doubt forgetting...) but Yakuza is always the highlight. The fact that Sony/Sega are getting these out faster and faster is fantastic. I doubt we'll ever be at the point where the games release on the same day in all regions but this is the next best thing.
StereoVsn
Gold Member
Wait, what's happening, we are getting Kiwanis in 2017 and 6 in 2018? That's freaking awesome (if late as hell for 6, hopefully early 2018). I will be double dipping for all of these Day 1! I have no patience so have the Japanese versions for Zero and Kiwami with 6 coming soon but that doesn't matter, Western localization support is a must!
Good on Sony and Sega though to try and revive the franchise. I am hoping for decent sales of Zero however unlikely it would be. 100K in the West would be amazing (not just US but NA plus Europe) but completely unlikely. Even 50K is doubtful. A man can dream though.
Good on Sony and Sega though to try and revive the franchise. I am hoping for decent sales of Zero however unlikely it would be. 100K in the West would be amazing (not just US but NA plus Europe) but completely unlikely. Even 50K is doubtful. A man can dream though.
Son Of Sparda
Member
No kidding. That was some crazy conference. They were showing amazing games left and right. And yes, Yakuza was truly the highlight. Screw that lame ass reaction that it got from the crowd.