Yakuza recommendation

Bebador

Hi guys,

Just got xbox game pass and there is a very broad backlog of Yakuza games. I never played any of them and always wanted to. Any recommendations for which would be the 1st/better to start playing? I know is a long running series and that the story is complicated, but I dont really mind losing part of the story, so it doesn’t have to be the 1st canonical game in the time line.

Thanks, Andy

yeso

I think there are two routes you can go depending on your own personal #gamingpreferences

A - play in order of story chronology (start with zero, then kiwami 1, kiwami 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

B - start with kiwami 1, then kiwami 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 0, 7

The reason I’d present option B is that kiwami 1 is a dressed-up PS2 game, so looks and feels stiffer and has less stuff in it, so it’s essentially a step back from 0. If you think that going from arguably the best game in the series (0) to the most aged would sour you, then choose option B. If you’re ok with that, then go option A

yeso

I guess if you’re going to start with Kiwami 1, then it doesn’t really matter when you play 0 other than the callbacks and reframing it does as a prequel will be more satisfying the more of the series you’ve played. The dilemma is how long you want to wait to play 0 bc it’s a great game

exodus

I 1000000% recommend starting with Zero because it’s great and will make you want to play more of them. then you can go in order after that and watch the series slowly decline but still enjoy it anyway.

xhekros

exodus Yeah, and ironically (and atm) is where I like Kiryu the best. He’s so fish out of the water sometimes that it helps build not only comedy but also some great dramatic moments. I guess this is why I also love Ichiban as a character so much, too.

JCP

exodus What do you consider to be elements of decline in the series? I’ve played every single one including the PS2/Japan only games and feel like with Lost Judgment it continues to iterate and improve in a lot of ways.

Bebador

Great will start with Zero then, from what you are both saying is the best in the series. Would rather start from that one then rather than build expectations as not sure I will be able to play them all anyway so would rather start with it.

Gracias!

yeso

JCP elements of decline

you didn’t ask me but for sake of discussion imo it’s the slide into self-reference/self-regard and “positivity.” Better when it’s straight ahead, uncomplicated melodrama I think

tanuki

I played them in this order: 3, 4, Dead Souls, Judgment, 0, Kiwami, Kiwami 2, 5 Remastered, 6

I started with 3 and got hooked for years so that must work. But everyone will tell you to start with 0. There’s a lot to like in 5 but it’s the longest and most poorly paced so that’s the only definitely wrong place to start.

And reflecting on the writing and quality a bit, there are strong games and weaker ones but there’s no pattern of decline over time in my opinion. I will definitely try Like a Dragon but I am not sure I want an RPG.

JCP

tanuki I’ve heard the sentiment echoed for quite some time now that Like A Dragon is a totally different game from the rest of the series though I will say the only thing that has changed is the combat. I consider every single Yakuza game a JRPG and Like A Dragon shares every element established in pervious games. If you don’t much care for turn-based combat than you might not like it. However I found the system to be more action’y if that makes sense. It feels like an extension of the beat ‘em up combat but you’re just selecting commands.

JoJoestar

0 is a good place to start, with the only problem that you’re going to play one of the best games in the whole series first, and that might set up the wrong expectations, the jump from 0 to Kiwami 1 is harsh if you don’t know what you’re getting into, but otherwise it’s a good choice. You’ll also probably miss a couple of things related to Majima that are a bit hard to understand if you haven’t played 4.

A lot of people got into the series by doing 3 or 4 first, and watching the extensive and well done story summaries of the other games included, then went on from there. And if nothing else, there is emulating the PS2 games.

There is no clear cut go to solution in this case imho, and probably the best way to go is pick whatever game you happen to have access to for whatever reason and just jump into it.

billy

Order A (actual recommendation): 0, K1, K2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, J, LJ

As noted by many, this is probably your best bet. There will be a downward bump in quality between K2 and 3, but you’ll soon get over it since 3 is so good anyway. Judgment and Lost Judgment are of course optional but you’ll want to play them anyway so visit those once you’re done with the main series. Visit other spin-offs once you’re done too.

Order B (connoisseur recommendation): 1, 2, 3, 4, DS, 5, 0, K1, 6, K2, J, 7, LJ

The originals on PS2 still hold up, and playing in order of release gives a smoother technological progression. Kiwami 1 & 2 (and soon Ishin!) vary enough from their source material that it’s worth experiencing the differences. Language barrier permitting, insert any of the spin-offs in their appropriate places too. I like Dead Souls, stupid as it is.

Playing 0 after 4 / 5 gives a very different perspective on the story and I love that it can be experienced in both contexts. You’ll get a “so THAT’S what happened!” moment whichever order you go with, either in 4 or 0, with a certain part of a certain character’s past explored over the course of multiple games. Super clever. See you in five years.

xhekros

billy Also, the good part about the Judgment/Lost Judgment or the spinoffs is that you can play them whenever you want, and Judgment imo feels really good to punch and progress in the game.

Kez

billy Order B (connoisseur recommendation): 1, 2, 3, 4, DS, 5, 0, K1, 6, K2, J, 7, LJ

Currently three games into this order and I can recommend it so far. I really love the PS2 aesthetic, way more than later games.

I only have room in my life for one of these games around every year or two so it’s gonna be a long journey.

I have this feeling that 2 might end up my favourite game of the series, but also I think it will probably be 0.

JCP

yeso I think I might get what you mean though even Lost Judgment has its fair share of melodrama. By positivity do you mean the game’s more comedic tone it takes in the side stories or perhaps a message reinforced in the main narrative? Thinking back on literally every game I’d say that’s been a constant of Yakuza storytelling. Anything self referential is there to establish its connections to past games with returning characters and story elements. I personally quite like this approach as it allows you to see a character’s journey through multiple games and judging by the two new sequels that have been announced I’d wager they’re doubling down on that.

JoJoestar

In my personal experience Judgment can be slightly disappointing from the perspective of a longtime fan that has grown attached to a particular style of humor and tone, so perhaps that’s a good place to start as well, you’ll get to grow attached to Kamurocho and its multiple layers of shenanigans the other way around.

Danimal

Damn now I’m having to rethink my play order too. I’ve only played Kiwami 1 so far, but after I beat that I bought the rest of the series. I was thinking I should go back and play 0 next, but if 0 also works well sometime after playing 4, then I might want to just play Kiwami 2 next…

So considering I already beat Kiwami 1, which of these paths makes more sense?

K1, 0, K2, 3, 4, 5, 6
or
K1, K2, 3, 4, 5, 0, 6

JoJoestar

Yeso is a cold slavic 58 year old man that doesn’t enjoy being exposed to positive feelings too directly (just kidding yeso please don’t be mad).

Danimal Going for Kiwami 2 is what makes more sense here if you have already finished K1 I would say. Play 0 after finishing either 4 or 5.

billy

Danimal In your situation, my recommendation would be to insert 0 after either 4 or 5 and experience that little cluster together.

IN FACT, people quite often get bored by the long detours taken during 5 where the gameplay significantly deviates from the norm for hours at a time. Should that happen to you, it would also be acceptable to play 0 during 5.

yeso

JCP By positivity

I’m thinking of the goldfish brain “just do your best” lazy positivity in 7, particularly around its completely sanitized “support” of the homeless and sex
workers. Also the series increasing reliance on having to “redeem” every character. And the humor gradually goes from more understated to laying it
on bit too thick imo

The goofy crime soap opera aspect is fine

JoJoestar doesn’t enjoy being exposed to positive feelings too directly

it’s more that I don’t trust them

exodus

JCP sorry, finally saw this a year later - by decline, I don’t mean a full decline, there are peaks and valleys, but 0 is the best and tightest, and none of the rest reach that level. What I actually mean by decline is narrative and structural tightness. All the sunsequent games either meander, or retread, or try to focus on too many characters and events, and sort of lose the major plot. Also keep in mind 0 was released right before yakuza 6, so it adds all the lessons learned mechanically, menu-wise, etc from prior yakuza games. (and as an aside 6 is annoying for pushing the “let’s put Haruka in a bad situation her character wouldn’t actually want” narrative to its furthest).

They’re all good though!

tanuki

JCP okay! Well this thread and this week’s news have made me finally sit down with the first 90 minutes of Like a Dragon. It’s so into storytelling so far that I can’t really comment on the new combat yet.

xhekros

JoJoestar Yeso is a cold slavic 58 year old man that doesn’t enjoy being exposed to positive feelings too directly (just kidding yeso please don’t be mad).

Gotta say that’s the best trolling moment I ever got and I laughed so hard after discovering it.

JCP

yeso That’s understandable. I enjoyed 7’s positivity and I know it resonated with a lot of people as well. Yakuza game stories are incredibly heavy-handed though I appreciate their honesty. It really wants to tell you how honorable it is to be a funny crime man when we know in reality organized crime is the worst.

It’s a sort of fantasy that is elevated by the melodrama and having character redemptions further solidifies it as a goofy soap opera. Maybe I’m just a sucker for this stuff because I find this series infectious with just how much meaningful gameplay and story it gives you time and time again. Like I can’t say there’s a single game I’ve regretted playing because they’re all so good.

JoJoestar

yeso it’s more that I don’t trust them

Would you trust me if I said you’re the coolest gamer grandpa I know

Danimal

billy interesting.. I was assuming that 0 only had callbacks (call-forwards?) to Yakuza 1 and 2, but if it ties in that well with 4 and 5, then maybe it does make sense for me to wait and play it later. Thanks for the reccomendation!

billy

Danimal yeah, 0 is most closely linked to 4 story-wise. callbacks to 1&2 are mostly superficial.