Yakuza: Like a Dragon; How a Genre Shift Can Revitalize A Stale Series

Yakuza: Like a Dragon, also known as Yakuza 7 or Shin Yakuza is the newest entry in the Yakuza series. This series has only in recent times begun to popularize itself in the Western sphere, but in the East, it’s been an extremely popular series since the very first game. Yakuza, also known as Like a Dragon in Japan is series focused on the gritty crime drama revolving around the Japanese Yakuza, a criminal
organization. The gameplay can be described as a mix of primarily beat ‘em up combat, with bits of action-adventure, open-world exploration and some RPG elements to spice it up. The stories are often dramatic tales of deceit and shady underground dealings, mixed in with an unusual sense of earnestness from the protagonist, Kiryu Kazuma who is often hailed as one of the greatest heroes in video games.
The series is known for having a very surreal contrast between the gritty crime drama and hilarious, comical antics that make the whole game seem unusual, but arguably it is what defines Yakuza as a fantastic series. However, after a total of twelve games; 6 mainline, 2 spin-off, 1 prequel and 2 remakes, it’s unfortunate to say that the series was becoming stale. As somebody who has loved the series ever
since I first played Yakuza 0, I have to admit that even the most fresh coat of paint will not really make the gameplay any less stale.

The gameplay of Yakuza: Like a Dragon is turn-based Japanese role playing game (JRPG) combat. Your team consists of up to 4 members, who can all use different abilities, attacks and items on their turn, and then it switches to somebody else. It is the classic JRPG formula, but with a more modern twist. Instead of the usual backdrop of a fantasy world, instead the game is set in the real-world equivalent of
modern-day Japan. Between the usual RPG mechanics of having different stats to level up and bonds with teammates, the game also mixes in the usual Yakuza staples, such as eating at restaurants, doing minigames, etc. Substories, a staple of the Yakuza series, also appear in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. These are sidequests that are known for being a tonal opposite to the gritty drama of the main story, but they
work in the game’s favor by bringing a balance between tones.

Instead of the usual backdrop of a fantasy world, instead the game is set in the real-world equivalent of modern-day Japan. Between the usual RPG mechanics of having different stats to level up and bonds with teammates, the game also mixes in the usual Yakuza staples, such as eating at restaurants, doing minigames, etc. Substories, a staple of the Yakuza series, also appear in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. These are
sidequests that are known for being a tonal opposite to the gritty drama of the main story, but they work in the game’s favor by bringing a balance between tones.

I managed to beat the main story in 40 hours, and it was a fantastic experience. The story was intriguing and kept me on the edge of my seat, the combat made me strategize and think about the RPG elements, and the insane amount of side content can easily make the hours played go into quadruple digits. Some of these side activities include a go-kart racing minigame, business management simulator, karaoke,
shogi, mahjong, doing vocational school exams, etc. These are just the main ones I mostly played, but there are much more to be found. Overall, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a shining example of how far a genre shift can really revitalize a stale series while keeping to the strengths that the franchise was known for.

Publisher: Sega
Developers: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Linux
Genres: JRPG, Action/adventure, open world exploration
Pictures; screenshots taken by author in-game

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