Yakuza (video game)

Yakuza (Japanese龍が如く, Ryu ga Gotoku, dt "Like a Dragon ") is a by Sega for the PlayStation 2 developed and marketed action-adventure game from the year 2005.

Although in Asia very successful and praised internationally by the press, the game (Subtitles English dubbing, plus in several languages) sold in the West, despite the complete localization and a large-scale advertising campaign is not as expected.

In 2007, a film adaptation of this material appeared with the name Like a Dragon, directed by Takashi Miike.

A successor, Yakuza 2, was released in Japan on December 7, 2006 under the title Ryu ga Gotoku 2, which was not published until the end of September 2008 in the USA and Europe. For the PlayStation 3 now appeared Ryu ga Gotoku an offshoot called Kenzan, which plays in the Japanese Middle Ages, as well as Ryu ga Gotoku 3 On 18 March 2010 appeared in Yakuza 4!; Ryu ga Gotoku 5 2012

Action

The game tells of the life of Kazuma Kiryu, a member of the Tojo Clan of the local Yakuza.

After he went for his best friend, Akira " Nishiki " Nishikiyama jail and is released after ten years, Kazuma must recognize that changed during his absence some in the fictional Tokyo district Kamurocho ( a replica of Kabukicho, a district of Shinjuku ) has. Due to the crime that has taken it upon themselves Kazuma, he is with the Yakuza no longer welcome, so he decides to visit his old flame Yumi Sawamura, only to find that it is swallowed by the earth. Finally, it turns out that Nishiki, whose sentence he served, meanwhile, is even boss of a clan. Ambition and megalomania have changed him and he is even the most ruthless means necessary to gain dominion over the underworld Kamurochos.

The supremacy of the Tojo Clan in the Yakuza is fragile and including united clans have been fighting for quite some time for power and influence. This power struggle, however, could soon come to an end because the Tojo Clan were ten billion yen stolen. The party who manages to find the money, can provide the leadership to the underworld Kamurochos.

Gameplay

Yakuza often have to put up with comparisons to Sega's Shenmue series, which is no coincidence: Toshihiro Nagoshi, who was also involved in Shenmue, was a producer and supervisor of the game ( and all the sequel ).

As in Shenmue, the player can move in a restricted interactive world he like open-world games like the Grand Theft Auto saga, can freely explore. In order to advance the story, Kazuma accepts orders from NPCs. These end, not infrequently, in a slugfest.

As in Shenmue, typical adventure elements change with action-packed sequences from melee. Here, the player must defeat one or more opponents by performing martial arts attacks or by the use of objects as a weapon to progress. Furthermore him are S. G. "Heat " attacks available that cause a great deal of damage, however, may only be made if a designated bar, the "Heat Gauge", is filled accordingly. The more " Heat" you have, the more devastating are the resulting possible attacks. "Heat" is obtained by successfully executing combos and defeat foes. As the game can Kazumas skills like his punching power or speed can be increased by leveling up through experience points, he also encounters people who can teach him additional combat techniques.

Away from jobs and fighting Yakuza offers a glimpse into the nightlife of a major Japanese city with its amusement arcades, pubs, cabarets and casinos. All of these places enrich the gameplay through various mini-games. Unique to Japan is particularly the dialogue with hostesses who, depending on the response, react differently and even fall in love with Kazuma.