Two hours into this game and I can't believe I'm only discovering this series now. Went completely under my radar all these years and might've remained there if I didn't buy it on a whim because it was on sale.
Anyway what're some good tips for someone who's never played a Yakuza game before? Which fighting style should I focus on upgrading, are the mini-games worth my time, sidequest info, etc.?
the substories are all worth doing if you run into them. the funny ass characters you meet are like half of the game's appeal.
>tfw I am starting with Kiwami
Then again people said 0 is better so I guess I'm not missing out much if I play it later.
Do what you want, it's not a difficult game.
This game is amazing. I was hooked the moment Kuze kicks Kiryu out. The music hits and then Kiryu kicks everyone's ass. Fuck it's so good.
100% is only for turbo autist, but you should do all 100 substories. Besides the two bigger mini games bound to it, it's not as much as you think it is. Also you can't miss them, after beating the game every one skipped will be unlocked.
While K1 is a remake of the first one it also feels like an addon to 0. So yeah, if you like it 0 is even better.
>Which fighting style should I focus on upgrading
Any style, health/power upgrades are most important. If you want to upgrade everything just farm Mr. Shakedown with zap guns because he's the best source of money, he gives you more money the more progress you have with his story.
>are the mini-games worth my time, sidequest info, etc.
Yes
>it's no good.. his pupils are dilated
>HEY what are gonna do about the dilated pupils ehhh??
Thanks. Already did the yanki substory which had some pretty funny writing, and got some nice armour for it as well, so it looks like those are definitely worth my time.
How about gameplay? It's mostly cutscenes and fighting for now. Is there a lot of fighting in the game because I really enjoyed the level leading up to Kuze where you fight wave after wave of mooks. Are there lots of sequences like that? Because those random streetfights don't really come close to that.
side quest are the best, part they are fun entertaining and engaging. Unlike the western counterpart that feels like extra errand boy shit.
You will learn a skill to avoid street fights at some point.
You get lots of fighting by doing substories and main story. After chapter 8 is where shit gets intense and there are 17 chapters in the game.
Courage.
Honor.
Brotherhood.
Loyalty
Kino.
You should leave before people will spoil the game for you
But I'll say that you should always pick black
Go out and eat at every restaurant.
Be advised that the Yanki substory might give you the signed book or whatever it's called
Don't equip it unless you want enemies to act like cracked out Bruce Lees
funny
playing kiwami right now and most substories are substandard imo
they're mostly
>bump into a group of baddies
>NEVER SHOULD HAVE COME HERE
>either pay up or fight
>rinse and repeat
0 has better substories, but still mxied bag overall, some are good, great even, others are just and mediocre
The best way to enjoy the game is going with the flow.
If you're walking through the streets for the next story mission and suddenly you're stopped by a substory, do it.
If you're infront of the arcades and you're feeling like playing Outrun, play it.
Immerse yourself and you'll truly enjoy the game.
I got the Wild Shirt which raises my defence but there's no mention of it affecting enemies. Can't see a signed book or anything in my inventory either, maybe you get it from a later yanki subevent? I got the feeling that wouldn't be the only time I see them for the rest of the game.
You have to remember that those were the first substories ever because it was the first game
0 came out after they had the experience of making 10 Yakuza (and spinoffs) games so naturally, it's much better in every single way
The reward you get for each substory varies on how you did in the substory, that's why I said "might"
That means that the choices you make during the substories affect the reward
It's nothing to really sweat about, most rewards aren't special and won't be really missed
Except for what I said here There will be a few, I think 2, substories where you pick black or white
Picking Black is the better option for those times
>Went completely under my radar all these years
That's because 0 is the only one worth a damn so no one but only the hardest of the hardcore weebs talked about the games.
OP here, when I'm done with 0 which game do I play next?
I gather 0 is like a prequel so it works as a jumping in point, but I assume I should play the series in chronological order after this?
Don't really want to skip games just because they feel dated, so I'm fine with playing the PS2 titles if that's the way to go.
I want to get in to this series.
Which game should I play first?.
Hell the quality of substories increased dramatically with Yakuza 2.
Kiwami
Kiwami 2
3
4
5
6
There's also spinoffs like the zombies, samurais and Hokuto no Ken
Play Mahjong Kyodai
>Movie games BAD!
>Yakuza games GOOD!
>The story is good
>The characters are likeable
>The gameplay is fun
Yup, I agree. Yakuza games are good movie games.
Kiwami
2
3
4
5
6
Kiwami 2
The jump down to the PS2 game engine isn't going to be as drastic as some people will make it out to be and it's a good idea to visit Yakuza 2 at some point anyway because Kiryu's combat in 3-5 are a more polished version of 2's combat which is already fun. Kiwami 2 uses 6's style of combat which is very different from past games, personally I enjoy it but I hate the lack of being able to chain different grapple moves into my combos.
>perpetually stuck at rank 25
>my opponents always Ron me
>I can never pull off a Ron because they know the piece I need and never discard it, so my Riichi always end up in draws, or some jagoff Tsumos
Fuck Mahjong.
You're playing the best one right now and it's downhill from here except 2
I recommend 2 over Kiwami 2, personally, because of some artistic choices they've made with the music selection which really felt jarring at times
I'm also not a big fan of the new engine they've used on Kiwami 2
But funny enough, I prefer Kiwami to 1 because the added cutscenes really flesh out the protagonist, the fighting is better since they use the same fighting as they do in 0 and the dub of 1 is a wild card because some love it for how ridiculous it is and some hate it
4 is also cool
And I really didn't like 5 and 6
The antagonist*
My bad
Kiwami 1 is a direct sequel to Yakuza 0 and even continues on with some of the substories and has Cutscenes from 0 in it.
I like the engine itself but they should've saved it for when the PS5 came out and did a similar thing with Kenzan where it's tested on a spinoff game THEN used on a mainline entry once they're more used to it. 6 was lacking in so many features because of that, Kiwami 2 was a huge step up and Judgement is looking to be even better at least.
You're right but I just don't dig it
Something about the combat just doesn't click for me and I can't put my finger on it
I think it's the chaining of attacks and I also really hate the leveling system
They told me that you're supposed to take breaks from game to game since they all play the same.
Is that true?
maybe. i started burning out at yakuza 3 after playing 0, kiwami 1 & 2
1 and 2 are the same
3 does its own thing
4 an 5 are similar
0 and Kiwami are the same
6 is the barebones version of Kiwami 2
I started to appreciate the combat more once I realized it had a heavier focus on dashing and finding openings on enemies but otherwise it's still lacking a ton of shit that made it fun since 2. They seriously need to bring back having multiple throwing attacks you can chain into your combos. Also yeah FUCK that new leveling system it somehow makes the game both incredibly easy to break within hours while also still being a tedious slog to acquire XP.
just don't play one right after the other, they are very similar and you'll get burned out.
>1 and 2 are the same
Only way you could think that is if you watched some youtube clips. 2 drastically improved on 1's combat so much it's not even funny.
you guys think they'll port to pc the older games first (3, 4, 5) since they already ported the engine and it's much less work
or they'll go with kiwami 2 because of ps4 release order?
Maybe you're right, I haven't played them in fucking years
I just remember the combos being similar