Man, the rainy section with Akiyama right at the start is still to this day so visually stunning, I was blown away coming off of 3 and had to remind myself it was a PS3 game multiple times. It might be a different answer depending on what day you ask me but I think 4 might be my favorite of the games before the RPG switch up for 7 & 8. Yakuza 4 Akiyama is still one of the best feeling characters to play in the entire series (he feels slightly off in 5 for some reason, I can't pin it down). I would love a Gaiden or spinoff featuring him, especially with how crazy they've gone with the combat in the first Gaiden and seemingly Pirate Yakuza. Tanimura is really fun too, even if you're not into the parries and I really loved the character (RIP, relegated to a brief sentence in 5 hand waving him away. He got Sayama-ed hard)
Lol I thought I was the only one who made the connection with TOTK. I played Yakuza 4 right after TOTK, so as soon as I saw that you could go to the sky and the underground I thought, "Thats familiar lol"
THE SELFISH DEED IS NOT FREEDOM TO JUSTIFEEEEE Great video as always man. It's personally one of my favourite Yakuza games, probably because of how stupid the grand plot of the game is, and none of that matters when you have some of the most hype scenes in the game thus far. The characters themselves, Akiyama and Saejima, were standout ones for me, and the interactions between the four protags were just so satisfying. I can one hundred percent understand how most find this to be the weaker of the series, but for me it's got a little place in my heart among the Yakuza series as one of the most hype and memorable
Im sorry but, this is my favourite yakuza game, so I'll automatically disagree w your negative points. While I feel like saying that is somewhat a seflish deed, which is not freedom of thought, I cant justify this level of criticism, even if falls down.
One thing that should be said about character progression is that these earlier games are meant to be replayed, with higher difficulties in mind for later playthroughs. Doing a Legend replay of 3 made me realize how much more fun the early game combat is. It’s part of its RPG influences and its philosophy towards additional playthroughs.
Even though I played these years and years ago, I feel like our ranking and experience of them is the same. I certainly hope so, because Y5 is my absolute favorite, and the point at which this became my favorite series ever.
I know 5 is a beast but I love that is threw in so much content. It feels so epic to me. I love how the very next game was stripped down so much and kept a strict focus on Kiryu. RGG keep trying new things out and mixing and matching their games. You never quite know what you’re going to get….except that it’ll have Mahjong
I think if you’re not as big on the combat system of these games being a bit mindless and button mash based, I think you might enjoy Kurohyou next as it actually has a very involved combat system that punishes you a ton for making stupid moves.
What I'd like is another type of review where you go through the story and the various 100% pitfalls this series has. You could go ....balls out if you wanted perhaps.
This was fun, I love hearing everyone’s opinions on these games. I seem to enjoy the opposite of most people. So far my favorite stories have been 0, 2, and 4. My only complaint was not being able to change the difficulty if I wanted to. I would have started on normal if I would have known. I also would have appreciated knowing that once you grab stuff from Bob that you can’t choose who gets what. I’m definitely not a fan of forced or punishing mechanics though. Overall though, 4 was definitely up there as one of my favorites.
This was my first yakuza game and I loved every second of it. It had the biggest kamurocho ( cmon rooftops , street level , various undergrounds). It was awesome. A fun romp all the way through.
Great video! I like how much more focused these reviews have gotten, very much trimmed all the fat and every observation feels substantial. Yakuza 4 is a pretty big turning point in the series, i look forward to seeing your experience with the rest of the games as they continue to build on the ambition set in this one
It's kind of funny, you and a very different channel I've been watching have both been covering Yakuza (Lore Dump--a kind of podcast where one person walks their friends through a game series they've never played, so if anyone's looking for a hilarious lore video for these games, check 'em out!), and this is the first one that's completely ahead of their series! Super excited for a sneak peek into this game since I've never had the chance to play this franchise myself :D
14:15 I just jumped from 0 straight to Infinite Wealth. Sounds like this game foreshadowed the system in Infinite Wealth (Buddy system, Sodachi as Sujimon). Probably taking a break and move to Ishin
All I know about this game is I have one friend who likes it, another friend who also likes it and another friend who stands by the fact that this was 1 of the better games in the series because you got to play as more than just Kiryu. However I did also hear that some people did not like if I recall 2 out of the 4 characters and The Other 2 out of the 4 they did like and I Don't even need to mention who one of the ones they liked were so when the series was on sale, I bought this too along with Kiwami 2, Lost Judgment and Gaiden. It's most likely gonna take me a while to get to this game because dear God 0 is huge but I'll see why this game was liked.
Not going to lie, I miss the more overall explanation of the story. The main group of people this game review video is going to appeal to is people who’ve already experienced the entire story, so why not go through the whole story? But I can understand how much less it is for you lmao.
I got a lot of valid criticism with the old style about the videos essentially just becoming glorified story recaps, so I decided to dial it back and just give the basic setup and my overall opinions on the story rather than spending half the video just explaining the entire thing front to back.
@ you see I get that, but there has to be a balance. In this video especially it felt like the story took up so little of the video that it felt meaningless, the only thing I got from this video on the story is that it’s “good but a little messier than normal” what have you become? IGN?
@@legomania2427I agree completely. I wanted his opinion on the story but all he did is recap new game mechanics. I already know the game mechanics and it just doesn’t make for an interesting watch.
you know i really like this game, the story is alright, the combat is much more fluid now that attacks do damage now. Akiyama... just Akiyama, but man, that final boss sucked so bad.
By far my least favourite of the entire series. The boring, useless additions of rooftops and basements, the walk here-walk there chapters, bs story with bs twists and bs ending, TEN hostesses besides that horrible club manager minigame, Saito, the dreadful music (come at me)... The only one that truly bored the hell out of me. Fun combat tho.
Man please discuss the storys more if they are interesting. Thats the whole point of watching these types of videos. They are decades old games worring about spoilers is down right silly. You said it yourself these games are 90 % interesting because of their story
It’s disappointing that you stopped explaining the story in these videos as my main reason for watching was that with the other elements being enjoyable asides. Your Yakuza videos are still great but you manage to explain things in a way I enjoy and appreciate, so it’s a shame you sorta skimmed the story sections. Will still watch but it is effectively a downgrade for me unfortunately.
one of my least favorites personally, especially because of the god-awful Haruka-Saejima scene. the sewers and rooftop traversal, while neat at first, quickly got confusing and annoying.
My two main problems with the game are what you mentioned about each 1/4 of the game feeling a little short, that when you are getting good with one character, the game changes you to a new one, i like to compare the way it feels to GTAIV episodes from liberty city, both DLC are good, but each are a little short for my liking, and the other problem i have with the game is kiryu's final boss (avoiding spoilers)
Man, the rainy section with Akiyama right at the start is still to this day so visually stunning, I was blown away coming off of 3 and had to remind myself it was a PS3 game multiple times.
It might be a different answer depending on what day you ask me but I think 4 might be my favorite of the games before the RPG switch up for 7 & 8.
Yakuza 4 Akiyama is still one of the best feeling characters to play in the entire series (he feels slightly off in 5 for some reason, I can't pin it down). I would love a Gaiden or spinoff featuring him, especially with how crazy they've gone with the combat in the first Gaiden and seemingly Pirate Yakuza. Tanimura is really fun too, even if you're not into the parries and I really loved the character (RIP, relegated to a brief sentence in 5 hand waving him away. He got Sayama-ed hard)
TOGETHER 👫,
We are the Yakuza 4,
🎸🎸🎸🎸
THE SELFISH DEED IS NOT FREEDOM
EVEN IF IT FALLS DOWN
I would have liked it if you did a story spoiler review part and just add a time stamp for those who havent played the game yet
Lol I thought I was the only one who made the connection with TOTK. I played Yakuza 4 right after TOTK, so as soon as I saw that you could go to the sky and the underground I thought, "Thats familiar lol"
Definitely an improvement and much more fun than Yakuza 3!
And it's also infamous for the Yakuza 4 meme.
Also For Faith is a true banger.
Still my favorite Yakuza game
THE SELFISH DEED IS NOT FREEDOM
TO JUSTIFEEEEE
Great video as always man. It's personally one of my favourite Yakuza games, probably because of how stupid the grand plot of the game is, and none of that matters when you have some of the most hype scenes in the game thus far. The characters themselves, Akiyama and Saejima, were standout ones for me, and the interactions between the four protags were just so satisfying.
I can one hundred percent understand how most find this to be the weaker of the series, but for me it's got a little place in my heart among the Yakuza series as one of the most hype and memorable
Im sorry but, this is my favourite yakuza game, so I'll automatically disagree w your negative points. While I feel like saying that is somewhat a seflish deed, which is not freedom of thought, I cant justify this level of criticism, even if falls down.
3 days late, so I assume you've walked ahead to the next stage
@@rszarir 👌
@@VenomTNT nice Bardock pfp
One thing that should be said about character progression is that these earlier games are meant to be replayed, with higher difficulties in mind for later playthroughs.
Doing a Legend replay of 3 made me realize how much more fun the early game combat is. It’s part of its RPG influences and its philosophy towards additional playthroughs.
Even though I played these years and years ago, I feel like our ranking and experience of them is the same. I certainly hope so, because Y5 is my absolute favorite, and the point at which this became my favorite series ever.
I know 5 is a beast but I love that is threw in so much content. It feels so epic to me.
I love how the very next game was stripped down so much and kept a strict focus on Kiryu.
RGG keep trying new things out and mixing and matching their games. You never quite know what you’re going to get….except that it’ll have Mahjong
Tanimura, my beloved
I think if you’re not as big on the combat system of these games being a bit mindless and button mash based, I think you might enjoy Kurohyou next as it actually has a very involved combat system that punishes you a ton for making stupid moves.
What I'd like is another type of review where you go through the story and the various 100% pitfalls this series has.
You could go ....balls out if you wanted perhaps.
This was fun, I love hearing everyone’s opinions on these games.
I seem to enjoy the opposite of most people. So far my favorite stories have been 0, 2, and 4.
My only complaint was not being able to change the difficulty if I wanted to. I would have started on normal if I would have known.
I also would have appreciated knowing that once you grab stuff from Bob that you can’t choose who gets what. I’m definitely not a fan of forced or punishing mechanics though.
Overall though, 4 was definitely up there as one of my favorites.
Yakuza 4 is peak for 4 reasons:
1 - Akiyama
2 - Saejima
3 - Tanimura
4 - For Faith
And i'm serious here.
Red Yakuza
Green Yakuza
Blue Judgment
Gray Yakzua
This was my first yakuza game and I loved every second of it. It had the biggest kamurocho ( cmon rooftops , street level , various undergrounds). It was awesome. A fun romp all the way through.
Hell yeah, akiyama!!!
Great video! I like how much more focused these reviews have gotten, very much trimmed all the fat and every observation feels substantial. Yakuza 4 is a pretty big turning point in the series, i look forward to seeing your experience with the rest of the games as they continue to build on the ambition set in this one
It's kind of funny, you and a very different channel I've been watching have both been covering Yakuza (Lore Dump--a kind of podcast where one person walks their friends through a game series they've never played, so if anyone's looking for a hilarious lore video for these games, check 'em out!), and this is the first one that's completely ahead of their series! Super excited for a sneak peek into this game since I've never had the chance to play this franchise myself :D
14:15 I just jumped from 0 straight to Infinite Wealth. Sounds like this game foreshadowed the system in Infinite Wealth (Buddy system, Sodachi as Sujimon). Probably taking a break and move to Ishin
Honestly Tanimura is fun especially when you unlock his arrest heat action which is a instakill.
"Tears of the Kingdom took inspiration from Yakuza 4" - Chole.
What a spicy take lol
All I know about this game is I have one friend who likes it, another friend who also likes it and another friend who stands by the fact that this was 1 of the better games in the series because you got to play as more than just Kiryu. However I did also hear that some people did not like if I recall 2 out of the 4 characters and The Other 2 out of the 4 they did like and I Don't even need to mention who one of the ones they liked were so when the series was on sale, I bought this too along with Kiwami 2, Lost Judgment and Gaiden. It's most likely gonna take me a while to get to this game because dear God 0 is huge but I'll see why this game was liked.
Yakuza 5 is my personal favorite
Yakuza 5 haters when they realize each every Yakuza games is peak (except deadsouls)
@DeizaMando True
@DeizaMando Except the Kiwami games
@@lukescrew1981 Kiwami games are fine games, still peak for 0 starters
@DeizaMando Yeah
Can't wait for the Kurohyou games
Are you going to be doing the two psp games, because they're both pretty good Yakuza games.
we will be doing them 😎
it is simply that the selfish deed is not freedom
Not going to lie, I miss the more overall explanation of the story. The main group of people this game review video is going to appeal to is people who’ve already experienced the entire story, so why not go through the whole story? But I can understand how much less it is for you lmao.
I got a lot of valid criticism with the old style about the videos essentially just becoming glorified story recaps, so I decided to dial it back and just give the basic setup and my overall opinions on the story rather than spending half the video just explaining the entire thing front to back.
@ you see I get that, but there has to be a balance. In this video especially it felt like the story took up so little of the video that it felt meaningless, the only thing I got from this video on the story is that it’s “good but a little messier than normal” what have you become? IGN?
@@legomania2427I agree completely. I wanted his opinion on the story but all he did is recap new game mechanics. I already know the game mechanics and it just doesn’t make for an interesting watch.
Thank you
the selfish dead is not freedom
you know i really like this game, the story is alright, the combat is much more fluid now that attacks do damage now. Akiyama...
just Akiyama,
but man, that final boss sucked so bad.
...
Rubber bullets
I was looking forward to you talking about the story but you didn’t speak on it at all. why?
By far my least favourite of the entire series. The boring, useless additions of rooftops and basements, the walk here-walk there chapters, bs story with bs twists and bs ending, TEN hostesses besides that horrible club manager minigame, Saito, the dreadful music (come at me)...
The only one that truly bored the hell out of me. Fun combat tho.
have you already played Y0? at 7:40 that OST is from that game
I have not, that song is "Receive and Bite You" from Yakuza 4 :)
@@notcolemy bad! thank you
Man please discuss the storys more if they are interesting. Thats the whole point of watching these types of videos. They are decades old games worring about spoilers is down right silly. You said it yourself these games are 90 % interesting because of their story
It’s disappointing that you stopped explaining the story in these videos as my main reason for watching was that with the other elements being enjoyable asides. Your Yakuza videos are still great but you manage to explain things in a way I enjoy and appreciate, so it’s a shame you sorta skimmed the story sections. Will still watch but it is effectively a downgrade for me unfortunately.
one of my least favorites personally, especially because of the god-awful Haruka-Saejima scene.
the sewers and rooftop traversal, while neat at first, quickly got confusing and annoying.
My two main problems with the game are what you mentioned about each 1/4 of the game feeling a little short, that when you are getting good with one character, the game changes you to a new one, i like to compare the way it feels to GTAIV episodes from liberty city, both DLC are good, but each are a little short for my liking, and the other problem i have with the game is kiryu's final boss (avoiding spoilers)