What is The Real Infinite Wealth? - A Video Essay

[@thebiggestofmen]

This is probably your most well shot and beautiful video. I love the style here. Also its nice since iw is the prettiest dragon engine yakuza game. I love the use of yokohama in this video btw. Its a side of the game not seen much in exchange of hawaii. I love how peaceful and tranquil Yokohama is in this game. Also i can relate to this game coming at point in life. God ive gone through a lot of forgiveness

[@LoFiSamSero]

Agreed! It was nicely shot!

[@Aleex1256]

The moment of Kyriu's vulnerability in the final moments of "The man who erased his name" is probably the moment that made me cry more in absolute in my freaking videogame life.

[@Calhasnopals]

I’m glad to see someone as articulate as yourself give this game the love it deserves. I know a lot of people aren’t a fan of this games theme and character heavy story as opposed to a more narrative structured approach, but I love this game. I love it’s characters, I love its world and I would die for Kiryu Kazuma, my favourite fictional middle-aged man

[@KelleyGreenEcstasy]

The real infinite wealth was all the lead we ate along the way

[@ashlikeadragon]

A Leadhead video on a Like a Dragon game was honestly a dream of mine, and this did not disappoint. Thank you.

[@HotDogTimeMachine385]

Unironically "the infinite wealth were the friends we made along the way"

[@mimbomimbo]

Really disappointed that Aoki's ghost didn't come back and tell Ichiban to be Like an Elf or whatever

[@whoopsthatsasinisntit]

Never expected a Yakuza essay of all things... Speaking of, JoJolands is also about getting rich, I wonder if this is becoming a theme...

[@itsd3br33]

Its a good day when Penelope posts

[@mayor6366]

Kiryu bonding with his party tugged at my heart so much. It was so touching to see Kiryu be able to open up and just enjoy life with other people

[@BirdNoise77]

NEW LEADHEAD WOOOOOOO

[@foreignerhill]

Fun fact (if its not addressed in video, haven't finished), the Sheena Ringo ending song title, Ariamaru Tomi, can be translated as "Infinite Wealth"

[@derekjohnson8910]

You know, I kind of have to refute the claim that Ichiban’s a dumbass that everyone in the game makes. Yes, he’s quick to forgive people who have wronged him. Looking at it on the surface, he forgives things he absolutely shouldn’t. He by all rights shouldn’t forgive Eiji and Chitose for ruining his life. And Tomizawa literally mugged him, I know I’d be hard pressed to forgive there. But if you look at all of Ichiban’s interactions? He’s actually very discerning about who he extends that hand to. Nanba, Tomizawa, Chitose, Eiji, Ryo Aoki, Saeko, and even Yamai to an extent have all wronged him. But these are all the people he extends a hand to. And they all take it. Even the ones who did some repugnant nonsense to him in the case of Chitose and Eiji, and who fought him every leg of the journey in the case of Yamai, every single one of them took the opportunity Ichiban gave them. Kume? Tendo? Bryce? Ichiban extended nothing to them. He knew they were too far gone; he knew their fundamental nature was just ugliness. And he doesn’t go out of his way to save every petty thug in his side stories. This level of discernment shows Ichiban’s emotional intelligence. The fact that literally everyone he extended a hand to took it? Even if they couldn’t see it through (In the case of Aoki), it shows Ichiban has an eye for people. He understands them. He really can see into your soul and know who and what you are. Now where he IS probably a dumbass are the lengths he goes to to redeem someone. But that’s just who Ichiban is. If there’s even the slightest microcosm of a miracle of a chance that you can be redeemed? Ichiban will go to hell and back to make it so. If Ichiban is willing to bet on you? He’s probably not wrong. But if you’re too stuck and set in your ways? He’s got nothing for you.

[@user-qc2uu2wu6s]

heartfelt and thought provoking video as always. 🙏 excited to see more in the future

[@user-qc2uu2wu6s]

oh yea the aspect ratio is nice sounds and love the edits

[@finalfursonavii8635]

i love your editing of simple stuff like gameplay n stuff... like putting it on the big TV screens outside or the little signs for the patreon stuff

[@schizoidtravis8116]

Im so glad I finally found a video gushing so much for this game, I really just wanted to see anyone else relate to how powerful this game is, thank you Leadhead.

[@MudNugget]

Very well done video essay. It reinforced my feelings after finishing the game as well as the sadness I felt when realizing I've played as this character for almost 20 years now. I really have grown up with Kiryu.

[@owRekssjfjxjxuurrpqpqss]

The ending of Infinite Wealth is easily the best ending in the entire series imo. The montage of Ichiban juxtaposed with Kiryu being airlifted to the hospital against Shiina Ringo’s The Invaluable, which is just a perfect fit for the themes of the game. That scene really shows how much both of the series protagonists sacrifice for others but also highlights their differences. Ichiban’s has golden retriever like energy, forgiving people who most people would discard or write off as hopeless, while Kiryu is definitely more selective about who he keeps as company, he still will go to extreme lengths, and even die to protect them. Big spoilers: I saw some people disappointed that Kiryu didn’t die in the end but I think that would’ve been arguably easier than what they did, they gave him a relatively happy ending, being able to come out of hiding and see Haruka and others again. Who knows how long he will live but I think this is probably the final time he will be out fighting physically. I think the ending does just enough to make it clear that the future of the franchise is going to be carried by Ichiban without just killing Kiryu off, I don’t think there’s any way you can really kill Kiryu and give a satisfying conclusion.

[@twkreviews6683]

Right there with you when it comes to getting emotional during Kiryu's half of the game. From Yakuza 0 all the way to Infinite Wealth, the journey of Kiryu's life has been one I won't soon forget.

[@Pretzel_Waifu]

Holy shit that was absolutely beautiful, I hope you and your friends can all be ok one day. I’m proud of how far you’ve come

[@Resil27021]

Honestly this was so fucking heartwarming. I'm glad you made this video and shared this game's brilliance with us in such an elegant way.

[@LunaSophiaZ]

i really liked the video and was going to say the edits u made look amazing! i really love the aesthetic!!

[@ploopebig2102]

Super cool to see a positive analysis on Infinite Wealth's story. I feel like there is a lot more to talk about with it than people are giving it credit for. I went through it with the similar feeling of not knowing what the title meant, especially since I think the producer said calling it infinite wealth was a deliberate choice. The second the song at the end played as Ichiban carried Eiji while Kiryu was being airlifted to a hospital it clicked with me. The infinite wealth is life itself, just the mere act of living. as long as we make the choice to keep on going, we always have a chance. Kiryu has spent pretty much every game from 5 onwards being depressed, and it culminates in 8, where he reaches a somber acceptance with his own mortality, and through meeting and properly befriending Ichiban, he finds himself with a new mindset (in a literal gameplay sense too) and once he gains his party he gains more of a resolve to genuinely live, fix his mistakes and seek forgiveness. By the end he finally grasps onto that idea of infinite wealth and he finds it in himself to forgive himself, seek treatment, and regain his identity. Presumably set out to live the rest of his days happily at the orphanage, and finally after 20 years being able to relinquish the role of the protagonist For Good This Time. After all, even if you're at rock bottom, it's not over. You just have to keep living and through that you'll find Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

[@SmileGayming]

to me Ichiban's strength as a character comes from his capacity to give love and kindness to literally anybody he sees, he can empathize with anybody because he was exposed from a young age to every facet of the city he grew up in, and his experiences losing Masato and his inherent emotional strength made him truly believe that every person no matter how awful the things they've done deserve a chance at redemption, and he's willing to die for that belief, and for anyone who he's given that love and kindness to. That's something I think every Ichiban game should emphasize Kiryu for all the games he's been in always felt to me like an inhuman platonic ideal of an honorable Yakuza, and seeing him finally being allowed in this game to really be vulnerable and feel regretful and afraid about all the things that have happened throughout his life and all the people his actions could have harmed feels like a breath of fresh air, like Kiryu is finally allowed to act like a human being, that all these past games weren't just yakuza melodramas played out for an audience, but actual real experiences in Kiryu's life that affected him deeply

[@Trashcom1917]

The friends we made along the way?

[@DJspidey100]

Wonderful work as always.

[@k0jimbo]

i will be back as soon as finish infinite wealth cuz i’m really into the yakuza series. love the editing style!

[@factandsuspicionpodcast2727]

I'll die on the hill that Infinite Wealth is the finest RPG released this year. And that's a big statement considering this might be the best year for RPGs in my lifetime.

[@dethkon]

The Yakuza series are video games as a soap opera.

[@The_Rat_Bridget_Fan]

What a lovely essay

[@PaulusTheCart]

Very cool!

[@Dr.Mrs.Pancakes]

I loved this video, I haven't played any Yakuza games but this makes me want too

[@modestqueens]

I fucking love these games.

[@zombieplasticclock]

I love how the actual moral of the story is "The real Wealth was the friends we made along the way". The ending of LaD8 is so good

[@riskeykitten773]

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG WHY AM I JUST SEEING THSI

[@PeachiPrism]

The besties we made along the way

[@potatoqueen5248]

Maybe the real infinite wealth was the friends we made along the way.

[@soccerandtrack10]

3:22 some1 made my idea, but didnt do how i want to make my idea too. Mines different. But its still the same idea=plot twist thing.

[@xenom2.0]

I am ashamed i didnt click on this video when it dropped

[@vitoponce3478]

The real Infinite Wealth is The Man Who Erased His Name.

[@axelprino]

While playing the cutscenes within screens in the game is a really nice editing style and quite the flex, please turn it down with the camera shake, it's so distracting.

[@lollyde]

whats up with the shakey as hell shots throughout the video? is youtubes image stabilization doing more bad than good again?

[@andresaguilera115]

It might just be the green screen swaying back and forth?

[@lollyde]

​@@andresaguilera115 youtubes image stabilization has a very distinct feel to it and it's quite different to the artifacts you get from a greenscreen not playing nicely. also, take a look at the credits, i doubt that was done with a greenscreen and it has some of the worst shake in the entire video.

[@ikkekokkendin]

The real infinite wealth was the locking of New Game + behind a paywall

[@oyoyoyo7624]

did the devs make that choice, or the publishers? what does that have to do with the video? i wish people would keep their comments relevant, but alas. •out of context whining •reaching for the unfunniest, low hanging fruit these are the hallmark symptoms of a lack the self awareness. you likely can’t see how you come off to others, but it’s impossible to ignore once you open your mouth. get help

[@triplewave5214]

@@oyoyoyo7624damn bro, blud was only making a joke 💀

[@alicemayumi]

@@oyoyoyo7624 get out of the fake account RGG's CEO

[@snowgoose0571]

​@@oyoyoyo7624is this bait? LOL

[@eyet8958]

Well, it's the friends we made along the way, of course!

[@thelegendofner0]

I almist fell asleep watching this, it almost felt like playing Yakuza 😂

[@shovelmann]

it’s actually just the friends we made along the way💀

[@soccerandtrack10]

18:16 i was 100% wrong about a mafia game. I thought it was like the grand theft auto game. I do play/watch saints row=its weird/doesnt care. =you could make a trans. person in saints row 3 when the black ops game was there. It doesnt care,it just goes where it wants.

[@bekkayya]

[@garretwoeller7669]

Pretty sure despite 8 having a worse ending then 7 I think personally the theming was better in this game

[@PankoBreading]

I loved when Ichi said "I guess the real wealth was the friends we made along the way" and Kiryu dies of pulmonar cancer Truly one of the JRPGs of all time

[@soccerandtrack10]

Capitallism is worthless.

[@soccerandtrack10]

18:16 make the video=i beli---- 😁i belive in spirites of the dead ,more then the human spirit.😁 =pun/true. =8💀🦇 other stuff in stores that make lord of the rings stuff.

[@CSM100MK2]

I think i'm finally going to unsub. havnet enjoyed any of your vidoes for years since YOU are the main topic of each one now. I'm glad you're happy but the content change is not for me, it's not essays, it's your own therapy session.

[@popcornplayer4496]

go ahead and pretend it wasn't always about her and her thoughts and perspectives. your just fooling yourself. now she's finally open and true about it blatantly instead which is so much better.

[@soccerandtrack10]

Capitallism is worthless.