There is too much Yakuza. I’m sorry, let me rephrase that. There is too much 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Like a Dragon.
As someone who has been playing the series since the early PS3 days, decrying the lack of support in the West as Yakuza 3 saw swathes of content removed and Yakuza 5 took years to receive even a digital release, I have spent my fair share of time in the trenches. To see it receive global success with the masterful launch of Yakuza 0 warmed my heart. Ever since we have been seeing a minimum of at least one new game in the series a year, whether it be a new entry, spin-off, remaster, or remake. Sega is not taking its foot off the gas, the series is fast becoming its biggest cash cow alongside 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Sonic the Hedgehog. But I just can’t keep up.
Since the Western release of Yakuza 0 in 2017, we hav♓e seen Yakuza 6, Yakuza Kiwami, Kiwami 2, Judgment, Lost Judgment, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Like a Dragon: Ishin, Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and remasters for Yakuza 3, 4, and 5, with Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth right around the corner.
This oversaturation began with the release of Yakuza: Like A Dragon, otherwise known as the seventh numbered entry in the series. It was released on all platforms bar the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo Switch, and after the success of Yakuza 0 it was obviously Sega’s attempt at not only trying to rebrand the series for Western audiences, but to establish it as a major player no longer existing as a niche PlayStation exclusive that barely makes it outside of Japan. It was a big deal, complete with English dubbing, a reinvented combat system, and a whole new ho𒆙st of characters set to leave original protagonist Kazuma Kiryu behind. Until he returned in a ൩cameo. And Like a Dragon Gaiden. And the upcoming Infinite Wealth. The torch passed and all that.
Sadly, there have been so many other games on my p♍late and an abundance of Yakuza to get through that I just haven’t had the time nor motivation to commit to it. Ishin, a remaster for a PS4 launch title that fans believed would never leave Japan, has me screaming at the screen upon its reveal, but I’ve barely made a dent since its release in early 2023. The same goes for Lost Judgment and the Yakuza 3, 4, 5 remasters. I keep telling myself that I will put aside time and catch up on a series that means the world to me, but aside from the shorter Gaiden ahead of Infinite Wealth, I’ve managed nothing. It doesn’t help that Sega is eager to let us know how big these games really are. Awash with new content and modes alongside comprehensive narratives that take upward of 50 hours to complete.
Most of that time is well spent, and I’ve heard so many friends and colleagues sing out the praises of recent entries, but goodness me is actually stepping once more into the breach intimidating. I’m afraid there is now too much lore to catch up on, or I’ll simply be lost jumping into Infinite Wealth with its Animal Crossing-inspired side activities and luscious Hawaii setting. There is not enough tim꧅e to catch up before then, so maybe I’ll just grit my teeth and jump in without fear. I do that or my backlog for the foreseeable future becomes nothing but Yakuza.
Sega has engineered this series to accommodate regular releases without feeling lazy or inspired either. Its authentic but occasionally exaggerated recreations of real world places and existing characters mean that mechanics and stories can be effectively iterated upon with each new game while still feeling fresh. Yes, it reuses assets all the time, but Sega is framing this creative technique in a way that never seems like titles are being rushed out when they aren’t ready. It’s the exact opposite, which ma𓃲kes my failure to keep up all the more damning. One day, with a huge amount of luck and time, I’ll be able to catch up.
