Yakuza 7 PC is a fair bit different from the rest of the Yakuza games we've seen so far. As you might know by now, we do enjoy a nice match of turkey combat karaoke from time to time here at 2Game. Naturally, this means we've been carefully keeping track of the PC launch announcements for Like a Dragon.
You'll find all the important technical information about the game in our everything-we-know article. Instead of focusing on that, today we're going to tell you why Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the perfect fresh start for this classic video game franchise. Naturally, this also means that Yakuza 7 PC is an awesome starting point for interested players who might not have had previous experience with the franchise.
Naturally, if you'd like, you can grab the Day One version of Like a Dragon right here at 2Game! This unique 'Day Ichi' offer will also net you 8 bonus costumes for the game's four main characters. Something to mull on!
Why Yakuza 7 PC is perfect for Newcomers
Though clearly set in the same universe as the previous Yakuza games, Like a Dragon is in a class all of its own. It's making a return to the olden JRPG turn-based combat, for example. This alone sets it apart from the other recent-ish Yakuza PC titles. Whereas, say, Yakuza Kiwami games presented its players with an action-adventure kind of gameplay loop, Like a Dragon harkens back to the franchise's roots. That's not to say the game is less fun or engaging. Quite the opposite: this might be the best implementation of turn-based combat we've seen yet! Don't believe us? Check out the gameplay video below:
Extremely inventive and well in line with traditional Yakuza craziness, Like a Dragon is nothing if not genre-defining. Granted, Yakuza games have always had a bit of a genre all of their own, so we suppose this was just the logical next step in the evolution of the franchise.
Outside of combat, however, the game will play out just like any other Yakuza title. Expect an insanely dense open-world environment with more things to do than you could ever wish for. Bowling? Drinking? Go-kart racing? Of course. It's just that you'll be kicking people in the head on a schedule this time around.
New Protagonist promises a New Perspective, too
Another key difference between Like a Dragon and its predecessors is that it's finally moving past Kiryu and his posse properly. Of course, the popular Yakuza protagonist does still pop up every once in a while, and he is narratively relevant, but it's going to be all about Ichiban Kasuga in Yakuza 7.
Since there's no massive story-bound burden to consider in Yakuza 7 - strange as that might sound - the game is far more inviting to all-new players. You don't need to get acquainted with decades' worth of lore and character growth in Like a Dragon. Just jump right in and meet the new people at your own pace. Since character development is specifically one of the series' strengths, this is a massive plus.
Another feature worth pointing out is the all-new city we'll be exploring in Like a Dragon. Yokohama's Isezaki district is considerably larger than Kamurocho of previous titles. About three times its size, even! There's plenty of variety present: from red-light districts all the way to extremely posh areas, it's hard to imagine anyone being displeased with this new development. We might even go so far as to suggest that Yokohama might be one of the main draws for the game: it's new, it's fresh, and it's positively loaded with content. What more could you ask for in an open-world role-playing game?
Yakuza 7 Characters: Meet the Crew!
Speaking of characters, SEGA did provide us with short and to-the-point video overviews for each of Like a Dragon's four main characters. The ensemble is just about as colorful as you'd imagine: check the videos out below.
Kaiji Tang as Ichiban Kasuga
Elizabeth Maxwell as Saeko
George Takei as Masumi Arakawa
Andrew Morgado as Adachi
Oh, did we forget to mention that George Takei has been brought into the ensemble, too? Whoops. Now you know!
What did the Yakuza 7 Reviews say?
Some of you might know that Like a Dragon already got its launch in Asian territories. This means that there are "early" reviews we could check out to see how good or bad Yakuza 7 PC might be. Surprise surprise: the reviews are almost universally positive!
Our favorite of the bunch comes from FrontlineJP.net, who had a fair few words to share about Yakuza 7. "Despite the shift to turn-based RPG combat, battles manage to, for the most part, retain the fast-paced action feel of the series," they explained. "The system is mostly very orthodox, with elemental weaknesses, items, and a job class system that gives characters different skills, stats and equipment types."
They also mentioned that, though grinding becomes a necessity once players reach endgame, Yakuza 7 does provide the tools to conduct said grind: "An underground dungeon for the explicit purpose of grinding is unlocked midway through the game, allowing the player to level up at will and collect rare items and upgrade materials." Since the dungeon's sole focus lies in combat, however, it might not be up to everyone's speed. Thankfully, you can head on over to your favorite district and play side-quests and side-activities instead.
All in all, their summary was rather neat: "The game manages to excel at the series’ strengths, delivering fantastic characters, an engaging story, and one of the series’ best towns. Its being a soft reboot means that new players can jump in easily, and there are also old characters and references to past events for series fans."
Should you be playing Yakuza 7 PC on release day?
We think that Yakuza 7 PC offers a fresh experience to veterans of this long-lasting franchise, as well as an awesome starting point to those who are only just looking to get started with it. For better or worse, the game delivers an entirely revamped gameplay system and an all-new narrative, and we think it's - at the very least - worth a solid consideration if you're even remotely on the fence about it.
If you'd like to grab one of the three pre-order versions of Yakuza 7 PC, we've got you covered. Check them out below and make a choice! Yakuza: Like a Dragon is set and primed to launch on November 10, so stay tuned.
Yakuza 7 PC is a fair bit different from the rest of the Yakuza games we’ve seen so far. As you might know by now, we do enjoy a nice match of turkey combat karaoke from time to time here at 2Game. Naturally, this means we’ve been carefully keeping track of the PC launch announcements for Like […]
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