The Yakuza series (now Like a Dragon) is over 20 years old but is still alive and kicking—and smashing down bicycles on the heads of thugs. The series has only grown in scope and energy over the years, getting wilder, more emotional, and more adventurous with each new installment. Naturally, that means there’s even more to love.
The series has always embraced change and proven time and time again that it’s willing to evolve and step out of its comfort zone, changing core gameplay mechanics, protagonists, and settings. Part of the brilliance of Like A Dragon is that it feels like nothing is off the table, and you never know what weird thing will be thrown at you next. Castles appearing from the ground? Punching tigers in the face? Spies, pirates, you name it, Yakuza has done it.
Chief producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto attributes this willingness to adapt as part of the reason the series has endured for so long, something he says, “hasn’t changed since the very first Yakuza game” and that, “we’ve always been committed to going beyond what users expect, always including some kind of new challenge, and I believe it’s because fans have looked forward to that.”
An Enduring Legacy
But that’s not the only aspect that has made the series so long-lived, with Sakamoto telling me, “I can say with confidence that it’s because of our strong focus on human drama. All the numbered titles are connected chronologically, and the characters age realistically and live their lives while struggling with hardships. That has always been the core of the series.”
Sakamoto also tells me that it’s difficult to pick a favourite out of the series’ major milestones. “With each instalment, we’ve always incorporated new challenges, so I actually have a strong attachment to every title. However, I believe Yakuza: Like a Dragon marked a major turning point. It was the first time we changed the protagonist, the genre, the title name, and even the direction of the key visual.”
There have been a few notable turning points for the series, but in the West in particular, Yakuza 0 was fundamental in attracting new fans and making the series explode in popularity. Sakamoto tells me he believes that part of the reason Yakuza 0 had such an impact in the West is that the team had changed the traditional localisation approach, “significantly improving localisation quality”. This, combined with the series branching out onto Steam – and “the fact that the title was numbered ‘0’” which he believes lowered the barrier to entry – led to a winning combination that saw the series soar to new heights.
When I ask where Sakamoto thinks the series will be in another 20 years, he says he can’t imagine what form it will take, but believes “it will continue to be content that values heartfelt drama that resonates with everyone”.
Settling The Debate Of Where To Start
What better way for RGG Studios to celebrate the longevity of the series than by launchingYakuza 0 Director’s Cutfor Nintendo Switch 2, so a whole new generation of gamers can start this beloved series from the very beginning.
Well, is this the beginning? Chronologically, yes. However, there’s always beena fan debate as to which is the best game to start the series with. I’ve always been a firm defender that everyone should start from the beginning in terms of the very first title released (the Kiwami remake version to be specific), and now I can rub it in everyone’s faces that Sakamoto agrees.
“I personally recommend starting with Yakuza Kiwami. That’s because the original Yakuza was the first game we created, and it was designed from the ground up with newcomers in mind.”
Breaking news, people. I am, and have always been, right. I will not be taking comments or questions at this time, please let me bask in this glory.
Yakuza Kiwami was recently ported to Nintendo Switch and Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut will be available to enjoy on your shiny new Nintendo Switch 2. Maybe you’re able to decide for yourself out of the two which is the best to start with. Having the wrong console is no longer an excuse for not trying the series out.
Joining The Nintendo Family
RGG Studios launched Yakuza Kiwami for Nintendo Switch because Sakamoto “believed that even people who had never touched the series before could become new fans—if we could just overcome the barrier of hardware.” And he tells me that the motivation to launch Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut was that with the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, “releasing the highly acclaimed Yakuza 0 at that timing would allow even more new users to enjoy the game.”
The Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut isn’t just porting a classic with a little spruce up, though, as it’s adding in new, never-before-seen cutscenes and a brand new Red Light Raid online multiplayer mode. This new addition lets players do up to four-player co-op with friends, choosing from a hefty roster of 60 playable characters, before heading out to take down hordes of enemies in classic Yakuza style.
This new multiplayer mode was “born out of a challenge to see if we could create a new kind of gameplay experience for the Nintendo Switch 2”, Sakamoto tells me. “We’ve always been good at designing battle systems like those in the Coliseum, so we thought it would be even more exciting for Switch users if they could enjoy online battles with friends. We aimed to create a system where even newcomers could easily pick their favorite characters and have fun together.”
At the moment, the team has no plans to make the Red Light Raid a core part of the gameplay in future Yakuza titles, but Sakamoto said “it might be included as a side feature”.
The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series has a hefty back catalogue of games now, and while Sakamoto tells me there are currently no plans to release Director’s Cuts of other titles, he also says “I don’t think it’s impossible” when asked if more graphically demanding games such as Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth could run on Nintendo Switch 2. Don’t get too excited, though, he was quick to add, “at the moment, we’re not considering simply porting the later titles”.
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut launches tomorrow alongside the release of the Nintendo Switch, so if you haven’t dived into Kamurocho before, now is the perfect time. I just need three others to play Red Light Raid with. Dibbs on Majima.
