Like a Dragon Gaiden Says Farewell To Kiryu Kazuma (Analysis)

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 12 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 65

  • @パンダの死体
    @パンダの死体 10 місяців тому +196

    Have the feeling Kiryu will get more last times than Hayao Miyazaki

    • @MilkJugA_
      @MilkJugA_ 10 місяців тому +12

      nah.. with 8 its surely gonna be over for better or worse

    • @Yanramich
      @Yanramich 10 місяців тому +11

      It's already been 3, in different senses.
      In Yakuza 4, you open up the game, and the first chapter throws you into the perspective of Akiyama, then Saejima, then Tanimura. Kiryu comes last, and he doesn't even need to be in the game given his involvement is minimal, and that's been his first end - the end as a main protagonist. Yet, as the rats scurry in the Tojo Clan shadows, he comes in as pest control. He is too far in to let go on his own....
      And then 5 comes around.
      (I will continue writing this comment tomorrow as i don't have the time to put all my thoughts out)

    • @jacobchalut706
      @jacobchalut706 10 місяців тому +7

      Cancer is pretty final, unless all that marketing is a bait and switch.

    • @posteriorpepperoni
      @posteriorpepperoni 10 місяців тому +4

      If the cancer doesn't get him,he's sticking around as long as Takaya Kuroda is with us

  • @massdefection
    @massdefection 10 місяців тому +103

    Dude I was also in fucking tears at the ending of Gaiden. Even just thinking about that ending hits a part of me I don't think I could accurately explain.

  • @cjvoerman5591
    @cjvoerman5591 10 місяців тому +44

    One reason I believe that Infinite Wealth will be the true end of Kiryu is the fact that Gaiden continuously puts references to Kiryu’s experiences from Yakuza 0-2. The substories constantly pound remembrance into both Kiryu and the player (they’re banking on you having played 0-7). The karaoke lineup includes Restart and Hands. The emotional recalling of Yumi, his kids, and the end of the yakuza is all tied to the series getting ready to finally move past Kiryu.

    • @Phanthief95
      @Phanthief95 10 місяців тому +8

      Not only that, they’ve already confirmed a lot of characters returning from the previous games.
      - Yuki & Koyuki (the Four Shine girls) are returning from Kiwami 2.
      - Yuya & Kazuki (the Stardust boys) are returning as well.
      - Makoto Date will also be returning even though he’s kind of a permanent fixture of the series including showing up near the end of 7.
      - Shun Akiyama is coming back & our favorite loan shark hasn’t been seen since 6.
      - Kaoru Sayama is finally coming back into the series after not being a part of the story since the beginning of 3.
      - Even our immortal sensei Komaki is coming back for this game.

  • @jamesnorman9160
    @jamesnorman9160 10 місяців тому +119

    Gaiden's story certainly feels like a proper goodbye to Kiryu, largely due to two story points:
    1: His part in the dissolution of the Yakuza. The dissolution was a plot point that came largely out of nowhere back in Yakuza: LAD, and it was framed as a device just to deprieve main villain Ryo Aoki of his own private army for the most part, but with Gaiden you see it from the side of Kiryu and the other veteran Yakuza: the world's changed too much for these legends to have a place anymore, and the Yakuza are no longer accepted in modern society anymore. Sometimes it's better to end something early with grace then let it be gutted by outside forces.
    The final boss is Shishido, who is very much the old-school Yakuza who admits that the dream of climbing the ranks is all he and plenty of other low-ranked Yakuza have, and he asks why Kiryu took that away from them. And Kiryu basically responds that it was because most of regular scoiety - just trying to live their lives - care nothing for the dreams of the Yakuza. The Omi Alliance is just a dead, empty kingdom by this point, but Shishido still fights to the bitter end because it's the only thing he knows, and Kiryu is fighting the spectre of the old life that's haunted him for decades, and he's finally leaving it behind the best way he knows how.
    2: In the post-credits scene, Kiryu leaves Yumi's ring at the church in Hawaii, the same one she mentioned that she wanted to get married at. He's carried that ring with him for 18 years by this point, and leaving it behind is him leaving behind the last part of his old life and self finally.

    • @mjc0961
      @mjc0961 10 місяців тому +17

      "the world's changed too much for these legends to have a place anymore, and the Yakuza are no longer accepted in modern society anymore. Sometimes it's better to end something early with grace then let it be gutted by outside forces."
      Daigo and Arakawa explain exactly this to Ichiban in Y:LAD. Sure, it's cool to see the dissolution from another perspective, but absolutely no new information about why it was happening was learned in Gaiden.

    • @REDEEMERWOLF
      @REDEEMERWOLF 10 місяців тому +3

      @@mjc0961Yeah I wanted to say this too. They explained it well enough in 7, although a new player who starts with 7 would lose a lot of the context and subtext.

  • @DarknessIsTheTruth
    @DarknessIsTheTruth 10 місяців тому +33

    I cross my fingers and hope that Infinite Wealth meets/exceeds all expectations. I haven't felt so excited for a new video game coming out in many years; I practically feel like a kid again waiting to go on another adventure with Ichiban.

  • @ThousandairesClub
    @ThousandairesClub 10 місяців тому +55

    *the fact that they've managed to sell us the same game for 15 years but somehow make it different enough each time so that it feels new and fresh.....I can't think of another franchise that could do this.*

    • @bananawithaknife
      @bananawithaknife 10 місяців тому +2

      @@DionPanday Definitely not Mario. sure there's a lot of games in the franchise that are similar to each other but the heavy hitter titles can't even be compared.

    • @lostvayne9146
      @lostvayne9146 10 місяців тому +4

      @@DionPanday I wouldn't put final fantasy in there. Each of those games are not related to each other unless its a direct sequel (eg. X-2)
      they are only tied through surface level world lore and theme. Like chocobos and moogles, crystals.

    • @MorrisseyMuse
      @MorrisseyMuse 9 місяців тому

      Every Mario and Zelda game has its own identity. I'd agree on the rest though ​@@DionPanday

  • @CanoaFurada-uk4lr
    @CanoaFurada-uk4lr 10 місяців тому +9

    Ryu ga Gotoku Studio is amazing for the same reason Grasshopper Manufacture is. Both know so well what they made and are so confident that they can make things like Travis Strikes Again and The Man Who Erased His Name without any problem. Only using games as a medium and their own history in general

  • @Vesperitis
    @Vesperitis 10 місяців тому +10

    This can’t be the last ride for Kiryu. He needs to have a true happy ending.

  • @Qrinity
    @Qrinity 10 місяців тому +11

    You can dislike the messy pacing and story but my god, somehow that ending is some of the emotionally charged in any video game especially if you been following the series.
    The combat, the themes and side-content is so much fun to play that you can "almost" forgive it.

  • @samuel.jpg.1080p
    @samuel.jpg.1080p 10 місяців тому +6

    This game's ending made me cried the most. Tragic but somewhat beautiful in its own way

  • @cazallalover7769
    @cazallalover7769 10 місяців тому +1

    I started with this series at 2011 with Y3 then 4 not too long after it. I fell in love with the series to the point of going back to PS2 and play the first two games. Heck, i even plat Dead Souls and the waiting for 5 to be released in the west felt like 10 years into the joint (lol). Of course i got a blast with both Zero and Kiwami, to me it was like the series that were never ceased to amaze me despite reusing a lot of content from entry to entry. Then 6 came out and knowing this was the suposed farewell to Kiryu... i got really mad/dissapointed storywise (wich was the most important aspect to this game than usual). For a farewell to the main character of the series it fell everything but a game about him for like 80% of the game, not to mention with what they did to all the people important to him. They barely had any screentime at all (specially true in Majima's case, who could perfectly not show in the game at all and it would make NO DIFFERENCE). This could also be applied to the entire serie's lore, it's like the most anti climatic endings i've seen to Tojo Clan, Daigo, Akiyama, Omi Alliance, etc... Every character that gave their lives for the future of Kamurocho and the Clans and even Kiryu got whiped out in one of the most underwhelming ways i've seen. And that's saying something considering how capable of making amazing plots RGG studio is.
    Then Judgment came out and though "oh well, at least we got a good substitute and a refreshing new point of view while keeping gameplay mechanincs and world these guys made over the years". But nope, Like a Dragon came out and we got a turn based combat rpg nobody ever asked for (or at least i never asked for). And this comes from a huge fan of Dragon Quest but, my god how boring this game can get after the first few hours. I know most people are fine with Ichiban, the new cast and the new combat system, but as a long time fan unless they keep doing spin offs like Ishin, Fist of the North Star and/or keep going with the Judgment series i'm gone. I know know, that was a huge post nobody asked for but i'm curious if someone feels the same or it is just me and i don't feel like opening a brand new youtube channel just for this. Nothing lasts forever i guess, but damn, this did REALLY hurt.

  • @treharewood288
    @treharewood288 10 місяців тому +6

    Bro i am not ready for Infinite Wealth!! that shit is gonna hurt

  • @iuffcgpuu
    @iuffcgpuu 10 місяців тому +9

    Dude, that thumbnail is evil lol. Been meaning to play these games for a long time, thought you just spoiled the hell out of me. Read the description before commenting, thankfully. I'm sure this video is great like usual tho

  • @mythriljojo
    @mythriljojo 10 місяців тому +3

    The way I think RGG studio is trying to handle Gaiden and Infinite Wealth is that Gaiden is the send-off to the Dragon of Dojima legend along with the disbandment of the Yakuza while Infinite Wealth will be send-off for the man, Kazuma Kiryu.
    When Kiryu first arrived at the Colosseum in the Castle, he had to fight through some important fights from his past that helped cement the Legend. And dissolving the two biggest Yakuza clans in Japan meant the end of the legend. In Infinite Wealth, it seems they are very much playing up the end of Kiryu and how he wants to tie up any loose ends in his relationships.
    I cannot wait for Gaiden to drop. I am looking forward to seeing the story play out.

  • @chrisdiokno5600
    @chrisdiokno5600 10 місяців тому +1

    I honestly love at how the game is a reflection of Like A Dragon

  • @moehasan7534
    @moehasan7534 10 місяців тому

    "appropriately tucked away bar" bro its one staircase off a main street

  • @YTmadeMeChangeMySensibleName
    @YTmadeMeChangeMySensibleName 10 місяців тому +6

    A damn good game given the development time

    • @xtr.7662
      @xtr.7662 10 місяців тому

      Theyve put out 2 games plus their biggest one in the span of a year even if the first two are smaller projects

  • @Jari_Kir
    @Jari_Kir 10 місяців тому +1

    I already watched the video but whenever I scroll past it the thumbnail makes me incredibly sad! ToT

  • @geo-305
    @geo-305 10 місяців тому

    This is my first Yakuza/like a dragon game, it's pretty cool

  • @Peter_Hodge
    @Peter_Hodge 10 місяців тому

    Kiryu is Mt childhood I'm going to be sad when I say goodbye

  • @SigIntSpctr
    @SigIntSpctr 10 місяців тому +8

    There is just something about Gaiden that hits the spot in a way that 6 never did for me. I absolutely loved the callbacks in the Coliseum fights and the final confrontations at Omi HQ. Ever since 'Like a Dragon', I wanted to see what was then a plot device from the perspective of all these legendary, troubled characters.
    As much as the Judgement games fill the void while waiting for the next title featuring Kiryu or Ichiban, Yagami still feels too much like a bland, 'cool' detective/J-pop star. I found myself being much more invested in characters such as Kaito or Higashi.
    Same thing with the gameplay, Gaiden nails and perfects the combat to the point that I was not even using the gadgets and the Agent Style that much. It has a smaller moveset than Judgement, which just makes it easier to be immersed as the Dragon of Dojima. On a side note, Akane is also one of the characters I hope returns and not just as some recruitable character for the next Hostess Club/Baseball Team/Clan War minigame :D
    Amazing video, glad you covered the newest part of the Kiryu saga, thank you

    • @DeterminedTorres
      @DeterminedTorres 10 місяців тому +1

      Yeaaah, “J-Pop star” is quite on the nose right there since Yagami’s JP VA (if someone or you didn’t know but if you know that’s good) is actually a very well known actor in Japan, or a national treasure, Takuya Kimura.

    • @Darca1n
      @Darca1n 10 місяців тому

      Definitely agree regarding Yagami. The character just doesn't have the sort of charm that grips me, and the story constantly having to stick close to the supremely fucked up justice system of japan undermines it for me too.
      I think the detective style game would be more easily gripping if we weren't also having to be directly involved in the pants on head justice system too to bring a screeching halt to logic.

    • @gotinogaden
      @gotinogaden 10 місяців тому +2

      I think that Yagami is much more appreciated and positively viewed by the Japanese audiences, since the character himself was largely based on past characters that Takuya Kimura has played, both in series - like Hero (2001) and movies. It's natural that you'll see him as just another bland detective, Western fiction is chock full of them, so nothing can surprise us easily. As far as my research on the character is concerned, almost intimate knowledge of Kimura's career as someone who's played a lawyer/detective is a must-be for full recognition, since many of Yagami's lines and actions go back to Takuya's characters.

    • @Darca1n
      @Darca1n 10 місяців тому

      @@gotinogaden So basically star power? That's stupid.
      As for the character, I dunno, maybe it's that the stories don't feel like they ever are ABOUT them, or feel like it's something they hugely care about.
      Maybe it's subdued emotions compared to the Yakuza games, maybe it's something else, but whatever it is, the emotional core just isn't there for me, not helped by that the combat just never clicked for me no matter what I did or how much I tried to look up how it's actually supposed to work.

  • @QuentinPink
    @QuentinPink 3 місяці тому

    I came and found this video because I wanted to understand why the ending of this game hit me so damn hard.

  • @DoctorThundah
    @DoctorThundah 10 місяців тому +11

    You keep mentioning Kiryu, but I don't think he was in the game, was he? Maybe there was a scene I missed or something? That Joryu guy was pretty cool, though. Weird how he just sort of came out of nowhere, but I'm hoping we get to see more of him in Infinite Wealth.

  • @Hilversumborn
    @Hilversumborn 10 місяців тому +5

    I do love how the final villain of the game, embodies both literally and mentally those who cannot move on from the Yakuza lifestyle.

  • @CallumMcCartney
    @CallumMcCartney 10 місяців тому

    Always wanted to try the Yakuza franchise but I have no clue where to start because it seems like there’s so much. Great to see people are still passionate about the games

    • @DevynCairns
      @DevynCairns 10 місяців тому

      You can start with either Yakuza 0 or Yakuza Kiwami
      Yakuza 0 is a prequel and frankly it's a better game, and a fantastic introduction to the series. You might miss some things about it if you play it first, but I think I would lean that way
      Kiwami is the remake of Yakuza 1, and Kiwami 2 = Yakuza 2

  • @fhjunior6183
    @fhjunior6183 9 місяців тому

    Thanks for the vid

  • @Jstar136
    @Jstar136 10 місяців тому +3

    Fantastic summary of Gaiden. Myself and many others (according to the subreddit) all ugly cried at the ending. It really does feel like they're signaling that it's OK to move on from Kiryu, and I'm happy with that decision too. Sidenote, I love that IW will take place in Hawaii, which is a perfect melting pot of Japanese and American culture. That had to have been intentional, as I saw Y7 had huge overseas sales numbers, so why not lean into a fusion setting instead?

  • @NemoNobodySMT
    @NemoNobodySMT 8 місяців тому

    Will you make a video about Infinite Wealth?

  • @manukau5271
    @manukau5271 10 місяців тому

    Me after reading the name of the final cutscene in Infinite Wealth: 😢

  • @katoahirou8151
    @katoahirou8151 10 місяців тому

    I wish rgg would make a gaiden about daigo

  • @VC777
    @VC777 10 місяців тому +6

    Thanks for the spoilers bud 😢. /s

    • @WritingOnGames
      @WritingOnGames  10 місяців тому +2

      For Gaiden? Really not sure what I spoiled there. As for 6 I mention in the description that, if you're playing Gaiden, 6 is necessarily spoiled immediately, so I'd advise not watching anything Gaiden-related if that's a concern.

    • @VC777
      @VC777 10 місяців тому

      I was JK because of what the title displayed. Should've put '/s' at the end.

  • @dagarob_c
    @dagarob_c 10 місяців тому

    My wishful thinking is this. Kiryu gets chemo and eventually beats it. He marries Karou and lives far away hidden under another alias. Haruka and the kids know where he lives and visits him from time to time and keep it secret. The end of retired Kiryu and Ichiban fully takes over the series. The End lmao 😂😂

  • @WebstersYouTube
    @WebstersYouTube 10 місяців тому

    I'm excited to see these changes in Kiryu first hand when I get there. (I'm somehow still on 4, which itself seems to be trying to pass the torch to the three newcomers of that title.)

  • @jwmcq
    @jwmcq 10 місяців тому

    'normalcy' is not a real word

  • @evolancer211
    @evolancer211 10 місяців тому +1

    Commenting before watching the video but how can he be dead? He's in infinite wealth which takes place after Gaiden

    • @WritingOnGames
      @WritingOnGames  10 місяців тому +2

      It's a bit baity for sure, but I mean it in the sense that Gaiden serves as a "moving on" point from Kiryu being the face of the franchise. The image of the Dragon of Dojima is dead-where does the series go from here?

    • @treharewood288
      @treharewood288 10 місяців тому

      Watch the story trailer for infinite wealth and you’ll know what he means

  • @aliceinbunnyland
    @aliceinbunnyland 9 місяців тому

    uhh thanks for the spoiler i guess?

  • @mjc0961
    @mjc0961 10 місяців тому +1

    Spoilers for Infinite Wealth/8, don't read this comment if you're avoiding trailers
    ...
    ...
    ...
    It sucks that RGG has to go and make Kiryu die of cancer just to make absolutely 10,000% sure that they cannot bring him back yet again. 😭

  • @BubblesChika
    @BubblesChika 10 місяців тому +1

    South Par's RPG Fractured But Whole is infinitely better than LAD 7. Its turn-based combat system utilizes tactics to great effect, too, since you can strategically move your characters around to avoid hits like battle ships. Honestly, if you liked LAD 7 in anyway, you'll love Fractured But Whole. Not to mention you don't have to grind for endless hours like in LAD 7 in order to be a match for the bosses. You can be underpowered and still triumph through the use of strategy

  • @SimpleSlave
    @SimpleSlave 10 місяців тому +3

    And with that comes the end as a fan for me as well. Turd Based Kombat ain't it and it's not what I sign up for nor why I supported the series since the PS2 days. As a one off would've been fine but as the main games? Hell no. So unless Judgement continues, a Kenzan Remastered comes out, there's a sequel to Fist of the North Star, or there's another sequel/game with the original mechanics then I'm out for good.
    It was fun while it lasted for sure but c'est la vie. So long, and thanks for all the fish.

    • @BubblesChika
      @BubblesChika 10 місяців тому +2

      Same. I enjoy the turn-based games, particularly South Park's unique Battle ships-like take on the combat, but LAD in turn-based doesn't feel right. I'd miss the chaotic, free-for-all, Neo-vs-100 agent Smiths-like brawls that the series did so well too much

  • @keiichimorisato98
    @keiichimorisato98 10 місяців тому

    Kiryu is dead, that's Joryu.