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  4 out of 6 members found this review helpful

  Geo_Anto46

  2023-05-29
  This review is about the edition: Standard

  The title was tested by Playstation Plus. Playstation 5 version (well, not that it matters)

  Hours of gameplay: Approximately 115 hours with the Platinum Trophy in hand

  I finished the main story in 55-60 hours (NOTE: I didn't focus solely on the main story)

  My first encounter with the Yakuza series! This particular title, being the seventh chapter, happened to change the main protagonist, so I missed out on some of the previous storylines. Like a Dragon aims to build the character(s) from scratch so that you can bond with them, and I must admit it does it very well. It takes its time, gradually unraveling the personalities and pasts of the characters. I felt like the title was "Yakuza 1" rather than "Yakuza 7".

  The story is quite enjoyable, mainly focusing (as I mentioned) on a new beginning for the series, featuring Ichiban Kazuya. It has intensity, love, twists, humor, joy, anger, surprises, contemplation, tears, and betrayal. It does all of these things PERFECTLY. It's incredible how a game combines all of these elements together. It knows what it wants, it WANTS TO BE ALL OF THESE THINGS. It starts off dynamically, then slows down significantly (here, I consider it to have a slight lull), and then picks up again. It requires significant dedication from the reader because it contains a lot of information. When I say information, I mean you'll see cutscenes with long dialogues (ranging from 5 minutes to half an hour). This makes it quite boring because it has a lot of BLAH-BLAH, but it covers you in many aspects. For those who don't want to read a whole novel, it's better to avoid this title.

  Now let's talk about the gameplay. I learned that Yakuza games used to be more action-oriented. Now (without knowing it), they have changed to turn-based combat. I must admit that I haven't played many turn-based games, only one (FFVII) with cheats. To tell you the truth, I was amazed at how enjoyable the game was despite the gameplay being quite "old-fashioned" by today's standards. It's fast, magical, and quirky (in a good way). You'll see some really weird things, like certain "Summons" or abilities that consume MP to use. In some instances, I was like "what am I seeing????" and laughing to myself. The characters move within the space (so it feels more alive than just sitting like soldiers), and they can react differently if there's a bicycle or a chair nearby.

  Additionally, you can customize the characters however you want, with a playstyle that suits you, known as "jobs". For example, if you want to create a character focused on magic, support, or damage. There's a HUGE VARIETY with many hours of gameplay. Each enemy you encounter becomes increasingly strange.

  The bosses, although some of them are a bit repetitive (I fought one boss 3-4 times), are very interesting and have many surprises that will please the old fans of Yakuza.

  One major flaw that this title has is the unacceptable grind. Meaning:

  You're at a specific point in the main story, you're around level 40, and then you encounter a boss at level 45-50 and get beaten up. You're forced to complete all the substories, go to a specific dungeon to repeatedly farm the same mob until you reach the desired level. I had to do this 3-4 times for the main story. Not to mention the hardest dungeon in the game that took me about 5-6 hours of grinding to reach level 99 for both my characters and their jobs. However, it was worth the effort because the time I dedicated paid off. When dealing with a JRPG - turn-based game, you understand from the beginning that at some point you will have to do a little grind.

  The game's substories are THE BEST. Companies should follow Rya Ga GotoKu's example. You want to do them ALL because each one has something different to offer. You can do something very simple (like helping a child) or something silly. Pay attention to them, they are worth it. They will not only make you laugh but also make you think.

  Also, the mini-games are amazing! Do yourself a favor and dedicate some time to them while playing the main story. It has everything, from karaoke to arcades. I won't say more so you can discover them on your own.

  The game's sound is fantastic and the soundtrack is very good. It has fantastic songs, melodies that touch you at certain points, and exceptional battle OSTs.

  The graphics, although not jaw-dropping, are beautiful for the game's style. The cities look quite lively and rich in content.

  In conclusion, those looking for a turn-based JRPG should buy it with their eyes closed. Those who want to start with Yakuza should play either "Yakuza Like a Dragon" or "Yakuza 0". The game is ENJOYABLE and FUN.

  P.S.: ANYONE WHO PLAYS THE GAME IN ENGLISH WILL MAKE A BIG MISTAKE. THEY WILL MISS OUT ON FANTASTIC PERFORMANCES BY THE JAPANESE ACTORS. Yakuza without Japanese is like saying croissant without meringue.

  Advice: Japanese voice overs and English subtitles. The game was made to be played in Japanese.

  P.S.2: DAME DA NEEE DAME YO DAME NA NO YOOOO

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• 2

  4 out of 7 members found this review helpful

  Captain Rock

  2023-03-06

  I have played all the Yakuza games and I consider them to be one of the best game series. However, now the company has decided to radically change the gameplay in the new chapter of the series, making it essentially a "mobile game". The old games had fast-paced combat, but now it has become turn-based. Meaning, the hero attacks first, then you wait for the opponent to attack, and so on. It's just ridiculous... If I wanted to play chess, I would play chess. I understand that many people may enjoy this type of gameplay and I fully respect that. This is just my opinion and I wrote it to save some expenses and time for those who might be like me. Instead, I recommend Like a Dragon: Ishin, which was recently released and has gameplay similar to the old games.

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• 5

  4 out of 4 members found this review helpful

  Rena23

  2022-02-09

  Verified purchase

  Beautiful and well-crafted game with very good graphics, like all the games in the series. The gameplay has changed, making the game more difficult, but not to the point of being annoying. Although the story, with the addition of a new character, has a different direction from the previous ones, the emotion, twists, and beloved humor of the series still exist. As for the gameplay hours, they are endless with the mini games, sub stories, and exploration. I highly recommend it.

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• 4

  3 out of 3 members found this review helpful

  Old_Gamer

  2022-01-14

  It is the first Yakuza game I have dealt with. I think the best part of the game is its story.
  Its graphics are very nice and look great even in 1440p. The only thing that is a bit boring sometimes is the long dialogues.

  This is the first time I have dealt with this type of battle in such games, and this is because I think they take away the beauty of the gameplay and replace it with logic and tactics. Personally, I prefer traditional beat-em-up games rather than tactical gameplay like Final Fantasy, etc.

  Nevertheless, this particular game has an entertaining story and humor. I think it's worth it if you like this genre of games.

  Recommended price 10-15 euros

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• 4

  6 out of 14 members found this review helpful

  kotsiosantoniou

  2021-02-04

  I quite liked the battle system, which they changed into something different. I really enjoyed the battles with the bosses. This Yakuza game is more difficult compared to the previous ones, which makes the gameplay more addictive. When you lose all your money in the game, it sets you back, which I liked because it adds more challenge! The negative thing I found is that it has quite long and many dialogues, which can get boring. The story is good, but nothing special! For me, it is one of the best Yakuza games I have played! 9/10

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• 3

  8 out of 11 members found this review helpful

  GeorgeTsaki

  2021-01-29

  As a fan of the Yakuza series, I can say that the game is a renewed Yakuza with a lot of material that provides many hours of gameplay. Overall, the renewal and the change of the map helped a lot. However, I have a complaint about a fundamental aspect. I believe that Sega did not make a good choice to change the battle system from beat'em up to turn-based. Unfortunately, it makes the game more difficult and, at some points, frustrating and not enjoyable. I can't say that I regret the purchase, but I didn't enjoy the battles as much as in the other games of the series.

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• 5

  1 out of 1 members found this review helpful

  Lefteris_xatzi

  2025-01-15

  Verified purchase

  great game.

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• 4

  4 out of 12 members found this review helpful

  georgessj

  2020-12-05

  Very good, maybe not for over 40

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  magic_soldier_28

  2025-02-11

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  Panagiotis_Nikolaidis8881

  2023-07-05

  Verified purchase

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  abgolemonos

  2022-11-27

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• 5

  Fanis_Kouklas

  2022-11-04

  Verified purchase

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• 5

  xdamianart

  2021-11-12

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• 5

  Snakebite323

  2021-11-09

  Verified purchase

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• 5

  periklistas

  2021-11-09

  Verified purchase

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• 5

  Paraskevi_Nikolaidou3865

  2021-07-12

  Verified purchase

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• 5

  mix8043

  2021-02-18

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• 5

  Genorai_The_Druid

  2020-12-16

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• 1

  Chris_pai

  2020-11-28

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• 5

  leondesnu

  2020-11-12

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