Yakuza is the closest thing videos games have to a soap opera. The series follows Kazuma Kiryu, an honorable yakuza who just can’t seem to get a break, even after he’s left organized crime. People chop off fingers, throw punches, sing karaoke, cry and eat sushi. When you’re not caught up in the main story, you can do side quests in the neon-lit district of Kamurocho, a fictional entertainment district of Tokyo.
Apparently Yakuza series are not that famous outside of Japan, but since I had the coolest Japanese roommate in college and got totally addicted, so I have decided to do a review. Here are my picks of Yakuza series:
Yakuza Kiwami
Plot: Kiryu’s rise among the yakuza ends when he accepts blame for a murder his best friend committed. Out of the jail 10 years later, he is pulled into a massive conspiracy involving theft of 10 billion yen. Along the way, he meets a young girl looking for her a long lost mother. Yes, it does sound a little like a soap opera, but its cool nevertheless.
The best part: Yakuza Kiwawi gives a ton of additional story that expands on the villain’s motivations, helping create one of the best antagonist ever.
The worst part: This game doesn’t have as many side quests or activities as other Yakuza ones.
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Plot: As tensions rise between two yakuza clans, Kiryu is called in to prevent would be huge gang war that could devastate Tokyo. This places him on a collision course with a gangster called Ryuji Goda, who is supposedly as strong as Kiryu himself or maybe even stronger.
The best part: The final boss fight is the best in the entire series.
The worst part: Daigo Dojima, the would-be heir to the Tojo Clan, is the most annoying dickhead and a little prick, rather unappealing as a future leader of such a respected clan. (He gets better later on)
So give them a try, if you haven’t played them yet, its totally worth it.
Ellie x
RetroLovers 