Current Events > Just finished Yakuza 3, and I've noticed a weird recurring thing in these games

(+) Yeah! (+)

There have been numerous instances in which they beat some really bad guy, usually a guy with a gun, and after he's on the ground they make no effort whatsoever to be sure he isn't a threat anymore. Seriously, multiple major characters have literally died because no one could take 5 seconds to go pick up the gun.

It's gotten to the point where basically any time I'm at a big boss fight and the guy has a gun, I already know he's going to get back up and shoot someone after I've beaten him. And it usually happens when all the good guys are standing around talking. It happened several times in Yakuza 3 alone.

Obligatory @CyricZ tag

Taking the gun is not the yakuza way.

Yea, I always found that EXTREMELY annoying.

Legato-and-Vash posted...

Yea, I always found that EXTREMELY annoying.

Honestly I kind of wish I was keeping track. I'm playing though the series and just in the first 3 games this has happened so many times

i wonder if this is paying homage to some other trope?

kiryu already has all the guns he needs

Kiryu should just jump in front of the gun every time, he is functionally invincible

Like, he gets hurt but he does not die

Also I noticed last night when an American guy said Kiryu's name while speaking English it sounded just like "kill you"

Beat me up so I can spill the beans is another one

Yeah it's a hoot.

And you haven't seen the last of those.

In the context of the greater narrative of the series, a gun is something most often used by:

1. Extremely powerful and intelligent individuals who wish to provide example of their power by callously gunning down other characters.
2. Weaklings who need to level the playing field against the titans of the yakuza industry, who prefer to settle things with their muscles and nipples.

And if the story calls for tragedy, it will be brought about most likely by a gun, and there will be willful ignoring of that gun so that the tragedy can occur.

Like obviously I adore this series more than most, but I'm fully aware that it's not high theater in the least.

They are getting better, though.

Trumpo posted...

Beat me up so I can spill the beans is another one

Well one of the most common in just about any circumstance is "You annoy, insult, or otherwise are getting in my way. I'LL KILL YOU."

CyricZ posted...

Well one of the most common in just about any circumstance is "You annoy, insult, or otherwise are getting in my way. I'LL KILL YOU."

lol yeah that one happens a lot

I also like the guys who attack you for being drunk, like they're super offended you would do such a thing

Speaking of, I'm pretty sure Kiryu spends about 90% of the game drunk when I'm playing

eston posted...

Kiryu should just jump in front of the gun every time, he is functionally invincible

Like, he gets hurt but he does not die

You say this but honestly I think it brings up an interesting alternate reading on the series as a whole and it underlines Kiryu's worst character trait: his insistence on shouldering burdens on his own and either refusing help or at least delaying using help until it's absolutely necessary.

One way to read it is that Kiryu knows he's the protagonist of the series. He knows that he's the strongest bravest dude with the most unbreakable back. He's basically Superman.

I often remember that episode of Justice League (Secret Society) where the team is having internal friction and a point Superman makes is that he takes punishment in fights because he's the invulnerable one, and every hit he takes is one the other members don't have to.

That's Kiryu and his own philosophy. He knows he has high HP and the Tiger Drop, so he will put himself in dangerous situations, including situations he's not necessarily prepared for, because he's the protagonist and has to succeed.

This may not be as obvious where you are right now, but trust me, once you get into the latter games (and more protagonists get introduced), this stands out.

eston posted...

Speaking of, I'm pretty sure Kiryu spends about 90% of the game drunk when I'm playing

He doesn't have a problem.

Also a lame thing about Y3 is that to max out your level you really have to grind, and the actual best way to do this is to buy the most expensive alcohol (either at Earth Angel or Shellac) because it gives you the most XP compared to just trolling around for fights.

CyricZ posted...

You say this but honestly I think it brings up an interesting alternate reading on the series as a whole and it underlines Kiryu's worst character trait: his insistence on shouldering burdens on his own and either refusing help or at least delaying using help until it's absolutely necessary.

Oh that reminds me of another recurring trope, the "I have to do this alone" thing. Basically when someone offers to come with and Kiryu flatly turns them down because he has to be the one to defeat the big bad.

CyricZ posted...

He doesn't have a problem.

Also a lame thing about Y3 is that to max out your level you really have to grind, and the actual best way to do this is to buy the most expensive alcohol (either at Earth Angel or Shellac) because it gives you the most XP compared to just trolling around for fights.

It mostly happens because I'm trying to complete all the restaurants, and that means buying a lot of booze. One of the things I really liked about Like a Dragon is how when you get your characters drunk they actually act drunk both when you're walking around and when you're fighting

Toldja. He knows.

And despite all this, Kiryu insists on getting out of the life. It wasn't as obvious in Y2 because he was still living in the city, but in Y3 he gets waaaaay out of the life.

That's the classic contradiction with Kiryu. He'll say he wants to get away from the yakuza life, but he allows himself to be pulled back in.

Also he may just be kinda stupid.

Yeah in 3 he tried to get away, but he was still more of a yakuza than the yakuza in his new home >_>