fausty (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} mrfausty) wrote,@ 2006-09-11 11:06:00 |
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Save the Puppy!
That's right, the puppy needs saving. When these words splashed across the screen with a clash of drums (indicating a new mission had begun), I had to smile. Yakuza has been nothing but a series of pleasant surprises so far. And, at about three hours in, I'm already finding it to be one of my favorite games of the year.
Yes, it has issues. The camera is about as ass as you could get - there's no excuse for a lack of camera control, especially in the battles. There is loading, and lots of it, not to mention noticeable pauses as the view switches while running around the city. And, quite frankly, a $50 PS2 game these days is rare, and it sucks that Sega kept this at a higher than normal "current gen" price...
Those complaints, though, are petty and weak. Because Yakuza is fun, in no small part thanks to a fantastic and surprisingly deep fighting system. In fact, as a brawler, this game is great. But, as an RPG, it's phenomenal.
It took me a small while to accept Yakuza as an RPG, because - at least on its "action-packed" box description - it doesn't resemble one. But at its core, this game is all about fighting random battles to gain experience, which can be used to level up attributes. The game is heavy on story and cut scenes, talking to random people can open up sub-missions or give clues to the larger picture, and exploring the environment can lead to finding special items and stores. Hell, it even has a dragon of sorts, but not the type you'd expect.
The environment, at least so far, is a one large city. And it's the first game to feature a city that really pulls off the illusion - colors and sounds are everywhere, and the sheer number of "interactive" people is almost overwhelming. Which helps give it a "realistic" feel to compliment a modern and mature (albeit, slightly over-the-top) tale of gangster betrayal and revenge.
I was a little disappointed at the the lack of Japanese voice option - for a game that is so heavily drenched in Japanese culture and settings, English voices are a little off-putting - but there just apparently wasn't room on the disc for two separate voice tracks. Which makes sense, seeing the amount of voice-work I've heard in just the first few hours. And to be fair, the voice acting is surprisingly decent, even incredibly good at times.
Well, that dog is still hungry, so I should get back to it and find some food for that mutt. And, as boring as that might sound, somehow, I have the feeling I'll be using random background objects to whack in the skulls of a few dozen Japanese gangsters or street thugs along the way...
That's right, the puppy needs saving. When these words splashed across the screen with a clash of drums (indicating a new mission had begun), I had to smile. Yakuza has been nothing but a series of pleasant surprises so far. And, at about three hours in, I'm already finding it to be one of my favorite games of the year.
Yes, it has issues. The camera is about as ass as you could get - there's no excuse for a lack of camera control, especially in the battles. There is loading, and lots of it, not to mention noticeable pauses as the view switches while running around the city. And, quite frankly, a $50 PS2 game these days is rare, and it sucks that Sega kept this at a higher than normal "current gen" price...
Those complaints, though, are petty and weak. Because Yakuza is fun, in no small part thanks to a fantastic and surprisingly deep fighting system. In fact, as a brawler, this game is great. But, as an RPG, it's phenomenal.
It took me a small while to accept Yakuza as an RPG, because - at least on its "action-packed" box description - it doesn't resemble one. But at its core, this game is all about fighting random battles to gain experience, which can be used to level up attributes. The game is heavy on story and cut scenes, talking to random people can open up sub-missions or give clues to the larger picture, and exploring the environment can lead to finding special items and stores. Hell, it even has a dragon of sorts, but not the type you'd expect.
The environment, at least so far, is a one large city. And it's the first game to feature a city that really pulls off the illusion - colors and sounds are everywhere, and the sheer number of "interactive" people is almost overwhelming. Which helps give it a "realistic" feel to compliment a modern and mature (albeit, slightly over-the-top) tale of gangster betrayal and revenge.
I was a little disappointed at the the lack of Japanese voice option - for a game that is so heavily drenched in Japanese culture and settings, English voices are a little off-putting - but there just apparently wasn't room on the disc for two separate voice tracks. Which makes sense, seeing the amount of voice-work I've heard in just the first few hours. And to be fair, the voice acting is surprisingly decent, even incredibly good at times.
Well, that dog is still hungry, so I should get back to it and find some food for that mutt. And, as boring as that might sound, somehow, I have the feeling I'll be using random background objects to whack in the skulls of a few dozen Japanese gangsters or street thugs along the way...
