Haley MacLean talks to Kelsey Lewin about starting Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and whether or not she should play Yakuza 0 or Yakuza: Like A Dragon beforehand to get a better sense of the characters like Ichiban and Kiryu:

What's The Best Entry Point For Yakuza/Like A Dragon?

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wccf tech reports that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio confirmed the ongoing development of a sequel for Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Here is the link to the developer's announcement.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon Sequel Confirmed as Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Restructures

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the new Head Masayoshi Yokoyama (who is taking over from Toshihiro Nagoshi, reportedly going to NetEase) confirmed that a sequel for Yakuza: Like a Dragon is in development. In his letter to the studio's fans, Yokoyama-san also discussed the studio's restructuring following the departure of both Nagoshi and Daisuke Sato.

[...]

Yakuza: Like a Dragon was well received from both critics (our Kai rated the game 9.1 out of 10) and fans, so it's far from surprising to learn about a sequel. Still, those who loved Ichiban Kasuga's first adventure will be happy for the confirmation anyway.

IGN reports that SEGA plans to keep Yakuza a turn-based RPG series and make Judgment the action series.

Ryu ga Gotoku Studios has officially announced Lost Judgment today, a sequel to its action-mystery 2018 title. For fans who miss Ryu ga Gotoku’s action-style, Judgment will be the franchise that carries that torch as Yakuza transitions into a turn-based RPG.

In an interview with IGN ahead of today’s reveal Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and producer Kazuki Hosokawa confirmed that Judgment will be Ryu ga Gotoku’s action series pillar, while Yakuza evolves into a turn-based RPG after the success of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

[...]

JRPG Jungle reviewed Yakuza: Like a Dragon:

Review: Yakuza: Like a Dragon

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For Jay RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the J-RPG of 2020:

 Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review | JRPG of the Year 2020

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Niche Gamer reviewed Yakuza: Like a Dragon:

Yakuza: Like A Dragon Review

In 15 years, the Yakuza franchise has blossomed from a obscure cult series, into a major pillar in Sega’s portfolio. It helped that the series was both a gripping crime drama, and also a quirky life-sim that is packed with mini-games.

Every entry would further refine upon the concepts of the last, with the beat ’em up mechanics becoming more nuanced. Different playable characters would be introduced, and eventually the long running main character would take up different fighting styles.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon takes huge risks for the series which has been playing it very safe since the beginning. Kazuma Kiryu, the enduring protagonist of the franchise, has been retired. Further, the developers have completely abandoned the action gameplay in favor of a traditional JRPG turn-based system. Miraculously, this bold and new direction is exactly what Yakuza needed.

[...]

Yakuza: Like A Dragon proves you can make a masterpiece by experimenting with the formula. It is more than just being the best Yakuza game yet, but also one of the best RPGs ever made. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio did their homework, understand what makes a great JRPG, and combined it with their honed craftsmanship of decades of making some of the best crime dramas in video games.

The Verdict: 10

The Good

• Dragon Engine running full blast on new generation consoles allows it to hit high frame rates and look better than ever
• A deep well of side-content and mini-games that range from series staples to new concepts like Dragon Kart and a robust business sim
• A gripping story, full of characters you'll care about
• Isezaki Ijincho is a huge new map that is meticulously detailed and brimming with life
• Turn-based RPG gameplay is a breath of fresh air and is a great fit for the Yakuza franchise

The Bad

• George Takei as a tough and macho mob boss is a dubious casting choice

MMORPG reviewed Yakuza: Like a Dragon:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review

A love letter to Dragon Quest from the makers of Yakuza

The latest entry in SEGA’s Japanese mafia-simulator is here. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the seventh main entry in the long-running Yakuza series, which originated on PlayStation but is now available for both Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Like the switch from Sony to Microsoft, Yakuza has changed genres from brawler action-adventure to an action-RPG that is unabashedly inspired by Dragon Quest. But does this changeup land a home run for Yakuza, or does it strike out from being too different? Here’s our full review of Yakuza: Like a Dragon on the Xbox One X.

Yakuza: What's the Story?

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is one of the most beautiful love letters to a completely unrelated series that I’ve ever seen. The developers at Ryu ga Gotoku studios clearly have a deep nostalgia and appreciation for Square Enix’s classis RPG franchise. There are some deep cuts for fans of Dragon Quest, including small nods to reoccurring dialogue throughout the series, skill names like Giga Swing inspired by Gigaslash, and even enemies that mimic monster animations from prior Dragon Quest titles.

The story, however, is very much the kind of tale I would expect Kazuma Kiryu from previous Yakuza games to experience. The beginning cutscenes set the stage for new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga’s 45-hour long journey and is full of twists, turns, betrayals, and ultimately redemption arcs. The central driving theme of Like a Dragon revolves around “friendship” and the relationships that Ichiban creates and strengthens through adversity and hardship.

[...]

Final Conclusion

Despite its flaws, Like a Dragon still manages to impress and provide a quality Yakuza experience. The story was masterful and the comradery between characters felt deep and realistic. None of the main villains or party members lacked any depth to their character, and felt more believable than in previous Yakuza titles. The homages to Dragon Quest liberally sprinkled through Like a Dragon were satisfying and nostalgic, with deep level of love and appreciation for the franchise on clear display.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is surprisingly one of the best JRPGs that I’ve played since I beat Dragon Quest XI over three years ago. It’s especially impressive coming from Ryu ga Gotoku studios which has never made a turn-based RPG before. However, there are some glaring issues that take away from the overall experience; most notably the lack of a weakness indicator and wonky AoE moves during battles. If only the battle system was perfected, then Like a Dragon would be a top-tier JRPG. Regardless, I would recommend to any RPG fans that Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a must-play title.

Score: 8.5/10

MXDWN checked out Yakuza: Like a Dragon:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review

For a very long time, the Yakuza series has been one of SEGA’s lesser known flagships due to it not being crazy popular in the West. Spanning more than 6 games and boasting a few remakes and remasters, the Yakuza series has been going strong for a very long time now. The only constant has been the main character, Kazuma Kiryu. Yakuza: Like a Dragon departs from the story of Kiryu and deviates from the real time action combat to create a wholly new experience for the franchise, and ultimately delivers with incredible style. The loveable cast and gripping story set Yakuza: Like a Dragon up to be one of the stronger releases of 2020. 

[...]

Yakuza: Like a Dragon has very easily become one of my favorite JRPGs in the week that I’ve played it. While there are some aspects that can get grindy or boring, like the relatively repetitive combat and the lack of movement in fights; the gameplay, sheer breadth of side activities, reclassing, and charm of the game more than make up for it. There is just so much to do that it’d be hard to encompass it all into an article, and it’s a ton of fun discovering just how much crazy stuff you can do. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is an incredibly solid launch title, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it if you want an RPG to sit inside with this winter.

Score: 9 out of 10

Cinelinx reviewed Yakuza: Like a Dragon:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s reboot of the widely popular Yakuza franchise is finally out on Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a major departure from the mainline series we’ve known for almost two decades, but it stands on its own as a quirky, yet original epic. This is our review of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

A Quirky Origin of the Next Great Yakuza Hero

Over the last 15+ years, SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have been telling the story of Kazuma Kiryu and his life as a member of the Tojo Clan, one of the biggest Yakuza families in all of Japan. His arc comprised seven Yakuza titles, which also produced a few spin-off games. When his story seemingly ended at the end of Yakuza 6, many wondered if that was the end of the mainline franchise.

Thankfully, that would not be the case, as the publisher and studio announced that they would be moving the focus of the series off of Kiryu and onto a fresh cast of characters with Yakuza: Like a Dragon, most notably banished ex-Yakuza member Ichiban Kasuga.

The story of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, starts off on New Years Eve in the year 2000. At this point in time, Kasuga is a lowly grunt within the little-regarded Arakawa family, a small member of the Tojo Clan. Indebted to his patriarch, Kasuga works hard and does everything he can to bring honor to his family. His devotion is tested when he is asked to take the fall for the murder of a major Yakuza member who is part of a family ranked higher than the Arakawa family. Eager to prove himself, Kasuga accepts and finds himself banished from the Arakawa family and imprisoned for roughly 18 years.

Expecting a hero’s welcome upon his release, Kasuga is greeted instead by the harsh reality that the world he knew 18 years ago is gone and sometimes you can’t go back home. After a bloody reunion with his former family, Kasuga is dumped in the downtrodden city of Yokohama. With a new group of friends to call family and a city in need to call home, Kasuga presses the reboot button on his life to make the most of his situation in his new home.

The Yakuza series is regarded by many (including myself) as one of the greatest video game franchises of all time. The way it told the story of Kiryu and his associates and even his enemies was storytelling at its finest, almost like it belongs on HBO. With a new character becoming the face of the franchise, I didn’t think Like a Dragon could live up to the majesty that was the original Yakuza series. Yet, somehow through all its crazy, quirkiness it does just that and more.

[...]

Should You Play It?

If you’ve never played a Yakuza game, you may think you might be out of loop with Yakuza: Like a Dragon. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. While yes, veteran players will have a better contextual knowledge of the Tojo Clan and their various enemies and characters from previous games, but Like a Dragon does a good job of moving on without rehashing the past series. Instead, they focus on the new characters to let the player enjoy the new story, without needing to have played the previous games. Therefore, you should never feel out of the loop with Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

If turn-based style RPGs are your thing, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is 100% a must-play game. Even if they aren’t and you just want to experience a sensational story or even just laugh and have a good time, this is absolutely the game for you. 

I can’t gush about this game enough. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is everything I wanted the new generation of the series to be. It’s funny, heartfelt, brutal, badass, and wonderfully entertaining. Yakuza: Like a Dragon stands shoulder to shoulder with the best games that have been released this year.

Score: 5/5

But Why Tho checked out Yakuza: Like a Dragon:

REVIEW: Yakuza: Like A Dragon is a Number One Game

Yakuza: Like A Dragon is an action role-playing game developed and published by Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. The Yakuza series is one of the most recognizable franchises in games, without a doubt. A lot of that comes from the tried-and-true mechanics the team at Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku perfected over Yakuza’s storied 15-year history.  So, when it was announced that Sega’s newest entry would be an overhaul of the gameplay mechanics and introduce a turn-based battle system, I was apprehensive. However, not only is Yakuza: Like A Dragon a great addition to the collection, it is a kickass turn-based RPG that will appeal to even the most devout fans.

[...]

Yakuza: Like A Dragon has that in spades and more. The turn-based battle system was an absolute hit and an amazing refresh of the series I did not know I needed. Ichiban Kasuga is a worthy successor to the legacy Kiryu created, and his journey makes the story just as enthralling as any entry in the series. I entered this experience with an anxiousness never experienced before. What ensued was one of the best JRPGs from this console generation and one of the best Yakuza games of all-time. I implore fans, or anyone curious about the series, to play this game as soon as possible. It truly is number one.

The J-RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon has been released:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

RISE FROM ROCK BOTTOM

Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family in Tokyo, faces an 18-year prison sentence after taking the fall for a crime he didn't commit. Never losing faith, he loyally serves his time and returns to society to discover that no one was waiting for him on the outside, and his clan has been destroyed by the man he respected most.

Confused and alone, he embarks on a mission to discover the truth behind his family's betrayal and take his life back, becoming an unlikely hero for the city’s outcasts on his journey.

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LEVEL UP FROM UNDERDOG TO DRAGON IN DYNAMIC RPG COMBAT

Experience dynamic RPG combat like none other. Switch between 19 unique Jobs ranging from Bodyguard to Musician, and use the battlefield as your weapon. Take up bats, umbrellas, bikes, street signs, and everything else at your disposal to crack some skulls!

ENTER THE UNDERWORLD PLAYGROUND

When you're not busy bashing heads, relax by hitting up the local arcade for some classic SEGA games, compete with locals in a no holds barred go-kart race around Yokohama, complete 50 unique substories, or just take in the scenery of a modern-day Japanese city. There’s always something new around the corner.

The Gaming Shelf checked out Yakuza: Like a Dragon:

Why Yakuza: Like A Dragon is a MUST-PLAY RPG (Review)

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Yakuza: Like A Dragon may have a new protagonist and a new combat system, but I'm here to tell you that it's still just as awesome as ever! In this review I dig into the characters, side content and combat all spoiler free.

Rock Paper Shotgun likes the combat in Yakuza: Like a Dragon:

Yakuza: Like A Dragon's RPG Combat Is Ace | My Favourite Thing In... (Yakuza: Like A Dragon Review)

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Windows Central reviewed Yakuza: Like a Dragon:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon review — An unexpected masterpiece

Here's to the heroes of tomorrow

The Yakuza series has always delivered good games. Since the first Yakuza released back in 2006, the game has since garnered a cult following that has steadily grown with every release, often blending the underground politics of the Japanese crime world with the mundanity of real-life and the absurdity of an anime. With such a unique mix of themes making up the story, It's only fitting that the DNA of a Yakuza game is also made up of a blend of gameplay genres as well. Describing a Yakuza game is sorta like if Shenmue had a baby with Grand Theft Auto, and that baby decided to beat people up, Streets of Rage style.

Previous Yakuza games built on this blend of genres, crafting a high-quality crime drama that often centers around long-running series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and the Tojo Clan. Yakuza: Like a Dragon sets itself apart in two major ways; the first is that it's the first entry in the main series that isn't led by Kazuma Kiryu, and second, it swaps the beat 'em up gameplay that has been a staple of the series in exchange for turn-based JRPG combat.

[...]

Yakuza: Like a Dragon feels like everything I ever wanted in a game. Once the game stomps on the gas, it very rarely slows down. Its unique cast of characters and gameplay had me hooked and wanting more, and it almost feels like it never stops giving. Even after the story ends at the 45+ hour mark, I was ready to fight more, complete more side missions, and squeeze out every drop of gameplay that this game has to offer.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is one of the best games of 2020 and one of the best RPGs in recent memory. This game is something extraordinary and should not be missed.

Score: 5/5

RPG Site has reviewed the upcoming Action RPG Yakuza: Like A Dragon:

Yakuza: Like A Dragon Review

It is hard to believe that the Yakuza series has been around for nearly fifteen years now. From its humble beginnings on the PS2 and having a title on every PlayStation non-Vita platform since then, the series has grown and evolved each step of the way. Despite its long-standing presence, the awareness and popularity that the Yakuza franchise enjoys today in the west exploded with the localization of Yakuza 0 three years ago. To many fans, that game was the ideal entry point into the series and most importantly, it was a damn good game.

There have been recent efforts to expand the series beyond just PlayStation though. Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 were later made available on PC and Xbox One, while the rest remain PlayStation exclusives at this moment in time. Now at seven mainline titles prior to Like A Dragon, there is an understandable concern to reinvigorate the series so more newcomers can give it a shot. In Japan, Yakuza: Like A Dragon is titled as Ryu ga Gotoku 7, which distinctly categorizes it as a mainline game that takes place after the events of Yakuza 6. Despite the western marketing push for Like A Dragon to be a new starting point like Yakuza 0, it feels disingenuous in expecting optimistic individuals to understand Like A Dragon’s narrative without prior knowledge or experience of the series.

[...]

There is a decent game lurking beneath Yakuza: Like A Dragon. Its experimental, numerous half-baked ideas in the shift to a turn-based RPG drag it down from being an excellent experience, but the core ideas are solid enough on paper that they could be amazing if given a future chance. After all, this is the first time the Ryu ga Gotoku Studio development team has embarked on this wild idea to transform this long-running series into something it has never been before. I do disagree that this title can serve as a newcomer’s first foray into the Yakuza series. Yakuza: Like A Dragon is not outstanding, but its vision of what an RPG would look like set in today’s world is fascinating. I played the entire game with Japanese audio and I must say, Ichiban’s voice performance in the finale of his game is phenomenal.

Score: 7/10

Windows Central previewed Yakuza: Like a Dragon and have a positive impression.

I'm still unsure how the combat system will feel in the full game, given that the preview build had a huge arsenal of stuff pre-unlocked. I'm hoping that I won't feel as overpowered as I did in the full game, and there are certainly signs that won't be the case. The weapons I had equipped were far more powerful than the ones I found in the field, for example, leading me to think that the preview build was designed to make us overpowered. The game also has three difficulty settings too, so, there's always Hard mode if you want more of a challenge.

The combat is spectacular and exciting in any case, but it wasn't my favorite thing about Yakuza: Like a Dragon. From the few chapters I played, in Japanese, I already felt more connected to the game's characters than I've felt for a fair while.

[...]

Tojodojo reports on the system specs for Yakuza: Like a Dragon which is set to launch November 10th.

• Minimum:
  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-3470 | AMD FX-8350
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660, 2 GB | AMD Radeon HD 7870, 2 GB
  • Storage: 40 GB available space
•  Recommended:
  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-6700 | AMD Ryzen 5 1400
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, 3 GB | AMD Radeon RX 580, 4 GB
  • Storage: 60 GB available space

The action RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be released on November 13 - choose your job:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon | How Will You Rise?

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Coming to Xbox One, Windows 10, PlayStation 4, and Steam on November 13!
Also launching on Xbox Series X in November, and PlayStation 5 Coming Soon.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is an RPG like no other, with 19 outrageously-unique Jobs. How will you rise?

A new trailer for Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

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Check out the latest trailer for Yakuza: Like A Dragon. Coming soon to current and next-gen Playstation and Xbox consoles.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon has a new gameplay video with developer commentary from Senior Localization Producer Scott Strichart .

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Yakuza: Like a Dragon turns the long-running beat-'em-up into a turn-based JRPG. Senior Localization Producer Scott Strichart shows us around the new setting of Yokohama, introduces us to the new protagonist Kasuga Ichiban, shows off the party-based battle system, some fun side activities, and the new wardrobe tied to the job system.

We’ve seen the Yakuza Like a Dragon trailer (a.k.a Yakuza 7 trailer), but Scott Strichart is here showing us more of the new fighting system that Sega developed for this game as well as a ton more Yakuza Like a Dragon gameplay (a.k.a Yakuza 7 gameplay).

Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be coming to Steam and is a turn-based RPG.

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RISE FROM ROCK BOTTOM

Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family in Tokyo, faces an 18-year prison sentence after taking the fall for a crime he didn't commit. Never losing faith, he loyally serves his time and returns to society to discover that no one was waiting for him on the outside, and his clan has been destroyed by the man he respected most.

Confused and alone, he embarks on a mission to discover the truth behind his family's betrayal and take his life back, becoming an unlikely hero for the city’s outcasts on his journey.

LEVEL UP FROM UNDERDOG TO DRAGON IN DYNAMIC RPG COMBAT

Experience dynamic RPG combat like none other. Switch between 19 unique Jobs ranging from Bodyguard to Musician, and use the battlefield as your weapon. Take up bats, umbrellas, bikes, street signs, and everything else at your disposal to crack some skulls!

ENTER THE UNDERWORLD PLAYGROUND

When you're not busy bashing heads, relax by hitting up the local arcade for some classic SEGA games, compete with locals in a no holds barred go-kart race around Yokohama, complete 50 unique substories, or just take in the scenery of a modern-day Japanese city. There’s always something new around the corner.