The Like a Dragon series of games is an amazingly unique experience compared to the hero-focused action adventures that have defined much of gaming.
Even though they have recently released a mainline installment in Yakuza every year and done more to get it into the hands of gamers who would not typically play but might enjoy the series, indeed as an annualized video game franchise about organized crime emerges at all, developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio do not plan on escaping from what always made their games truly unique.
Embracing the ‘Middle-Aged Guy’ Life
In a new interview with Automaton, series director Ryosuke Horii and lead planner Hirotaka Chiba explained that they still see great potential in middle-aged heroes. In his opinion, this core content isn’t some quirk as much as it’s a central theme that separates Like a Dragon from other games.
“I think this is exactly one of Like a Dragon’s merits,” Horii said. “Yakuza: Like a Dragon kicks off with three unemployed middle-aged guys being like, ‘Let’s go to Hello Work. They have a lack of zest that you would not find in say, a group of young heroes complaining about their backs acting up. It’s enough to make all the difference between this game and a standard Pokémon title.”
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Horii’s remarks emphasize the series’ ability to treat every day stress through its grown-up characters’ humor and drama. Playing through issues from back pain to trying to secure unemployment, the games offer a glimpse of life that is all too familiar for most gamers but not often portrayed in many video games.
On the other side of the coin, one can look at a series that hasn’t changed and remains as popular today as it was 30 years ago.
The Like a Dragon series has made enormous progress since it began back in 2005 with the origin of Yakuza on PlayStation. The most recently released installment, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth came out on 24th Jul of last year and has received the best so far acclaim from across all major platforms which include PlayStation Four, Play Station Five Xbox One Series S/X, and PC.
The fact that the series is still regarded as one of the best in television history attests to its rare combination of hard-hitting crime drama, biting humor, and complex character work. Still, Horii says even with an influx of new fans and more female players than ever before, he also remains committed to the series’ core.
Although Horii said, “We have had a large increase in new fans, including women…【a】side from me being happy and grateful.” “Yet, we have no plans to pander by diverting conversations in the directions that new fans might desire.
The Future of Like a Dragon
You can expect plenty to be revealed for fans of the series. RGG Summit 2024 is a digital broadcast event that takes place September 20, 2024, and will include updates on what viewers can expect next with the Like a Dragon series.
As fans prepare for excitement, it is evident the developers are just as dedicated to including all of these features that have made this game a worldwide success with flexibility and customization.
On top of that, a live-action TV drama based on the series called Like A Dragon: Yakuza will start streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. The first three episodes will hit the Internet on October 25, then the final three are coming November 1. The series will transform the gritty world of Like a Dragon into something that places it within popular culture.
Heading 2 – Why the Middle-Aged Focus Works
That protagonist choice isn’t just a matter of creative decision, however; it also says something about what the franchise is all about. Like a Dragon needs to exaggerate many of its mechanics for them to stand up as legitimate strategies failure is part of the fight, underlining just how important it is that Kiryu and Saejima are not old men after all before returning each layer into place with cartoon logic.
This may read like defending something deemed so obviously silly but there’s an airiness about Yakuza 7 that cannot help blowing any cynicism away even if no one takes real damage while going down from mental gymnastics instead however rambunctious their physical assault previously looked.
With so many games selling the power of youthful vigor, Like a Dragon’s tribute to age and experience allows it shine all that much brighter. It’s a daring move, but also one that has appeared to have reached unprecedented levels with fans from all walks of life.
As the series develops, it is comforting to know that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio maintains its dedication to a truly character-driven approach that has become integral in making Like A Dragon such an iconic entry. There’s never been a better time to get in on the action of middle-aged heroics—Like a Dragon style, whether you’re an old fan or new.
[…] Read also: Like a Dragon Devs Stand Firm on Middle-Aged Protagonists-Here’s Why It Works […]