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[EverydayBeast]

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.

 

[Hudo]

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.

Ichiban was actually from another planet.

Careful, people don't like when someone criticizes E33.

 

[Fabieter]

Their fanbase will never grow if they have to play 20 games to catch up and then a game a year.

The whole structure of the series guarantees it will remain niche. They will have to rethink it if they expect any different.

I hope the fuck not its the whole reason this series is soo fucking good.

 

[xrnzaaas]

I wouldn't want their games to go full mainstream or try harder to appeal to 'modern audiences' from the west. If that happens I'll be leaving, let's hope that it won't.

 

[crackajack]

I sure would hope they change the formula a lot, but I guess that would alienate the old fans that love exactly what I hate. A proper mature japanese open world game could be awesome (as good as by default open world crap can be). Sleeping Dogs was likely much closer to that than any of the Like a Dragons.

 

[RavageX]

People talk shit about him, but it can not be understated enough that the series has declined whithout him.

Damn true this.

I can't put my finger on it, but you can tell that the current devs aren't of the same mindset of what made the series. The sooner they move on from Yakuza the better....and I guess that's what they are doing, but they need to leave Kiryu, Majima and the rest of the gang alone. No cameos...no spin off games, nothing.

 

[Paasei]

I had a lot of fun with the pirate Yakuza one. So goofy and somewhat outdated that it was just hilarious.
Spamming the button to hear "ALOHA!!!" with a Japanese accent to get more friends and therefore rewards.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

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.

Ichiban was actually from another planet.

Damn, save some salt for the awards.

Maybe adding great music, visuals and combat would help too.

On topic, Yakuza should NEVER attempt cattering to any other audience. The way to gain new audiences organically is being excellent at what you do. Like E33.

 

[deriks]

I enjoyed the first one, but there are too many fucking games.
I think it could use a reboot with new characters.

They did, twice. 7 is a reboot, bringing RPG to the table. Judgement has the same beat'em up style as the primary but with a different tone

I guess there's too much in a short window of time, and the marketing team doesn't work like, I might say a Persona game, when they hype style snd then the gameplay

 

[Sakura]

They did, twice. 7 is a reboot, bringing RPG to the table. Judgement has the same beat'em up style as the primary but with a different tone

I guess there's too much in a short window of time, and the marketing team doesn't work like, I might say a Persona game, when they hype style snd then the gameplay

7 is a soft reboot. New protagonist sure, but same universe/setting, returning characters, plot points from previous games etc.
I do like the Judgement games.

 

[Lokaum D+]

the games are too niche and corny, its leans too much into Japanese culture of "retardation" ( its not a bad thing at all ), but thats why i think it ll never go main stream.

 

[V2Tommy]

Reading this thread, I had no idea there was anywhere in the world that Yakuza games got hate of any kind.

You are some joyless bastards!

 

[Poppinfresh]

Reading this thread, I had no idea there was anywhere in the world that Yakuza games got hate of any kind.

You are some joyless bastards!

The only complaint I have about the series is that I wish they had stuck with action combat for the main titles and used the turn-based RPG stuff for side projects.

Other than that, I think it's the one franchise that consistently delivers great games with every single release.

 

[Flyingpanther]

One of my favourite series. Although I don't like the jrpg ones.

 

[Sticks]

Look at these clowns

 

[mayham2199]

But this defeats the very purpose of these games. I only played Yakuza 6, and while at one point I got my fill and decided to go for the ending, it was very clear to me that I was only scratching the surface and missing a ton of content that's really the heart of the game. There is a ton of detail in the side content, so muchv that it's clearly the bread and butter of the series. The gang rivalry plot du jour isn't the point of the games. The point of the games is feeding stray cats all over two areas to fill a neko cafe. It's helping strangers with strange phone messages and blind dates. It's going to the gym, and finding new food to try, and helping people get out of scam religious movements, and finding that a character from older games you haven't even played has a shop dedicated to toy cars.

I think playing one or two games from the series is more than enough.

I've played all the games (minus IW and pirate) skipping all the side content. The first Like a dragon game was the only one where I did side content and that's cause I was forced to in order to get money for equipment and get some levels on my characters so I could beat bosses and continue the story. The man who erased his name had me in tears at the end of the game because I understood the journey Kiryu has been on and the love he had for those kids. Maybe my way of playing defeats the purpose but it sure doesn't feel like it from my POV.

On the other hand the side content in Like a dragon I was forced to do wasn't interesting at all and added nothing to the game. I don't mind the games switch to JRPG format it's actually surprisingly good. I do get annoyed at the thought that I'm now forced to grind and do side content I don't want to do.

 

[DeVeAn]

No don't start fucking the series up for western fans. Ignore them. Took years to get releases on time.

 

[Geometric-Crusher]

Reading this thread, I had no idea there was anywhere in the world that Yakuza games got hate of any kind.

You are some joyless bastards!

In the current situation, it has become clear to Sega that LaD won't succeed with Western audiences unless the game completely transforms into something else. Therefore, there's an opportunity cost that Sega is losing by focusing on the franchise, which is why some users suggested that pulling the plug on the franchise might be an option. Sega knows this, which is why they're making Stranger Than Heaven.

 

[Rocinante618]

I have played only Yakuza 7 Like a Dragon and it was fun.

I refuse to continue playing this series because SEGA pulled one of the greediest moves ever - locking NG+ and 100% achievements behind a DLC ( Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth ) and also going to discontinue selling Yakuza 0 just to sell a more expensive "remaster" version of it.

 

[Lokaum D+]

I have played only Yakuza 7 Like a Dragon and it was fun.

I refuse to continue playing this series because SEGA pulled one of the greediest moves ever - locking NG+ and 100% achievements behind a DLC ( Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth )

"I refuse to continue playing this series because SEGA pulled one of the greediest moves ever - locking NG+ and 100% achievements behind a DLC"

its on the name of the game Infinite Wealth, they cant be more clear than this

 

[Signalis]

Doing a Western protagonist would undermine some of the more interesting parts of the game.

You already got Hawaii as a location in 8 and Pirate Yakuza.

They are "Americanising" the series way too much to try and appeal to a handful of people, and alienating the ones who faithfully bought the games and supported them for years. Like most games series these days, it gets run into the ground till there is nothing left of it's original self.

 

[Rocinante618]

I have played only Yakuza 7 Like a Dragon and it was fun.

I refuse to continue playing this series because SEGA pulled one of the greediest moves ever - locking NG+ and 100% achievements behind a DLC ( Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth ) and also going to discontinue selling Yakuza 0 just to sell a more expensive "remaster" version of it.

Also how did I forget? New SEGA games cost so much money and still you have to pay extra for dlc, costumes, extra job packs, so many shitty in-game one time use stuff!

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Just grabbed Infinite Wealth for $15.

 

[Signalis]

Also how did I forget? New SEGA games cost so much money and still you have to pay extra for dlc, costumes, extra job packs, so many shitty in-game one time use stuff!

Japanese companies are among the biggest pieces of shit in the industry. And while I love Japanese games more than western games, Japanese developers are still under the impression that their games are worth a lot more than what they are asking.

 

[Rocinante618]

Just grabbed Infinite Wealth for $15.

Base game is actually well priced right now 70% off and an additional extra generous SEGA "thank you discount" of 5% if you own Yakuza 7 Like a Dragon.

What sucks is that you need the extremely mediocre DLC "Master Vacation Bundle" if you want NG+ and 100% achievements.

Also if you want two extra jobs, Linebacker and Tennis Ace ( which is actually good ) you need to buy another DLC: Special Job Set. This dlc is NOT included in deluxe edition or ultimate. Lol.

Base game cost ~= NG+ & two jobs sets cost.

I would rather pay for a 5 second clip of Sonic and Knuckles fucking SEGA executives.

 

[Sorcerer]

It's too tough to keep up with Sega/Atlus nowadays. Everything eventually gets upgraded editions. It invokes a certain mental gambling mechanic when you want to play their games because you know you are a sucker for adding the game to your cart initially.

 

[touchfuzzy]

The series is in too deep at this point, unfortunately. Like you see a Yakuza 3 Kiwami trailer and think damn that looks cool, but crap I haven't played the three 30+ hour games that precede it... do I have time to / want to? And before you know it another one has come out.

The Ichiban games were too soft of a reboot and obviously still connected narratively, they need to hard pivot to a whole new plotline / characters that people can jump in knowing they aren't missing anything.

 

[DeVeAn]

I have played only Yakuza 7 Like a Dragon and it was fun.

I refuse to continue playing this series because SEGA pulled one of the greediest moves ever - locking NG+ and 100% achievements behind a DLC ( Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth ) and also going to discontinue selling Yakuza 0 just to sell a more expensive "remaster" version of it.

I get it to some extent, but you are robbing yourself of one of the best series of games ever.