Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku
Publisher: Sega
Series: Yakuza
Release date: December 6, 2012 (Japan), December 8 2015
(Rest of World)
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genres and Modes: Single player
Yakuza, yakuza, yakuza! I'm not going to lie: I freaking
love this franchise. And I am aware that this may be borderline annoying with
how I only talk about these games, but hear me out. We're nearing the end of this journey of epic games where you go through thrilling and gripping storylines, occasionally interrupted by a moment or two that resemble a South Park or a Family Guy episode.
Yakuza 5 is no different. Just like its predecessors, the storyline is serious, dark and melancholic, but the side-quests are there to cheer you up, or make you go through hell, as this is the first game in the series to go OVERBOARD with the content it has to offer. Using a brand new engine to expand and enhance the Yakuza experience, many see this game as the absolute best of the best, or worst of the worst. This is something that 4 & 5 have in common, but fans tend to forgive 5 a lot more than 4. And the reason for this divide and forgiveness is going to be explained in the review.
Anyhow, as Nishkiyama infamously said back in 1988: MUSIC!!! START(O)!!!!
 |
| We're no longer Yakuza 4. We're Yakuza 5 |
PLOT
Unlike my review for 4, where I started off with the characters and then the actual plot, here I will briefly summarize what the shtick is all about in Yakuza 5. And then mention the characters and why they decided to become Yakuza 5.
In the year of 2012, the world was said to be doomed according to the Mayan calendar, but thankfully, The End didn't happen. And this opening line isn't part of the official story. I just wanted to mention that the game's events take place in 2012.
As the Yakuza become more and more corrupt, dangerous and abandoning honour and dignity, a war between 2 of the biggest clans in all of Japan, the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan, seems to be unavoidable. The Omi Alliance, while in a state worse than before, are still a foe you don't want to face against. If they pick a fight with you, consider yourself done. The Sixth chairman of the Tojo Clan is completely aware of this fact, thus decides to ally himself with families from other cities in the hopes of aiding the Tojo in the unavoidable war against their enemies.
As these powerhouses prepare for an all out brawl, a specific bunch are also withdrawn against their will in this conflict. Separated from their beloved homes and their close ones, these legends have no other choice but to tackle every single obstacle that's in front of them in order to achieve their dream.
Omi's dream is to crush the Tojo and rule over Japan's underworld. Tojo's dream is to crush the Omi and establish a more balanced and fair criminal underworld. And the main characters have a dream of their own. Who will prevail in the end? The good guys or the bad guys? The Omi or the Tojo?
Aside from that, no matter how hard he tries to escape his shadow, it will always be there, lurking from places unreachable or unnoticeable by man. And when least expected, drag him back to the former life he abandoned. Being the legendary 4th Chairman does have its cons, and being dragged by force to participate in a conflict that can endanger not just the yakuza, but civilians too, Kiryu is YET AGAIN left with no choice but to leave his new life behind and return to his former self. With the legendary gray suit and red shirt dawned, an angsty and depressed Kiryu marches onto the conflict, but for neither Tojo nor Omi. But for himself and for the dream of his daughter...
 |
| Kiryu is back, angry, upset, depressed and is not giving a shit anymore. He may actually cross the line this time around... |
Deep down however, he feels that he isn't deserving the good life, as he feels breaking out of prison was not a good idea. Thus he spends list last moments of freedom in 2011 goofing around with his sworn brother, Goro Majima, before he's taken to prison to serve the remaining time.
However, is within the prison walls that he learns of how things have gone for the worse since his departure from dear old Kamurocho. A possible war between the yakuza, his sworn brother killed (allegedly), and people wanting him dead. Given how he broke out of an unknown to mankind facility in the last game, he does the same here. On his escape, he goes through a hunters village and all the way to Tsukimono (Susukino in real life), Hokkaido. The city may look cold but don't be fooled, the people are warm and welcoming. Except the thugs, hosts and the yakuza.
The short description doesn't distract Taiga from his main goal: Discover what the actual hell is going on with the world he lives in.
 |
| This gentle giant is always having it rough. While he can break away from prison, will he ever break away from the terrible fate the yakuza world is dealing him? |
An owner of a Sotenbori talent agency spots Haruka shopping in Okinawa one day. Stunned by her looks, and apparent gift for dancing, this person approaches Kiryu with a demand to cut all ties with her and the other kids in order for Haruka to have a shot at a life without trouble, without yakuza, but with a dream.
A parent's love is the strongest in the world they say. Kiryu leaves for Nagasugai in order to distance himself from the future idol star Haruka. But distance don't mean nothing to these two. Even from afar, their bond is as strong as ever...
 |
| Okay, hear me out: YOU PLAY AS HARUKA SAWAMURA!!! KIRYU'S ADOPTIVE DAUGHTER!!! THIS IS TRULY THE PEAK OF YAKUZA GAMING!!! |
 |
| Shun doesn't bring anything new to the table, BECAUSE HE'S ALREADY PERFECT AS HE IS... |
2012, Tatsuo resides in Nagoya, in a single room apartment, broke and lacks the desire to pretty much exist. Despite having a job as a writer for adult magazines, he barely makes enough money for food. He's on good terms with the locals due to his charisma and personality, but that doesn't mean much. One of the bright side, he has an on-off relationship with a masseuse that lives in Nagoya, so that's a plus.
This hermit-like life of Shinada will soon be disturbed after a visit from a childhood friend of his. This childhood friend tells Shinada of his plans to protect him from an upcoming war, and that he'd also take care of the people that ruined his dreams all those years ago.
To prove that the fire is still burning inside him, Tatsuo puts up his dukes and joins forces with his childhood friend, and the others to put an end to the war between the Tojo and Omi.
 |
| As hopeless as he is, he's a very relatable character. He's essentially an upgraded version of Akiyama (personality wise). Optimistic, fun, and a goofball. And he also does 5000 SWINGS, 1000 PUSH-UPS & 1000 SIT-UPS EVERY SINGLE DAY! Dude's a beast underneath all that clothing... |
As said in the beginning, Yakuza 5 is often considered the best by many when it comes to how it handles its combat. While it's like the previous games, what makes it so much fun this time around is the endless amount of cancel moves a character can pull off at any given point. On top of that, for the people that started with Yakuza 0, they will feel right at home here, as Yakuza 5's engine is used all the way up to Kiwami. But instead of style switching, you get 4 characters that have unique fighting styles that are all just so much fun to play. Makes Yakuza 4's fighting look tame in comparison.
The game is also noteworthy for having the biggest amount of cities. Nagasugai, Tsukimono, Sotenbori, Kineicho and Kamurocho. All characters can wander around Kamurocho, but the other 4 are limited only to the characters that belong there: like let's say Akiyama can go to Sotenbori only, and can't visit Tsukimono.
This game also has A SHIT TON OF SIDE STORIES!!! Unlike the substories, these are similar to the Real Estate and Cabaret Czar sidestories in Yakuza 0, except here they're way longer and harsher. Kiryu's story revolves around taxi driving and racing (yes, Kiryu racing is a thing), Saejima decides to dawn his own hunter's suit once he ends up in the Hunter's Village (hunting animals with a double barrelled shotgun), Haruka's story revolves doing reconciling with a friend and doing side jobs, and Shinada tries to restore his former baseball skills. And Akiyama does nothing.
While we're still describing the characters, Haruka is the only playable character that does not fight, but rather, does completely something else: she engages in street dance battles to obtain cash, experience or items. Basically you're just dancing, but you are not at the disco, nor are you using Majima's Breaker style to really dish out some pain on your opponents.
 |
| And fishing. Can't forget that... |
.png)
.png)
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF3187C350AEDA048
Yakuza 4
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU_iZ-e4vsqznFH6AUYrxke2SXPn21VbC
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/18730/Yakuza_Remastered_Collection/
Regardless of that, the game was a smash hit in Japan and received near perfect scores upon release. That can't be said for the west unfortunately, where the game got released 3 years later, after the then small Yakuza fanbase wanted Sega to release it onto the other side of the world. And as it turns out, it was a smart move, as players got to experience what's essentially the predecessor of the "Like A Dragon" boom. If Yakuza 3 set the standards for how a Yakuza game can work in 3rd person, then Yakuza 5 enhances that formula up to extreme levels, or should I say, Kiwami levels.
No comments:
Post a Comment