I'm embarrassed I never played a Yakuza game

0:00 - Yakuza: Like A Dragon is good
1:06 - Why I played it
1:33 - Why I enjoyed it
More writing at MattHorton.live
I'll spoil the point up front for you. Yakuza: Like A Dragon rules. It's a great game, and I regret not playing a game in this series until now.
You know what I usually hate? Long, overly complex games, over the top, macho violence, and turn based combat. So why did I start Like A Dragon?
Because Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth features a famous Hawaiian t-shirt shop that was also featured in the now defunct reality Netflix show Terrace House.
That's truly it. Just imagining the vibe of watching Terrace House Aloha State and playing Infinite Wealth at the same time sounded so fun.

[@MattHorton]

Is there a game you've been avoiding?

[@Cognitive-Clips]

Baldur’s Gate 3. I just can’t commit to that kind of time sink these days 😅

[@MattHorton]

Boy I got halfway through Act 1 and I can't do it.

[@tenortime3355]

I know EVERYBODY talks about it but lethal company. I know It's kind of a joke-y game, but I'm way too much of a scaredy pants to Play most horror-related games by myself 😂

[@ThomasFogle]

I recently purchased Like a Dragon infinite wealth and haven't started it as I want to get through the first 7 Yakuza games. I am about to finish 3 and move onto 4. This is also a year of first and second chances with games for me as I am finally finishing the Yakuza series I started and never finished and afterwards I plan on playing though Persona 3 reload, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal.

[@mihmo2663]

Death Stranding and Red Dead 2. I own them both but can't bring myself to start. Tapped out of BG 3 after 120 hours. I just don't have the attention span for these 100+ hour games right now.

[@UKProgRock]

Judgement made me a fan Lost Judgement made RGG one of my favourite games studios. Just completed Gaiden now too.

[@MattHorton]

I gotta check judgment out

[@Djroshi01]

You just completed Gaiden. Are you okay?! That ending messed me up 😭 The ugly tears were real lol I love how this studio truly love their characters and the weight of the payoffs are felt in every entry. Amazing time we’re in to enjoy this together lol

[@kaleocambra1643]

Wait did you play Gaiden without playing the other games?

[@UKProgRock]

@@kaleocambra1643 I played Yakuza 6 before Gaiden. Tried to get into the series years ago and didn't click... I'm now playing through Zero.

[@UKProgRock]

@@Djroshi01 honestly the pain drove me for more! 🤣 I've been really impressed by the games writing and characters. I think Tak & Kaito will always be my favourites, but digging Kiryu, Majima and co too now.

[@emperorznb]

So glad to hear Like A Dragon connected with you, I absolutely adore the series and I think the main reason why is that balance between self serious melodrama and off the wall wild comedy - I don't think any piece of media strikes that balance quite as perfectly as these games do and it is what keeps me coming back every time

[@MattHorton]

Yeah! I'm eager to (in the long term) play one of the Kiryu led games to see how his character handles that balance. Because I think Ichiban is why it works for me here

[@carbonfibercarpet4655]

If you liked the combat in Yakuza: Like A Dragon you’ll love the combat in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth. It’s such a huge improvement and feels way more dynamic

[@MattHorton]

So I hear!

[@pox9127]

One of the best gaming series of all time

[@BrendonBigley]

This video made me so happy. I'm glad to hear about you kicking off your year of second chances as well! Given what you said about high fantasy vibes, I'll be curious about your dip into Elden Ring - Bloodborne might end up being The One on that front purely due to the aesthetic shift. Interested to find out which, if either, work for you in the end.

[@MattHorton]

For sure. I asked the soulslike channel and it was overwhelmingly weighted to ER but I am skeptical!!

[@LighthoofDryden]

Ok this convinced me to play Like A Dragon for sure Also pumped for you to play Elden Ring. Even if you don’t like it, it’s in my top 10 (and was also my first FromSoft)

[@MattHorton]

I'm "excited" to try it. I still don't think i'm gonna love it, but we'll see.

[@ThomasFogle]

I recently purchased Like a Dragon infinite wealth and haven't started it as I want to get through the first 7 Yakuza games. I am about to finish 3 and move onto 4. This is also a year of first and second chances with games for me as I am finally finishing the Yakuza series I started and never finished and afterwards I plan on playing though Persona 3 reload, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal.

[@MaxKiwami]

Im glad you really enjoyed the game, you should definitely check out the other games in the series, start with yakuza 0 then kiwami 1 and 2, and then play 3-5 remastered and 6, theyre all beautiful emotional games that i couldnt recommend more, also they get refrenced in infinite wealth and youll need that prior knowledge for it to make more sense

[@MattHorton]

I ain't got that kind of time. I'll play them eventually for sure

[@MaxKiwami]

@@MattHorton yeah that's understandable they're all really long lol

[@realkingofantarctica]

The Yakuza series might seem like harmless fun, but it's not for the faint of heart. The brainrot these games spread is so strong that you'll never be able to look at chickens, peacocks, tigers, train stations, roofs, rubber, or the joint in the same way ever again.

[@frido7939]

still hoping infinite wealth will add back skill shortcut features, can't believe they didn't bring back such a useful feature for turn base game just because one character have special ability tied to dpad button.

[@MattHorton]

Noooo what?! That was so useful.

[@jekw23]

I took a chance on this as I was never interested in Yakuza. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it and I got infinite wealth as soon as available. Have had an amazing time with both.

[@MattHorton]

I bought infinite wealth too already

[@mihmo2663]

The Yakuza series is my all-time favorite series (stealing the mantle from Mass Effect), even though they're different from Like a Dragon, they're absolutely worth trying out. You can buy Yakuza 0-6 for like $5 a piece, and even the Judgement games go on sale for like $15.

[@MattHorton]

I will for sure. But I have so many huge games on my list right now 😅

[@EvisceratorMK2]

The simple answer as to what you probably avoided for being turn based that might interest you would be Persona. If you want a game closer to what LAD 7 & 8 do then maybe Lost Odyssey as the current system LAD uses is an evolution of what that game from 2007 did essentially. For an incredibly linear & short turn based game that doesn't do anything fancy with its turn based system outside of having the best example of making how you approach each fight matter, Final Fantasy X.

[@MattHorton]

I'm playing P5R right now. It's not hitting like yakuza did but it's great!

[@EvisceratorMK2]

@@MattHorton Few things will ever hit like Yakuza tbf. It's always had a charm & style that's never been imitated or replicated. As long as you can enjoy the other games for what they are then that'll be good.

[@Cosmosis]

Whoof I've been avoiding so many games for so long. I think my biggest one is *any* souls-like. I've dipped my toes in a few times in the past and immediately did not resonate. But, I don't think I gave them a full chance like I have for so many other games and genres I'm glad you liked this one! I've been avoiding it too, mostly because of the time commitment if I'm honest. If these games were like 8 hours long, I probably would have given them a chance a long time ago

[@MattHorton]

Very valid. I started ER last night and am not sure how i feel yet

[@xtr.7662]

My favourite game is still totk but by far my favorite series is yakuza and ive played a lot of games

[@Complecx]

Outside of no new game plus in standard. Its pretty solid. Still cant beat the final boss and will not load to grind. Im sure my tears will still run when we finally get the ending.

[@MattHorton]

I just had to run the kamurocho dungeon once fwiw

[@FredMaverik]

I am also playing LAD since people can't stop talking about Infinite wealth but unlike you I played other yakuza games. Judgement too, that was great.

[@MattHorton]

I ain't got the time for that

[@aliquidgaming1068]

I felt the same about Persona 3 reload was my first and now I own the others and want to play them Glad I gave jrpgs a chance cause Japanese games are amazing

[@MattHorton]

I love Japanese games! Just turn based stuff turns me off. I am playing P5R right now too and it's just slow going

[@mjc0961]

Unfortunately you heard correctly, Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth has a whole Animal Crossing style mini-game. And it forces you to play the boring thing for about an hour even if you don't want to. Easily the worst part of the game.

[@MattHorton]

Sounds like a blast 🤷‍♂️

[@MPScrimshaw]

If you don't love find your own fun and medieval Europe do not play elden ring first - do bloodborne.

[@MattHorton]

we're gonna try it. i already got it as a gift.