Like A Dragon: Talking about the Yakuza series

[estragon]

If I wanted to try this series out (probably not soon, just wondering and decided to ask this question), is there any good reason at all to play the original PS2 releases of 1 and 2 over their remakes? Or is this is a case where the remakes basically replace the originals?

Typically I like to go as release order as possible, but it seems like this might be a series to make an exception... Any thoughts?

 

[Adrenaline]

I haven't played the remakes but I know they add new story stuff focusing on Majima who became more of a central character during 0. I don't think you'll be losing anything by playing them instead of the originals.

 

[Tomm Guycot]

Play the Kiwamis. For my tastes they are still very archaic compared to the rest of the series (so they're pretty true to source) but I have friends who are EXTREMELY purist about things like this (they won't let me play Dark Souls 3 until I've competed DS1) and they stand by the Yakuza remakes.

That said my personal opinion is you should start at 0.

it's the start of the story, and it's definitely more similar to the series in its prime than even the remakes. I've only gotten through Y0 and Kiwami 1, but I love the series forever. I don't think that would be true if I started at Kiwami.

 

[Adrenaline]

I don't think 0 is a terrible place to start but it's not the start of the story. It's a prequel.

 

[Tomm Guycot]

I don't think 0 is a terrible place to start but it's not the start of the story. It's a prequel.

As a prequel, it is (now) the start of Kiryu's story.

 

[Bongo]

A prequel is an achronological sequel. Release order is usually more reflective of the development of the ideas.

 

[RT-55J]

my main understand regarding the Kiwamis (paraphrasing some friends) is that the new Majima content is incongruous with the original Majima content, but that otherwise they are perfectly fine remakes

(never played a yak game, please don't @ me)

 

[YangusKhan]

As someone who's only played like 8 hours of Kiwami and that's it, the Majima content felt pretty weird and out of place, but it was obvious it was in that game because of subsequent games in the series (presumably 0?).

I do seem to remember someone talking about OG Yakuza on the PS2 and said they had some pretty harsh missing QoL things, like long or frequent loading times.

 

[Adrenaline]

Yakuza 0 was the game before Kiwami, and it was the first one to have Majima as a playable character instead of just a boss. So he was suddenly more popular and they gave him more stuff in the remakes.

 

[keele864]

Yeah, Majima is a more brutal and unpleasant and seems genuinely insane in the original plot of the first game, while later games make it clear that he's mostly a softy, is quite loyal, is cunning but not insane, etc.

That said, we do learn in Yakuza 5 that in a moment of anger he

Spoiler

struck his ex-wife

. Attempts at reconciliation are cut short because

Spoiler

she gets murdered for reasons unrelated to him

and it's... never really mentioned again?

Anyone else here playing Infinite Wealth? I'm really enjoying it.