Watch PlayStation's Gio Corsi Talk to the Developers of Yakuza 5

I sold my last gio corsi when the alternator went out.

ps3 still kicking

Goddammit I hope people actually put their money where their mouth is and buy this. I already imported it but I'll buy it again.

Then again, SEGA has done their best to shoot themselves in the foot with the terrible Yakuza 1 dubbing and extremely late releases of the subsequent games. Yakuza is the true Shenmue successor, but Shenmue fans refuse to stop clinging to that dream.

While I can always go for more Yakuza coverage on GB, this is kind of an old video, that, as I recall, came out slightly after the disappointment of no release date announed at E3.

After Kessler's Y4 review, Patrick was my best hope of some Yakuza stuff on the site, but alas. Now I've got my hopes pinned on Austin.

no, this one is new. it's part 2 of his interview with the yakuza devs

Yep. There may have been other clips from this (the interview itself was from April) but Sega just released this portion today.

It's a bummer that they don't release some of these out here but I have to admit that I really didn't need any more Yakuza after Yakuza 2.

The hostess club stuff is too much for me though.

I was just wondering like yesterday if they had completely forgotten that they said this was coming out.

I never understood the frothing, rabid demand for another Shenmue in a world that has FIVE Yakuza games...

@undeadpool: It's more about the demand for a continuation of Shenmue's story than demand for that style of gameplay. But even then, gameplay wise, they're very different. Something like Deadly Premonition is closer to Shenmue than a Yakuza game is.

i totally agree. i never played shenmue, but when i hear people talk about all the things they love about that game, all i can think is that they should try yakuza.

I agree that they're different, but that's because Yakuza feels like the logical extension of Shenmue. Deadly Premonition feels like a very, very different game. Much less "live your life in between missions."

6 games if you count Dead Souls. 11 if you count the Japan-only spin-offs.

I stand corrected.

Just to check whether I should abandon all hope, has Austin ever played a Yakuza game?

@undeadpool: They're entirely different games.

The first question that was asked was mine. ;)

My PS3 is packed away, really wish this was getting released on ps4 as well like tales of zestiria

I will! When is it gonna be here! I want to buy it now! Now!

See, Corey gets it. My man. High five.

can't wait! Finished Yakuza 4 for the first time about a month ago, the story and brawling is intense!!

@revulsive: I more meant "core" titles, but I knew I was wrong about the number the SECOND I hit post.

Setting aside the plot: howso?

They both involve a lot of free flowing/wandering combat and they're both much more about existing in the open world they create than necessarily advancing the storyline as quickly as possible. You get jobs, you play games, you can go out and socialize, all without advancing the storyline of BOTH games. And for no reason, most of that stuff doesn't give you stat bonuses, it's just THERE.

Agreed. As much as I love this series, Sega really need to pull it together for western releases.

Can't wait!

Jesus just give a release date so we can plan our lives around it

@undeadpool:Thematically and mini games wise, Yakuza would be more similar, but pacing wise, I would say Deadly Premonition comes closer. Deadly Premonition, like Shenmue, has an in game clock where things happen at certain times, and much like Shenmue, the towns folk all have set schedules and seem as though they're living their own life when the character's not around. Both games have a tangible feeling to the npc's that I don't get from Yakuza or other games Shenmue is compared to. The hotel York sleeps and wakes up at the start of the day is a lot like the homes Ryo sleeps/wakes up in as well. There's a sense that you begin the day at a place, and you're going to do x,y and z today, then come home and sleep in both games.

Neither Yakuza or Deadly Premonition would serve as a substitute, though, and Shenmue even does a few more interesting things than both, gameplay wise. It's still mostly about the desire to see the story continued and find out what happens after the epic cliffhanger scene in Guillin cave.

Whoa they seem to have increased the scope after 4. You can drive?! You can own a ramen shop!? More districts than just Kamurocho!? How many times will Saejima cry in this one?

I sorta saddened that we won't see a hard copy release of this. Will be definitely getting it though.

This is gonna be the best... The best!!

One of the defining moments of the Yakuza series was how well it was written. I remember playing Heavy Rain and Yakuza 3 back to back, and the portrayal of children in Heavy Rain simply felt off. Everything from "Can I hghave a puhloon dad?" to the impulsive decision making, were more characteristic of slow, undeveloped, special needs children.

The whole arc surrounding the orphanage in Yakuza 3, presented realistic issues like bullying and general behaviour you could expect from children.

Yes, there's a taxi driving aspect, and a modern interpretation of Outrun (complete with unlockable Outrun theme).

No, but there's a ramen making minigame, it's pretty good.

Yes, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Sapporo are also included.

I can't remember, probably a couple times.

honestly I'm just happy we're getting it at all

Hell, I thought there was only 7 games with one Japan-only game. It was a simpler time then.

Shenmue actually didn't have many fights at all, much less random encounters. There's less than 10 fights throughout the entirety of the first game. The second game had underground street fights that you could enter, so that's slightly closer to Yakuza.

Time doesn't advance in Yakuza the same way it advances in Shenmue. Shenmue feels a little more like a living breathing world where the NPCs all have routines, almost free flowing, as you say. Yakuza is static, quests advance time/story, but you can wander around without advancing anything for as long as you'd like. You can't even interact with most NPCs in Yakuza. Shenmue is a little more personable about that stuff.

They're still very similar. Yakuza is absolutely capable of scratching whatever Shenmue itch you may have. The differences aren't like night and day, more like coffee and cappuccino.

cool. ps3 for life

I can't wait to play this one!

Don't even have a working PS3 anymore. This game looks good though.

Agreed

Wait, I thought they had announced some time back they were bringing it to PS4 as well...did I imagine that?

@accolade: @dougcl: Yakuza is an excellent franchise, but it's really not the same experience. For one, every character in Shenmue is voiced at all times. In Yakuza, time jumps around automatically, whereas there is an in-game clock in Shenemue, where events happen at different dates and npc's have a schedule based on the clock. All the npc's in Shenmue are unique and can be talked to as well.

Shenmue has a more serious tone and tries to adhere to realistic conventions, whereas Yakuza is very 'video gamey', where you encounter random street battles and perform ridiculous moves with accompanying crazy animations and effects. There aren't many actual fights in the Shenmue games, and when there are, there is a more justified, less random, feeling to them. There is also the ability to free look and first person analyse and pick up and examine minute objects in Shenmue, which I still haven't seen many games do in quite the same way.

@shtinky Well said .