Image via Complex Original
Americans have a strange relationship with the Yakuza series. While Sega's action-adventure games have enjoyed overwhelming success in Japan—it's set in Tokyo, after all—our Call of Duty/Halo-obsessed gamer community has given the games a more muted reception. It's no wonder that the game publisher-developer has released their Yakuza games a year or two after the original Japanese version; the latest in the series, Yakuza 4, was released in mid-March...of 2010. With its upcoming release in North American markets next week, we're doing our best to get the word out about the game, because if you've got any interest in Japanese culture, beating people up, hot hostesses, or simply like video games at all, this is one that needs to be on your radar. Need some convincing? Fine, here's a five-pack of reasons...
By Troy Mounis
It's Theater
Video games developed in Japan seem to take two tacks: Long, crazily choreographed adventures interspersed with elaborate battles, or longer crazily-choreographed adventures interspersed with elaborate battles. Yakuza 4 isn't in the same ballpark as, say, the average playthrough time of a Final Fantasy game, but as far as action-adventure games go, the cut scenes and slick video montages rival those found in Metal Gear Solid 4. Sure, you'll find yourself wondering at times when you can actually play the game rather than watch the plot unfold, but it's a great story that continues protagonist Kazuma Kiryu's battle against the Yakuza underworld as well—as how his life intersects with the other three protagonists found in the game. Long story short (though not really), if you just want a deep, intellectual brawler, get your popcorn ready and give your fingers a good stretch, because you'll be in it for the long haul.
Make The Woman You've Always Wanted
One of the biggest gripes with Yakuza 3 game was that the developer switched up the Tokyo setting from the glitz and glamour of Tokyo and Osaka to an orphanage in Okinawa. Let's just say loyal Western perverts fans were displeased that developers took away the ability to edit their cabaret hostesses—a series staple—when they ported the game for American audiences. Take heart in knowing that it's back. In fact, your character owns his own cabaret club this time around, which means that once you scout and train a girl to be the No. 1 hostess (which will earn you a nice bronze PS3 trophy as well), you'll be able to talk, ogle, and talk some more with her whenever you want. Oh, did we mention you can play dress-up with her as well?! Okay, not that exciting, but it's fun nonetheless, even if a bit creepy. Promise!
Four Heads Are Better Than One
The series needed a bit of a jolt to avoid critics' thinking the developers weren't trying to innovate, and it comes this time around in the form of four protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, the main character since the first Yakuza game, Masayoshi Tanimura, Shun Akiyama and Taiga Saejima. Don't worry—we don't know how to pronounce their names either #uglyamericans. Just know that each brings his own interesting backstory to the narrative. For example, Akiyama used to be homeless, but now owns a loan company and a cabaret bar and fights yakuza for a living. Livin' the Japanese dream!
Minigames Galore
The Yakuza series is known for the crazy amount of side missions available, and the fourth installment doesn't disappoint in this regard. There are six different types of time-wasters in the game—pachinko, fishing, table tennis, hanafuda, karaoke and a strange massage minigame in an onsen bath—which are a nice distraction away from the dramatic plot. Even better is that because the game is set up as a sandbox, you can head over to the pachinko machines and gamble your virtual life away any time you want. Way to teach ’em early, Sega!
It's Tokyo Again...Kinda
Perhaps the series' best aspect is how it combines a Hollywood blockbuster-like plot with the amazing city of Tokyo. Which was why it was a bit disappointing when Yakuza 3 ditched all that and went the Okinawa route—it essentially took away a large part of what makes the franchise so interesting and fun. Yakuza 4 brings back the magic, taking place in a fictionalized version of the Shinjuku red-light municipality, Kabukicho (called Kamuro City in the game). Nevertheless, it's an amazingly faithful recreation of Japan's largest city, and the game allows you to travel along the city's cityscape, through the back alleys and underground areas (sewers, abandoned parking lots, and the commercial shopping areas). There's definitely some Lost in Translation vibe here, and it's one that we welcome almost as much as that movie's opening shot. Almost.
