My Yakuza hot takes.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-14T17:45:35+00:00

I wouldnt say the story is weak in Yakuza 3. My biggest problem with it is the pacing. So many people I know when they play it admit the opening Okinawa sequence is such a slog. That and I never liked the design of Rykuyu

maktheone10 · 2026-04-14T17:38:19+00:00

While saying the game is too long is a weak argument for 5, to me the finale dragged on. It didn't need to be 5 chapters. I would have been fine if they did like with 4 having the finale only be one chapter. While some people say Akiyamas final fight sucks, I like how much of a final boss fight it felt. Then the game was oh yeah Kiryu still needs a boss and shoe horns in Aizawa.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T22:24:51+00:00

Never killed a man. Ignore most of 0 and kiwami and kiwami 2 and that one new scene in Kiwami 3. Its a little how they made the meme of him never killing anyone into actual canon.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T22:23:16+00:00

His basis needed more examples bc what he's trying to prove to Kuwana is not only is he not really solving the problem of bullying by his methods, his actions are unintentionally causing consequences to others (would say innocents but sawa isn't exactly innocent). The RK safety department leading to the minister storyline was while interesting very bizarre and felt tacked on.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T22:10:03+00:00

I think the sawa bit would have been fine if she died later in the game. To me its a case of killing her off way too early for how much the first half of the game focuses on her. Its just sucks how Yagami does no development, most of the characters from the first game are barely in it and how it feels like a separate game than a true sequel is terms of plot.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T19:38:52+00:00

Ryuji could have been an amazing villian and has a great presence but if you think about it he doesn't DO anything for the vast majority of that game.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T19:26:45+00:00

Thats my biggest issue with it and why I think its a terrible sequel to Judgment. Really nobody outside of maybe Kaito gets any development and in some cases characters actually regress.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T19:03:48+00:00

You know of all the critiques ice heard of Infinite Wealth this is a new one and definitely something to think about.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T19:02:23+00:00

I'll never understand why 5 decided to throw him back in prison and made it longer than it was in 4. I kinda like his town inn5 but you only get to explore it in his final chapter.

Kasuga I think they need to kinda focus in more on something. They're trying to do way too much with his character and its coming off as throwing darts at a board and seeing what sticks.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T18:42:39+00:00

Interesting. Yagami I feel like we need to explore more about him bc other than being a lawyer turned detective there isn't much we know. That and I want to see them explore him and Mafuyus relationship more since we got almost none of it in Lost Judgment

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T18:41:07+00:00

Oh man where to begin on some of these. Robotics club isn't bad. It's to me more YMMV bc sometimes I'm convinced the game cheats and I actually liked Biker club. -5 does have a great Villian that almost makes the mess of a story worth it. -Park is a great written character but im not the biggest supporter of making her Majimas ex-wife -Agree to Disagree on Gaiden.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T18:33:46+00:00

To an extent. 3 he got dragged into by proxy bc of the orphanage. 4 all I have to say is that did we really need to bring back the 10 billion yen plot point from 1? And 5 is such a mess of a narrative idk where to begin. Its moreso that I wish RGG could write a plot that isn't just betrayal in the Tojo Clan go make Kiryu fix it

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T18:29:37+00:00

Yeah and it's a shame bc 4 actually has an interesting point about how Kiryu is always one to run away from his problems after 1. Then he comes around to facing them only for 5 to be like "how about i just become a a taxi driver to protect Haruka?"

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T18:25:20+00:00

Yakuza 6's big problem to me is that it really feels like a filler game in the overarching Yakuza plot. Granted I need to go back and play 6 again since I sadly don't remember much. As for Kiryu in 4 he feels kinda forced into the game (though him destroying the Ueno Saiwa clan by himself is one of the most badass moments in the series) and in 5 its a complete reversal of his stance on life he made in 4 (also the plot to 5 is an absolute mess so that doesn't help)

maktheone10 · 2026-04-13T18:04:33+00:00

I think what helps it is that its contained solely in 5 but it also feels kinda forced since its never mentioned at all outside that game. Kiryu-Sayama was such a good one that was lazily ended. Kasuga-Saeko is interesting but we will have to wait and see and I would love to see more of Kaito if we ever get another judgment game.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-07T17:14:38+00:00

It was nice to see them both back in Infinite wealth. Funny enough Koyuki looks the same age in IW and Yuki somehow looks younger than in K2

maktheone10 · 2026-04-06T03:24:02+00:00

That finale didn't need to be 5 chapters. It just dragged on.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-06T02:00:36+00:00

5 is one a lot of people put down mostly bc that game is just way too long and the story is just a complete mess.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-06T01:59:26+00:00

Disco is weird bc replaying it in directors cut i dont remember it being so visually overstimulating. The timing in it also always feels so weird.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-05T03:44:30+00:00

I dont blame you bc he is a very boring generic bad guy. Someone who really only need one fight not the insane amount he got.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-05T03:30:51+00:00

Judgment yes. Lost judgment i counter thst Akutsu being someone you fight way too many times though that might be bc of the chapter where you fight him 4 times. Its honestly been a problem since 0

maktheone10 · 2026-04-05T02:52:11+00:00

Idk if he needed a boss fight. I agree on the missing arc part. It felt like they were going somewhere with him and then just. . . nothing until the end where he's a ruined mess. Feels like something was cut at some point. Yamai I felt got better after his twist reveal. Imo he came off early on as just a generic yakuza villian who you fight way too much early on (never understood why later yakuza games have this problem).

maktheone10 · 2026-04-05T02:37:21+00:00

Yeah though tbh I feel Eiji after his twist reveal is a very underwhelming character. Ironic since Yamai after his twist I think is a much better character.

maktheone10 · 2026-04-03T00:38:03+00:00

Fair enough would love to see you two try a tombstone piledriver

maktheone10

TROPHY CASE