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[Son Of Sparda]

Can someone explain to me Yakuza as a franchise? I see a lot of people are excited for this. I've never play a single Yakuza game before, know nothing about it. Is it similar to Sleeping Dogs?

Yakuza Series Starter Guide | Welcome to Kamurocho

 

[Zen Aku]

I made this thread for people new to the series but haven't played it before.

Yakuza 0 Thread - http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1329069

Thank you!

 

[MYeager]

Does this game have a 1-5 recap like the other games had? I don't need to catch up on the story, but I figure that could help people slide into characters and events easier

Nope.

 

[pixellated_man]

Sounds promising.
Yakuza Kiwami is the one I'm waiting to play first though.

 

[Nitty_Grimes]

I think this will be my first Yakuza game. Don't let me down GAF.

Ditto to that, never played one before.

 

[cripterion]

Glad a yakuza game is getting rave reviews, I personally found 0 was the weakest of them all.
Missed opportunity with young Kiryu (he feels exactly the same as in all other games), story was pretty boring.

Now they need to remake 2 Kiwami style, it's the best title in the series.

 

[Gnome Scat]

Can't wait to be able to play this.

 

[Son Of Sparda]

Sounds promising.
Yakuza Kiwami is the one I'm waiting to play first though.

But this takes place before that. I've said this before, but Kiwami is as much as a sequel to Zero as it is a remake of Yakuza 1. I genuinely think it's better for people to start the series with Zero.

 

[ubiblu]

But this takes place before that. I've said this before, but Kiwami is as much as a sequel to Zero as it is a remake of Yakuza 1. I genuinely think it's better for people to start the series with Zero.

Anyone who genuinely considers playing Kiwami before Zero needs their head checked.

 

[Jachaos]

Thank you!

This video is also pretty good.

There are some shared things between Sleeping Dogs and Yakuza that make me love both, but they're quite different still. Both have Asian settings and more of a focus on combat than most open-world modern games, but Yakuza is not a full city, you're in a district where everyone walks everywhere, you don't use cars, and you can enter in a LOT of buildings. It's much more condensed. Both are over the top, arcadey in a way, have interesting bad-ass protagonists and gruesome moves. But there's a lot different too. I'll let you discover if you do try it.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

Having played the Japanese version extensively, I am not surprised. It's a fantastic Yakuza game and probably my favorite one. The time period is just perfect for this series.

Really looking forward to a fresh playthrough and a complete understanding of the plot!

 

[Son Of Sparda]

Anyone who genuinely considers playing Kiwami before Zero needs their head checked.

I can understand how some people might be wary of prequels and think you still need to have knowledge of the earlier titles to really understand them like MGS3. But Yakuza 0 really isn't one of those games.

People need to understand that Y0 was made with the goal of introducing new people to the series in mind. This is literally the game SEGA made to get into the Asian market. And they succeeded in doing that. Cause it's an amazing game. An amazing entry point to the series. It's an amazing title all around.

If you want a chance to get into the Yakuza series, This. Is. it.

Plain and simple.

 

[chrono01]

Yakuza is amazing. Everyone must play.

I'm glad to hear this one is getting positive previews. I already have my pre-order secured. Man, it's going to be a busy month...

 

[Son Of Sparda]

This video is also pretty good.

There are some shared things between Sleeping Dogs and Yakuza that make me love both, but they're quite different still. Both have Asian settings and more of a focus on combat than most open-world modern games, but Yakuza is not a full city, you're in a district where everyone walks everywhere, you don't use cars, and you can enter in a LOT of buildings. It's much more condensed. Both are over the top, arcadey in a way, have interesting bad-ass protagonists and gruesome moves. But there's a lot different too. I'll let you discover if you do try it.

That's a great video but it's quite spoilery. For people who might be interested in Y0 and wanna know more about the series I recommend this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkN9oru-qCQ

It's from the same guy and covers the series in a more general sense. (fewer spoilers, especially for Y0)

 

[playXray]

Anyone know if this will be getting a digital pre-order in Europe?

 

[PepperedHam]

Will jumping backwards to any of the PS3 releases feel dated if I start with 0? I have access to 4 and 5 but don't want to burn out before 0 so I'm planning on starting with 0. Just curious.

 

[Son Of Sparda]

Will jumping backwards to any of the PS3 releases feel dated if I start with 0? I have access to 4 and 5 but don't want to burn out before 0 so I'm planning on starting with 0. Just curious.

Well, obviously. I love Yakuza 4 and enjoyed Yakuza 5. But coming off of Yakuza 0 they will feel dated to some degree, for sure.

Though trust me, if you get hook to one Yakuza game, you'll play and enjoy other Yakuza games. Guaranteed.

 

[lowhighkang_LHK]

Well, obviously. I love Yakuza 4 and enjoyed Yakuza 5. But coming off of Yakuza 0 they will feel dated to some degree, for sure.

Though trust me, if you get hook to one Yakuza game, you'll play and enjoy the other Yakuza games.

Yeah. It's amazing how blurry 720p looks for starters. It's almost like if there something wrong with my TV.

Also, the Ps3's OS is ass. If you haven't used it in awhile, you'll spend like an hour downloading updates and patches. And another hour clearing out HDD room for Yakuza 4/5.

 

[thuway]

I wish they would update all the games for PS4 so a new user could get a proper introduction.

The problem with getting into the PS2 games was that at the time there was lots of talk about Yakuza not coming to the west, and some where voice overed while others where not.

They also made a samurai feudal japan Yakuza. Is that one good too?

This is the prequel to the entire series. You go in from the beginning.

 

[cripterion]

Anyone who genuinely considers playing Kiwami before Zero needs their head checked.

Well most people played 1 before 0, but I agree with you that 0 should be played first as I think they added some stuff in Kiwami to be more in line with 0 and provide additional background for Nishiki.

 

[Son Of Sparda]

Yeah. It's amazing how blurry 720p looks for starters. It's almost like if there something wrong with my TV.

Also, the Ps3's OS is ass. If you haven't used it in awhile, you'll spend like an hour downloading updates and patches. And another hour clearing out HDD room for Yakuza 4/5.

Oh yeah that too. I've been frequently using my PS3 so I'm used to its OS but, yeah coming back to it from PS4 will need some time getting used to.

 

[IrishNinja]

god, i remember seeing footage of the JP one forever ago and being so jelly...the early cutscenes of Yakuza 2 come from (i wanna say) a similar time, and i remember really wanting to play through a kamurocho from then!

this is awesome too

 

[Peroroncino]

That's a great video but it's quite spoilery. For people who might be interested in Y0 and wanna know more about the series I recommend this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkN9oru-qCQ

It's from the same guy and covers the series in a more general sense. (fewer spoilers, especially for Y0)

This is probably the best video on YT on Yakuza games.

 

[thepenguin55]

Will jumping backwards to any of the PS3 releases feel dated if I start with 0? I have access to 4 and 5 but don't want to burn out before 0 so I'm planning on starting with 0. Just curious.

Yakuza 2 & 3 (and classic Yakuza 1) will definitely feel dated in almost every regard. I love the first two Yakuza games but they don't look great, their pacing is strange, and the gameplay is stiff/clunky (this is all true of the 3rd game to some extent).

As far as 4 & 5 are concerned (and based purely on the demos I've played of both) I think they'll mostly feel visually dated but everything else would hold up. I have not played Yakuza 4 & 5 but I've heard universal praise for them and the improvements they make to the series.

My plan is to play through Yakuza 0, then the Y1 remake Kiwami, then watch a recap of Y2, give Y3 another shot (though probably just watch a recap) and then I'll play through the rest of the series (then possibly tackle the side games).

 

[Son Of Sparda]

I know that people were interested in seeing what more known publications think about the Yakuza 0 so here is one from Eurogamer:

Yakuza 0 is a great way to get into Sega's outstanding series

...

The myth goes, you've doubtless heard before, that Sega doesn't make games like it used to. Not its Japanese arm, anyway, where the style and strut of its 90s and early 00s output can feel like a distant memory, as can all that grand ambition that was once fuelled by naked madness. The truth, however, is known by too few in the west. Sega is still capable of greatness. It still possesses an unhinged genius. It just pours all of it into one series.

...

They're reminders of Sega's golden age, but let's not forget they're part of a more recent triumphant series for the company. In Yakuza 0 you can see that same swagger, the same vibrancy and the same delirious lust for life that endeared Sega to so many back in the day. Sega still makes great games, and if you're not acquainted with the series it's worth getting involved in one of the greatest of them all.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...reat-way-to-get-into-segas-outstanding-series

 

[davidwhangchoi]

I know that people were interested in seeing what more known publications think about the Yakuza 0 so here is one from Eurogamer:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...reat-way-to-get-into-segas-outstanding-series

one of the greatest?

sounds promising

 

[Menitta]

I'm losing track of where I post about Yakuza lol.

 

[Remapped88]

I'm losing track of where I post about Yakuza lol.

Lol yep, there's like 3-5 different threads on the series that pops up frequently on the first page. It's good to see there's new interest in the game/series!

 

[Putty]

Ok, i'm in...1st Yakuza game for me.

 

[Jimrpg]

I'm losing track of where I post about Yakuza lol.

Everywhere?

I know that people were interested in seeing what more known publications think about the Yakuza 0 so here is one from Eurogamer:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...reat-way-to-get-into-segas-outstanding-series

Eurogamer has liked the series in the past, so hopefully that continues.

 

[Stiler]

This is going to be my first Yakuza game as well, really looking forward to it.

Can someone who's played it tell me, cause from what I've seen about it reminds me a bit of Shenmue, how does it compare to that game?

Also anyone know of any good deals for pre order? (digital). Amazon had physical for 50 but not the digital .

 

[davidwhangchoi]

got the avatar ready, let's do this.

 

[Son Of Sparda]

This is going to be my first Yakuza game as well, really looking forward to it.

Can someone who's played it tell me, cause from what I've seen about it reminds me a bit of Shenmue, how does it compare to that game?

Also anyone know of any good deals for pre order? (digital). Amazon had physical for 50 but not the digital .

Never played Shenmue but from Yakuza Series Starter Guide thread:

Yakuza is not GTA

Back in '06 when Sega was first pushing to introduce the series out west, they not only hired some interesting vocal talent for the dub (thankfully ditched by 2), the marketing push gave some a warped defintion of what the series was about. Given that GTA clones were doing well at the time, this was understandable but still seems to have left an image that isn't accurate: while you're definitely busting heads & enjoying a wide variety of activities/mini-games, you're not destroying the city...well, any moreso than the plot calls for.

Kamurocho is a big district with lots to do, but it's best to understand that it's not the same wide-open sandbox experience many western open world games shoot for.

Likewise, it's not Shenmue

Yu Suzuki followed his history of simulators with his magnum opus, and while the attention to detail & other elements clearly influenced Naghoshi in this franchise, the latter is not trying to be the former. To quote a gaffer: "Yakuza is a brawler at heart, with adventure aspects. Shenmue is the direct opposite, a pure adventure game that very occasionally has a few fights."

It is very possible to love both series for different reasons, as tone, pacing, and the very nature of the games are quite different.

So, what then is Yakuza?

Yakuza is an action-brawler RPG, or a beat-em-up RPG if that works for you.
It's a sometimes serious crime drama infused with a strong sense of manly-tears-fist-to-the-sky type melodrama that keeps the series from taking itself too seriously.
I'ts a series where the last entry alone had me curbstomping dudes, driving taxis, playing baseball, hunting bears, training to be a J-pop idol, and smacking hooligans with bicycles for scuffing my shoes.

There's a lot to love here for classic Sega type fans - right up to DMC & Bayonetta people, as the combat ranges from simplistic to surprisingly in depth when you build it up with different characters/styles - but in its very DNA, you can see stuf like River City Ransom & Streets of Rage.

I'll encourage you to read that thread.

 

[Nekobo]

Yakuza 0 preview from CFG:

https://www.confreaksandgeeks.com/yakuza-0-preview/