Entertainment | 5 min
The Call of Kamurocho For over fifteen years, the Yakuza saga (now officially known as Like a Dragon in the West) has captivated millions of players around the world. Blending serious and moving criminal drama with absurd humor and unlikely mini-games, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has created a truly unique formula. With the massive success of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and the live-action series adaptation on Prime Video, the franchise has never been more popular. It's the perfect universe to test your personality! The world of Yakuza is brimming with iconic characters who hold radically different philosophies of life. On one side, we have legendary figures guided by a strict code of honor, ready to sacrifice everything to protect their loved ones. On the other, unpredictable free spirits, and more recently, unlikely heroes with infectious optimism who see life as one giant role-playing game. Each character brings a different shade to the ruthless world of the yakuza. In this ultimate ...
The Evolution of a Legendary Saga The Yakuza series, now known worldwide by its original name Like a Dragon (Ryu Ga Gotoku) , is a true gaming anomaly. What started in 2005 as a crime drama spiritually descended from Shenmue has transformed into one of the richest and most beloved franchises in the industry. The studio's stroke of genius was marrying dramatic storytelling worthy of the best yakuza films by Kinji Fukasaku with an urban open world teeming with life, unlikely side activities, and deeply Japanese humor. This constant duality is the DNA of the series. You can go from a heart-wrenching cutscene about betrayal and honor to a side mission where you must infiltrate a cult of people dressed as babies. It's this richness of tone that makes Kamurocho (and later Isezaki Ijincho and Hawaii) feel so alive and endearing. Two Eras, Two Heroes The passing of the torch from Kazuma Kiryu to Ichiban Kasuga marks a major turning point in the franchise's history, both narratively and in terms of gameplay. "A hero isn't someone who never falls, but someone who always gets back up." Kazuma Kiryu represents the old guard. He is the symbol of the series' classic beat-'em-up gameplay: a solitary fighter, stoic, carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He embodies a romanticized code of honor of the noble yakuza, ready to sacrifice himself for the orphans at Sunflower. His tragedy is wanting to leave a criminal world that desperately clings to him. On the other hand, Ichiban Kasuga , introduced in Yakuza: Like a Dragon (the 7th installment), brings a radically refreshing change. An absolute Dragon Quest fan, he sees the world through the lens of an RPG. Where Kiryu fought alone, Ichiban fights with his "party" — his friends. He's not an invincible legendary dragon, but a down-on-his-luck outsider with a big heart who believes in the power of redemption. This protagonist change was brilliantly accompanied by a gameplay shift, moving from pure action to turn-based RP...
18 questions