Leave it to Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios to bring Like a Dragon to life... simulation. Announced at the Xbox Partner Showcase, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is adding an Animal Crossing-like mode to its gameplay.

In the new trailer, Ichiban arrives via dolphin (what else did you expect?) at DonDoko Island and gets free reign over the isle. We trade in the turn-based brawling and dramatic stories for quiet spearfishing and bug catching. Instead of running and battling around Kamurocho and Honolulu City, you get to swim in clear blue water and give wholesome presents to people. There are even fun mascots to cheer you on, just like Animal Crossing. Though I'm not sure these would make the cut at N??intendo.

Onto New Horizons

Using the materials you collect on the island, you can craft a variety of items to put in guest houses. Yes, much like Animal Crossing, people will come to your island ??????????????????????????to live there and it's your responsibility to make it inhabitable. You'll even get tourists who'll want to see whatever island you create. You are in charge of decorating the island with buildings, houses, and even fire-breathing statues. The trailer also shows Ichiban giving off K.K Slider vibes as he serenades everyone with a guitar at a big bonfire.

Of course, it isn't Yakuza/Like a Dragon without some fighting. Enemies of all kinds will show up on your island and try to cause trouble. As the mayor, you'll need to smack them around with a bat and take care of business. I mean, if Villager and Isabelle get to battle people on their island in Super Smash Bros., Ichiban can, too.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is going big with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The last two trailers showcase the game's massive story and turn-based gameplay, which brings everyone from the previous entries back to the fray. It lo?oks to remain true to the absurd nature of the series while hitting those emotional high notes. Hopefully?, this one will be a memorable and wild ride.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth launches on PlayStation?? 5 and Xbox Series X/S on January 26, 2??????????????????????????024.

The post Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth adds Yakuza Animal ??Crossing, decora?tions and all appeared first on Destructoid.

See what's next for RGG Studio

Another developer is joining the list of showcases set for next week. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the developer behind the Yakuza and Judgment series, i?s hosting the RGG Su??mmit 2022 on September 14.

The RGG Summit will air on Sega's Twitch channel, going live at 19:00 JST. That's 10:00 UTC, or 3:00 a.m. PT for those on the west coas?t. East coasters have it a litt??le bit easier, with a 6 a.m. ET air time.

F?or those who are awake and tuned in, the stream will have live English interpretation and subtitled assets for those outside of Japan.

//twitter.com/RGGStudio/status??/1567830960133099520

No indication's been given yet as to what will be announced. Though, given the recent tease of some footage from the next Yakuza, that seems like a likely candidate.

The studio has confirmed it's working on the next Yakuza game already. It will be a follow-up to Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and it will retain a turn-based RPG approach.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will also be without Toshihiro Nagoshi, who left the company and has established Nagoshi Studio under NetEase. It'll be interesting to see what's next for Ichiban and the crew, and the Yakuza series in general, if we ??get a glimpse during the RGG Summit??.

Summer's end gaming news blitz

That's far from the only showcase next week, too. Next week is the 2022 Tokyo Game Show, and companies like Capcom, Square Enix, and Bandai Namco are all lined up to air streams.

Xbox and Twitch are also airing a showcase next week for ID@Xbox, too. This weekend will even have a Marvel and Disney showcase, and an Ubisoft Forward. Plus, the ever-present rumors of a potential September Direct (which may or may not be happening, who's to say).

With the holiday season just over the horizon, seems like ??we're getting one last wave of gaming news and announcements. We'll see what RGG Studio has in store next week.

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Nightmares into Dreams

[Update: Yakuza: Like a Dragon (PS4/PS5), Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (PS4/PS5), and Little Nightmares (PS4) can now be claimed by PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium subscribers �and more Yakuza games are on the way.]

Right on cue, the sneaky petes over at Dealabs have leaked Sony's PlayStation Plus offerings for the coming month of August �and this one is a real doozy, as subscribers at the Essential tier or higher will bag themselves the fantastic releases Yakuza: Like a Dragon (PS4/PS5), Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (PS4/PS5), and Little Nightmares (PS4).

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkygiqC7ulQ

Released in January 2020, Sega's Yakuza: Like a Dragon had some mighty shoes to fill, specifically the snakeskin shoes of beloved protagonists Kazuma Kiryu. If a change of protagonist wasn't enough, the developer Team Yakuza also took the bold step of replacing the series' brawler action with a suitably slapstick take on turn-based strategy. Against all the odds, the changes were a hit with the majority of the fanbase, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon launched to rave praise, becoming one? of 2020's best-loved titles.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=axVbpHqiwO4

Developed by veteran studio Vicarious Visions, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 was a ground-up remake of two of the most iconic PlayStation releases of all time. Meticulously recreating the original titles' maps, mechanics, and rhythm to a 1:1 capacity, Vicarious Visions absolutely delivered, with a title that sports the modern aesthetics of today's technology, married to the excellent and compelling gameplay of the '90s classics. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is one of the?? most a??uthentic remakes ever crafted.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOadxZBsPiA

Over on the spooky side of life, cult puzzle platformer Little Nightmares was developed by indie outfit Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco back in the fall of 2017. Featuring a compelling and unnerving creepy-cute aesthetic, Little Nightmares sees players guide our brave hero, Six, as she picks her way through a twisted, dark world, solving puzzles and avoiding dangers on a quest to return to the real world as we know it. Highly praised for its atmosphere and smart design, Little Nightmares would be followed by a sequel in 2021.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, and Little Nightmares ??will be available to download for all PlayStation Plus subscribers throughout August.

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You'll need PS Plus Premium to get them all, though

The PlayStation Plus games for August are now officially announced, with Yakuza: Like a Dragon among the lineup. But that isn't the only Yakuza game coming to PlayStation Plus owners this year.

Sony has confirmed that eight Yakuza games, stretching across the mainline entries, will arrive on PlayStation Plus services by the end of the year. To check out the full gamut, you'll need PlayStation Plus Premium. But ye?s?, those who do have a subscription will be able to dive deep into this wild series.

Starting this month, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the first up. The RPG may be a departure from the usual beat 'em up action of the core series, but it's a darn good one. August's Game Catalog update for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members will also see Yakuza 0, Kiwami, and Kiwami 2 arrive. The Kiwami games are remakes of the first two games, while Yakuza 0 is a prequel story that is frankly superb.

Then, as the year rolls on, the remasters of Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 will arrive for PS Plus Premium, and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will close it out for Extr?a and P?remium. The short version is:

Yakuza games headed to PS Plus by tiers

• Essential: Yakuza: Like Dragon
• Extra: Yakuza 0, Kiwami, Kiwami 2, 6
• Premium: Yakuza 3, 4, 5

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkygiqC7ulQ

So yes, you will need PlayStation Plus Premium to take full advantage of the sheer flood of Yakuza content. But for those who did dip all in the way, getting the entire Yakuza series seems like a good upside.

Sony has also rolled out additional PS Plus bonuses since launching its new subscription tiers, like making popular cat-game Stray free for Extra and up. We'll see how these tiers keep up with both the modern offerings of Game Pass and the retro lineup of the Nintendo Switch Plus collection as time goes on, but a whole bunch of Yakuza is a pretty good pace-setter.

Meanwhile, if you want a look at the future of the Yakuza series, we got one in an offscreen video clip. Now would be a great time for a Like a Dragon refresher, as Ichiba?n and the crew look ready?? to take the lead again.

The post Eight Yakuza games? are headed onto PlayStation Plus this year appeared first on Destructoid.

Some off-screen footage appears of what looks like the next Yakuza

We just got a glimpse of the next Yakuza story. And rather than through a story or gameplay trailer, it's through some off-the-screen footage of Yakuza 8 in a studio tour.

As shared by Famitsu, MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura recently posted a behind-the-scenes tour of Sega's headquarters. He spends the video chatting with developers, but what really caught attention was a moment where a screen shows several Like a Dragon characters in what appears to be Yakuza 8.

//twitter.com/famitsu/status/1549363407614185472

Ichiban, Nanba, and Adachi all appear in this scene. The Yakuza: Like a Dragon protagonist appears ??to have a different haircut again, though it seems like his hair might be tied back rather ??than cut short.

Return of the dragon

The development team confirmed that the next Yakuza story would be a follow-up to Yakuza: Like a Dragon, so seeing these characters again makes sense. This was alongside a larger shake-up at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, which saw longtime director Toshihiro Nagoshi depart the studio. The Yakuza creator would later reveal his own studio, Nagoshi Studio, under the NetEase banner.

As for the next Yakuza game? This is the first glimpse we've seen of it. We did get confirmation last year that the Yakuza series would not just carry on the Like a Dragon story, but its RPG combat as well. It seems like the brawler action will live on with Lost Judgement and other games from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.

Hopefully this is a sign that we'll see more of the next Yakuza soon. Yakuza: Like a Dragon was a major departure for the series, with a new core cast and entirely new battle system. But it was incredibly charming, and I'm pretty down to spend ?some more time with this disaster-person RPG party.

The post Yakuza 8 images surface in behind-the??-scenes video appeared first on Destructoid.

Judgment will carry the action onwards

Today, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio announced Lost Judgment, a follow-up to its street detective spin-off Judgment. And while Judgment will carry forward the classic Yakuza series action, the Yakuza series will keep diverging into new territory.

Speaking to IGN, Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and producer Kazuki Hosokawa confirmed that Judgment will be the pillar for action going forward, while Yakuza will carry forward the turn-based RPG systems brought about by last year's Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

"The Yakuza series has been transformed into a turn-based RPG," they told IGN. "On the other hand, over the year, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has accumulated resources and know-how of making flashy and exhilarating action games that are effortless to enjoy. We decided that we should let our signature action gameplay live on through Lost Judgment."

 This might be a surprise for some, but it might split the difference of letting Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio continue building on the foundation of Like a Dragon while still creating their particular brand of beat 'em up. Lost Judgment certainly doesn't seem like it's s??louching on either the action or the wild side activities either way.

Lost Judgment is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on Sept. 24, 20??21.

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Full game discovered behind a few lines of code

In a fascinating and quirky revelation, a modder has discovered that a full build of Sega's Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown is housed inside action-RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon, as well as its predecessor, Yakuza 6.

While hero Ichiban Kasuga has always been able to enjoy a few rounds of the excellent fighter by simply entering one of the cityscape's arcades and parking himself in front of a cabinet, PC modder "Silent" was able to unlock the full Xbox 360 edition of VF5: FS in its entirety - complete with training mode, challenge mode, ar?cad?e mode settings, and more.

It appears that rather than just adapt the fighter's VS. Mode for inclusion within the Yakuza titles, Sega dumped the entire program in there, before gating off the unnecessary parts with a few simple lines of code. By altering this code with the smallest of tweaks (literally changing a "2" to a "0"), Silent has been able to restore the ROM dump VF5: FS to its full state.

Obviously, many of the in-game options are unsupported as they were never intended to be accessible in the first place. As such, browsing features such as Leaderboards or the DLC store can soft-lock the game. Save games are also unsupported, so unfortunately you cannot save your custom characters, but it's still a really cool and fun discovery. You can check out Silent's full breakdown on the mode over on their blog.

But what about a real edition of Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown? Well, Last week a fresh listing appeared on the Korean Game Rating Committee's website, denoting that the 2010 fighter had been re-certified for PS4. When you couple this listing with Sega's sudden re-interest in the esports scene, it ??seems that Akira, Sarah, Pai and co. might?? be returning to the grand stage sooner than we think.

The post Modder unlocks full Xbox 360 edition of Virtua Fig?hter 5: Final Show?down within Yakuza: Like a Dragon appeared first on Destructoid.

New hero filled some mighty large snakeskin shoes

Back when Destructoid nominated its favorite new characters of 2020, I talked about Yakuza: Like a Dragon's hapless hero, Ichiban Kasuga. Nobody but nobody, it would've seemed, could successfully fill the role of long-term Yakuza protagonist Kazuma Kiryu �one of the coolest, likable, and most beloved protagonists in Sega's, nay, in gaming history.

But, somehow, new boy Kasuga hit the ground running, masterfully blending stoicism, bravery, pathos, heroism, and just the right amount of complete and utter idiocy to immediately win the hearts of the Yakuza faithful. The boy came good, and despite having only been around for a single release, it already feels like Kasuga has been around for the franchise's full??? 15 years.

Speaking in a (spoilery) interview with The Verge, Team Yakuza writer and designer Masayoshi Yokoyama reflected on the impact created by the burgundy-suited maniac. Yokoyama noted that, having spent the past 18 years?? in prison, Kasuga has a whole life to? catch up on, with more than enough time to get tangled up in a hell of a lot of dramatic and catastrophic shenanigans as he readjusts to the outside world.

"I think that Yakuza: Like a Dragon is only the first chapter of Ichiban Kas??uga's life," mused Yokoyama on his character's future. "Since he was in prison for 18 years, he has only just begun his life as an adult man. I'm su??re there’s probably many trials and tribulations that await him."

Now, that isn't to say that fans are guaranteed a string on Kasuga-led Yakuza releases, even if his predecessor, Kazuma, saw the best part of seven series entries. Yokoyama hints that nothing about Yakuza's narrative future is written in stone, stopping short of confirming whether Kasuga will carry the Yakuza fr?anchise forward into the new generation of ga?ming.

"As Kasuga starts out his new life, he will surely encounter challenges that he cannot solve through vio?lence or brute force. I develop each game with the intention of creating a life of a single person. I’m not sure if I’ll continue to write Ichiban Kasuga’s life or not, but I can totall?y imagine him in deep trouble somewhere on the face of this Earth [laughs]."

Following on from Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Sega and Team Yakuza took multiple chances with Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The title features a huge cast of new characters, several new locales, a new lead and, most controversially of all, a completely redesigned combat system. For the most part, all of these changes found favor with the Yakuza community at large, as the franchise continues to reach across the pond to western audiences - boosted by marketing which leans on Like a Dragon ridiculous humor.

Ultimately, it would be very surprising if Ichiban Kasuga does not become our boy ??going forward. The wild-haired hero stepped into a hallowed role, in a title filled with experimental new ideas and mechanics, and won over the audience in his very first appearance. Personally, I'd be more than happy to see Team Yakuza hand Kasuga the baseball bat and entrust the affable hero to knock it out of the cage time and again.

It was a risk, but it paid off. A?nd as the man once said: "All's well that ends well."

The post Yakuza’s Ichiban Kasuga is an awesome dude, and his story may have only just begun appeared first on Destructoid.

Bowser's Fury celebrates one full month in the premier position

Nintendo Switch titles remain the most popular physical purchases in the UK's gaming market, a trend that has seen the Japanese industry giant dominate the UK Charts for the first quarter of 2021. Leading the charge is the indelible Super Mario Bros. series, which has seen steady and persistent sales across its range of re-released Swit??ch titles.

This past week saw Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury retain the number one spot for a fourth week running, making it a month on top for the Wii-U remaster. Social sim Animal Crossing: New Horizons sits at number three, having held a Top Ten position for almost an entire year. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario 3D All-Stars sit at number four and six respectively, while the Switch edition of Minecraft and exercise 'em up Ring Fit Adventure fill out the back end of the Top Ten.

Elsewhere in the Top Ten, Square Enix' RPG Bravely Default II plummeted from number 11 to number 33, which is de rigueur for most non-Final Fantasy JRPGs, at least in regards to the UK's physical sales. Sega's Yakuza: Like a Dragon poked its head back into the chart scene at number 35, thanks to the release of the new PS5 port, while Atlus' Persona 5 Strikers has already left the Top 40 entirely.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: March 6, 2021
(Chart reflects in-store physical sales only)

1. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury - Nintendo
2. Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Sony Interactive Entertainment
3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo
4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War - Activision
6. Super Mario 3D All-Stars - Nintendo
7. Grand Theft Auto V - Take-Two Interactive
8. Minecraft - Nintendo
9. Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo
10. Assassin's Creed Valhalla - Ubisoft

U.K. video game charts [GamesIndustry.biz]

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'All's well that ends well, I guess'

It seems like forever and a day since I first reported the shocking news that the next Yakuza title would feature tactical, real-time combat. Understandably this huge switch-up in Yakuza's tried-and-??tested brawler gameplay was greeted nervously by many fans, especially for a title that was foregoing regu??lar series' protagonist Kazuma Kiryu for a relatively unknown new star.

Today, many within the Yakuza community have long-since breathed a sigh of relief. Not only did Yakuza: Like a Dragon's new take on Sega's gang-smashing franchise hit it out of the baseball cage from a gameplay standpoint, but it also bequeathed us an absolutely delightful cast of new stars, led by the charming and somewhat goofy new lead, Ichiban Kasuga. Far from bury the franchise, Yakuza: Like a Dragon was warmly welcomed upon its arrival, hopefully securing the franchise's future into the new?? generation.

That future begins right now, with the launch on Yakuza: Like a Dragon on Sony's shiny new box, PlayStation 5. Ichiban's wild tale of loyalty and redemption is now available to purchase on PS5 in both physical and digital format. Current PS4 owners are able to take advantage of a free upgrade to the new PS5 edition - though it should be noted that your PS4 save data will not be compatible. While this upgrade path was struggling with some teething issues yesterday, Team Yakuza has since announced that these problems hav??e been resolved, so get the band back together, hit the streets of Yo??kohama, and start putting bread to faces.

Oh, and don't forget to download this cool set of classic outfits while you're at it.

The post Get the gang? back together for Yakuza: Like a Dragon on PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.

15 years of bicycles smashing over heads

This December, Sega's RPG-cum-brawler series Yakuza will be celebrating its 15th anniversary. That's 15 years of skull-crunching, karaoke-singing, key-finding, slot-racing action - from the initial Yakuza release on PS2 in 2005, all the way to this year's Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

To celebrate the series, Team Yakuza will be hosting a special live stream presentation, looking back at the series and the violent, often bizarre journey that has led? Kazuma, Haruka, Majima, and Ichiban to this point in time. Guests announced for the stream include Kazuma and Ichiban's respective voice actors Takaya Kuroda and Kazuhiro Nakaya.

Most teasingly of all, Team Yakuza has announced that the stream will also "announce future developments." Last time we thought we were going to see new titles, it turned out to be a bit of a bust. But here's hoping that Sega and?? Team Yakuza has something cool up their sleeve this time around.

The live stream will take place December 8 at 20:00 ?JST. That's int?o the wee small hours in North America, but fret not, as we will be sure to cover any exciting news out of the stream.

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'Making the expected is a sign of defeat to me'

In an enlightening documentary video from Archipel, Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi spoke about how the turn-based Yakuza: Like A Dragon was originally an action game. Now you might be thinking, "Yeah, sure. It started that way and before lo?ng they branched out to try something new."

But th??e way Nagoshi tells it, the shift was even wilder – it happened in the last year of production.

"After working on the six numbered titles, I had somehow reached a limit," he said. "As I was thinking of how to follow the events of Yakuza 6, I wasn't too confident on the margin ??of progress I ?could make."

"At first we said half-joking how about we make an RPG," Nagoshi recalled. "We released an April Fools' video. Many people were assuming that we were already making an RPG at that point. Actually, it was really something only made for April Fools' Day. It was still an actio?n game at the time. From there, the video was positively received, we suddenly fully changed directions. We started making it an RPG."

"Hurrying to m?ake th??ings is sort of a characteristic of the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio," Nagoshi explained.

"Nobody said that it was too late to shift to an RPG, that it was impossible or that it woul??dn't please the players," he said. "It was more coming up with id??eas to make it happen. In my experience, when you have to stop a brainstorm because too many ideas are flowing, you're on the right direction."

The shift from brawls to JRPG battles doesn't align with every Yakuza fan's interests – I'm open to a refined RPG sequel even if I prefer real-time punch-outs – but in retrospect, the swa?p makes sense. As Nagoshi says in the interview, "surprise" is the "keyword [he values] the most in entertainm?ent."

This news only makes me more excited about the improvements?? we might see in Ichiban's next outing.

The post Yakuza: Like a Dragon became an RPG after the April Fools’ Day reaction, says Nagoshi appeared first on Destructoid.

I need a (part-time) hero

The dream of a global Yakuza launch is just that – a dream – but i??t feels more tangible than ever.

Yakuza has skyrocketed beyond niche status in the West thanks to the best-in-class Yakuza 0, and as word of mouth continues to spread, curious players who don't usually play these sorts of games have taken a chance on the wacky, bold, unapologetic series they've hear??d so much about over the years.

No one else is ??really doing what Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has been able to consistently ?pull off.

I maintain that Kiryu's origin story is the high-water mark – Yakuza 0 is one of the defining greats – but if you're looking for something new to try or you've been there and done that in the cabaret clubs and you don't want to commit to a full series playthrough, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is an enticing next step.

With a new Dragon Quest-loving protagonist, a much larger city to hang out in, a vastly different combat system to master, and little in the way of narrati??ve ba?ggage, this could easily be your introduction.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon (PC [reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: Sega
Released: November 10, 2020 (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X), March 2, 2021 (PS5)
MSRP: $59.99

When I think of Yakuza, I think of dense, dramatic, larger-than-life storylines that juggle sincere personal moments with big-picture twists and string-pulling. I think about silly yet heartfelt chance encounters. I think about forging bonds, making time to appreciate the little things, and ne?ver backing down from what you believe is right no matter how many sharp-dressed grunts get in your way.

While the finer details are different, it's generally the same vibe for newcomer Ichiban Kasuga, who has impossibly big shoes to fill but does his best as Like a Dragon's literal party leader. In some ways, he's more relatable than the stoic Kiryu; in others, they're two heroes cut?? from the same resolute cloth.

Case in point, early into the game – before this adventure truly kicks off – Ichiban dutifully takes t?he heat for a crime he didn't commit. He serves his time, returning 18 years later to a world (and plenty of familiar faces) that he no longer fully recognizes – a perfect recipe for intrigue. Starting from the bottom, Ichiban tries to reclaim the life he left behind only to become wrapped up in a stalemate between warring factions. He'll need all the help he can get from new friends he makes along the way.

While that's just the jumping-off point – there's no such thing as a concise Yakuza plot summary – I will say that Like a Dragon slightly loses itself midway through. There are some pacing problems. Part of that is on t?he?? narrative side, and part of that is due to the (at times) grind-heavy JRPG structure.

_{The English dub, as heard in this trailer, is completely optional – there's Japanese VO. I liked some of the English performances (including Ichiban's), but found others to be hit-or-miss and ultimately too jarring to stick with.}

The first several hours of Like a Dragon are strong, and the conclusion is hopeful enough to make me excited about what's next for Ichiban (and the Yakuza mythos), ?but there were a few chapters in the middle where ??I struggled to connect with meandering story beats. When the game is fixated on familial struggles – everything circling patriarch Arakawa, his son Masato, and Ichiban – I'm glued to the screen. When it ropes in characters whose presence isn't always justified or meaningful, I start to lose interest.

I am glad that Like a Dragon doesn't dwell too much on the past. There are?? fun callbacks, cameos, and nods, to be sure. But what it comes to the important story moments, new pla?yers won't feel lost.

It's also worth mentioning that while Kamurocho and Sotenbori both briefly return (for story reasons), the bulk of your time will be spent in Yokohama. It's a far bigger map than we're used to in Yakuza. Don't worry, though – it's not overwhelming, bloated, or lifeless. It's not huge by open-world standards. I'd s?ay Isezaki Ijincho is a mix of the usual cozy slice-of-life vibes and more sprawled-out city life. I particularly like Survive Bar as the party's cool home base, the serene Hamakita Park, and Chinatown.

You can get into mischief on every street corner whether?? you intend to or not.

There are new activities like Dragon Kart racing (complete with cups), a rhythm-based movie theater game (where you tap buttons to keep the sleep-inducing sheep men at bay), and a vocational school (with stat-boosting trivia questions). More than anything else, I got hooked on a company management simulation – a careful balancing act between buying smart investme??nt properties, satisfying agitated investors, and raising profits without overextending or jeopardizing your employees' well-being.

There's also the Part-T??ime Hero questline: a blend of basic street brawls to help folks in need, item delivery requests, and see-everything-there-is-to-see ex?ploration and activity goals. (Think Completion Points.) As Ichiban makes progress in the phone app, he'll earn rewards – even cash – and rank up.

While you're engaging with this optional content – or the series' classic zany substories that somehow always end up speaking to the human condition – you'll start picking up seemingly random junk (that's used to craft or improve weapons and armor) and begin unlocking JRPG summons (Poundmates) like a Jason Voorhees stand-in and a poisonous crayfish. If you've seen any particularly outlandish scenes in the trailers for Like a Dragon, chances are, that was a Poundmate. Fan-favorite Yakuza icons return, too.

Whereas prior Yakuza games were real-time brawlers – a sort of modern-day extension of the arcade beat-'em-ups many of us hold dear – this game uses turn-based combat. The results are mixed. Initially, I found Like a Dragon's JRPG combat to be more dynamic than expected – I said as much in a pre-release preview. After spending almost 50 hours with the game?, I'm less enthusiastic abo??ut it.

Your four active party members and the otherworldly (even Pokémon-inspired) foes you face will roam around automatically, and it's on you to? decide when to attack, defend, call in a summon, or use a ??special attack with some of the most absurd animations and scenarios this series has ever seen.

Once you confirm an order, your character will jog over to their target. If another enemy is in the way, they might intercept and block you. If you're do?ing an attack with "splash damage," nearby foes who wander within range at the right time will be hit. (Some later-game specials do across-the-board AoE damage, so you don't have to be so patient or strategic.) Certain moves have a button-mashing bonus, some moves just use a single well-timed button press, and the same goes for triggering defensive boosts in time with each enemy strike. There are other considerations, too. Your brawlers might rush in to get a follow-up hit on a toppled-over foe if they're close, and they may even pick up scenery objects.

Early on, I had a fun enough time watching these chaotic and slightly out-o?f-control scenes unfold. They didn't drag on. But at a certain point, I got so sick of waiting for Ichiban and co. to run up and actually perform their attacks. In fights I knew I'd win, I would toggle the auto-battle option and let the AI take over (even though it makes inefficient choices). As soon as my party was sufficiently decked-out, I resorted to mostly using special attacks. Not only are they powerful (so long as you have enough m?ana to wield them), they have instantly-skippable cutscenes. They're the fastest route to the victory screen.

Put another way, Like a Dragon's turn-based combat is fine, but fine can only go so far when hours-long brick walls force you to stop and grind for XP so you can stand a reasonable chance against beefy boss encounters. I didn't find a good reason to experiment much with alternate jobs/classes for anyone, preferring a more laser focus. (You can unlock unique moves with each job, but weapons are job-specific, so there's legwork when swapping.) I didn't enjoy grinding in the dreary sewer dungeon – it's by far the low point in this game – but funnily enough, I did like the? battle arena. The difference: tricky optional objectives that kept me on my toes. The enemies are so cre?ative, but the combat feels rote.

Depending on your fondness for JRPG grinding, you might enjoy this system a lot more than me. But I'd argue that there's undeniable room? for improvement and it fall?s short of the old real-time punch-outs.

There are trade-offs, though. Pros and cons. On the bright side, the party-based format leads to enjoyable character moments as Ichiban bonds with his pals over drinks, or snacks, or while strolling past noteworthy sight???s – the group will routinely converse when you're exploring Yokohama. You'll also get a bunch of opportunities for one-on-one time with the crew back at Survive Bar. Don't skip out.

From a storytelling perspective, the fantasy JRPG shift fits the new protagonist's disposition – it makes a weird sort of sense in Ichiban's head – and the conceit gives Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio a lot of freedom to go nuts. Some of the creature designs (I feel like I can call them creatures) are delightfully unhinged. Not that we had any doubts at this point, but the localization team continues to flex its creative muscle??s.

Like a Dragon isn't my favorite Yakuza, and its fresh turn-based combat eventually grows stale, but I have a lot of love for it. If it's your first game, ?it'll quickly initiate you into this wild, one-of-a-kind series.

_{[This review is based? on a retail build of?? the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Sega is pumping out trailers for Like a Dragon and this latest one covers next-gen 'features' like cutting-edge crustacean AI

I know, I know – November is packed. But try not to forget about Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

You don't need to play it on November 10 – heck, you don't even need to play it on an Xbox Ser??ies X (or on a PS5 when March rolls around) – but keep it on your "thinking about you!" list, at the very least.

That might go without saying for a lot of Destructoid readers who are well-versed in the Yakuza series and know what to expect. For everyone else, I hope this game can be a breezy entry point with its English dub (which is wild), it??s new party-leading hero, Ichiban Kasuga (who's another lovable lug), and its new setting, Yokohama (which is significantly larger than our old stomping grounds ??in Kamurocho).

That's to say nothing of the surprisingly fresh turn-based combat, which I recently previewed.

Really, this tongue-in-cheek "Next Generation of Yakuza" trailer says it all. No one is out there making games like Yakuza, and we shouldn't take Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio for gran??ted. It's ?such a heartfelt series.

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With a fresh cast and combat style, it's a fantastic entry point if you're brand new or you've only finished Yakuza 0 so far

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the best and worst game to try and preview.

On the one hand, there are questions – about the new protagonist, the shift to JRPG combat, and the English VO – that people want answered. On the other, Yakuza is a go-at-your-own-pace sorta series, the kind that lets you obsess over dramatic big-picture moments while als?o immersing yourself, for hours on end, in surprisingly in-depth management sim mini-games and silly one-off side stories.

Trying to convey everything I want to convey within the confines of a particularly-worded NDA – using a save file that starts with Chapter 5, "fiv?e to seven hours into an average playthrough" – will be tricky.

Without getting too much into the story particulars, Yakuza: Like a Dragon juggles sobering?? character-driven moments with behind-the-scenes string pulling, multiple warring factions, and outlandish scenarios. It's a difficult balancing act and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is still very much up to the task.

• You can rescue a bum's beloved crawfish Nancy from becoming dinner and then call her up on your phone, mid-battle, as a powerful "summon" (for a fee, of course).

• You can help track down a perp who won't stop pissing in the river. Choose carefully.

• You can fight sheep-headed dream figures who try their best to make you rudely fall asleep while a passionate theater owner shows you his favorite deep cuts.

• You can bike around to collect recyclable cans like they're pellets in Pac-Man while other cart-riding maniacs try to run you off the road.

• You can build a business empire by recruiting and leveling up employees, giving them just enough PTO, and fending off irate shareholders in quarterly meetings.

• You can help this man fetch some clothes.

• You cannot help these men fetch some clothes.

Needless to say for lo??ng-time fans, these highlights are only scratching the surface.

The biggest shakeup in Yakuza: Like a Dragon – the one that takes the most getting used to but ultimately feels at home in this fearlessly peculiar sandbox world – is the turn-base??d combat system.

For a bit of perspective, I love Yakuza's chunky beat-'em-up combat. Certain bosses are too much of a pain in the ass, and some moves?? are way too powerful to resist falling back on in every battle, but I love the mix of old and new design sensibilities, and few if any other modern games feel like this.

I'm still figuring out my definitive take on Yakuza: Like a Dragon's JRPG antics. I like turn-based battling more than I thought I would – it's quicker and more dynamic than expected, with surprisingly impactful hits ?– but at the same time, I can't call it a straight "upgrade" over the series' real-time brawls.

To simply sum it up, you'll run into thugs on the street like normal (who are more otherworldly than ever), you'll bounce back and forth between attacking and defending (with boosts for perfec?t button timings), and you'll try to get the most bang for your buck by hitting multiple bunched-up foes.

There are some interesting wrinkles. Enemies never seem to sit still – they can intercept you on your way to your target if you aren't paying attention, and you can use multi-target attacks – so it pays to be strategic. Your four-person party has a story-contextualized job class system with its own level progression and ability unlocks, and as out-of-control weird as the enemy designs are, they make sense in a story that references Dragon Quest by name. If you're ever feeling the grind &nda?sh; trust me, you will – there's an aut??o-battle toggle you can tap at any moment. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done.

One other thing: run-of-the-mill battles can be over in a matter of seconds, and I really appreciate it.

The turn-based approach fits newcomer Ichiban Kasuga, who is good-natured and full of curiosity like Kiryu but far less of an unstoppable lone wolf. He isn't the brightest, but he's an amazing friend. My favorite part of Yakuza: Like a Dragon is rolling through town (in this case, Yokohama) with my crew, having them chat, fight, and dine together depending on the situati??on. It's fun to build up bonds.

I only wish I could (optionally?) take real-time control of my party during these punch-outs. If Yakuza ever does JRPG-inspired combat again – and I do think it's worth expanding – I'd love to see something more in line with character switching in Final Fantasy VII Remake. That could be the best of both worlds.

As is, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is entertaining enough for me to want to see every minuscule substory through to its end, so I'm not exactly com?plaining. I just think it can reach new heights with tweaks.

As for the English voice cast, I tried swapping over for a bit and it's just Too Much after enjoying subs for years. There's going to be an audience for this, and I appreciate the choice, but it's a "no" f?or me.

If you're here for "the usual Yakuza goodness," you're going to get it in Like a Dragon, no question. You won't be disappointed, especially with an open mind. You may not p??refer turn-based combat to frantic real-time combos, but the change still manages to justify itself – at least for this specific outing.

If you're an all-new Yakuza player, you don't have to feel guilty about starting with Like a Dragon.

Just know that the ride never ends.

_{[This preview is based on a PC build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Perhaps the wildest trailer in Yakuza history

While no one can ever accuse the Yakuza franchise of not having its fair share of off-the-wall moments, (suplexing a bull? underground castle? anybody?), the newest entry in the JRPG franchise, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, looks to dial the chao??s up to eleven and yank off the knob.

Sega has released a new trailer for the incoming sequel, titled "The Quest Begins," which sees new hero Ichiban Kasuga and an army of friends, associates, and ha??ngers-on engage in a cavalcade of craziness across the iconic city of Kamurocho. Knights in shining armour, mad phone skills, high-speed food delivery, baseball bat attacks, angry lobsters, heavy metal performances, and goat-headed cinema patrons are among the insa?ne sights appearing in this 100-second montage. You have to see it to believe it.

Elsewhere in the video, we see a bevy of side-activities for Ichiban to occupy his spare time, including visiting the batting cage, sitting in vocational exams, taking up a part-time job, indulging in a spot of karaoke, and even sitting down to a few rounds of Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown.

With a new cast of characters, a new attitude, and an all-new turn-based battle system, Like a Dragon very much looks to be Yakuza, but not as we know it. I can't wait!

Yakuza: Like a Dragon launches November 10 on PS4.

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Yuckuza

It took mere hours for that goodwill Sega earned to go right out the window. Earlier this morning, we found out that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will offer free next-gen upgrades on PlayStation. Of course, it's n??ot just t??hat easy.

Anyone who buys Yakuza: Like a Dragon on PS4 will get a free upgrade to?? the PS5 version when it launches on March 2, 2021. However, developer RGG Studio clarifies that saves ar??en't compatible between the two versions:

To clarify, physical owners of Yakuza: L?ike a Dragon on PS4 can also use the original disc to upgrade to the PS5 version when it releases on March 2, 2021?.

Save data will not be transferab?le between the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game.

— RGG Studio (@RGGStudio) September 28, 2020

Now consumers are left in a weird catch-22. They can buy it on PS4 immediately (right at launch of PS5 nonetheless), and play it knowing that upgrading to the next-gen version will mean starting the game all over four months later. Or they can just wait for Like a Dragon on PS5. Nei??ther option is necessarily good within the context that a free upgrade is on the table.

More broadly, is this going to be the norm for cross-generation saves on PlayStation? And if so, why? There aren't a ton of examples yet so it's tough to definitively say, but it seems to be trending in that direction. Maneater's free upgrade on PS5 necessitates a separate application and saves don't carry over. The Spider-Man remaster is also its own SKU that won't support PS4 saves.

Eventually we'll get the low-down on the architectural issue that prevents cross-saves in some instances. For now, it just seems like it'll be on a case-by-case basis. For some games, it probably won't be much of an issue. For Yakuza: Like a Dragon, only the diehards are going to ??play it twice in a four-mo??nth window; everyone else will have to make the call whether they want to play the last-gen version right away or wait a while for the PS5 version.

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Here's the system requirements

Sega is finalizing their Yakuza: Like A Dragon launch plans now that all of the cons??oles are out of the woodwork! It's about time.

As a final push, Sega reminds us that Like a Dragon will arrive on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X on November 10. The publisher does clarify, however, that the PS5 edition is coming on March 2, 2021 — and that it will come with a free upgrade. Here's the exact wording just in case, so you aren't setting yourself up for disappointment (emphasis mine): "Once players purchase the digital PS4 version of Yakuza: Like a Dragon at PlayStation Store they are able to download the PS5 version at no extra cost when it launches on March 2, 2021." The publisher has since clarified that physical will work too.

In terms of the PC version, now that the game is ready, the minimum and recommended requirements are out in the wild. It's all pretty standard stuff, and with an i5 and GTX 660 needed for the former parameters, it should be easy enough to run on most PCs. This is all a formality really. Bring on the next chapter of Yakuza! We were all waiting to see how the s??e?ries would fare with Kiryu out of the picture.

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With PS5 'at a later date'

[Update: Sega has confirmed that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will launch on November 10 on Xbox ??Series X/S. It also slyly hints that "release information on all platforms (read: PS5) in the coming weeks." We might have a timeline for Sony's big PS5 date/price reveal, if not s??ooner.]

We are about to enter new territory when it comes to the Yakuza series, and we're all going t??o be doin??g it together: On November 13.

Today, Sega has announced that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be available on PC, Xbox One and PS4 on that very date, with vague promises of when the next-generation versions will hit. ??Sega has clarified, and ??say it with me now, that the Xbox Series X edition will be available "on day one of its release," with the PS5 port coming "at a later date."

Sega is celebrating the news with a trailer titled "How Will You Rise," which showcases more RPG elements of the game and our hero Ichiban Kasuga. This is a very rapid-fire clip, showcasing "20+ unique jobs" and some of the wackier elements of Like a Dragon in just under two minutes.

It's entirely possible that the Xbox Series X is actually out on November 13?, and "day one of its release" is just third party PR talk for "Microsoft is the one that gets to announce its c??onsole release date."

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The Sony method isn't as cut and dried as Microsoft's Smart Delivery

More Yakuza: Like a Dragon news?! Well it's starting to fi?nally feel like July??.

This morning Sega blasted us with new info on the upcoming Yakuza game, and most of it is good. Following the previous Xbox Series X "next-gen" reveal, Sega has confirmed that Like a Dragon will be coming to the PlayStation 5, in addition to the PC and the PS4/Xbox One. It'll also get a "Day Ichi" [One] edition on top of the "Hero" and "Legendary" versions of the game. Plus there's a new tr??ailer featuring a voiceover from George Takei (who will be playing "Masumi Arakawa, a powerful patriarch"), which you can check out below.

Now for the "enh" news. According to Atlus, the "upgrade path" will not be as simple as the Smart Delivery system on Xbox One-to-Xbox Series X. According to the publisher, "more info will be announced at a later date," which seems to imply what we've been thinking all along: Sony doesn't have as clear of a plan for a unified cross-buy system, though several games have vaguely confirmed it alre?ady.

Hopefully it'll be as painless as Smart Delivery seems to be?!

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With Smart Delivery support

Of all the games I expected to see show up during today's Xbox Series X gameplay reveal event, Yakuza: Like a Dragon sure wasn't one of them. Talk about a pleasant surprise! The maniacal RPG has been out in Japan (on PS4) since January, but we've been waiting for a Western release. Recently, a Steam database entry popped up, suggesting we'd hear something?? about the localization sooner than later.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon "will be available as part of the Xbox Series X launch slate as well as Xbox One and Windows 10," according to series director Toshihiro Nagoshi, who added that fans should check out "Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's latest effort to push the limits of video games." We will. Oh, we will.

A big point about Smart Delivery worth stressing for Yakuza (or any game with a beefy run ??time): there's cross-save support between the Xbox One and Xbox Series X versions. That'll be a godsend here.

Following the Inside Xbox show, Sega reached out to confirm that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will simultaneously release on Xbox Series X, ?Xbo??x One, PlayStation 4, and Steam in the West.

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A database listing showed up for the PC version

Even though PC players are still waiting on Yakuza 3, 4, 5, and 6, Sega is seemingly looking to bring Yakuza: Like a Dragon to Steam sooner than later. A database listing for the game surfaced on SteamDB.

Yakuza Like a Dragon coming to Steam //t.co/58DHcrl1bQ pic.twitter.com/cZAO8YAKjE

— Wario64 (@Wario64) May 4, 2020

This is interesting for a couple of reasons. Fans have wondered about the timing of not just those aforementioned Yakuza series PC ports, but also Judgment, a PS4-only detective game set in Yakuza's old stomping grounds, Kamurocho. It would be nice to have all of th??ese stories together on Steam.

If today's Steam database entry is anything to go on – it surely is, at least partially – then that might mean Yakuza: Like a Dragon could arrive on PC befor?e those back-catalo?g titles, for better or worse. I can see a case being made, anyway. The game gives longtime lovable lug Kazuma Kiryu a break in favor of a newcomer, Ichiban Kasuga, and it also adopts a far more RPG-centric approach to street brawls.

For players who don't necessarily want to run through the entire mainline Yakuza saga in order, one after another, Like a Dragon could be a fresh start. As someone who's planning to dive into Yakuza 3 this year (please don't hold me to that!), I'm honestly more excited about Yakuza 7. It looks out of control.

E??very single Friday, VentureBeat's Jeff Grubb repurposes this dumb pizza bit, and the wound reopens.

when it's time to order the friday pizza pic.twitter.com/5xQbCtxkkU

— Jeff Grubb (@JeffGrubb) September 13, 2019

I can burn my mouth with piping hot tomato sauce any day of the week, but it's a short-lived fix. Eating all the pizza in the world won't bring me closer to playing Yakuza: Like a Dragon. (I'll still try, though.)

PC speculation aside, I hope we get a Western release date for the PlayStation 4 version soon. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio rolled out the Japanese PS4 version on January 16, so it's been a while. Not too long, but a while, certainly. The offic?ial line from S??ega is that it's "coming to the west in 2020."

Here's hoping the r??est of the PC ports aren't far off either. Maybe they'll? swoop in!

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Dragons aren't just made of ink now

Sega released a pair of brief but impactful Japanese TV advertisements for Yakuza: Like a Dragon, an exceedingly bonkers new RPG take on the dramatic crime syndicate series. The main attention-grabber is Ichi??ban Kasuga decked out in knight armor??, sword and shield in hand, staring down a mighty dragon.

Even in the context of Yakuza, this game is something else.

The 15-second video tells you everything you need to know about Like a Dragon if you've been kinda-sorta paying attention to the game so far. You can assemble a crew, there's a role-playing-style job system, and old favorites – Kiryu, Majima, and even Nugget the chicken – are set to return.

The second clip is slightly more substantial and plays into Yakuza's serious side.

The duality between goofiness and grit has served the series well so far, and while there's some anxiety about the gameplay changes with Yakuza: Like a Dragon, I think it's going to turn out well in the end.

The game launches January 16 in Japan, but ?the rest of the world has to wait until later this year.

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Don't forget to actually complete the main quest

Sega and Team Yakuza have released a new, near-five-minute gameplay trailer for their upcoming action RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The Japanese video features a cross-section of g?ameplay, demonstrating what is looking to be a very varied adventure title.

In the trailer, we see new protagonist Ichiban?? Kasuga - accompanied by his party of strange and unlikely allies - explore the city, go gambling, do a spot of shopping, take an exam, hang out at hostess bars, play some darts, get booed at a press conference, indulge in some go-karting, play piano... Oh, and smash the heads of numerous thugs and troublemakers.

While the Yakuza series has long been known for its quirky sense of humor and myriad of distractions and side-quests, Like a Dragon is seemingly looking to raise the bar on both the fun and weirdness factors. Throw in an all-new? tactical combat system, fr?esh cityscapes, and lots of new characters to befriend or beat-up, and it seems the series is set to maintain its charisma and magnetism, even without the snakeskin shoes of Kazuma Kiryu.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon launches on PS4 in Japan January 16, a?nd will h??ead west sometime in 2020.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon latest gameplay trailer [Gematsu]

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Would you like the shirt off my back, too?

Sega's next entry in the face-mashing Yakuza franchise, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, has received a new trailer to celebrate the launch of its first demo, now available on the Japanese PlayStation Store. The new video, featuring a whopping ten minutes of cin?ematics, is a little heavy on the spoilers, so fans who wish to stay in the dark might want to skip it (along with the rest of this article) entirely.

Alongside the usual high drama and tense confrontation one expects from the Yakuza series - as new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga fights his way through another slew of gangster-related worries - the video ends with the reveal that longtime Yakuza hero Kazuma Kiryu will make an appear??ance in the new game, and is depicted doing what he does best: looking stoic while smoothly ripping off his upper clothing.

Personally, I was hoping the franchise would make a completely fresh break from even remotely featuring Kazuma himself, even if we would see the return of other characters from the huge Yakuza universe. I guess the produ??cers couldn't help themselves?, after all, you can never keep a good man down.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon launches on PS4 in ??Japan January 16, and will head west ??later in 2020.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon demo now available in Japan [Gematsu]

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Time to start swinging bicycles again

Speaking in an interview with Famitsu, Masayoshi Yokoyama revealed that a demo will be released for Sega's upcoming strategy RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which is currently in development for PS4.

The demo will let players try out first-hand the wild new real-time-strategy battle mechanics, making their debut in the now legendary adventure series. Yokoyama noted that the demo build would be an upgrade from any version of Like a Dragon currently used in previous gameplay trailers, b?ut no actual date for its arrival was announced?.

As an aside, a new "job" was revealed for one of Like a Dragon's protagonists. "Office Worker" is a job attainable by female lead Saeko Mukouda, (portrayed by contest winner Eri Kamataki). Upon securing the role, this job will allow her to battle with her enemies using office supplies, which sounds like a riot. The Like a Dragon job system opens up skills and abilities to characters once they have acquired the job in question, via stat-building and entr?ance exams.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon lau??nches on ?PS4 in Japan January 16, and will head west later in 2020.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon demo announced [Famitsu / Gematsu]

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Let your work define you

In the latest issue of Japanese publication Weekly Famitsu, Sega's action-RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon has revealed three of its character classes, which take the form of vocations for Ichiban Kasuga and his merry band of rep??robates.

In order to apply for a job/class in Like a Dragon, a character must meet a set standard of entry-level "Life Experience" points, which differ from job to job. These include building stats such as Charm, Mentality, and Enthusiasm, which can be done via story quests or Yakuza's famous side-attraction?s. Once you pass an entr?ance exam, the job - along with its unique skills and abilities - is yours.

The first "job" on offer, Riot Police, affords its u??ses heavy-duty defence ab??????????????????????????ilities, blessed with high-health and shielded with body armour. This role is noted as being equivalent to a "Knight" in a typical RPG.

The second job is Fortuneteller, a low-?defense charac??ter able to call upon strange and mystical forces via a crystal ball, this is Like a Dragon's take on the classic "Mage" character from traditional class-based games.

The third and final role is Idol, a female-exclusive class that is used to enchant and d??istract enemies with songs while providing healing and other buffs to team-ma??tes, not dissimilar to the "Dancer" type in other RPG titles.

Many eyebrows were raised and spit-takes were performed at the reveal of Like a Dragon's turn-based combat and tactical gameplay. While I'm in agreement that it was very much a left-field turn, I'm personally really intrigued by this new take on the series, and I'm looking forward to seeing how elements such as this job mechanic fit into the wild - and often weird - world of Yakuza.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon launches in Japa??n on PS4 January 16, before heading west later in 2020.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces jobs [Gematsu / Games Talk / Ryokutya2089]

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Oh the places you will go

Some new details about Yakuza: Like A Dragon have come out from this week's Famitsu Magazine and we're starting to get a clearer picture of what Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios is doing. This latest entry in the long-running series is definitely doubling down on the RPG stuff because the main city of Ijincho (a fictionalized take on Japan's Chojamachi) is reported to be around 3-4 times of the size of Kamurocho (Yakuza's past setting). That makes my stomach sink a bit.

As one would expect with a larger city, the length of Like A Dragon is also being reported as much longer than previous games. I'm not sure which metric they are comparing it to (certain Yakuza games can be finished in less than 20 hours even if you don't rush), but this newest game will take double the time to finish. I'm starting to remembe??r why I don't play many RPGs anymore.

Regardless of my disdain for bloated length, there is a lot in here that sounds like the exact kind of zaniness that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios is known for. Like A Dragon's main character, Ichiban Kasuga, is a huge fan of the Dragon Quest series, which also served as an inspiration for the game's shift in genre. In fact, the battle system is actually a figment of Ichiban's imagination. To bystanders on the street, people would be fighting like a traditional Yakuza title.

This game will also make heavy use of its party system. Substories (Yakuza's side-quests) will grant EXP to not only Ichiban but everyone with him. You'll even be able to assign classes to each character, much like a couple of Final Fantasy games. With this, the game world won't have invisible walls or arbitrary blockades, but stronger enemies p?reventing you from progressing too quickly.

While I'm starting to tune out a bit, I'm still all for Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios doing something new. Yakuza has always borrowed heavily from JRPGs, so there is some precedent for jumping full-on into the genre. I worry that the size will be large for the sake of being large, but we'll just?? have to be patient and see what the end result is.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon's Ijincho Will Be 3-4 Times The Size Of Kamurocho [Siliconera]

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Heat Action

With the reveal of Yakuza: Like A Dragon last week, fans were sent into a fury. Actually making good on its promise of doing something different, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios unveiled a dramatically overhauled combat system that steps away from the beat-em-up roots of the past and towards something akin to a rea??l-time strategy title. It shook quite a few people up, to say? the least.

In a recent appearance on Sega's semi-r??egular Lives?tream, series director Toshihiro Nagoshi reassured fans that Like A Dragon will feel more like an action game than one might think. As a matter of fact, he believes people unfamiliar with the series past would mistake Like A Dragon for an action title.

Starting off, Nagoshi admits that part of the reason Like A Dragon makes such a dramatic shift in gameplay styles is that the team couldn't think of a good way to one-up the previous battle system. There was also a desire to do something new, which led to the creation of the strategy elements seen in the latest game. This makes a lot of sense, especially since Judgment feels like yet another Yakuza game with little else differentiating them.

Nagoshi also reassured fans that Like A Dragon will not be a passive game. Nagoshi doesn't enjoy slow-paced titles and wasn't about to make one himself. As such, players won't be selecting commands from a list and then sitting back to watch battles play out. While it will take some getting used to, Nagoshi stresses Like A Dragon will feel more like watching a multi-man battle ??play out in front of you instead of a turn-based affair.

The patented "Heat Actions" from the series will make a return and be pushed even further than before. Since Like A Dragon is an RPG, the intensity and ridiculousness of said actions will go beyond what was previously possible in Yakuza's grounded setting. I'd expect some team-up actions, especially with the ga??me allowing party members to seamlessly join battles once you've star?ted them.

I understand that real-time strategy games may not be everyone's cup of tea, but there's no reason to expect Yakuza: Like A Dragon will be a dud. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios has a track record of making great games and its first foray into a different genre with Binary Domain was excellent. I have f??aith this will end up? being the same, but I'm happier that the studio is being given the chance to experiment. The worst thing for creative minds is to get stuck in a box creating the same crap over and over, so I'm happy we're going to see something different.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon Is Mor????e like An Action Game Than You Might Think, Says Director Nagoshi [Siliconera]

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Longtime RPG/brawler series takes a bold new road

Sega has officially revealed story and gam??eplay details for the next entry in its popular and long-running Yakuza franchise, following on from various teases over the past year. Yakuza 7: Whereabouts of Light and Darkness (or Yakuza: Like A Dragon in the west) will be launching in Japan on PS4 January 16 - before heading west sometime in 2020 - and looks to take the series in an all-new direction.

As you can see from the screenshot below, Yakuza 7 is eschewing the traditional brawler elements of the series for a real time strategy-like system, where players will decide the actions of new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and his pals in turn-based battles. Options for attack, defence, support and recovery will be available to our heroes as they fight it out within the mean streets of Isezaki Ijinch, Yokohama. This new locale is stated by Sega to be more than three times the size of traditional Yakuza setting Kamurocho.

Yakuza 7's narrative will tell the tale of Kasuga's return from a lengthy stint in prison, where he will take strides to make a name for himself from the ground up in Yokohama, rebuild his former clan and learn the truth behind an attempt on his life from those he once trusted. No doubt the tale will see Kasuga meet a huge cast of characters, thrown down with street toughs and mob bosses and, at some point, rip both his shirt and suit jacket off in a single motion.

Yakuza 7 launches on PS4 in Japan on January 16 and will arrive in the west later in 2020.

Yakuza 7 ann?ounced for PS4 first details and screenshots [Gematsu / Official]

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