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.
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.
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.
@@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.
As someone who really isnt a fan of the turnbased combat i would be okay with calling this the spinoff and judgement being mainline instead the story in 7 is good but the fights have zero weight behind them for me and the grinding levels really isnt fun when it takes like 2030- min farming enemies 5-10 levels above you so you get the most xp
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.
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.
What makes so likeable for me is that he is so relatable. We are all like Ichiban in some way. The Dragon Quest scene in the game is very inspirational, and it really makes me think. I want to Level Up in my own life as well. I watch that scene every single day at work for inspiration, and it made me a better person. His child-like enthusiasm when he talks about wanting to be a hero is very heartwarming and it always makes me smile.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
No spoilers please, Yakuza fans :)
Kiryu is actually a cat, a twist revealed in yakuza 6
@@loloshuareally⁉️
@@romanmajima ...I don't remember saying that at all
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.
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.
Ichiban is not the perfect portaginst He's the perfect friend
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.
@@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.
As someone who really isnt a fan of the turnbased combat i would be okay with calling this the spinoff and judgement being mainline instead the story in 7 is good but the fights have zero weight behind them for me and the grinding levels really isnt fun when it takes like 2030- min farming enemies 5-10 levels above you so you get the most xp
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.
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.
What makes so likeable for me is that he is so relatable. We are all like Ichiban in some way. The Dragon Quest scene in the game is very inspirational, and it really makes me think. I want to Level Up in my own life as well. I watch that scene every single day at work for inspiration, and it made me a better person. His child-like enthusiasm when he talks about wanting to be a hero is very heartwarming and it always makes me smile.
Yakuza is my all time favorite franchise. It’s so fun
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.
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.
I can't imagine Kasuga without his voice.
Pitch perfect casting.
Ichiban has become one of my all time favorite videogame character.
I agree with you. He is a GREAT character! One of the best, I think.
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.
Still working on it :)
Agreed. The acting in this game is phenomenal
I found this game at Walmart a few weeks back for $10 for the Xbox. I’m interested in giving it a try now!
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.
It takes warming up to but once you're in the world, you'll forget the rest of the games you own
"videogames are young when it comes to story-telling"
man you really haven´t played any other JRPGs
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
I LOVE THIS GAME
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
Another example of a character that match's with it's gameplay is Gene from God Hand. Very underrated game.
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.
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.
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.
He is my second fav protag in gaming. First is Arthur Morgan.
I normally dislike sweeping statements like this video title... but since we're talking about Ichiban.
ICHIBAN ❤❤❤
I never liked JRPGS but I tried this game when it was free for ps plus and I loved it. I bought infinite wealth for 50
Yakuza infinite wealth i going to be insanely good 😊
I love this game 😊
The turn based part actually a joke at first but they made because the fans
And then ended up liking so much they want to keep it for the future.
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
Eh. Sifu is hard for 2 days (aka 10 hours) then it becomes overwhelmingly easy.
Ichiban is best character not only in a game.
Maaan, play from the first one, from yakuza 0
"You're not just wrong, You're stupid"
-Cat In The Hat
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.
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