Yakuza

... Well, you know, you made a good choice playing another open world game because the game we're going to talk about today also has very, very large open world elements, even though the map itself, not that big. Yakuza Kiwami for really all current systems, but also the original Yakuza for the PlayStation 2. As we start the show, this is a patron requested game. And so we have the patrons requested Yakuza Eddie here on the phone. ...

... Does it have mileage to it? Does it create intrigue about a future for the game? Because yeah, strong fundamentals, but a long way to go for marathon. So yes, now Matthew to talk about quite a lot of controversial games in this episode for whatever reason. But Yakuza Kiwami 3 plus Dark Ties, the remake of the third Yakuza game that released back on the PS3 has been remastered since then I think is genuine generally considered not a low point for the series, but not a high point. So what's the deal here? I hadn't…

... (upbeat music) - Yakuza baby, Yakuza. We had Yakuza in this slot, but we are deleting it. ...

... But I think that's a good segue to one of the other new releases that, that I was in contention for. The topic, uh, Yakuza kawami, which I've always found unbelievably stellar. I think sometimes they appear to be a little more remastery than remakes, but they feel crystallized and whatever era that was PS2, PS3, but then you get these very pretty versions of these intricately silly games and, and just lovable games. And then, uh, Yakuza kawami three plus dark ties hits this month.

... It does a lot. But yeah, it's just it's the you know, it's a real star of Persona 4 Golden, so it has to go in. OK. All right. Like a dragon, then, slash Yakuza. What do we pick here? Because depending on the game you pick, that depends on which one or two or three locations you end up with. I feel like it has to have Kamurocha at the core. Yeah. Agree. Because I still think that's the best the best area they've done. ...

system can really make the game a lot tougher. And maybe we should kind of move on to the combat of the game. Yep, for sure. Talking about it. Um, so James, of course, this is your first time playing a Yakuza style game. Uh, if you play as Yagami, he feels more like on the athletic side of characters, like the likes of Akiyama and that, uh, that one cup from Yakuza four as well, right? A lighter character that, uh, that that's quick on their feet and moves around a lot and does a lot of quick kicks. Akiyama has…

about him as well. Like they become adults. And then like, they, they say like all the day after we went back to the grave and it was like a drawing left from Haruto who's Haruka's son. And that's the kid that is like a rugby ball in Yakuza 6. If anyone remembers the scene where they're like throwing this baby around. Which is Yakuza 6 is still a really weird one for me. This this this little boy is like I think he's like four or five now in Gaiden. And he's drawn this picture. And like Kiru just like at this…

... Yes, it's true. I've just got to log off really. Yeah. So I mean, the other thing that you know, we had you on the podcast to talk about besides destiny, of course, was the Yakuza games. And you know, you are an authority on the subject. And I'd love to know if your rankings have changed since he first appeared on the podcast almost five years ago, I think you put Yakuza five as your number one. I think that's right. That is correct. I went back and checked. So I did a top five and I put Yakuza five at the top.…

- It's a bit of a mini boss week here on Axe the Blood God and the Random Encounter Pool as we got only three, or four, four subject lines but boy howdy, we'll try not to discuss them too much. There's Yakuza 3 drama, in case you haven't been following it, Yakuza 3 Kiwami with dark tides is coming, or dark ties, excuse me, the ties are dark. ...

... Toshihiro Nogoshi's new studio announced their first major game, which Saturn crossed out Great Value Yakuza and wrote Gang of Dragon. ...

... But in terms of being like a more cursed artifact and maybe actually this could qualify for the, oh my God, I hope no one walks in while I'm playing this award. Pirate Yakuza has like a FMV side quest where the chef of your boat looks for love and dates always win them. ...

... It's now getting a release and a release for the PC, but it's being released within a brand new game. So Yakuza series, there's Yakuza Kiwami, I think that's it, Freecoming and Dark Ties. ...