Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio plans to proceed making Yakuza/Like a Dragon video games about center aged males doing “center aged males issues.”
Series director Ryosuke Horii instructed Automaton he is grateful for Yakuza/Like a Dragon’s inflow of latest gamers, which incorporates youthful folks and girls, however stated the studio does not plan on altering its strategy due to it.
“We’ve had a massive enhance in new followers, together with ladies, which we’re really pleased and grateful for,” Horii stated. “Nevertheless, we don’t plan to do something like intentionally altering dialog matters so as to cater to new followers.”
He continued: “We’re center aged guys ourselves, so I assume that’s the form of target market we’re going for, most likely. I feel that is exactly considered one of [the series’] promoting factors. In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, every little thing begins with three unemployed center aged guys being like, ‘Let’s go to [the job centre].’ They’ve a completely different air about them than a group of younger heroes would, complaining about again ache and the like. However this humanity you’re feeling from their age is what offers the sport originality.”
The Yakuza/Like a Dragon sequence, which had a complicated identify change in 2022, centered on authentic protagonist Kiryu Kazuma by the primary six video games and prequel Yakuza 0. Whereas he was simply 20 in that sport, Kiryu was 37 within the first Yakuza (which was remade as Yakuza Kiwami in 2016), 38 in Yakuza 2 (remade as Yakuza Kiwami 2), then 41, 42, 44, and finally 48 in Yakuza 6. He seems in later video games too, and continues to get older alongside the sequence.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, who takes over from Kiryu in what’s primarily Yakuza 7, is 42 in that sport and 46 in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (primarily Yakuza 8). The sequence does function loads of characters who aren’t center aged males, however most of its foremost solid are.
“The characters are flesh and blood human beings very similar to our gamers are, so their issues are relatable,” Horii stated. “That’s why it’s straightforward to actually get into the sport and really feel such as you’re listening to conversations between peculiar folks. There isn’t any typical ‘game-like’ language like ‘the place is the treasure chest?'”
Yakuza/Like a Dragon lead planner Hirotoka Chiba gave an instance. “There’s a dialog the place Adachi is conflicted about whether or not he ought to drink beer or not as a result of he’s apprehensive about his uric acid degree,” he stated. “We’re making the hearty talks of middle-aged dudes our id, somewhat than youthfulness.”
Followers anticipating a arduous left flip within the subsequent sport, which is being revealed on September 20, could subsequently have to suppose once more.
It is unknown if this new sport (or doubtlessly video games) is the following mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon entry, one other spin-off sport like Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Title, one other remake like Yakuza: Kiwami or Like a Dragon: Ishin, one other sport from spin-off sequence Judgment, or one thing else solely, nonetheless.
Writer Sega did register a trademark for one thing referred to as Yakuza Wars in August 2024, nonetheless, and RGG has already stated followers will likely be “stunned” by the reveal.
In our 9/10 overview of the final sport, IGN stated: “Sprawling, enthralling, and filled with dynamic brawling, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth isn’t simply the most effective turn-based Like a Dragon sport, it’s one of many best video games in the whole sequence.”
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll speak about The Witcher all day.