Yakuza is THE most underrated series of all time in the West. With the language barrier I can sort of understand why, but at the same time... With how great it is, it's just criminal to ignore it.
An excellent review. I must thank you for trying your best to spread the word about this underrated series. I will definitely try my best as well. Keep the good work up!
I started with Yakuza 0 and it was one of the best experiences I've had in gaming. The story was absolutely phenomenal and it was worth every penny of the 60 dollars. I'm super excited for Kiwami, especially because it will continue very close to where it left off with 0.
Visiting this video in 2020 is kind of wild, nearly every single game in the Yakuza franchise is now easily available in the West with fantastic translations, and 7 is coming later this year. I started Yakuza 0 around late 2018, but eventually fell off for reasons not related to the game. I finally revisited it this month (May 2020) during quarantine and have fell in absolute love with the series, marathoned 0, Kiwami and working on Kiwami 2, purchased basically every game coming up outside of 6 and 7, and I feel no fatigue whatsoever. I can happily say that Yakuza is one of my favorite franchises of all time now, there is honestly nothing like it
The fact that Yakuza 0 looks so good and (mostly) runs at 60fps is really amazing and just highlights how poor the optimization of so many other current gen titles is. Great video mango.
I might be wrong but I think one of the reasons the series isn't quite as successful in America might be because a lot of people were calling Yakuza 3 a "japanese GTA" which is pretty far from the truth and most people probably got a bad impression when they found out that the priorities of the team and the design philosophy behind the game were extremely different.
Redfrog101 that blue effect is yo tell you the player that you have filled up the heat gauge. A filled heat gauge increases strength defense, and allows you to pull off super moves that do devastating damage, like having the main character suplex a thug into a guard rail.
Yeah, they are very fundamentally different. GTA is all about fantasy and release. It's about doing all the violent and crazy things you normally can't do because of morality and legality. Yakuza is very story oriented and also takes itself very seriously. Sure there is a lot of silliness in it but the emotions of the characters and their actions matter a great deal and are not made fun of. GTA by contrast doesn't take itself seriously at all with massive destruction just being waved off like it's nothing. In Yakuza one person being killed has massive and far reaching consequences. I would say it's a JRPG more than anything else though with the mechanics of an action game.
I'm really happy that japanese developers have recently started releasing games on the PC. Hopefully this series too can get released on Steam, since it looks really cool.
+damcs I think it would be better for it to release on pc since it would get more eyes on the series. but I see your perspective too. either way I'm getting a ps4 to play all the new entries coming out on that.
+Tartar Sega is the same publisher who hasn't released Vanquish for the PC yet, a game that would have benefitted for getting a PC release. Well, at least you can play Dragon's Dogma in more than just 25 FPS soon.
I come back to this video so often just for the intro. It instantly transports me back into playing Y0 for the first time. Truly a remarkable game and an amazing entry to this (still) criminally underrated franchise. RGGS loves their product and it shows.
Playing Yakuza 0 as my first into the series is easily the best experience I ever had in a game. Nothing could match it's style, emotion, music, gameplay, everything about it. It was one of the first times I was truly interested in a game's story and didn't just play it for the gameplay. It had me crying multiple times throughout it, it was amazing. Having played almost the entire rest of the series (currently on Lost Judgment, then I'll be waiting on Ishin Kiwami and the 2 new games) I can say that, though I think all of them are amazing games, 0 just has this unique feeling to it that makes me feel so unbelievably nostalgic for something I only got into just under 2 years ago. Yakuza 0 knew how to make a first impression with the fighting, karaoke, soundtrack, and Tojo Clan long battle all packed into the first chapter of the game. I was hooked in my first session playing it. What a fucking series, and what a masterpiece of, not only a game, but a prequel done incredibly right.
I like how with each entry the Yakuza games have seemingly become better in better in terms of everything such as gameplay, story and characters. They definitely evolve with each game released and I kind of like waiting for the localisation even if it takes a while because you don't really want to burn yourself out with Yakuza. There's a lot to take in.
Thank you so much for getting me into this series! I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with it and can't wait for Yakuza 0 to be localised because it looks like a goddamn masterpiece.
I had only ever vaguely heard of this series but somehow came to this video and now I want to play them all. You fucken' sold it man. I can totally feel your enthusiasm for the story and the gameplay in how you speak about it.
I was so happy when Two Dragons started playing right after you talked about the amazing soundtrack of this game. THE best boss fight music I've ever heard (especially the part you used in the video)!
Man I've been playing Yakuza 5 non-stop since release. Easily the best Yakuza game to date. But I'm super hype for Yakuza 0 and Yakuza 6 too, if it ever gets localized.
I bought 5 when it came out on PSN this month but I still haven't had the time to play much of it. Yakuza 0 looks amazing! The combat looks so much more fluid. Can't wait for that to be released in the West next year. Another fantastic video. Merry Christmas!
This game had me get into the series so hearing there is a remake of the first game is great. I can't wait to get my hands on the past games in the series.
+Kaz Kinnikuman I agree. Because we all know dubstep was around in the 80s.......? Definitely would have preferred a composer who was actually around in the 80s or at least heavily inspired by the 80s.
Your first video on Yakuza really made me pumped for the series, I started to buy the episodes and listen to the soundtrack of the first game but then something really bad happened at work. So watching this video makes me want to jump into the games right away but at the same time the lingering feel of those times come up and I just can't. I hate my boss...
Chewable Arsenic Candies I jumped into the series at Yakuza 3 on PS3. All the main entries of the game (so far up to Yakuza 0) are translated and localized, and feature a "reminisce" option to look at the previous games. You really oughta just jump in wherever you can afford it.
Chewable Arsenic Candies Incase you aren't aware, Yakuza Kiwami and 6 were confirmed for a western release. I only played Yakuza 1 but I'll be sure to get 0 and 6.
Victor Richardson I'm sure that I'll play Yakuza 2 at some point. I happen to be learning Japanese at the moment, so I might import the Yakuza 1 and 2 PS3 HD collection once I'm moderately comfortable with the language, just so I can play Yakuza 2.
nice, new profile picture , love it. as for your video ,as usual I always check your page hoping for new videos and when they are here, I just stop everything I'm doing to watch it ,no matter how long they are. ..
This was hands down one of the best games I have ever played. And I've played games for years. There is love and attention put into this and you can see it in all the interactions between characters, the minigames, the game design itself which makes Everything you do somehow meaningful. And I won't even talk about how the symbolism of Japan's economy and time period is perfectly weaved into not only the narrative but the literal game system. A masterpiece. Right now I'm playing through Kiwami and hope to play the whole series. It deserves more attention and hopefully it will get it.
You make some seriously fantastic videos man, keep up the quality content! Especially your Yakuza videos, I previously had no interest in them, but five is my next game purchase!
Man I can't wait to get further in the series. I'm on chapter 4 right now of Yakuza 1 (I've been walking around doing whatever for so long), and loving it. The combat is kind of annoying in 1 since I'm so used to something like the Arkham series where you can easily aim your blows, but I can bear with it. I think this series is perfect for me. I love the combat style, and I love the sandbox aspect of it, with being able to go in shops and play mini games and stuff. Thanks for how much you talk about this game, I probably wouldn't have been motivated to play it otherwise.
your videos on the yakuza series was awesome , i can wait for zero to come . my first yakuza game was the 4th , when i finished halfway through the game . i decided to buy the yakuza 1 and 2 HD for the ps3 , even though it was in Japanese i've managed to finished it with the help of youtube . after that i bought yakuza 3 and finished 4 as well . finally a few months ago just finished yakuza 5 . between all of the games boss fights here are one of my favs and in no order in particular :-- 1- in all of the yakuza series , majima goro . i remember the fight with him in the first game where the ground just cracked and Kiryu and majima fell to the sewers and continued there fight XD 2- in yakuza 2 , Kiryu vs Hayashi . i don't know why but he was kinda cool in that fight . 3- yakuza 3 , Kiryu vs joji fuma that fight was so sad :( . and Kiryu vs Andre Richardson kinda like matrix XD . 4 - yakuza 4 , kiryu vs Saejima . fighting kiryu was weird for the first time . 5 - yakuza 1 and 3 , kiryu vs Lau Ka Long how awesome and annoying he was . 6 - finally the best final boss fight in all of yakuza series was in yakuza 5 , kiryu vs Aizawa . it was the first time i felt like i was against a final boss . and sorry for the long comment ^-^; im just exited for yakuza 0 .
I'm sure this would be my next favourite if it came out on PC. It looks fantastic and growing alongside the series must have been a great experience. Each entry looks more and more polished.
I haven't gotten my hands on this game personally, but I have watched that Majima Karaoke roller skates video like 30 times. It's so good! I! LOVE! YOU!
Great video, I'm glad we're finally getting Yakuza 0, it makes me sad that Sega take so long to give us these games. They still sell well in the west if my knowledge is correct and they'd sell better if Sega promoted them. I dread the idea that the Yakuza 1 remake and Yakuza 6 might take up to 2 years to localize
+XsvruploaderX It's a tricky situation to be honest. I don't think much promotion would help, since like I mentioned the problem is that the games are "too Japanese" for the mainstream audience (the fact there is no dub could also affect sales since from what I know people from the USA dislike subtitled media) and among niche audiences they tend to prefer games with an anime aesthetic. HyperBitHero and others are promoting the game better and it should propagate through good word of mouth. SEGA did have great success with Valkyria Chronicles on Steam and I think Yakuza could have a similar impact, especially since I don't think there's many games like it on Steam. The problem then becomes if it's possible to port the PS2 titles or that if they begin with let's say... Yakuza 4 that not many people would buy it due to the title implying prequels.
Valkryia Chronicles PC only managed to sell so well because NeoGAF shilled it to hell and back, and while Yakuza has it's fanbase at NeoGAF it doesn't have a big name supporting them like Durante for VC so unless Durante or some 2-million-suscriber youtuber decides to love the series I don't really think a PC port would be as successful as the VC port.
Nathanael Eugene TotalBiscuit would probably like it but he doesn't do SEGA and Yahtzee likes the series somewhat. I do think it does have the problem of being too Japanese for most yet not anime enough for the niche. Not sure how SBF feel or do with the series, since it seems right up their alley. As long as hey keep making them and making a localization all is fine. For the series to be more successful I do think the general gaming market needs to go back to a more Japanese flavor for it to truly hit the jackpot and get more exposure through sheer word of mouth and more ways to play the game. It's kind of like the situation Virtua Fighter is in but not as severe.
ew275x TotalBiscuit would never forgive Sega for DMCAing his channel so we can forget about him, Yahtzee is really inconsistent with his reviews (He reviewed Painkiller and Hard Reset yet he didn't review Shadow Warrior 2013 for some reason even tho he loved Painkiller's devs) so I don't expect him to mention the series again anytime soon, and Super Best Friends are probably too busy with other games (and besides out of the team only Matt actually likes the series).
Looks great, can't wait for the localization. Great video yet again, HBH. Currently playing Yakuza 2 amd man, talk about improvements in a sequel. Combat is much better here! I am really surprised, that these games never crossed my way before. It's been a while since I head this much fun in any game.
I'm just near the end of Kiwami 2, 0 is still my favourite, but I do love both Kiwamis. I played the original Yakuza way back in 2005 with it's cheesy English voice acting. Never got into it despite loving beat em ups even back then. But I am glad I have had the chance to see the series again though. Waiting for all the others to come on PC now, if it ever happens.
Really hoping that since this has been in the can since thre Y5 localization was announced we'll be seeing this more around summer and less around next Christmas!
Excellent video mate, honestly, seems really well made and looks like you put a lot of effort into it, it's obvious you make videos like this because you're passionate + you're doing it for a game that really needs the buzz, so thanks!! Just had a question though, have they removed the weapon system (aside from environmental stuff) from the previous yakuza games? I just really wasn't a fan of the expendable nature of them and found myself almost never relying on them and it doesn't look like they're in this game which would give more focus to the hand-to-hand combat which looks sick!!
This video is certainly of the quality we've come to expect from you. The fact that this is a video on Yakuza 0 and that you released it on Christmas makes it all the better. With that being said, do you recommend this as an entry point to the series or do you still think 1 serves as a better first game for people to get into the series.
+Jeanmartin Freites I say play the first now before 0 gets localized. Then you'll experience the progression in quality of the combat system naturally.
The only reason I started playing Yakuza was because of this game, I was originally going to play it for funny bakamitai and not much else. However, my friends kept recommending it to me and it went on sale for ~$5 one day so I decided to pick it up and I ended up falling in love with it. Halfway through the game, I purchased Kiwami and Kiwami 2. Currently getting through the 4 remaster, and having a blast.
One thing I do notice about many videos that talked about 0 is that most (if not all) of them, in one way or another, featured “Pledge of demon”. And it’s not even a song for the final boss.
