...Ryu Ga Gotoku, a name that can be translated to English as "Like a Dragon," is an action-adventure title with a story and setting focusing on the darker side of Tokyo life. You play as Kazuma Kiyuu, who was once known as the "dragon" of his underworld organization. The story of Ryu Ga Gotoku begins when Kazuma gets out of prison, having served for a crime that he committed for the sake of his good friend and for the girl that he loves. Kazuma finds himself caught up in the disappearance of a mysterious girl called Haruka, who holds the key to ten billion yen (it's not actually a physical key that she holds -- Haruka is just closely connected to a massive amount of money)...
...At the press conference, Nagoshi took the stage and commented that the game's world is made to resemble the world in which we live. "For a while now, I've wanted to create a powerful, gritty drama where you feel the sense of humanity," Nagoshi explained. "After a lot of thought, this is the product that we've arrived at."
Nagoshi's dramatic new game is being made for adults -- a surprise, considering the recent uproar over violence (the Grand Theft Auto uproar hit Japan too) and Nagoshi's previous work on Super Monkey Ball and Virtua Striker. Touching on this and other areas of Project J, Sega General Manager Hideki Okamura explained: "We hope to promote the game as entertainment for adults and as a marquee title for Sega." Okamura also revealed that the game has been in development for three years and will deliver a lengthy gameplay experience along with new forms of expression...
...Nagoshi's team has worked to turn the virtual world of Kamurocho into a realistic town. Players will be able to enter and eat at convenience stores, ramen and beef bowl restaurants and burger shops located around town (doing so will restore lost energy). The game will feature a batting center and pachinko parlors, which players can use for side-games...
...Nagoshi states that the goal of the battle system is not to create "beautiful" battles, but battles that make players feel the pain being inflicted on them and the pain that they inflict on their rivals. In fact, he suggested that, rather than using the word "battle," we use the word "fight." In addition to hand-to-hand combat, which will utilize a simple control scheme, you'll be able to make Kazuma use weapons that you find in your surroundings. Kazuma will rise in level as you play, growing stronger and earning new skills along the way.
Shenmue was given the genre of "FREE," in order to suggest the freedom that players would have while playing it. This sense of freedom seems to be present in Ryu Ga Gotoku as well. In addition to access to restaurants and amusement centers, you'll be able to collect items, sometimes by going into shops to make purchases. Conversation and information gathering is an important part of the game, leading to side stories and quests...
