Topic: Yakuza 0

@JohnnyShoulder Yeah, I’m not used to subtitles, and so it took some getting used to. It’s great to hear the Japanese actors inflection though, because the way they make their voice go up or down with questions and exclamations is different than English speakers. There’s some very heavy Japanese culture involved in this game. It does add some to the experience, but it’s a fair bit of reading.

@Th3solution @Kidfried I dont mind subtitles either. However that may be due to watching Anime when I was younger. The voice acting is great in the game imo even though I dont know what they are saying.

This game has had me laughing out loud on many occasions. I love how over the top it can be with all the unnecessary swearing. Like Noisy said, i think the acting is top notch even though i can't understand japanese.

The cabaret club mini game is one of the best mini games I've played. I was hooked on that alone for hours on end.

@ApostateMage It is hilarious. The Pizza side story mission. That had me laughing my head off and funnily it was taking the mickey out of interpretation.

@themcnoisy That was ace that one. I loved how proud the pizza delivery guy was at the end when they were all enjoying the pizza.

@ApostateMage I dont know if we are talking about the same side mission. Its called Passport to Pizza.

I dont want to spoil it for th3solution. But you are tasked with getting something and kiryu brings back a pizza as he mishears.

@themcnoisy Yeah man, that's the one.

I also love the side mission where Kiryu is trying to teach that punk boy-band how to live up to their image.

@ApostateMage Its a boss game. Cant wait for Kiwami 2!

@Kidfried @KratosMD I think with both Yakuza games the impression you are given at the very start is completely different compared to when you are well into the content. The additional gameplay unlocked at hour 20 or 30 in most games is a variation on a gimmick you have already tried within the first 5 hours, with Yakuza something totally new will shows up.

That for me is the series main draw. All 3 of us play a ton of different games and Yakuza scratches that itch in one big game.

@KratosMD After getting in deep with Y0, are you glad you chose to start with Kiwami? I debated a little about where to start and I remember you were one of the few who had some reasoning for doing Kiwami first. It’s too late for me, btw, since I already started Zero, although I’m just on Chapter 3. I was just curious if your opinion still holds.

@KratosMD Thank you sir. It takes a real man to admit when he was wrong.
But it’s good to hear that I’m on the right track. And by extension of your newfound logic, I think the best course after Kiwami may be to do Kiwami 2 next, rather than Yakuza 6, especially since it is almost out now.
It’s also good to hear how much fun the game becomes. I’m enjoying it so far, but apparently I haven’t even scratched the surface yet.

@KratosMD Have you spent much time bowling, playing darts, batting cage, majong, etc? I’m wondering if the game simply just has too much content, if there is such a thing. I’m with you, I don’t necessarily want to get stuck in the game for 200 hrs since I’d like to work on my backlog. At the end of the day, if your having fun, I guess it doesn’t matter if you just play one game forever, but there are not only many more good games to experience, there are 6 other Yakuza games alone! 😂

I've never played any Yakuza game, so 0 should be a good choice to start the series, right?

@KratosMD @Kidfried @th3solution I completed the estate management and quit the club management after taking over the second club. The estate management is designed so you can keep coming back to it during your playthrough. So run to the office, delegate responsibility, go and do something else. The nightclub stuff was fun the first few times but gets repetitive quickly imo. So I binned that off at some point.

Can I just say, that after playing some more, and spending some time doing several side quests with Majima (now on Chapter 4), that I am really impressed with the localization / English translation of the game. The dialog is hilarious! And they have managed to fill the dialog with very culturally appropriate slang and vernacular. The quips and sarcasm hits the mark consistently. Some of the humor and narrative is very Japanese, sure, but the conversations come off surprisingly natural with an English twist. Phrases and syntax reads as very conversational. And they even did the Chinese foreigner broken English spot on during the fake heart necklace sidequest. It’s weird to think the game was originally in Japanese, then they had to translate it into English and at the same time make it read like what a Chinese person who speaks poor English would say. Brilliant!
I suppose some of the slang they use wasn’t really in vogue for conversation back in the 80’s but it’s asking too much to not only localize it for an American and English audience, but also hit the language used in the time period as well.
@Kidfried Since English is not your native language, do you find the conversation easy to follow and do you understand the jokes?

@KratosMD snap for me. Love the series. I think as an older gamer now Yakuza hits enough old school and new school notes. Amusement vision aka the Yakuza team are amazing. F Zero GX, the original Super Monkey ball and Yakuza. Absolute legends.

I cant wait for Kiwami 2!

Hopefully we get a relook at Magic Johnson. Woooooo.

@kidfried how you getting on in your game bro?

@KratosMD sounds great. I hope they put some effort into remaking 3, 4 and 5 else there will be a gaping gulf in quality.

Does Mr. Shakedown get harder to beat the further into the game you go?
I’ve been running away from him after getting clobbered twice and losing all my money. But I need to beat him at least once for the trophy and I just realized the longer I wait he might get tougher and tougher in the later Chapters as I have felt sharp up-tick in difficulty in the average goons on the street here lately (still in late Chapter 4)

@Th3solution I don't think he does but he's much much easier to beat when you've upgraded your power and health a lot. I kept running from him after he gave me a good thrashing a few times but when I decided to eventually take him on in chapter 12 he was a cakewalk.

@Th3solution The fighting skills upgrade and you unlock new fighting abilities. Majima has this crazy dance fighting and Kiryu can unlock the Dragon style. Both are overpowered compared to your initial fighting styles. I never use the speedy kiryu fighting style as the lack of power makes the fights go on for ever.

You unlock counters also which help massively.