Yakuza: Like A Dragon is the newest entry in Sega's beat 'em up RPG franchise and it proves how far the franchise has come since it started as a PlayStation 2 exclusive in 2005.
Yakuza explores the Japanese criminal underworld with pulse pounding fisticuffs and loads of peripheral gameplay. Long exclusive to Sony consoles and handhelds, the franchise seems to officially be bucking that trend: Like A Dragon is a launch title for the Xbox Series X.
Like A Dragon offers gameplay and story elements both familiar and radically different than any previous entry in the series, taking the franchise from its now well-worn path. With the game finally coming out in the west and cementing the series' status as one of Sega's biggest marquees, here's a look back at how far the franchise has come from the days of the PS2.
Yakuza Origins
Created out of the remnants of the failed Shenmue franchise, Yakuza initially told the story of Kazuma Kiryu. Released from prison for a crime he didn't commit, Kiryu gets wrapped up in a conspiracy over the stolen wealth of the Tojo Clan. Along the way, he adopts a young girl named Haruka and develops a fierce rivalry/begrudging friendship with maniacal Tojo Clan lieutenant Goro Majima.
Gameplay built off of Shenmue's action elements, with rival gangsters attacking wherever Kiryu went. Kiryu could also pass time playing Sega classics at the video arcade or helping out downtrodden residents of his city of Kamurocho. Said city and other locations used elements of real-life Japanese locales, adding a sense of authenticity to the series.
This game engine continued through the sequels, with Yakuza 4 and 5 adding additional playable characters. The series remained niche in the west, with most titles never releasing outside of Japan. That changed once new spin-offs caused the series' popularity to soar.
Yakuza Spin-Offs
The first of the series' spin-offs was PS3 title Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!, a samurai retelling of the first game set in the Edo period. Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! was another samurai game, set around 200 years later for PS3 and PS4. Kurohyo: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura-hen were spin-offs released for the PSP, starring Kamurocho street punk Tatsuya Ukyo. Sadly, none of these titles have seen release in the U.S. so far.
The non-canon Yakuza: Dead Souls was a survival horror game where Kiryu and other Kamurocho citizens defend their city against an onslaught of zombies. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise was unconnected to the main Yakuza story, but used the same gameplay engine while reimagining the story of the Fist of the North Star anime and manga.
The latest and easily greatest spin-off is 2018's Judgment. A legal thriller based around Kamurocho detective Takayuki Yagami, the game took the action elements of the mainline series and combined it with investigative and legal battles. Initially believed to be the start of a brand new IP, the title has become one of the best received games in the Yakuza series.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
The first two games were remade and modernized as Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2, with the latter utilizing the same engine as Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The Song of Life was the last game to feature Kazuma Kiryu as the protagonist, completing the story of the franchise's mascot, as well as that of the Sunshine Orphanage. Preceding this game's release was Yakuza 0, a prequel set before the original game which showcases not only Kiryu's youth, but also Majima's tragic descent into madness.
A new spin-off has been released titled Streets of Kamurocho. This celebration of Sega's history takes the Yakuza cast and places them into the gameplay of the classic '90s beat 'em up, Streets of Rage. Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 were also optimized for the PS4 and released as the Yakuza Collection.
The latest title is Yakuza: Like A Dragon, featuring new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga as he embarks on a personal quest after being released from prison. Gone is the franchise's traditional beat 'em up gameplay; in its place is the turn-based fighting and class system of a traditional JRPG. As the first game since the original to have a complete English dub -- which also moves the action away from Kamurocho -- it's definitely a new beginning for the franchise. This is all accentuated further by its being playable on Windows, as well as the Xbox One X and Series X consoles, alongside the PS4.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon is currently available for PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One X and Xbox Series X.