For the reason that reveal of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, many veteran followers of the collection have been perplexed by the choice to convey again long-time collection protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as a twin protagonist. Nonetheless, Like a Dragon collection producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto claims that Kiryu’s return has been within the playing cards for a protracted, very long time.
First, some context. Be warned: beneath the video, we have included spoilers for the ending of Yakuza 6: Music of Life, and the late-game of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
On the finish of Yakuza 6: Music of Life, Kiryu fakes his personal dying to guard these closest to him, successfully ending his profession as a member and/or pawn of the yakuza. Nonetheless, he made a quick return in Yakuza: Like a Dragon in a dramatic phase the place he battles protagonist Kasuga Ichiban. The late-game battle is extremely tough, and was seen by many gamers as symbolizing Kiryu passing the torch of being “the dragon” from himself to Ichiban – a real closing farewell for Kiryu of types.
With that context, it is sensible why followers had been so stunned to seek out out that Kiryu would return in full in not simply the eighth collection installment, but additionally in an upcoming spinoff entitled Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Title. Nonetheless, after we spoke to Sakamoto at gamescom 2023, he indicated that the plan had at all times been for Kiryu to return, even way back to the event of Music of Life.
Once we stated goodbye to [Kazuma Kiryu], we had been nonetheless planning to have him seem as a double protagonist for [Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth]
“Once we stated goodbye to [Kazuma Kiryu], we had been nonetheless planning to have him seem as a double protagonist for [Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth]. So, this has been form of a very long time one thing that we have been excited about. So, additionally in [Yakuza: Like a Dragon], Kazuma form of appeared as a form of backup character, and lots of people who performed [Yakuza: Like a Dragon] however weren’t acquainted with the earlier video games within the collection are in all probability nonetheless questioning, ‘Who is that this character and what’s his function?’ throughout the collection.
“So, [Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name] was form of invented as a derivative, a Gaiden, however what we actually needed to do with it was speak about what kind of life Kazuma had from the tip of [Yakuza 6] to the occasions in [Infinite Wealth]. So, what he was doing within the background and what he was as much as. That is the aim for this entire recreation.”
We additionally spoke with Sakamoto about extra particulars from Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Title, together with some tidbits about his trend, a brand new battle area referred to as the Coliseum, and the presence of Ono Michio within the recreation. You may learn our full Q&A proper right here, and meet up with all the remainder of the information popping out of gamescom with our roundups of day one and Opening Night time Stay. And for extra Like a Dragon Gaiden, try our first preview of the sport proper right here.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Acquired a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.
