Support NeoGAF

[Son Of Sparda]

Just beat the game this weekend. The feels train definitely hit me.

But as someone else mentioned in the previous page

Spoiler

I don't understand why Majima joined Shimanos family again when he was obviously being played by him / and was tortured by him in the past. I don't feel the game conveyed why Majima wanted to be a Yakuza so damn badly

Spoiler

For Saejima. (his sworn brother who did the 18 men hit)

By being in Tojo clan, Majima wanted to make sure that Saejima will have a place in it if/when he gets out of prison. The bond between Majima and Saejima was pretty close to what you see between Kiryu and Nishiki in this game, so Majima really felt like he had betrayed his brother when he couldn't make it to the hit. If there was even a remote chance that Saejima could get out of prison, Majima felt like he had to be in Tojo clan, so he would be able to help him and atone for his own failure.

The game actually tells you this in early chapters. Though, with the crazy ride that Yakuza 0 is, it's easy to forget that.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

now I go back to fighting Mr Shakedowns as Majima and after experiencing Kiryu with spicy knife, I feel weaker.

I haven't beat a single Mr. Shakedown yet.

I see him and my heart races.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

I haven't beat a single Mr. Shakedown yet.

I see him and my heart races.

which character are you struggling with?

The thing is to fight him similarly to a dark souls baddie. Learn the patterns and their tells for their attacks, master dodging, and use your super powerful attack (heat) when you get the chance.

 

[eyeball_kid]

The thing about Yakuza that's great is the dichotomy between the intense story and the silly, absurd side content. I've noticed this in other Japanese games, and maybe that's just something inherent to the culture, but it really stands out here. It's almost as if the developers felt they had to maintain some sort of yin-yang balance, so the more serious they made the story, the more ridiculous they had to make the other content to keep things in balance.

 

[riskVSreward]

Is anyone else pestered with a message to update to 1.03 each time they start the game? I must've hit "update now" over twenty times now...

 

[Aki-at]

Spoiler

I thought it wasn't very romanticized compared to almost all previous titles. We've got Yakuza kidnapping and selling women as sex slaves, involved in kicking out, beating, willing to kill or just to ruin the lives of those not willing to sell them property. Torture not only of other Yakuza just for not following orders (with the idea that Majima wasn't the first and that it was a regular thing) to having a guy around for that kind of thing because he's good at inflicting pain. Lots of stuff about loan sharking, including Kiryu opening the game with being 'loaned out' to beat a guy unconscious for not paying back his loans. You've got all the lieutenants internally fighting and willing to throw different live away just to get ahead and who detail some of the stuff they've done. Lot's of talk about how the man Kiryu admired the most also killed a ton of people to get to where he is.

I thought this game did almost too good of a job with showing that Kiryu was an exception to the rest, to the point where a lot of 'at least he never killed anyone' seemed kind of dumb because he certainly supports and is a part of a system that does murder and more.

Well that and the highway sequence, I mean even if somehow none of the people he does heat moves die WTF did they think happened to all those people he shot and the helicopter which crashed?!

Spoiler

Oh yeah there were some real scumbags, I guess my beef is more or a running thing, especially with how the game makes statements about how after killing someone you can't go back and then they point to some human filth that is deserving of the viewer's mercy. It's only a minor thing but it's an aftertaste from Yakuza 5 that has left a bad taste in my mouth especially as it is, as you say, about a system that murders and sells human slaves on a regular basis. Can't act you're higher than that just because you haven't killed anyone.

 

[wreckml]

Just got my copy today -- 1st Yakuza game, im pretty pumped. anything i should know before starting it up

 

[Megasoum]

So I got a

Spoiler

Swiss Watch

from one of the side quests (I think) and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it?

I see that I could sell it for a couple of millions but I'm not sure if I should hold on to it instead?

Searched on google but it only comes up in relation to the Dream Machine (Apparently you can get it through the 1 000 000y machines).

 

[MYeager]

Spoiler

Oh yeah there were some real scumbags, I guess my beef is more or a running thing, especially with how the game makes statements about how after killing someone you can't go back and then they point to some human filth that is deserving of the viewer's mercy. It's only a minor thing but it's an aftertaste from Yakuza 5 that has left a bad taste in my mouth especially as it is, as you say, about a system that murders and sells human slaves on a regular basis. Can't act you're higher than that just because you haven't killed anyone.

Spoiler

Oh for sure I agree with you there. I take is more of a leftover from the code of bushido thing, Kiryu is a fighter who solves problems through his fists but the world has moved on from that. So he exists in the system where he can do that, but also tries to adhere to a personal code of honor within a system where that code can vary from family to family within the clan. I thought Y0 though was the best of them though in portraying the Yakuza not as just a bunch of guys in a rough job and with a couple of assholes causing trouble for the rest off them and instead a criminal organization with people who don't all agree with the shit they do.

 

[Blitzrules240]

So I got a

Spoiler

Swiss Watch

from one of the side quests (I think) and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it?

I see that I could sell it for a couple of millions but I'm not sure if I should hold on to it instead?

Searched on google but it only comes up in relation to the Dream Machine (Apparently you can get it through the 1 000 000y machines).

Sell it to a pawn shop for some nice bank.

 

[Remapped88]

Just got my copy today -- 1st Yakuza game, im pretty pumped. anything i should know before starting it up

- Chapter 1 is a bit slow and restricted, the world opens up a bit more in the next chapter!
- There's no Auto-Saving, Saving is at Phone Booths. Also it's a place to store items!
- Read the descriptions of what you equip or else.....
- Down on the D-Pad is to use the weapons you equipped.
- Before a boss fight, you'll get a warning usually before starting it so stock up on some health items.
- Sell any plates you get, you don't need them for anything besides getting money.

Those are just some basic stuff but enjoy!

 

[GodzillaDB]

Although I practically own all of the current installments thus far, I must confess that I've never beaten a single one of the Yakuza adventures and I really want to make amends by riding along the prequel hype train! I'm trying to avoid spoilers whenever possible but I'm complete fine with them for the sake of clarity and I apologize in advance if these questions have been asked previously in the thread. Thank you very much!

01) Are there any timed sub-stories that I need to be aware of in the grand scheme? I'm usually the type of gamer that would prioritize the main storyline over everything else, but I would prefer to avoid missing out on any additional content that might have plot implications or special content. Does it feature a post-game mode that theoretically allows a player to tackle all the side-quests at their leisure or do I need to be mindful of a "point-of-no-return" that locks everything out unless you completely start fresh from a new campaign run?

02) I heard a few folk describing the real estate and cabaret features as being "worth while" in seeking out their completion, but they fell short in explaining the exact value. Do they follow their own side-plots with their respective leads receiving extra back-story/story implications and/or do they simply provide a great opportunity to extra cash in leveling your abilities?

03) Are there any recommended side-quests that I should potentially seek out for new abilities or even maximizing the humorous charm of the world?

04) Bit of an oddball question, but I heard someone criticizing the upcoming re-imagining of the first installment, Kiwami, as the Yakuza equivalent of the Twin Snakes spin on the original Metal Gear Solid. As a fan of the latter series, I get some of the potential critique yet would someone that's heavily accustom to the series be willing to offer their thoughts on the comparison? I originally attempted to kick off my experience with first installment on the PS2. However, my interest waned around a point with tackling side-missions to appease a certain character after someone told me that I needed to completely finish every side activity in order to

Spoiler

access a secret boss encounter close to the end of the game and it had be done prior to finishing the main storyline.

 

[potatohead]

Just got my copy today -- 1st Yakuza game, im pretty pumped. anything i should know before starting it up

Mess around a lot. Punch things. Eat at restaurants. Play arcade games. Have fun.

 

[Megasoum]

LMAO that Ara-Q3 quest hahaha

 

[matrix-cat]

So I got a

Spoiler

Swiss Watch

from one of the side quests (I think) and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it?

I see that I could sell it for a couple of millions but I'm not sure if I should hold on to it instead?

Searched on google but it only comes up in relation to the Dream Machine (Apparently you can get it through the 1 000 000y machines).

Later in the game Majima will be able to give gifts to women to get them to join his Cabaret Club. I don't think Kiryu has any use for this stuff outside of selling it for a few million, though.

 

[wreckml]

- Chapter 1 is a bit slow and restricted, the world opens up a bit more in the next chapter!
- There's no Auto-Saving, Saving is at Phone Booths. Also it's a place to store items!
- Read the descriptions of what you equip or else.....
- Down on the D-Pad is to use the weapons you equipped.
- Before a boss fight, you'll get a warning usually before starting it so stock up on some health items.
- Sell any plates you get, you don't need them for anything besides getting money.

Those are just some basic stuff but enjoy!

Mess around a lot. Punch things. Eat at restaurants. Play arcade games. Have fun.

Awesome, thanks guys!

 

[Nightengale]

01) Are there any timed sub-stories that I need to be aware of in the grand scheme? I'm usually the type of gamer that would prioritize the main storyline over everything else, but I would prefer to avoid missing out on any additional content that might have plot implications or special content. Does it feature a post-game mode that theoretically allows a player to tackle all the side-quests at their leisure or do I need to be mindful of a "point-of-no-return" that locks everything out unless you completely start fresh from a new campaign run?

There are no timed sub-stories, but there are missable story trophies which you can't get unless you replay the story again. There is a post-game mode that allows you to tackle all side content at your leisure.

02) I heard a few folk describing the real estate and cabaret features as being "worth while" in seeking out their completion, but they fell short in explaining the exact value. Do they follow their own side-plots with their respective leads receiving extra back-story/story implications and/or do they simply provide a great opportunity to extra cash in leveling your abilities?

Real Estate and Cabaret are effectively this game's two mega side-quest, complete with interesting characters, story arcs. There's a lot of story here, even if I wouldn't say it's linked to the main plot in a major way. Money is the main reward, but there are other great stuff you can get by completing them both.

Mind you, it's quite time consuming.

03) Are there any recommended side-quests that I should potentially seek out for new abilities or even maximizing the humorous charm of the world?

... I'll get back to you on this.

04) Bit of an oddball question, but I heard someone criticizing the upcoming re-imagining of the first installment, Kiwami, as the Yakuza equivalent of the Twin Snakes spin on the original Metal Gear Solid. As a fan of the latter series, I get some of the potential critique yet would someone that's heavily accustom to the series be willing to offer their thoughts on the comparison? I originally attempted to kick off my experience with first installment on the PS2. However, my interest waned around a point with tackling side-missions to appease a certain character after someone told me that I needed to completely finish every side activity in order to

Spoiler

access a secret boss encounter close to the end of the game and it had be done prior to finishing the main storyline.

Kiwami is absolutely not the Twin Snakes equivalent of Yakuza 1.

 

[Ultimadrago]

Chapter 4:

Spoiler

When Sagawa says expensive Fugu platters and beef can't even compare to 80 yen daikon from a beat-down food truck, wondering what money even is.

I love that line.

 

[Linkura]

Already beat the Cabaret Club subplot, still addicted.

 

[SephLuis]

Although I practically own all of the current installments thus far, I must confess that I've never beaten a single one of the Yakuza adventures and I really want to make amends by riding along the prequel hype train! I'm trying to avoid spoilers whenever possible but I'm complete fine with them for the sake of clarity and I apologize in advance if these questions have been asked previously in the thread. Thank you very much!

01) Are there any timed sub-stories that I need to be aware of in the grand scheme? I'm usually the type of gamer that would prioritize the main storyline over everything else, but I would prefer to avoid missing out on any additional content that might have plot implications or special content. Does it feature a post-game mode that theoretically allows a player to tackle all the side-quests at their leisure or do I need to be mindful of a "point-of-no-return" that locks everything out unless you completely start fresh from a new campaign run?

Tackle side quests at your own leisure. The point of no return is the last part of the game and it warns you of it. All side quests can be done whenever you feel like it once they open up.

Once you finish the game there's a separate mode that you can also do even more optional stuff.

02) I heard a few folk describing the real estate and cabaret features as being "worth while" in seeking out their completion, but they fell short in explaining the exact value. Do they follow their own side-plots with their respective leads receiving extra back-story/story implications and/or do they simply provide a great opportunity to extra cash in leveling your abilities?

Think of them as a gigantic side-quest with it's own story and activities. You also get a boatload of cash by doing those which certainly helps in buying more abilities for the protagonists.

Real estate is something that you manage quickly and wait for the next pay. It becomes faster if you buy a speed up option in the CP shrine. CP are completion points that you get by doing a lot of different things (there's a in game list for how to obtain those).

Cabaret is a mini game which is addictive. You have a more hands-on approach so it's more fun but also more time consuming.

Neither of those are necessary for the main story, but they are good fun.

03) Are there any recommended side-quests that I should potentially seek out for new abilities or even maximizing the humorous charm of the world?

Part of the charm is going in blind and see what can happen in Kamurocho =D

04) Bit of an oddball question, but I heard someone criticizing the upcoming re-imagining of the first installment, Kiwami, as the Yakuza equivalent of the Twin Snakes spin on the original Metal Gear Solid. As a fan of the latter series, I get some of the potential critique yet would someone that's heavily accustom to the series be willing to offer their thoughts on the comparison? I originally attempted to kick off my experience with first installment on the PS2. However, my interest waned around a point with tackling side-missions to appease a certain character after someone told me that I needed to completely finish every side activity in order to

Spoiler

access a secret boss encounter close to the end of the game and it had be done prior to finishing the main storyline.

Kiwami is a remake of Yakuza 1 and it even expands on the original story. It's a very well done remake and I would recommend you playing Kiwami over the original.

It's also incredibly faithful to the original so you're really seeing most of Yakuza 1 story through a new coat of paint. The battle system is lifted from Y0 which is much better than what Y1 had.

If I had a single complaint it would be regarding Majima anywhere system. Majima helps you level up one of your styles so you end up fighting him.....a lot.

Overall, it's an awesome remake and you can pick up once it hits the US.

 

[Alucrid]

took me like 70 hours but i'm done. i await kiwami and 6 now

 

[matrix-cat]

Minor Chapter 13/14ish spoilers:

Spoiler

I've been using the Dragon of Dojima style, so right after the amazing cutscene where Kiryu and Nishiki bro down and do their first tag team shirt-tear-off, as soon as it went into gameplay the Yakuza 1 theme started playing. Felt amazing

Also, all through the big car chase shootout I was wondering how they were going to top the ridiculous boss truck at the end of Yakuza 1's chase. Then the helicopter came out, then all of a sudden I was SHOOTING ROCKETS OUT OF THE AIR WITH MY PISTOL! I love this game.

 

[Edgeward]

How does Majima's slugger weapon master abilities work so that the weapons don't degrade? Do I need to have no heat or do I need 1 bar filled?

 

[sabertoothzombie]

If we liked this game, is Yakuza 4 the next best one to go to gameplay wise (combat, substories, etc. not necessarily story), or will it feel to...restricted, compared to this one?

 

[Mupod]

How does Majima's slugger weapon master abilities work so that the weapons don't degrade? Do I need to have no heat or do I need 1 bar filled?

they prevent durability loss when you have no bars of heat filled. I get most of my mileage out of those on Mr.Shakedown with katanas since they build it slow. I switch to another weapon to burn off heat and keep on slashing away.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Wow this game is brilliant.

 

[Dangansona]

Tachibana is such a baller. I prefer playing as Majima though.

 

[Wheatly]

Spoiler

For Saejima. (his sworn brother who did the 18 men hit)

By being in Tojo clan, Majima wanted to make sure that Saejima will have a place in it if/when he gets out of prison. The bond between Majima and Saejima was pretty close to what you see between Kiryu and Nishiki in this game, so Majima really felt like he had betrayed his brother when he couldn't make it to the hit. If there was even a remote chance that Saejima could get out of prison, Majima felt like he had to be in Tojo clan, so he would be able to help him and atone for his own failure.

The game actually tells you this in early chapters. Though, with the crazy ride that Yakuza 0 is, it's easy to forget that.

Oh yes, this along with the 40-50 hours I spent doing real estate and cabaret clubs

 

[Frimaire]

I just realized that Majima has postcard sidestories as well...
Are there 3 specific stories that work or are there several "extras"?

 

[Ultimadrago]

I just realized that Majima has postcard sidestories as well...
Are there 3 specific stories that work or are there several "extras"?

There are extras, as in more than enough for you to choose correctly.

 

[Mupod]

It's surprisingly hard to find actual information about Kiwami. It still has style switching right? Does Beast style come back? But yeah, really looking forward to it now. I doubt it could possibly have anything more compelling than the cabaret minigame though.

 

[Nightengale]

It's surprisingly hard to find actual information about Kiwami. It still has style switching right? Does Beast style come back? But yeah, really looking forward to it now. I doubt it could possibly have anything more compelling than the cabaret minigame though.

Yes style switch is in Kiwami.

 

[Frimaire]

There are extras, as in more than enough for you to choose correctly.

Damn, I just got the third one. I wonder which other ones would've worked...

 

[Ferrio]

The magazine substory, the game keeps upping itself.

 

[Endless-Bravado]

Hoping someone here can help out. I'm missing one weapon in the "Unorthodox" section, right underneath Venom Spray. And I'm missing two gear pieces in the "Decorative" section underneath Stone of Enduring and Calming Towel. Anyone know what those items are called and hopefully where I can find them?

 

[Young Magus]

The magazine substory, the game keeps upping itself.

This game is making me kick myself in the head for doing so few of the subquest in Yakuza 3 way back when

 

[Jachaos]

If we liked this game, is Yakuza 4 the next best one to go to gameplay wise (combat, substories, etc. not necessarily story), or will it feel to...restricted, compared to this one?

I loved Yakuza 4. It was my first one. It's divided in four chapters. Combat might feel a bit more restricted as you have four different protagonists, each with a single style, so if one of them is not your cup of tea, you're still stuck with that combat for a whole chapter. On the other hand, they're all pretty unique and fun. Chapter 1 is awesome, probably my favourite chapter in the series. I don't remember the substories being as consistently amazing as in Yakuza 0, but there were a lot of gems there still. Lots of stuff to do too.

However, you will be missing quality of life improvements brought in the form of gameplay improvements over time and performance improvement brought by the transition from PS3 to PS4.

 

[cornerman]

Picked up yakuza this week. My first yakuza. Don't know in what order I'm going to play it, with nioh, re7, and horizon on the backburner. Just started TLG, but all the great user reviews of yakuza makes me glad I'm giving it a shot.

 

[Edgeward]

they prevent durability loss when you have no bars of heat filled. I get most of my mileage out of those on Mr.Shakedown with katanas since they build it slow. I switch to another weapon to burn off heat and keep on slashing away.

Ah, good to know, thanks. there is an item that prevents you from gaining heat so the swords will be most useful later on once i have the blocks unlocked.

 

[lucebuce12]

Ah, good to know, thanks. there is an item that prevents you from gaining heat so the swords will be most useful later on once i have the blocks unlocked.

It's important to also get weaponry and equipment from the Dragon and Tiger shop because

Spoiler

you can get "sturdy" versions of weapons which do less damage than usual but have infinite durability.

And once you unlock them with Majima

Spoiler

, you can also buy them with Kiryu in Kamorucho

.

 

[CrichtonKicks]

It's surprisingly hard to find actual information about Kiwami. It still has style switching right? Does Beast style come back? But yeah, really looking forward to it now. I doubt it could possibly have anything more compelling than the cabaret minigame though.

This video is an excellent overview of Kiwami and what to expect though I can't say that I agree with the general suggestion that someone might want to consider playing the PS2 version of the game over Kiwami:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMpdq-6ZgPg

 

[darkwing-buck]

Kuze's Boss Track is simply the best.

 

[Frimaire]

Only the classiest girls at Club Sunshine.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Electronics King is about to go down. It's been a long, arduous battle, and he beat me at Outrun, but he's about to feel the burn of Kazama Kiryu's real estate savvy.

 

[Ultimadrago]

I'm disappointed that more people haven't shown off their Makeover Platinum girls (including myself)!

 

[lucebuce12]

I highly recommend newcomers not view any videos of Kiwami or ruin themselves on the story. It's really something worth experiencing as blind as possible.

If you have any gameplay related questions, I and others in the thread will try our best to answer but just know that if you enjoyed Zero then you will also like Kiwami.

 

[hamsjams]

I'm fairly certain that someone already mentioned it, but the camera direction and writing in Yuki's substory is really perfect. The Cabaret Club portion of this game alone firmly puts most other full games to shame. Yakuza 0 just keeps on giving.

I'm genuinely worried that I will be unable to put Yakuza aside when Breath of the Wild arrives.

 

[Etrian Oddity]

Kuze's Boss Track is simply the best.

Let's listen to it again.

Totally agree. He owned that entire first chapter.

 

[CaptainZombie]

I've played all of the Yakuza games now but 5 since that released when I had sold my PS3 due to having moved on to PS4. I'm so tempted to hunt down a used PS3 so I can play it. Y0 was so awesome and can't wait for Kiwami.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Damn

Yakuza 0 why you gotta make me cry with some tragic fucking irony.

I'm stopping here for today. Im doing more substories of spying on people while doing the cartoon peeking of my head behind cover to wash away my tears