From an insignificant April Fool’s Day joke to a formally released work, the turn-based “Yakuza 7” has become the most controversial work in the series. Some people are dissatisfied with the change of combat from action to turn-based, and some are indignant that the chivalrous and tender Kiryu has been replaced by the cynical Kasuga.

However, if a series or an IP wants to maintain vitality and prosperity for a long time, change is the most important part. The Yakuza series experimented with the possibility of new engines in the sixth generation and Kiwami 2, and tried the compatibility of old experience with different story themes through Judge Eyes. Finally, it chose to change the usual action combat core in Yakuza 7. These are all manifestations of the courage to change.

It is true that the final performance of “Yakuza 7” proves that it is not a groundbreaking breakthrough, but it also strives to make its own exploration under the traditional “Yakuza” structure, and is quite worth in-depth consideration.

The feeling of hitting in the turn-based system

We often say that turn-based games are declining. The old style of standing still and fighting with your sword seems to have been abandoned by the trend. But in fact, the term turn-based game does not mean backwardness – the simple gameplay of the logo also has the characteristic of “strong plasticity” of the turn-based game. In recent years, there are cases where the old turn-based game has been played in a new era. Whether it can be played in a new way and gain a good reputation actually depends on “adapting to local conditions” in combination with the theme of the game itself.

The Yakuza series has accumulated more than ten years of experience and has a thorough understanding of its own game features, so it knows how to borrow the strengths of current turn-based RPGs to transform itself. You think it is a turn-based game where you hit each other with a single blow, and you think it is imitating Dragon Quest and Persona. Yes, on the surface, it is so, but in fact it is not, and it is not just that.

The game uses the Human-Dragon Engine used in the sixth generation, retaining a series of new “Yakuza” combat features such as encountering enemies in the open, seamless fighting on the streets, and scene destruction. However, the specific combat performance is transformed into an orthodox turn-based system with enemies and us going back and forth. The enemy and us in the battle will decide the order of attack based on the speed attribute, and have common basic design elements of the turn-based system such as general attacks, skills, combined skills, summoned beasts, positive and negative attribute states, etc.

On top of these basic elements, Yakuza 7 has several unique systems. The most interesting one is the physical effects that are brought to the battle by combining the characteristics of the dragon engine. The enemies and friends in the game are not standing still, but moving around the field with a certain degree of randomness. At the same time, most of the range skills in the game are released in a fixed range. If you want to hit more enemies, you must choose the right time to attack.

Although players cannot actively control the movement of characters in battle scenes, they can combine these displacements and physical effects to create many surprises. For example, you can wait for the enemy to move to the right position and immediately release range skills to attack as many enemies as possible; or kick objects in the scene during the attack to cause additional damage to the enemy; even knocking the enemy out to be crushed by a passing car is also a possibility of this physical system.

Another feature of the game is the addition of QTE button operations for each character’s skill release. Although it is just a simple operation to press the triangle button or hit the square button continuously according to the timing, it is the rhythm of these QTE buttons combined with the physical effects of the engine that adds an extra experience to the battle. The sound effects and performances of the punches bring a sense of combat that is not available in ordinary turn-based RPGs.

Although the game’s series of gameplay designs, overall conception and expression are not outstanding when viewed separately, when the game is strung together, it undoubtedly brings more fun and playability to the turn-based game of “Yakuza 7”, and the experience is naturally extraordinary.

Yokohama God of War

In fact, apart from the unorthodox turn-based design, the other parts of the “Yakuza 7” gaming experience are still the elements of the old “Yakuza” framework.

The traditional casual elements of “Yakuza” are reused in the game. Mahjong, darts, baseball, Sega retro games and other fixed dishes are of course not absent. The newly added cans, investment and dragon karts seem fresh, but in essence they are also the deconstruction and reconstruction of the past taxi racing, nightclub management and other gameplay. Behind the novelty is still the “Yakuza” flavor experience.

Although the can-picking survival game is just a simple race, it is quite funny when combined with the background of a homeless man riding a tricycle to pick up garbage.

Ichiban Investment is a mixed doubles of Kiryu Real Estate and Majima Nightclub. Its essence is to provide players with a way to make money.

Of course, in addition to the old routine, the game also has some innovations. In addition to the attribute improvement brought by character upgrades, “Yakuza 7” also adds a set of personality attribute development for the protagonist Kasuga Ichiban.

Players with a little gaming experience will definitely recognize this system as similar to the personality development system in Persona, and it works in a similar way in the game. Some side quests and NPCs require Kasuga’s attributes to reach a certain level before they can be triggered. For example, the simple pickup part of this game requires the player’s attributes to reach level 10 before they can finally succeed. If you are half-baked, you won’t even be able to get any further with the girls.

In addition to personality development, there is also the improvement of the bond with teammates. Isn’t it more interesting?

Players can increase their corresponding personality attribute experience by choosing different dialogues, achieving achievements, completing mini-games, etc. The game also specially designed a Dahaiyuan research mini-game, allowing players to improve these character attributes in an entertaining quiz.

A new generation of adventure with twists and turns

The Yakuza series has always been a game that excels in plot, but the primary difficulty for Yakuza 7 to tell a good story is not the quality of the script, but the sense of generational discontinuity caused by the change of protagonists. The new protagonist Kasuga Ichiban has to take over from Kiryu Kazuma, which is not easy. The problem at hand is that it is too difficult to surpass the interpretation of the older generation that has been deeply rooted in people’s hearts for many years. In addition, players are also accustomed to Kiryu Kazuma’s serious image of a scapegoat. It is really difficult for Kasuga Ichiban to win people’s hearts with his cynical and somewhat off-line personality.

In addition, in terms of the performance of the script, it is hard not to have a sense of déjà vu in the early stages of “Yakuza 7”. From taking the blame for the gangsters, to betraying the black gun after serving time in prison, to uncovering the blame and overthrowing the old boss, the story seems to be a replica of Kiryu’s classic story. For players of the series, such routines are naturally familiar.

However, in fact, Kasuga Ichiban’s adventures are far more than that. Starting from being reduced to a homeless man on the streets of Yokohama, the story cuts into the theme of “the decline of the underworld” that has been unfolding since the sixth generation from a different perspective. Behind the layers of conspiracy, reversals follow one after another, and the attitudes of various forces in the narrative change, repeatedly subverting the player’s logical speculation. At the same time, the plot can constantly create suspense about the characters in a compact rhythm. When the relationships and motives between many characters are finally revealed, it once again interprets a Japanese-style chivalrous tenderness.

The plot was a little slow in the early stages, until two new teammates joined the team and it started to get tight.

In addition to the plot, Kasuga Ichiban has also grown from a silly young man to a man who can stand on his own. Whether in the main story or the side story, his attitude towards things is completely different from that of the older generation. Not to mention that it makes people fall in love at first sight, at least it leaves a good enough impression on the players. It is possible that a new generation of “Yakuza” will continue to be launched with Kasuga as the protagonist in the future.

Innovative approach based on old practices, but flaws still exist

Overall, the innovation of “Yakuza 7” is successful. Unfortunately, as the first trial of a turn-based system, there are many regrets in the details. Although the overall story is quite interesting, there is not much room for players to intervene in the nearly one-hour prologue. Even when the plot develops into the second and third chapters, the game’s turn-based gameplay is still incomplete, and players can only taste the stale taste of the old-fashioned turn-based system in the hidden way.

The game has already lasted for more than 5 hours while waiting for the job transfer agency that will bring about a qualitative change in the battle to officially debut. I believe that most people’s patience has been greatly worn out, which is a flaw that cannot be ignored for a transitional work.

Another point of criticism is the newly added personality attribute development system. Strictly speaking, Dragon Team and ATLAS are both studios under Sega, so it is not surprising that they learn from each other. However, it is obvious that Dragon Team has not found a way to reasonably integrate the development system of “Persona” into “Yakuza”, so that the influence of personality development in the game is limited. Apart from the requirements for individual career changes, players can almost ignore its existence. This raises a glaring question: is this system deliberately imposed to highlight the novelty?

Conclusion: A unique and brave attempt

If a series or an IP wants to maintain vitality and prosperity for a long time, change is the most important part. The Yakuza series experimented with the possibility of new engines in the sixth generation and Kiwami 2, and tried the compatibility of old experience with different story themes through Judge Eyes. Finally, it chose to change the usual action combat core in Yakuza 7. These are all manifestations of the courage to change.

Even though the results of seeking innovation and change are still somewhat immature, and the game ultimately has various shortcomings, “Yakuza 7” has indeed injected new elements and vitality into the series, ensuring that the tone of the series’ years of hard work remains unchanged while also adding a few fantasies to the future with a stroke of a pen, which is brave and worthy of recognition.