Topic: Yakuza 0

I can't find the Playstation Hits version of the game in any italian site. Amazon shows only 6 games for € 20 with release date 18/07. All the other games announced in the PS blog, Yakuza 0 included, will arrive later?

@Kidfried Oh yeah, it makes sense. That’s exactly what I was wondering. I find it fascinating. The fact that English is my native language, I take for granted understanding both proper “textbook” English, what we might call formal English or “the King’s English” and also the casual conversational and “street vocabulary” as you say or “street slang.” The two really can be quite different. Not only the words used, but we English speakers tend to throw proper grammar and syntax out the window when we’re speaking casually.
And that’s the amazing thing about Yakuza is that the written translation is very conversational like you might hear on the street, and that’s hard enough to get across when it’s a native English game, and more impressive when it’s a translation from Japanese.
Sure, there are cultural misfires, things for which simply no good translation exists, usually humorous colloquialisms, that are native to Japan. For example, last night I came across the side story where Majima helps the couple who is in disagreement over the crossword puzzle. I thought the localization of the puzzle was very well done (minor tiny spoilers here) with the use of western foods like mashed potatoes and popcorn but then I had no idea on the last question that Japanese people say a normal soft face as opposed to a rugged foreign looking face was called a “soy sauce face” Lol. Not sure it makes sense quite to me, but it’s just cultural and there is no getting around some of that.
It’s the same really in American English and British English. Same language, but different slang and based on a different culture. I love Push Square but occasionally all the British guys here are in on a joke that doesn’t make sense to me. 😂 So I was wondering how often that happens in a game like Yakuza, or any game really for that matter that relies on humor, for a non English speaker.

@Kidfried Ah, yes. It makes sense. I’m not sure why I’m fascinated by such things, but I am.
I have had an interest in Japanese culture for a long time. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m a weeb — it’s more of a casual interest because of my Sony fanboyism. I have watched some anime, but more like just dipping my toe in the pool to see what it’s like. I don’t follow any series. I like jrpgs and games like Yakuza, so that’s part of the allure. I like Western rpgs also but never considered that for a non-native English speaking European it might be just as hard to get a local American reference in a game like Fallout as it is for me to get what a game like Shogi is in Yakuza.
It’s interesting that you termed it like being ‘tourists’ in the game as that’s exactly what it feels like when playing Yakuza or another game that takes place in another country. For me recently it was Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture which takes place in Shropshire England and it felt like I was a tourist there. I’m sure it might feel similar for someone playing The Last of Us or Infamous Second Son, games with locations and cultures that accurately reflect their real life counterparts. Places I’ve actually been. When I went to Seattle, I recognized places, signs, and businesses from Infamous SS.
And I know you meant ‘tourists’ in the game in a broader sense of just playing the game as an outsider to the culture of the game’s developers, but it even applies more literally as we virtually visit these places.
On the subject, are you planning to play Shenmue 1/2? I think I saw an article here about the accuracy of the locale in the game. I know it’s not like Yakuza gameplay-wise, but I am curious about it since I am enjoying Yakuza so much.

Does anybody else find Makoto Makimura so adorable? Even though I can't understand the language, I think she's so well acted.

Ah man, the laugh out loud moments in this game ... I just did the side quest with the famous movie director “Stephen Spining” and pop star “Miracle Johnson” 😂
I’m pretty sure Spielberg didn’t give them permission to use his likeness! So funny!

So I’m still gradually getting along in this game. I had taken a break because I didn’t really understand or enjoy the Real Estate side game, but now it makes a lot more sense and I defeated Leisure King and took over 100% of the Leisure neighborhood and so now I think I’m on a roll and find it enjoyable. However, I also am anxious to move on with the plot and from the cost of some of the properties in the other areas I don’t think I want to plow through and complete the Real Estate part right now. So am I going to be allowed to finish off the Real Estate game later on in the story (I’m in Chapter 6)? I assume so, but I’m not sure if it is advantageous to finish it off early before proceeding with the story. Or does it really even matter if I don’t complete and take over all the other areas of Real Estate? I’m trying to decide how to proceed through this game because it is so easy to get distracted in it 😂

@Kidfried Sounds good. I might just shoot for taking over one more area at 100% for now since I’m enjoying it at the moment. Then I’ll probably move on through the story to keep things fresh. I hear the Cabaret mini game is similar and I don’t want to burn out on these.