Yakuza was always a good brawler, simple mechanics, world is linear but feels huge (loved little Asia and all the underground elements) but mainstream? Playing as a Japanese man is different playing as a white or black character in GTA but I'm all for Kiryu.
If you want E33 numbers just make a classic JRPG story and play it straight then subvert it by stealing the plot from another JRPG from 20 years ago and mix it together.