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There are enough reasons to be excited about Yakuza but there’s also a big chance you are not familiar with the series. That’s why we present you 10 things that will make you love the Yakuza series!

1. Not GTA
Before we start mentioning some of the awesome things this series has to offer, we want to make clear that this is not a Japanese version of Grand Theft Auto. Yakuza is not an open world game like GTA or The Witcher. You get open environments, but not open worlds. Yakuza is an action adventure brawler that uses lots of elements from different genres. It has a weird mix of styles that makes the Yakuza series so much fun!

2. Lots of history, little time needed
The Yakuza series started on the Playstation 2. In over more than a decade 7 games have been released in the main series. Even though each game in the series is filled with an insane amount of story, you can still play each one as a standalone. Every Yakuza game starts with an introduction, to explain newcomers what is going on. And in the menu there’s a way to read up on the past. It’s a very nice way to get you up to speed!

3. Grows with you
Many of the characters in the series have been a part of multiple games. They will grow with you as well. Where Kiryu is a young mobster in the first game, he’s clearly a lot older in the later games. Most of the Yakuza games take place in the same district in Tokyo.

4. Brawling
You will be brawling a lot in Yakuza. Even when you are roaming the city, random thugs can come at you. As soon as you have unlocked some cool moves, the fighting gets better and better. The brawling is really engaging, as you are punching, blocking and dodging.

5. Density over Scale
For a game that’s not really open world, Yakuza does have a lot to offer. Walking from one side of an area to the other, takes about two minutes. But this virtual version of Tokyo is full of wonderful distractions. There are shops you can visit, people you can meet who offer side quests or you can go to a karaoke bar. And of course there are the hostesses who serve to please you. But above all, this game just offers a lot and does not require endless amounts of searching and walking.

6. Great characters
Kazuma Kiryu is a man who wants to do good but is pulled into the Yakuza over and over again. He can be considered the main character of the series. But in Yakuza 4 and newer games you always get to play other characters as well… creating a real feeling of brotherhood between the men. During your adventures you will meet a lot of interesting faces. Most of them are part of a yakuza gang and bound by the strict rules of those families. But the one that will make the biggest impact is Goro Majima.He’s really crazy!

7. Revelations
Yakuza is not only a brawler, it also has RPG mechanics. By doing missions, side quests or leveling up you can unlock new moves. These are often represented as revelations. The way this knowledge is introduced, is simply hilarious and brilliant at the same time. Of course this system is not implemented in the older Yakuza games, but it’s an excellent feature nonetheless.

8. Learning about Japanese culture
Not only does this game offer great gameplay, it will also teach you about Japanese culture. For example, in Yakuza 3 we learned that it’s not allowed to go to a Love Hotel on your own or with a friend. These hotels are REALLY meant for lovers… straight or gay.

9. Open minded
Yakuza does a good job at portraying sexuality in Japanese culture. It’s all a bit light hearted fun. You can call a sex line and of course there are the hostesses. But it goes further than that. There’s a side mission in which Kiryu meets a very muscular lady who falls in love and chases him. And then there’s a fight in a bath house, completely naked… because yakuza often met in bath houses since it made it harder to bring weapons.

10. Lots of variety
The Yakuza series has proven itself to be a very diverse game series. If you are tired of doing story missions you can go to the karaoke bar and sing a bit there. Or you can go on taxi missions. In Yakuza 5 this meant solving social problems for your clients and earning cash that way.

We believe that Yakuza is an amazingly deep series that deserves more love in the West. Do you like the Yakuza series? Are you as excited about Yakuza 0 or the other games? Let us know in the comments and please like the video and subscribe to the channel!

MUSIC AND AUDIO
Music provided by Epidemic Sound.
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