Author Topic: Yakuza- Go Straight To 2, or Play Through The Original? (Read 2581 times)

bork · « **on:** February 26, 2009, 10:47:42 AM »

See topic. I know that Yakuza 2 has a big flashback video detailing Yakuza 1's story; just wondering if it's worth playing through the original anyway though. I'm not even sure if I am going to take the plunge but I am interested because of Yakuza 3.

cool breeze · « **Reply #1 on:** February 26, 2009, 10:59:30 AM »

play the original, then the sequel.

Yakuza 2 has a lot of references to the first game, and that includes the side missions for both games. It's actually one of the only sequels that I felt had a good sense of time and progression between the first and second game. The general fighting mechanics and all that are better in Yakuza 2, but I would still recommend playing the first game first.

bork · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2009, 11:03:02 AM »

Might pick them both up then. If Gamestop.com is to be believed, I can get them both at local shops for about $30-40.

dark1x · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2009, 11:16:31 AM »

The problem I had with the original was the incredible amount of loading. Every battle had a nice 10-15 second load screen before you get a chance to fight and these battles can occur randomly. It was highly annoying and really broke the flow of the game. The sequel solved a lot of these issues while the third game has all but done away with such problems.

Still, they are cool little games.

cool breeze · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2009, 11:29:45 AM »

did you play it on the PS2 or PS3? I remember hearing that playing it on the PS3 drastically reduced load times, and I can only assume that was the case because they were brief when I played them.

bork · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2009, 11:51:19 AM »

I have a Japanese PS3, so I'd be playing these on a regular PS2...

Himu · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2009, 11:58:31 AM »

I'd suggest starting with the first game. Although the second game improves upon a lot in the first, it's still more of the same. If you like that, go for more.

Honestly, even though the sequel is technically "better" I like the original more. It's more wacky jappy. There's nothing better than going down an alley, brought into a bar with a double d bust chick, only to be tricked into getting your drink spiked Willco style.

Oh, you're going for the NA version of Yak1, eh. The dubbing in that isn't as bad as people say it is. The voice acting is actually pretty good. It's the translation and the overuse of curse words that does it in. Still, worth playing.

Himu · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2009, 12:13:00 PM »

I'd also like to emphasize, lyte, that Yak2 has the best damn summary for a game I've seen. I hadn't played Yakuza in a while (for some reason my disc fucking disappeared, where to I don't know) and it totally made me remember everything. It's an actual summary that had effort put into it. So if you do decide to skip out on Yak 1, don't be scared to make the leap.

cool breeze · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2009, 12:14:35 PM »

the main characters in Yakuza 1 all had great VO. As amazing as whoever did Majima for the Japanese version was, Mark Hamill still did a great job. Kazuma, Nishiki, and all the others you hear often were great. The real bad ones were Yumi and others you didn't hear often.

dark1x · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2009, 12:21:51 PM »

Quote from: swaggaz on February 26, 2009, 11:29:45 AM

did you play it on the PS2 or PS3? I remember hearing that playing it on the PS3 drastically reduced load times, and I can only assume that was the case because they were brief when I played them.

I played the Japanese version (Ryu ga gotoku) on a JP PS2, so I'm not sure if loading is improved on a PS3. All I know is that the loading times sucked on PS2.

Mondain · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2009, 03:00:21 AM »

Quote from: swaggaz on February 26, 2009, 12:14:35 PM

the main characters in Yakuza 1 all had great VO. As amazing as whoever did Majima for the Japanese version was, Mark Hamill still did a great job. Kazuma, Nishiki, and all the others you hear often were great. The real bad ones were Yumi and others you didn't hear often.

AAAAAAAA IT'S TIME TO SCREW SHIT UP!!!!

The Sceneman · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2009, 05:02:50 PM »

Im playing through 2 right now and Im enjoying it a lot, I dont remember enjoying the original as much as this. It has been a while since I played 1 so maybe my perspective on gaming has changed a lot since then

chronovore · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2009, 11:34:53 PM »

I keep wanting to pick these up, but can't even be bothered to turn my PS2 on to finish Okami or either of the GTA PSP-ports (VCS, LCS), even though I know I'd love them. O! Achievements, you are the bane of my gamer spirit! (*poses dramatically*)

demi · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2009, 12:03:18 AM »

Yakuza sucks, avoid

The Sceneman · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2009, 12:59:00 AM »

I beat yakuza 2 last night, the game fucking owned. I would say skip the original. The story is way better in 2

cool breeze · « **Reply #15 on:** March 03, 2009, 01:09:02 AM »

were you able to do the

spoiler (click to show/hide)

man-baby

[close]

sub-plot?

bork · « **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2009, 01:34:15 AM »

Quote from: chronovore on March 02, 2009, 11:34:53 PM

I keep wanting to pick these up, but can't even be bothered to turn my PS2 on to finish Okami or either of the GTA PSP-ports (VCS, LCS), even though I know I'd love them. O! Achievements, you are the bane of my gamer spirit! (*poses dramatically*)

This is why I'm hesitating.

bork · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2009, 07:41:11 PM »

Well, I was at a Gamestop that had both games "new" (they don't look it. $:-\$ ), so I picked them both up. Going to attempt to play 1 today.

I think all I need to get now is Okami and my PS2 collection is complete.

The Sceneman · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2009, 09:03:45 PM »

If one doesnt do it for you 2 is way better so you can probably skip the 1st game

Lafiel · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2009, 09:11:08 PM »

Quote from: Scenester on March 03, 2009, 12:59:00 AM

I beat yakuza 2 last night, the game fucking owned. I would say skip the original. The story is way better in 2

Nah first game has a better story, two gets way to silly later on.

so did 1 i guess though. It's always funny how these games start off so serious, then go into animu \ mgs levels of silliness right at the last quarter of the game.

The Sceneman · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2009, 09:16:23 PM »

haha thats what I liked about them, and the fact they always have homo-erotic finales

bork · « **Reply #21 on:** March 29, 2009, 12:01:15 AM »

I feel obligated to play through the original, despite the loltastic dubbing and lack of 480p (man is it UGLY).

Where is the summary of the original game in Yakuza 2? Or was this a separate disc and I got stiffed?

Himu · « **Reply #22 on:** March 29, 2009, 12:06:18 AM »

both games have awful stories but good characters

The summary for Yak 1 is at the beginning of Yak 2.

Guybrush Threepwood · « **Reply #23 on:** March 29, 2009, 12:47:57 AM »

Yakuza 1 sucks. It's like GTA if the only thing you could do in GTA is do errands for people. The pseudo-random battles are fucking annoying, and if you get caught in a fight good luck because the game takes 10 seconds to load before and after the fight and the game has the most mundane, repetitive combat system you can imagine.

Not sure if 2 is any better

Himu · « **Reply #24 on:** March 29, 2009, 12:56:26 AM »

Yakuza is nothing like GTA, aside from the fact they share urban settings.

Fail.

Guybrush Threepwood · « **Reply #25 on:** March 29, 2009, 12:59:01 AM »

I know.

I said it was like GTA if all you did in GTA was do errands for people. GTA without the carjacking, killing sprees, police chases, interesting side missions, etc. is Yakuza.

Himu · « **Reply #26 on:** March 29, 2009, 01:07:30 AM »

Guybrush Threepwood · « **Reply #27 on:** March 29, 2009, 01:11:05 AM »

?

If you want to argue about the semantics of what I posted rather than my full point then that's fine.

Himu · « **Reply #28 on:** March 29, 2009, 01:14:17 AM »

Well, the real fun in Yak's combat doesn't appear until around chapter 5 when you learn abilities from Komaki. The load times I'll give you. Some quests in the game are errands, yes, but you're also forgetting that some aren't like the casino, the host girls, and more. There's a lot to do in Yakuza and to say they're all errands just sounds like you haven't played very much of it.

I guess all action-adventure titles that take place in urban settings are now GTA games where you can't jack cars, and shit.

Guybrush Threepwood · « **Reply #29 on:** March 29, 2009, 01:26:20 AM »

I just thought Yakuza was more of a chore to play than it was fun. I really wanted to like it, and I think forcing myself to do so only made me like it less.

As for the side-missions, I abandoned those mostly because of the random battles. I did not like those at all, and they are probably the main reason why I dislike the game. Either way, they weren't interesting enough to force me to go out of my way to complete them.

And this is an obvious complaint, but fuck that dub. I had to shut the door and constantly look over my shoulder to make sure no one was coming because every other word was a swear.

Also, what was up with that end battle? It felt like half of your attacks didn't connect no matter what you did. That was annoying.

demi · « **Reply #30 on:** March 29, 2009, 01:37:03 AM »

Quote from: Himuro on March 29, 2009, 12:56:26 AM

Yakuza is nothing like GTA, aside from the fact they share urban settings.

Fail.

The fact that both suck too

The Sceneman · « **Reply #31 on:** March 29, 2009, 01:50:33 AM »

Quote from: Guybrush Threepwood on March 29, 2009, 01:26:20 AM

I just thought Yakuza was more of a chore to play than it was fun. I really wanted to like it, and I think forcing myself to do so only made me like it less.

As for the side-missions, I abandoned those mostly because of the random battles. I did not like those at all, and they are probably the main reason why I dislike the game. Either way, they weren't interesting enough to force me to go out of my way to complete them.

And this is an obvious complaint, but fuck that dub. I had to shut the door and constantly look over my shoulder to make sure no one was coming because every other word was a swear.

Also, what was up with that end battle? It felt like half of your attacks didn't connect no matter what you did. That was annoying.

lol what? Do you live with your crazy parents or somehting? Youre fine with using the word 'fuck' on a message board but cant tolerate it in a game?

Guybrush Threepwood · « **Reply #32 on:** March 29, 2009, 01:54:38 AM »

I was with my extended family (it was ~Thanksgiving last year) when I was playing it.

It's not that I can't tolerate curse words; what I can't tolerate is the embarrassment of a family member bursting in the room and shouting "WHAT DID THAT SAY?"

Guybrush Threepwood · « **Reply #33 on:** March 29, 2009, 02:00:11 AM »

Quote from: Oscar the Grouch on March 29, 2009, 01:59:29 AM

The Yakuza games are a lot of fun, IMO. Not without their flaws, to be sure, but it's the best kick at the can of revitalizing the beat-em-up genre since uh... well, I guess since the beat-em-up genre died.

God Hand?

Lafiel · « **Reply #34 on:** March 29, 2009, 02:00:37 AM »

Quote from: Scenester on March 29, 2009, 01:50:33 AM

Quote from: Guybrush Threepwood on March 29, 2009, 01:26:20 AM
I just thought Yakuza was more of a chore to play than it was fun. I really wanted to like it, and I think forcing myself to do so only made me like it less.

As for the side-missions, I abandoned those mostly because of the random battles. I did not like those at all, and they are probably the main reason why I dislike the game. Either way, they weren't interesting enough to force me to go out of my way to complete them.

And this is an obvious complaint, but fuck that dub. I had to shut the door and constantly look over my shoulder to make sure no one was coming because every other word was a swear.

Also, what was up with that end battle? It felt like half of your attacks didn't connect no matter what you did. That was annoying.

lol what? Do you live with your crazy parents or somehting? Youre fine with using the word 'fuck' on a message board but cant tolerate it in a game?

Funny thing enough, my parents would totally ground me if i said the 'f word' in front of them, but they dont mind excessive swearing in video games and film. I do kind of feel awkward when my mum is watching me playing a game like GTA though.

Himu · « **Reply #35 on:** March 29, 2009, 02:55:03 AM »

Definitely prefer Yakuza over God Hand when it comes to 3d beat em ups.

bork · « **Reply #36 on:** March 29, 2009, 02:57:01 AM »

Is Yakuza really a "beat em up" though? It seems like more of an adventure game -with a beat-em-up style combat system- rather than a pure action game like Godhand is.

Himu · « **Reply #37 on:** March 29, 2009, 03:05:45 AM »

I consider Yakuza to be action adventure with a beat em up battle system.

What I mean is I prefer Yak's battle system to God Hand's. I like buying my weapons and testing them. I like punching tigers and fucking people up. Sure, you can pull off the ball buster in God hand but it ain't the same to me. The carnage in Yak makes me

The Sceneman · « **Reply #38 on:** March 29, 2009, 03:48:19 AM »

the gameplay in God Hand is a lot deeper and satisfying in the long run, but you have to work for it.

Yakuza has super satisfying one button fatalaties (punching a leaping tiger in the face FTW) which is good too

bork · « **Reply #39 on:** March 29, 2009, 05:14:19 AM »

I wish I could play this on my PS3. :'( I've become a resolution whore!

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Author Topic: Yakuza- Go Straight To 2, or Play Through The Original? (Read 2581 times)