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Yakuza: Like A Dragon, what is going on with all these cutscenes!

Bragr

Banned
Played maybe 5 hours, I swear 4 hours of those have been cutscenes. It's the most story-heavy game I have ever come across, makes Metal Gear feel like a child, my controller turned itself off several times already because of idleness because the cutscenes are like 20 minutes long.

Does this game ever let you play? there are a few tiny sections where you can run around and fight, but the moment you go into another mission it goes back to extreme cutscenes.

Now, I like it, the story is actually great so far, but I feel like I have been in a 5-hour long tutorial story set-up phase. Does this game actually feature sections where you can roam around and do what you want? I expected the game to ease off after an hour or 2, but it never stops. Is the entire game gonna be like this?
 

Nankatsu

Gold Member
Yes, it let's you play.

Game takes a bit to take off, but once it does you have enough freedom to tackle it how you want it.

I struggled a bit at the beginning too, not for that reason (the RPG style vs action oriented Yakuza's) but got through it and I'm glad I did - game is legit awesome.
 
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So this must be your first Yakuza game huh?
You better buckle up!
So It Begins Helms Deep GIF by Giphy QA
 

Isa

Gold Member
Well the series is known for that. Most of the games take a while to get going, then you'll have more freedom. But expect plenty of cutscenes throughout the whole game. Frankly I love it, with Like a Dragon Being my favorite game in the series with 0 being next up. They're all so good, and the side stories are fantastic too! There are some genuinely moving moments that got me in the feels, along with some great laughs! The writing/translation is fantastic.
 

Batiman

Banned
Ya my controller goes to sleep waiting for these cutscenes. I’m still early on but I don’t think I’ve played a game with this many
 

Vlodril

Member
Indeed all the games play like that. I have seen 40 minutes cutscenes too so they are not for people who don't enjoy that kind of thing.
 

Gaelyon

Gold Member
It's a fantastic game that opens up later, there's tons of gameplay but there's like the first 10+ hours of slow opening. It's a very long game anyway, took me 100+ hours to complete. Most of the cutscenes are amazing and the characters are very likeable.
 
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KungFucius

King Snowflake
I started to lose it late into the game. The cut scenes were over the top and could have been cut down because all they did was give a little motivation, explain it in gory detail as if you were a moron and couldn't follow and then transition to fight. Others were just a pre-fight taunt.
 

oji-san

Banned
lol yeah also played it(and all Yakuza games lately), i like the cutscenes.. but sometimes they really drag them for no reason imo, could made them a little more to the point.
 
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Thief1987

Member
Indeed all the games play like that. I have seen 40 minutes cutscenes too so they are not for people who don't enjoy that kind of thing.
Nah not all, it's only last 3 games (0, 6, 7) which went overboard with exposition. In this sense all previous games are very tame in comparison.
 
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I've only played one Yakuza game, and it will be my only one, due to this same issue. FAR too many cutscenes, not enough gameplay imo.
 

Kimahri

Banned
It's very front heavy on the story, but after 4-5 hours is when the games let you loose and you can do things your way.
 

Aenima

Member
All Yakuza games are curscene heavy in the beginning to set the player up to date with whats going on. They also usually only let you go to some places blocking roads. Once the game opens and the player can choose to where he wanna go and what missions he wanna do, things get more balanced.
 
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Fbh

Member
Haven't played like a Dragon yet (waiting until I get a next gen console for those 60fps), but the Yakuza games have notoriously slow intros so I wouldn't be surprised if the balance between gameplay and cutscenes gets better later on. Specially if you take your time and do other activities around town instead of just running from one main objective to the next

Yes, the typical 'it gets better later on'. Sorry, you have no respect for my time at the beginning, I have no need to play your game.

Having cutscenes doesn't mean it doesn't respect your time though? Being story heavy and having lengthy cutscenes has always been a part of the franchise, it's what many people come for.
 
It's a cutscenes heavy game.

I will say that the story is really good, and the gameplay is snappy. There are long stretches where the game opens up and you can do your own thing. I think it's the best in the series as far as pacing.

Judgement (from the same devs) is like an interactive novel, though. They do the whole "cutscene, walk down a hallway, cutscene" thing in that one.
 
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Ahahaha yes. I almost quit this game at the start because there was almost zero gameplay for my first one or two play sessions. I gave it one more try and was finally able to actually play the game.

It’s a very good game, but goddamn, they must be relying on their usual audience to tolerate this design.
 

Life

Member
At least cutscenes are skippable. Enemy encounters every 5 steps is the one that's really gonna get to you. I did finish the game - but man did the repetitive fights test my patience.
 

manfestival

Member
Yeah I kinda had the same issue since I usually want to give the game some time during time constrained periods which does not work out since you cannot save right after a cutscene. I love the experiences I have had in the game and just enjoy everything about it except for the long time sessions between saving and cutscenes.
 

Sleepwalker

Gold Member
I once installed a yakuza game off gamepass, instantly got hit by like 3 hours of exposition and it wasn't even dubbed. I'm sorry but my attention span is not that great. Uninstalled before I even got to play.
 

Kacho

Gold Member
They call it Yasnuza for a reason. These are games you should play in short bursts IMO. Like a Dragon is dope so stick with it.
 

Alexios

Cores, shaders and BIOS oh my!
They call it Yasnuza for a reason.
Nobody calls it that.

Edit: why the laugh reaction Kacho Kacho ? Searching for yasnuza brings up zero related results. Searching for yasnooza in case idiots shitting on it spell it differently has very few such instances as well. It's just not a thing and will never be a thing. Why pretend otherwise or lie about that? 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️
 
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gundalf

Member
The series is like a telenovela, I love this but to be fair, once the initial story is setup, it gives you plenty of time to do gameplay only stuff.
 

Hendrick's

If only my penis was as big as my GamerScore!
First Yakuza game? This is why I play few Japanese games. I can't do cut scenes anymore. Especially when the writing is nonsensical.
 
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