Yakuza Like a Dragon: How to Write the PERFECT Video Game Protagonist!

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ค. 2022
  • Recently I've been playing Yakuza Like a Dragon. This is my first foray into the Yakuza series and JRPGs in general. I love the densely packed world and gluttony of mini-games, but what I like most about the game is its protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga. Not only do I think he's a great main character from a storytelling perspective, but he's also the perfect video game protagonist.
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ความคิดเห็น • 49

  • @SideAdventure
    @SideAdventure  ปีที่แล้ว +43

    No spoilers please, Yakuza fans :)

    • @loloshua
      @loloshua ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Kiryu is actually a cat, a twist revealed in yakuza 6

    • @romanmajima
      @romanmajima 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@loloshuareally⁉️

    • @loloshua
      @loloshua 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@romanmajima ...I don't remember saying that at all

  • @Acucido
    @Acucido ปีที่แล้ว +216

    I am glad you are liking the game, the other games are also great. Just a quick correction: Ichiban is the new mainlane protagonist of the series. Like a Dragon is Yakuza 7, not a spin off.

    • @boobah5643
      @boobah5643 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      Well, with the gameplay shift and subtitle it's easy to see why one might think it's a spinoff.
      I'm also incredibly amused that the gameplay shift was apparently inspired by a well-received April Fools joke.

    • @badreedinedjellali1328
      @badreedinedjellali1328 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Ichiban is not the perfect portaginst He's the perfect friend

    • @vullord666
      @vullord666 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      It's an easy mistake with it's naming in the west. They changed Like a Dragon 7 (which had always been Yakuza in the West) to Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The reasoning I saw that it was a fresh start for the series and soft reboot (but it still only got that title treatment in the west). Then they announced that the series from now on would be called Like a Dragon in the west instead of Yakuza and the next game was Like a Dragon 8 Infinite Wealth.

    • @Rad-Dude63andathird
      @Rad-Dude63andathird 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      ​@@vullord666
      It was also a good chance for them to rebrand the series' name overseas back to its original one that fits the overall series better considering that while yes the Yakuza are often integral to the plot (unless you're like... Kenzan or Ishin.) they're not really what the series is *about* imo, if that makes sense? I'm one of those weirdos who views side content as canon but to me LaD is about chasing your best self, protecting others, rising above adversity, even when all of it seems completely impossible. Trying to be like, y'know, a dragon.

  • @boobah5643
    @boobah5643 ปีที่แล้ว +102

    Having only played the first few chapters of _Yakuza Kiwami_ alongside a bit of _Like a Dragon,_ I don't think Kiryu is any less idealistic than Ichiban. He's just more stoic about the whole thing, and his ideal isn't _Dragon Quest_ but the Ideal Yakuza that exists to protect the people that the top of society can't be bothered to acknowledge. Of course, the Ideal Yakuza has never really existed because all the crime gets in the way.
    It's a telling point of commonality between the two men that their first game begins with them choosing to go to jail for a crime they didn't commit to protect a loved one.

    • @vullord666
      @vullord666 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Definitely. The key difference is shown in their clothing as well. Ichiban wears fiery and passionate red on the outside showing he wears his heart on his sleeve. Whereas Kiryu keeps it more bottled up and tries to be cool headed and he wears darker colors on the outside to suit that (considering both of their usual jacket and suits).
      They share similar aspirations but have different personalities and go about achieving them differently.

  • @Anicat136
    @Anicat136 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    After played and finishing Yakuza: Like a Dragon I can honestly say that Ichiban is definitely one of my top favorite video game characters of all time.

  • @Ovetupp
    @Ovetupp 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    I searched for "why ichiban is the best" an ended up here. I just wanted to hear someone hype up my man Ichi.
    I think a big part of Ichibans popularity comes from the fact that he isn't really domeone you want to be, but he's definitely someone you'd want to be friends with. He is ridiculous and loud and sometimes it seems like the world is out to get him. But he is kind, loyal and naive in a way that tends to be reserved for puppies. He is a virtual friend to have an adventure with and for that he is perfect.

  • @michaellewis1545
    @michaellewis1545 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    One thing I do appreciate about JRPG is that the main characters are given full characterization. Do get me wrong I like the silent protagonist you find in western style RPG. But I do like play a full character from time to time.

  • @metalgamer8179
    @metalgamer8179 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    Yakuza is my all time favorite franchise. It’s so fun

  • @kevinkusman9137
    @kevinkusman9137 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    Gotta say, not sure if you are playing the game in english, but Kenji Tangs VA for Ichiban is Fking outstanding. Really drives home the passion and jovial nature of Ichiban.

    • @TheAwesomeDarkNinja
      @TheAwesomeDarkNinja 10 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I can't imagine Kasuga without his voice.
      Pitch perfect casting.

  • @DiegoCostaCardoso
    @DiegoCostaCardoso 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    I agree with you. He is a GREAT character! One of the best, I think.

  • @r.a.fgattaiguy845
    @r.a.fgattaiguy845 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    "videogames are young when it comes to story-telling"
    man you really haven´t played any other JRPGs

  • @MylesMusic94
    @MylesMusic94 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I found this game at Walmart a few weeks back for $10 for the Xbox. I’m interested in giving it a try now!

    • @kevinkorenke3569
      @kevinkorenke3569 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Careful, once you start down the Yakuza game series forever will it dominate your path. The insane characterizations and story lines are as addictive as The slice of Life side games.

    • @patrickperico589
      @patrickperico589 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      It takes warming up to but once you're in the world, you'll forget the rest of the games you own

  • @macabidz
    @macabidz 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Ichiban has become one of my all time favorite videogame character.

  • @MIAsuxdonkey
    @MIAsuxdonkey 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    This was also the first yakuza game I played…. Absolutely amazing, since then I’ve bought like 3 others in the series and love them all, I’m working on playing through the whole series. But Ichiban and this game still stand above the rest for me tbh, ichiban is so easy to love and get invested in and the game itself is just a cut above the rest in story and gameplay for me

  • @Xallisto1
    @Xallisto1 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Did u finish this in the end? The ending is one of the best endings of a video game in a long time for me.

    • @SideAdventure
      @SideAdventure  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Still working on it :)

    • @Guerrilla_Grodd
      @Guerrilla_Grodd ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Agreed. The acting in this game is phenomenal

  • @saintpepsiii2019
    @saintpepsiii2019 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I LOVE THIS GAME

  • @trgp_dw
    @trgp_dw 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Another example of a character that match's with it's gameplay is Gene from God Hand. Very underrated game.

  • @SILVERONIN
    @SILVERONIN ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I'm new to Yakuza but my god this game is a masterpiece and that's not a word I throw around easily! Ichiban is probably one of the best written protagonist in gaming history!

  • @rngwrldngnr
    @rngwrldngnr ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I can't speak to RTS, but I think a very strong argument could be made for B. J. Blazkowicz from machinegames Wolfenstein titles as the ideal FPS protagonist. He's one of very few characters who I could believe has killed as many people as you actually do across a long running FPS series while still being a sympathetic and generally likeable character.

    • @herusetiawan5399
      @herusetiawan5399 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I played Valkyria Chronicles 1 and 4. The protagonists are quite a match for the genre (semi turn-based war strategy) since they all actually study warfare strategy at some point in their life.

  • @mattbonk5813
    @mattbonk5813 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You mention a kind of character mirrors what the player wants in shooters and I think doom guy in Doom 2016 and Eternal is just that.He wants to smash EVERYTHING

  • @badlotusxo
    @badlotusxo 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    He is my second fav protag in gaming. First is Arthur Morgan.

  • @10Robson10
    @10Robson10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    ICHIBAN ❤❤❤

  • @DigimontamerB
    @DigimontamerB ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I normally dislike sweeping statements like this video title... but since we're talking about Ichiban.

  • @robertsy9952
    @robertsy9952 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I love this game 😊

  • @videogamesworld01
    @videogamesworld01 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Tbh I liked ichiban way more than kazuma(who I think is a good character). Having spent a lot of time with anime manga and jrpgs most of the mcs are flawless most of the time and mostly there to be a generic shounen mc. In like a dragon ichiban is indeed like a shounen jrpg main character but the writing for him is great from his backstory to how the plot unfolds and challenges his ideals constantly. I believe the story takes a nose dive in the end but it's still a very fun experience that I lvoed every minute of especially the side quests.

  • @romanmajima
    @romanmajima 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Yakuza infinite wealth i going to be insanely good 😊

  • @averagegrasshopper
    @averagegrasshopper ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The turn based part actually a joke at first but they made because the fans

    • @Llortnerof
      @Llortnerof 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      And then ended up liking so much they want to keep it for the future.

  • @dragonmerchant
    @dragonmerchant ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Ichiban is best character not only in a game.

  • @Anduuu077
    @Anduuu077 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Maaan, play from the first one, from yakuza 0

  • @jacek107ify
    @jacek107ify ปีที่แล้ว +1

    02:34 here Ichiban idealising Yakuza serves certain purpose in story as political situation is very dire. People start to follow law blindly to extreme. As a result people lose sense of freedom. Japan is turning into dystopia Bleach Japan is basically modern religious inquisition that worships Sasaki as god. Only criminals have bigger sense of freedom and can confront it

  • @sal5432100
    @sal5432100 ปีที่แล้ว

    "You're not just wrong, You're stupid"
    -Cat In The Hat

  • @austinhawthorne6310
    @austinhawthorne6310 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Not a fan of the new protagonist, these games are being absorbed in cringe western meme culture. The comedy in the previous games was great, and still very much japanese. Even the original director said as much about the games becoming to westernized. Same thing happened to ishin kiwami, which was generaly disliked by japanese fans.

  • @addex1236
    @addex1236 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Not to be that dick but Like a dragon is a mainline entry in the franchise it's a sort of soft reboot of the series with the story of Kiryu Kazuma ending in Yakuza 6