I love it, both the serious parts of the main plot, and also how silly it can be. But out of all of it, Zero treading the oldest ground in the franchise, while also being an amazing point to recontextualize the whole thing is great. Seeing Majima lose bits of himself, while trying to hold close to the bits of his morality that remained were compelling and exciting to observe as someone who had been introduced to him by Dead Souls. I only remembered the franchise much later on, since it was a Let's Play that got me into it in the first place.
Lol this is such a naive statement. So many seemingly upstanding industries are run by some of the most ruthlessly evil people who commit horrific acts but cover them up with ease.
Kiryu's character throughout the story of the entire games all the way up to 8 is so fascinating to me. He's so... He tries so hard to always be good and the world always gives him shit for it. He cares about people in a way thats actually life changing to see and take to heart. He's strong both physically and morally but you see this good person who has made mistakes be hurt emotionally over and over again for trying his best and wanting to protect his family. He (and later Ichiban) are some of my favorite characters in anything ever, if you have anything more to say on the series, I will be waiting patiently to see!
I think the reason why Majima broke and Kiryu didn't at the end of Y0 was because Kiryu had a family (Nishki, Yumi, Reina & Kazama) to lean on, meanwhile Majima was left all alone with no one to lean on, as Saejima was in prison. Saejima had a dialogue with Kiryu in Yakuza 5 where he highlights the importance of a family to lean on, he mentions how he was in prison for 25 years but never lost hope because he knew he had his sister and Majima waiting for him, and I have to agree 100% You can see Kiryu's spirit breaking in the ending of Yakuza 1/Kiwami after seeing all his loved ones die, he would've truly given up had Date not reminded him of Haruka. What I find compelling about Majima's writing is that he was pretty much tortured psychologically & physically, which left him a broken man by the end of Y0. However, he did not go evil, rather bore the mad dog persona as scarring from his past. I personally feel Majima is the psychologically the toughest character because of this. I also think his obsession and admiration for Kiryu exists because he first hand experienced the world turn against him & Makimura, where everyone was gunning against her or for her as a means to an end, but Kiryu chose to risk everything to help them simply because it was the right thing to do, a reason similar to his own. Both Kiryu and Majima are beautifully written characters and highlight how someone strong & benevolent can be reinforced or shattered facing similar trials under different circumstances. They are the embodiment of Idealism vs Realism in a way.
Majima's side of the story in 0 made me cry the river of tears, this man was stuck in a jailed district and was treated like a yes man for a yakuza family just because he was trying to save Saijima, and the moment he tries to be a good man trying to keep Makoto safe he has to endure all the pain that came with it to the point where he had to let her go so that she can live a happy life and he became a mad dog
Entire pages of pages on the wikis are filled with how in all reality a rando side shatei made a massive impact on everyone in the story and player in the game out of like 75 characters of 11 games
That was extremely deep The idea that the act of being good, the foundational way we are taught to behave will bring suffering to yourself and others around you is very difficult concept to understand. How can something we're taught is right in the early stages of our life cause so much hurt? I guess that's what really makes Kiryu's character legendary, he could give in and trample anyone, but he still choice to do the right thing simply because it's the right thing. If only Kiryu's style of being a good man was the type of masculinity being promoted out there, men would be different.
Well you know what they say about selling an idea: most of the budget goes towards advertising. We get to view a narrative on a set path of events in Yakuza, and it's a bit of a soap drama. I still enjoy it, and one of the hypest moments was that payoff in Infinite Wealth...Somewhere to get warmed up ;). 🔺🎻🎶
I think a whole episode diving into the mental downfall Nishiki went through during the events of 0 and Kiwami would be an interesting video to see, a man who sought the recognition he deserved only to be forced to live under the shadow of his brother
The Yakuza Games were always fascinating to ME, for their protagonists were essentially our Inner Child playing Mafia. That WE would be the Morally Good Criminal that helps the community with their Illegal Crimes, and shows Mercy and Kindness instead of senseless violence. Only to be SLAPPED with the futility of being GOOD MEN, in a profession were BAD MEN, tend to thrive.
Everything about the Yakuza games can be summed up necessary shades of gray for a greater good. Despite how tempting it is to kill, there are heavy consequences to it as we can see when Kiryu, Saejima and Ichiban rot in jail. And yet, these men took the blame for others to help and protect those who they believe in and love like family. Majima himself lost his brother and had to endure torture for years and then great loss just for a chance to see him again, yet he wasn't fully broken.
Yakuza is one of my favorite franchises. It delves deep into the underworld, shows how much power and green can corrupt, just how terribles the losses can be. And yet, there is goodness. There are people who are good, loyal, kind, and loving in spite of all the darkness around them. It is not an easy life, but we see just how meaningful it is, even if it takes years to do so.
I was really an anxious gamer, play witness the story and be done with it, I started with 0 and by the time I finished 6 I learnt that it had taught me how to enjoy a game to it's fullest. Yakuza 0-6 made me fall in love with video games.
Love the Yakuza series and currently doing a playthrough of it, seeing this pop up as I'm about to to sleep is highly welcomed of listening about this great game!
I just want to say thanks sage for posting this video this week I recently finished zero and it was one of the best games I have played and you making this video really opened my eyes more to these amazing and complex characters and game series
I know its not from the yakuza series but. The title of a cost of a good man could also be Victor vance from vice city stories a man that was good but made too many bad choices and lead him to his death in vice city 1986
I’m glad to see this comment! I love that game but I think he’s the closest thing to a real person being in a gta game lol. He join the army to get money for his sick brother, his mom is a drug addict, and Vance is an insecure idiot who continues with the idea of selling drugs dispute Victor saying he got his money he’s done and he’s out. Great observation
@@xurgian6249 well! Im glad someone also agreed and a gta fan saw a commenr since i immedialty thought of vic as the cost of a good man in the drug trade and in the gta series Him Niko And Luis Is probably the closest ever for the protagonist to be good men even if niko and some of luis past isnt good i still view as someone you can see their humanity and have goodness in them very very much.
I love the yakuza series, what I love is how the game tells us that no matter how strong or reliable you are, you still need support. Kiryu shouldering all the weight is noble but he doesn't have to do so all the time. His friends will carry the weight with him yet kiryu feels like he has to be the only one suffering
I just bought this game for $5 the other day and haven’t gotten too far into it but I think the yakuza games are great and am looking forward to finishing this one. I got the Ishin one a few days ago too
@ I definitely will. I’m at the part when they’re in the restaurant and they see the guy on the news that he was collecting from in the alley and he got called to the HQ. T
As much as I love the characters the stories often fail them. I'm close to finishing Y4 now and there's pivotal moments that are just hilariously contrived for maximum angst (end of Kiryu's chapter 4). Bad things happen to good people where it shouldn't due to over-the-top soap opera writing and making Kiryu dumber than he should be.
Kiryu has spiked people on their head onto concrete, shoots people, and runs people through with knives and swords yet no one dies. I love him and the yakuza series though haha!
I really want to play this series, it sounds amazing. Sadly being a good person leaves you with the feeling of you didn't do enough or you feel exhausted from helping everyone else. You can never be good in a indifferent world.
Good video, but as a longtime fan of the series who got into it before 0 was localized, it's kind of weird hearing some refer to the remake of the first game in the series as "the second game". Just a really minor nitpick though.
Hot take: Majima should Have killed Lao Gui at the end of 0. It would have been thematically relevant and worked with that they were building up to. it would have better helped sell the contrast between kriyu and majima as characters.
thoughts on the Yakuza series?
I enjoy it
good but should have ended at 2
I love it, both the serious parts of the main plot, and also how silly it can be. But out of all of it, Zero treading the oldest ground in the franchise, while also being an amazing point to recontextualize the whole thing is great. Seeing Majima lose bits of himself, while trying to hold close to the bits of his morality that remained were compelling and exciting to observe as someone who had been introduced to him by Dead Souls. I only remembered the franchise much later on, since it was a Let's Play that got me into it in the first place.
I think it be cool if get more videos on specific Yakuza characters
Absolute peak, at least 0
It is by far the most enjoyable game for me in the franchise in terms of both gameplay and story.
GOOD MEN, in a profession where BAD MEN, tend to thrive.
where instead of we’re. we’re is we are
true tho
Where we're you mean?
How corny lmao
Lol this is such a naive statement. So many seemingly upstanding industries are run by some of the most ruthlessly evil people who commit horrific acts but cover them up with ease.
Kiryu's character throughout the story of the entire games all the way up to 8 is so fascinating to me. He's so... He tries so hard to always be good and the world always gives him shit for it. He cares about people in a way thats actually life changing to see and take to heart. He's strong both physically and morally but you see this good person who has made mistakes be hurt emotionally over and over again for trying his best and wanting to protect his family. He (and later Ichiban) are some of my favorite characters in anything ever, if you have anything more to say on the series, I will be waiting patiently to see!
I think the reason why Majima broke and Kiryu didn't at the end of Y0 was because Kiryu had a family (Nishki, Yumi, Reina & Kazama) to lean on, meanwhile Majima was left all alone with no one to lean on, as Saejima was in prison. Saejima had a dialogue with Kiryu in Yakuza 5 where he highlights the importance of a family to lean on, he mentions how he was in prison for 25 years but never lost hope because he knew he had his sister and Majima waiting for him, and I have to agree 100%
You can see Kiryu's spirit breaking in the ending of Yakuza 1/Kiwami after seeing all his loved ones die, he would've truly given up had Date not reminded him of Haruka.
What I find compelling about Majima's writing is that he was pretty much tortured psychologically & physically, which left him a broken man by the end of Y0. However, he did not go evil, rather bore the mad dog persona as scarring from his past. I personally feel Majima is the psychologically the toughest character because of this.
I also think his obsession and admiration for Kiryu exists because he first hand experienced the world turn against him & Makimura, where everyone was gunning against her or for her as a means to an end, but Kiryu chose to risk everything to help them simply because it was the right thing to do, a reason similar to his own.
Both Kiryu and Majima are beautifully written characters and highlight how someone strong & benevolent can be reinforced or shattered facing similar trials under different circumstances. They are the embodiment of Idealism vs Realism in a way.
The Yakuza series taught me how kindness is the biggest feat of strength a person can have in this cold world
There is a reason the saying exists that “No good deed goes unpunished.”
foenem grave
Like selfish deed is not freedom?
@@julnathtgs9895haha I see what you did there
Majima's side of the story in 0 made me cry the river of tears, this man was stuck in a jailed district and was treated like a yes man for a yakuza family just because he was trying to save Saijima, and the moment he tries to be a good man trying to keep Makoto safe he has to endure all the pain that came with it to the point where he had to let her go so that she can live a happy life and he became a mad dog
❤
Oooo now he’s gettin into covering yakuza!
He could make like 30 videos off of half of these characters
Entire pages of pages on the wikis are filled with how in all reality a rando side shatei made a massive impact on everyone in the story and player in the game out of like 75 characters of 11 games
That was extremely deep
The idea that the act of being good, the foundational way we are taught to behave will bring suffering to yourself and others around you is very difficult concept to understand. How can something we're taught is right in the early stages of our life cause so much hurt? I guess that's what really makes Kiryu's character legendary, he could give in and trample anyone, but he still choice to do the right thing simply because it's the right thing. If only Kiryu's style of being a good man was the type of masculinity being promoted out there, men would be different.
Well you know what they say about selling an idea: most of the budget goes towards advertising. We get to view a narrative on a set path of events in Yakuza, and it's a bit of a soap drama. I still enjoy it, and one of the hypest moments was that payoff in Infinite Wealth...Somewhere to get warmed up ;). 🔺🎻🎶
I think a whole episode diving into the mental downfall Nishiki went through during the events of 0 and Kiwami would be an interesting video to see, a man who sought the recognition he deserved only to be forced to live under the shadow of his brother
The Yakuza Games were always fascinating to ME, for their protagonists were essentially our Inner Child playing Mafia. That WE would be the Morally Good Criminal that helps the community with their Illegal Crimes, and shows Mercy and Kindness instead of senseless violence.
Only to be SLAPPED with the futility of being GOOD MEN, in a profession were BAD MEN, tend to thrive.
Everything about the Yakuza games can be summed up necessary shades of gray for a greater good. Despite how tempting it is to kill, there are heavy consequences to it as we can see when Kiryu, Saejima and Ichiban rot in jail. And yet, these men took the blame for others to help and protect those who they believe in and love like family. Majima himself lost his brother and had to endure torture for years and then great loss just for a chance to see him again, yet he wasn't fully broken.
Yakuza is one of my favorite franchises. It delves deep into the underworld, shows how much power and green can corrupt, just how terribles the losses can be. And yet, there is goodness. There are people who are good, loyal, kind, and loving in spite of all the darkness around them. It is not an easy life, but we see just how meaningful it is, even if it takes years to do so.
I was really an anxious gamer, play witness the story and be done with it, I started with 0 and by the time I finished 6 I learnt that it had taught me how to enjoy a game to it's fullest. Yakuza 0-6 made me fall in love with video games.
Kiryu is good to everyone..except himself.
and Daigo lowkey lol
I haven’t seen a Sage’s Rain video since that God of War video. Glad to be back here once again and with my favorite topic.
It's a painful and thankless path, you'll never have happiness and you'll likely end up alone.
Doctor Who said it best: _Good is not a practical survival strategy_
My favorite game series of all time. It'd be an understatement to say that it saved and changed my life. Thanks for making this video.
Never thought you'd ever go over this series; it's too underrated and I'm glad you're shining a light on it
Never thought you would post video on Yakuza
I never clicked on a save rain vid so fast in my life. I absolutely love your content!
Love the Yakuza series and currently doing a playthrough of it, seeing this pop up as I'm about to to sleep is highly welcomed of listening about this great game!
YES I’VE BEEN WANTING THIS VIDEO FOR AGES THANK YOU 🙏🏽
I just want to say thanks sage for posting this video this week I recently finished zero and it was one of the best games I have played and you making this video really opened my eyes more to these amazing and complex characters and game series
I know its not from the yakuza series but. The title of a cost of a good man could also be Victor vance from vice city stories a man that was good but made too many bad choices and lead him to his death in vice city 1986
I’m glad to see this comment! I love that game but I think he’s the closest thing to a real person being in a gta game lol. He join the army to get money for his sick brother, his mom is a drug addict, and Vance is an insecure idiot who continues with the idea of selling drugs dispute Victor saying he got his money he’s done and he’s out. Great observation
@@xurgian6249 well! Im glad someone also agreed and a gta fan saw a commenr since i immedialty thought of vic as the cost of a good man in the drug trade and in the gta series
Him Niko And Luis Is probably the closest ever for the protagonist to be good men even if niko and some of luis past isnt good i still view as someone you can see their humanity and have goodness in them very very much.
Thanks for posting the background music.
Goddamn this video is really a piece of art. Love the Message you end it with❤
Yet another banger of a video!
I love yukuza
This was a great analysis, kyodai. I subscribed!
Thanks for the video... I needed this
Thanks Sage. Love the content and your narration!
I love the yakuza series, what I love is how the game tells us that no matter how strong or reliable you are, you still need support. Kiryu shouldering all the weight is noble but he doesn't have to do so all the time. His friends will carry the weight with him yet kiryu feels like he has to be the only one suffering
Opening with a Toni Morrison quote? Okay, I am now a subscriber.
Beautiful!
Oh my god I’m so excited for this video
This video was excellent! I hope you get around to doing more Yakuza videos.
Yakuza is probably my favorite game series of all time
I see see sage rain - i see beauty in life
Absolutely cooking
Kiryu became my fav video game character of all time just finished yakuza 5 2 days ago
Amazing analysis of my goats
Love this
you covering yakuza is actually a match made in heaven. instant like
I just bought this game for $5 the other day and haven’t gotten too far into it but I think the yakuza games are great and am looking forward to finishing this one.
I got the Ishin one a few days ago too
Do yourself a favor and stick with Zero for a while. You'll be hooked before you know it
@ I definitely will. I’m at the part when they’re in the restaurant and they see the guy on the news that he was collecting from in the alley and he got called to the HQ. T
@@A.D.I.D.A.S-916 You are in for a treat :) Have fun!
As much as I love the characters the stories often fail them. I'm close to finishing Y4 now and there's pivotal moments that are just hilariously contrived for maximum angst (end of Kiryu's chapter 4). Bad things happen to good people where it shouldn't due to over-the-top soap opera writing and making Kiryu dumber than he should be.
Babe wake up Sage Rain posted again🌧️
beautiful
Except for the yakuza stuff this hit so unexpectedly deep
Extra Nice 🖤
Kiryu has spiked people on their head onto concrete, shoots people, and runs people through with knives and swords yet no one dies. I love him and the yakuza series though haha!
A yakuza video omg🫡
This game deserved game of the year
Miss you rain
Bro I didn’t know the story to this series was so deep
This video popped up as soon as i was on chapter 13 lol
10 years in the joint made you a……
Kiryu I’m so sorry.
this video was narrated by Kratos. Now i look forward to Kiryu narrating a video analysis of God of War
I really want to play this series, it sounds amazing.
Sadly being a good person leaves you with the feeling of you didn't do enough or you feel exhausted from helping everyone else. You can never be good in a indifferent world.
To be a good man it’ll cost you a bit of your soul in this line of business.🐱
Kiryu and Majima are what I aspire to be like as a man they may be fictional characters but I find them inspirational all the same
I love them
Bro talking about peak now 😮
The Depressed Dragon of Dojima. And the Sad Doge of Shimano.
Truly a tragedy! 👏👏👏👏
I love yakuza games and Kiryu is the best ❤
Good video, but as a longtime fan of the series who got into it before 0 was localized, it's kind of weird hearing some refer to the remake of the first game in the series as "the second game". Just a really minor nitpick though.
DAME DA NE
Dame yo dame
Ik the arcane videos bout to be heat after watching season 2
Please, more yakuza related videos 🙏
I would love to see you make a video of Nishikiyama from kiwami
💔
KIRYU-CHAAAAAAAANNN
Still saying that ash is reds dad and Gary is the new professor oak in the games
@sage's Rain one video of rindaman of crows zero and also about ken katagiri
I don’t like being called out like this…something I got to work on…but excellent video nonetheless.
Can you make a video about lemillion? Or asta? That would be great!
watch altered carbon, you'd do such a good video on it!
Have you played The Last of Us? If so I’d like to see your takes on it and make a video on it someday if you’re interested.
Hey Sage’s Rain, you should make another video about Arcane: League of Legends, about Season 2. 😉
You gotta do Ghost of Tushima
Wolfs rain please!
Hot take:
Majima should Have killed Lao Gui at the end of 0.
It would have been thematically relevant and worked with that they were building up to.
it would have better helped sell the contrast between kriyu and majima as characters.
Please do a video on transformers one I really want your take on the movie or the characters
Luke Skywalker characters analysis please make video
W
First🥹❤️
Do more Star Wars content
and keep up the good work!!!!!
How would you feel if you made a video about The Last Of Us? Please consider it 🥺
Being a man is a dangerous but satisfying journey. Such is the life of the Yakuza.
RT
Was this for children or something?
Christianity moment
I miss this style of storytelling the Yakuza games did..now it’s..pirates..and shitty beach stories..