Yakuza: Where to begin

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Current Events » Yakuza: Where to begin
Should I play the PS2 originals or the remakes instead?
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Start with 0 and go in chronological order.

0 -> Kiwami -> Kiwami 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 6 -> Yakuza: Like a Dragon -> Gaiden -> Infinite Wealth

The old games are very jank. I would only play them after you've played a bunch in the series if you're just curious about the roots.
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NeonPhoenix posted...
Start with 0 and go in chronological order.

The old games are very jank.

This
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Chronological order, but Kiwami 1 and 0 are kinda interchangeable for a starting point honestly. Just play one after the other and you're good.
R_Jackal posted...
Chronological order, but Kiwami 1 and 0 are kinda interchangeable for a starting point honestly. Just play one after the other and you're good.

I started with Kiwami 1 and found the game basically expected me to already be familiar with the main characters and the setting. Context clues got me through four or so hours but I never really gelled because of it.

Then later I try out 0 and find that's where the more typical introductions and setup of the primary cast is made, with K1 in hindsight basically coming off as expecting you to have played 0 first.

For that reason alone (plus 0 all round being better and basically being the "if you only play one Yakuza game make it this one" title) I can't agree they're interchangeable.
Currently Playing: SaGa Emerald Beyond (Switch), Fate/stay night Remastered (Switch)
Start with 0. Not only is it a great game that stands on its own, but it well encapsulates the franchise in general in terms of gameplay and tone. You'll know if the games are for you real quick. The fact that it's a prequel means you don't have to know much at the start of the game beyond the fact that Kiryu works for the Yakuza.

Only downside is that I don't think that Kiwami holds up to 0. Despite being remade in the newer engine, I don't think it plays as well. The story also is a fair bit more basic, although I also think it hit harder after playing 0.
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R_Jackal posted...
Chronological order, but Kiwami 1 and 0 are kinda interchangeable for a starting point honestly. Just play one after the other and you're good.
Nah, Kiwami 1 expects you to be familiar with the combat system when you start it, plus it has new plot threads that continue from 0 like Pocket Racer, and various points where Kiryu makes reference to his Real Estate stuff from 0. Start with 0
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Yes, start with 0. The expectation is to go into Kiwami 1 from 0.
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I heard Sega officially said you should start with Kiwami but most people seem to think Sega is wrong.
Zikten posted...
I heard Sega officially said you should start with Kiwami but most people seem to think Sega is wrong.
Sega is wrong. The Creator said 0 is a great starting point
https://imgur.com/u2HR4nG
yea, I think the person who said start with Kiwami was just trying to promote people buying Kiwami on Switch
I've always felt so overwhelmed even thinking about starting this series because there are so many games.

Are they really worth playing? I have so much to play already.
Ar0ge posted...
I've always felt so overwhelmed even thinking about starting this series because there are so many games.

Are they really worth playing? I have so much to play already.
It's a series you'll slowly play through for like 2 years or so. What's important is that you take your time with the series and play at least 1 other game between entries or so. If you try to blitz thru every game to "catch up", you're gonna burn out real quick because they do all play pretty similarly.

The games arent gonna go anywhere. Just treat the series as something you could dig into when you have nothing to play otherwise and play an entry every couple of months. Take it slow and enjoy it >_>
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Ar0ge posted...
I've always felt so overwhelmed even thinking about starting this series because there are so many games.

Are they really worth playing? I have so much to play already.
The actual main plot can be rushed through. The issue is each game is stuffed with side content that can take countless hours to complete. But its all optional. You can just do the main story and still enjoy it
NeonPhoenix posted...
It's a series you'll slowly play through for like 2 years or so. What's important is that you take your time with the series and play at least 1 game between entries. If you try to blitz thru every game to "catch up", you're gonna burn out.

The games arent gonna go anywhere. Just treat the series as something you could dig into when you have nothing to play otherwise and play an entry every couple of months. Take it slow and enjoy it >_>

Yea, this.

I tried to blitz though 3 - 5 when they came out on PC and got burned out towards the end of 5. I'll probably come back to it pretty soon.

But like everyone says, start with 0. It is the best in the series but only because it came out after 5 and has so much of the good stuff in 5 with none of the bloat. The only game that might be a bit janky is 3 because the combat controls are kind of bad.

Don't bother with the PS2 ones, Kiwami 1 and 2 are just those but WAY better.
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I started with K1 and went back to 0 and didn't really find it that bad. If anything it's good to get the imo weakest one out of the way first then head into one of the best with 0.

But realistically starting with 0 and going chronological is the right move. Just be prepared for a big dip after 0 to K1 then it sky rockets back up with K2
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reincarnator07 posted...
The story also is a fair bit more basic
I was actually really confused about the storytelling before I realized it was a remake of a PS2 game.

Somehow it makes more sense for this guy you've never heard of to be introduced as Kiryu's eternal arch-nemesis like twenty minutes before you fight him and never hear of him again when you think of it as just context for the kung fu level instead of having anything to do with the overall story, lol.
Arguing on CE be all like:
https://youtu.be/JpRKrs67lOs?si=kPGA2RCKVHTdbVrJ
NeonPhoenix posted...
Start with 0 and go in chronological order.

0 -> Kiwami -> Kiwami 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 6 -> Yakuza: Like a Dragon -> Gaiden -> Infinite Wealth

The old games are very jank. I would only play them after you've played a bunch in the series if you're just curious about the roots.
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Ar0ge posted...
I've always felt so overwhelmed even thinking about starting this series because there are so many games.

Are they really worth playing? I have so much to play already.
After only beating the first 2: yes absolutely. I can't think of any other games that quite match the tone and energy of Yakuza and I think the stories are legit good. I also enjoy the gameplay and all the minigames.

Each game's story is fairly self contained. While there's references to the other games, it's not like you're locked out because you dared to play 1 before 3. If you're even remotely interested, I'd recommend trying 0. The story is self contained, you don't need to have played any other games, it's one of the better entries in the franchise and it's usually really cheap. I don't think I paid more than fiver for it and got 50 hours out of it without even no life-ing the side content.
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Ar0ge posted...
I've always felt so overwhelmed even thinking about starting this series because there are so many games.

Are they really worth playing? I have so much to play already.
Yes absolutely worth it. No need to stress over playing all of the games asap though. They aren't going anywhere. As others have said just take your time with it. The games have a serious main story, but really wacky side quests. It's a fun contrast.
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by the time you go through every Yakuza game, you turn into a skeleton. lol
beware of 3 if you don't want hell difficulty. it's the minigames.... goddamn expert pool :(.
currently playing: nickelodeon kart racers 3: slime speedway (daily until disc arrives)
RIP Sophie the dog: February 2011-april 2024. we'll miss you alot.
0 - 8 is the main story, with the new era starting at 7. it has characters from the classic era in it. you'll be less hyped in some moments in the newer games and have less attachment to certain things if you start with 7, but you can still do so if you want.

start with 0 tho and go forward until you need a break.
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I actually started with 7 and have gone back and tried to play some of the originals. I enjoyed it thoroughly without the history.
Problem of starting with 0 is that it is so much better than 1 and 2 that the experience playing through these is pretty bad.
The only thing that's kinda of a mood whiplash is the engines of each game. 0 and Kiwami both have the same engine. Kiwami 2 and 6 have the same engine, which was their more updated "Dragon engine". 3-5 remastered all are PS3 games so they don't look bad but they also don't play perfectly either.

And as far as I know, 7 and beyond continue using the dragon engine from Kiwami 2 and 6.
http://i.imgur.com/MP7ZznH.jpg
I forget if it's K1 or K2 but one of the two of them had this puzzle pool minigame, and it was hell.

The first few were fine, and relatively fun/only a little annoying.

Then there was this one where you had to jump the cue ball off a literal ramp over an obstruction, land it on top of another ball and knock that ball in this certain pocket, and that was just insanity. 3's expert pool ain't got nothing on it. I gave it a couple of tries but then I was just like screw this.
Arguing on CE be all like:
https://youtu.be/JpRKrs67lOs?si=kPGA2RCKVHTdbVrJ
ReturnOfDevsman posted...
I forget if it's K1 or K2 but one of the two of them had this puzzle pool minigame, and it was hell.

The first few were fine, and relatively fun/only a little annoying.

Then there was this one where you had to jump the cue ball off a literal ramp over an obstruction, land it on top of another ball and knock that ball in this certain pocket, and that was just insanity. 3's expert pool ain't got nothing on it. I gave it a couple of tries but then I was just like screw this.
0 also has puzzle pool
pkmnlord posted...
3-5 remastered all are PS3 games so they don't look bad but they also don't play perfectly either.


can easily fuck up pool shot :(.

wish i listened but it was too late (had to play them anyway).
currently playing: nickelodeon kart racers 3: slime speedway (daily until disc arrives)
RIP Sophie the dog: February 2011-april 2024. we'll miss you alot.
3 Remastered's pool physics are a little fucked up cuz they increased the framerate from 30 to 60, but didnt update the gameplay logic, so you might see goofy things like plants swaying twice as fast, heat bar draining twice as fast, and the pool accuracy being off. The rest of the game plays fine otherwise (...well as fine as 3 can play >_>)
https://imgur.com/u2HR4nG
NeonPhoenix posted...
3 Remastered's pool physics are a little fucked up cuz they increased thr framerate from 30 to 60, but didnt update the gameplay logic, so you might see goofy things like plants swaying twice as fast, heat bar draining twice as fast, and the pool accuracy being off. The rest od the game plays fine otherwise (...well as fine as 3 can play >_>)
I wish devs would go back and fix shit like that. There is no way they don't know about the bug. They just never felt like devoting time to fixing it
NeonPhoenix posted...
3 Remastered's pool physics are a little fucked up cuz they increased the framerate from 30 to 60, but didnt update the gameplay logic, so you might see goofy things like plants swaying twice as fast, heat bar draining twice as fast, and the pool accuracy being off. The rest of the game plays fine otherwise (...well as fine as 3 can play >_>)
My favorite is Kiryu walking up to the table and getting in position in like 2/3 of a second.
Arguing on CE be all like:
https://youtu.be/JpRKrs67lOs?si=kPGA2RCKVHTdbVrJ
Is it still possible to complete the pool in yakuza 3 remastered?
Zikten posted...
Is it still possible to complete the pool in yakuza 3 remastered?
Yeah. It's tricky but it's doable.

Protip: use a ruler.
Arguing on CE be all like:
https://youtu.be/JpRKrs67lOs?si=kPGA2RCKVHTdbVrJ
Zikten posted...
Is it still possible to complete the pool in yakuza 3 remastered?
Yeah but it's really annoying. There's probably mods to fix it though
https://imgur.com/u2HR4nG
NeonPhoenix posted...
Yeah but it's really annoying. There's probably mods to fix it though
No use for console players though unfortunately
Zikten posted...
No use for console players though unfortunately
I think the Xbox version might be okay, but the PS4 and PC versions are definitely fucked up
https://imgur.com/u2HR4nG
Here's a good video going over all the ports of 3, 4, and 5 and their differences and faults

https://youtu.be/8pGC0YTA2tI?feature=shared

Only 3's port is a little fucked up. 4 and 5 are fine outside of some minor stuff afaik
https://imgur.com/u2HR4nG
Current Events » Yakuza: Where to begin