We are absolutely spoiled for choice Yakuza games lately, especially if you are a newcomer to the series from whom you can jump effortlessly 0 to the Kiwamis to Just like a dragon. But with some of the older games coming to PC, there are a few things to keep in mind for those looking to hike back into the history of the series.
After a release on PlayStation last year, Yakuzas 3, 4 & 5 are out today on PC and Xbox, in the form of “remastered” editions. And while they have improved a little to bring them up to date, with improvements in resolution and frame rate, these are still games 11, 10 and 8 years old, and unlike Kiwami, they are by no means complete remakes.
What this means is that aside from graphic tweaks, you’re playing an old dick Yakuza games, as far as I hadn’t realized before trying them out this week. Since the series tends to improve at an icy pace between releases, a tweak here and a stop there, it’s not always clear when you’ll Yakuza game how much smoother and more modern it is than the previous one. You just think, hey, this is new Yakuza game, sweet!
So back to Yakuza 5, now one of only two games in the main series not covered here (I was having technical PS3 issues at the time, and so never finished it), no very was the joy I expected. The game still rules, don’t get me wrong, but I was a little shocked at how crunchy the game’s controls were, how stiKiryu’s animations were: how many of the series’ pesky little quirks (like fixed save points and lack of first-person mode) I had covered up or just instantly forgotten about in my pink memories.
And yet! From Class that stuff would happen these are old video games, and this would otherwise be a given and expected. It’s only due to the wild and weird growth of this series in the West, which has increased in very weird places (first on 3, thereafter 0 and lately at Just like a dragon) which I would like to bring up here, as so many people on PC and Xbox may be approaching these games for the first time, rather than revisiting an old favorite.
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If so, of course you’ll love them as long as you’re prepared for that stuff that comes in. Yakuza 4 & 5 especially have a kind of bombastic generosity that later games have walked away from, with an insanely exaggerated cast of playable characters and intertwined storylines that are an absolute blast to work your way through.
And while I really admire the effort that went into it Like a dragon RPG combat, it was also nice to get back to the bone-crushing action fights from the series, something that looks and sounds intimidating, but really isn’t. A combination of upgrade paths and difficulty levels means that basically anyone can work their way through these games, including some of the best and most memorable boss fights you’ll ever see.
I am the worst in fights like that, so if I can finish these games without breaking a sweat, anyone can.
Yakuzas 3, 4 & 5 Remastered is available today for PC (Windows Store and Steam), Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass (for both Xbox One and PC). And if you want to read my full reviews of it 3 & 4, written around the time of release can be found below!