I'd put 4 higher and Judgement slightly lower (maybe between 1 & 2), but otherwise this matches up pretty well with my own opinions
EDIT: Oh yeah, overall Yakuza 6 thoughts?
For a game that seems to be very focused on Haruka and the consequences of her actions, the game sure does her dirty. She hasn't had this little agency in the plot since she was first introduced.
Also, the ending of Yakuza 6 is so much worse of a capstone for Kiryu and Haruka's shared story arc than 5's ending that it kinda makes me go, "Why did they even bother with 6?"
I still have maybe half of 5 to go so I'll save the full ranking until then, but I know Zero is at the top. It's almost unfair how much that game distills this franchise's whole energy and accomplishes such amazing things with it
The biggest issue with Kiwami 1 is that while they updated the graphics and combat system, it's still a mid 2000's game at its heart. Most of the wackier side stuff wasn't in the original release and instead they have a ton of substories about people getting scammed in very similar ways.
2 seems to be where they really started to figure out what the franchise identity was going to be.
The whole Majima everywhere thing was a good idea and funny but the implementation was ughhhh.
I'm gonna have to fight him how many times to unlock moves? Each individual bit is funny, but I don't want to do each of them ten times over.
DragkoniasThat Guy Who Does StuffYou Know, There. Registered Userregular
So finished 3 officially now on to 4.
Super interested to see how I like it since it always seems to fall on the lower end of most people's rankings.
0
DragkoniasThat Guy Who Does StuffYou Know, There. Registered Userregular
So "I'm not gonna help this woman escape her abusive home situation because she isn't willing to do everything in her power to escape said abusive situation" didn't really hit the way I think the writers wanted it to.
0
Andy JoeWe claim the land for the highlord!The AdirondacksRegistered Userregular
DragkoniasThat Guy Who Does StuffYou Know, There. Registered Userregular
edited September 2020
So far I will say my main complaint about Yakuza 4 is while the 4 character perspective is cool the game still having a similar chapter length as the previous titles meaning that plot and gameplay wise you never really get a chance to settle with any of the characters.
Dragkonias on
+3
DragkoniasThat Guy Who Does StuffYou Know, There. Registered Userregular
So far I will say my main complaint about Yakuza 4 is while the 4 character perspective is cool the game still having a similar chapter length as the previous titles meaning that plot and gameplay wise you never really get a chance to settle with any of the characters.
Yeah, the pacing on Y4 is rough. Y5 juggles characters much more adroitly.
+3
cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
So far I will say my main complaint about Yakuza 4 is while the 4 character perspective is cool the game still having a similar chapter length as the previous titles meaning that plot and gameplay wise you never really get a chance to settle with any of the characters.
Yeah, the pacing on Y4 is rough. Y5 juggles characters much more adroitly.
On the other hand, they don't fit into the story as smoothly, but it's less 'all one character, done, on to the next' than Y4.
DragkoniasThat Guy Who Does StuffYou Know, There. Registered Userregular
Well...tbf Kiryu is what...like 55 at this point.
He just has a great skincare regimen and keeps in shape.
+1
DragkoniasThat Guy Who Does StuffYou Know, There. Registered Userregular
That's some terrible security for 1 billion dollars.
+5
Johnny ChopsockyScootaloo! We have to cook!Grillin' HaysenburgersRegistered Userregular
edited September 2020
Finished Yakuza 5. Just have some Victory Road stuff to do and a Platinum trophy to never get because my stupid brain can't parse mahjong or shogi.
Boy that plot turned into a fucking mess in the final act. And I'm sad that it took until Yakuza 6 for someone to hear the Final Bad Guy speech and go "Nah, fuck your sob story" because boy howdy Kurosawa and Aizawa needed one.
The final boss fight was pretty baller, though.
Not quite the level of Y0's final fight, but great nonetheless.
So that's all the mainline Yakuza games played with time to decompress before Yakuza 7 flips the script. I am very ready.
DragkoniasThat Guy Who Does StuffYou Know, There. Registered Userregular
So I'm on 5 but I do have some thoughts about 3 and 4.
Its interesting to me cause they have the biggest contrast as far as Yakuza games go imo.
I've always thought Kiryu existed as two people. Kiryu, the character, and Kiryu, the player character. One is the person with his own motivations, shortcomings, and personal conflict. The other is the Deus Ex Machina who takes on 100 guys with swords and guns and wins cause the plot needs him to.
And if 3 was Kiryu at his most human I would say 4 is the opposite.
IMO, while previous things Kiryu did are very important to the plot, his presence not so much. I would say his story was the weakest part of the time game, so much so that Daigo as an antagonist felt tacked on cause they had a cool 4v4 planned for the ending.
Kiryu only really exists in that game to push the other characters in the right direction. And if I'm being honest, his own plot was so weak that he could have been removed and the game would have mostly been the same. But you can't remove Kiryu cause he's Kiryu.
+5
Johnny ChopsockyScootaloo! We have to cook!Grillin' HaysenburgersRegistered Userregular
edited September 2020
For me, the best Yakuza was my first: Yakuza Zero. Having gone through the rest of the mainline series, it's the distillation of all the best elements of 1-5, and it has the best story of the series, and it has my favorite portrayal of Kiryu and Majima and my favorite boss lineup.
Judgement is my #2. I'm going to have to think hard about the rest of my rankings.
Posts
Final rankings:
Yakuza 0/Yakuza 5 (tie)
Judgment
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 2
Yakuza 1
Yakuza 4
Yakuza 6
I'd put 4 higher and Judgement slightly lower (maybe between 1 & 2), but otherwise this matches up pretty well with my own opinions
EDIT: Oh yeah, overall Yakuza 6 thoughts?
Also, the ending of Yakuza 6 is so much worse of a capstone for Kiryu and Haruka's shared story arc than 5's ending that it kinda makes me go, "Why did they even bother with 6?"
6's ending really is a big wet fart
0
2
3
1
I played the Kiwami versions of 1 and 2 and while Kiwami 1 was eh I really liked Kiwami 2.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
2 seems to be where they really started to figure out what the franchise identity was going to be.
I'm gonna have to fight him how many times to unlock moves? Each individual bit is funny, but I don't want to do each of them ten times over.
My brain says no but my heart says AAAAAAATATATATATATATATATA
I would say Judgment had the most interesting mystery of the Yakuza-like games and HnK had the best combat.
I should probably do that soon
Super interested to see how I like it since it always seems to fall on the lower end of most people's rankings.
The hair threw me off.
Please, no, I've got shit to do!!!!
What is that one? Is that the Miyamoto Musashi one?
They also have translation guides. Kenzan! Ishin.
(I would be really happy for these, or even just Ishin, to get an actual English release.)
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
The 4th guy sucked ass though.
Yeah, the pacing on Y4 is rough. Y5 juggles characters much more adroitly.
On the other hand, they don't fit into the story as smoothly, but it's less 'all one character, done, on to the next' than Y4.
Japan.
It's always interesting how low other put Y6
My list is:
Judgment
Y6
Y5
Y3
Y4
Y2/Y1(I can't remember enough details to be sure I played both at launch)
Outside of 0 those seem to be the ones people have the strongest opinions on and I want to try it myself.
Shame I kind of liked his character.
Not related to the games, but it sounds like Yakuza 8 needs to be heavily focused on grandfathers.
The real Yakuza is aging out of existence.
He just has a great skincare regimen and keeps in shape.
The final boss fight was pretty baller, though.
Not quite the level of Y0's final fight, but great nonetheless.
So that's all the mainline Yakuza games played with time to decompress before Yakuza 7 flips the script. I am very ready.
Steam ID XBL: JohnnyChopsocky PSN:Stud_Beefpile WiiU:JohnnyChopsocky
I've always thought Kiryu existed as two people. Kiryu, the character, and Kiryu, the player character. One is the person with his own motivations, shortcomings, and personal conflict. The other is the Deus Ex Machina who takes on 100 guys with swords and guns and wins cause the plot needs him to.
And if 3 was Kiryu at his most human I would say 4 is the opposite.
IMO, while previous things Kiryu did are very important to the plot, his presence not so much. I would say his story was the weakest part of the time game, so much so that Daigo as an antagonist felt tacked on cause they had a cool 4v4 planned for the ending.
Kiryu only really exists in that game to push the other characters in the right direction. And if I'm being honest, his own plot was so weak that he could have been removed and the game would have mostly been the same. But you can't remove Kiryu cause he's Kiryu.
Judgement is my #2. I'm going to have to think hard about the rest of my rankings.
Steam ID XBL: JohnnyChopsocky PSN:Stud_Beefpile WiiU:JohnnyChopsocky