More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

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Exhuminator
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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

Post by Exhuminator »

Xeogred wrote:This was obviously a spiritual successor in many ways though and shared some staff.
Yakuza is Shenmue with all the fat cut out.

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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

Post by Xeogred »

Sums it up. The backdrop and characters are 10x more interesting to me. I'll give Shenmue another shot if it does get some HD releases though, but that's probably an endless rumor.
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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

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Nah Shenmue > Yakuza. Plus, honestly the series are nothing alike, other than both being quasi RPG Adventure type titles with 'grounded' settings/themes, set in Japan.

I mean, I can kinda see the similarities, but the games really feel nothing alike. Shenmue immerses you in its world, is full of life, full of characters all going about their business and daily lives. Every fight is with characters and is set up to occur in a certain situation. There's a general routine in Shenmue, with night and day cycles. The story moves forward gently, by exploring the world and talking to characters.

Yakuza, on the other hand, is far more normal and straightforward. Fights are mostly random, against random goons (like a traditional RPG). NPCs are just random generic characters. Most of the story and plot is revolved around fighting and it is fast paced, unlike Shenmue. There isn't much talking to characters and exploring involved.
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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

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Reprise wrote:Nah Shenmue > Yakuza.
I'm not the only one who disagrees:

https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/the- ... dont-at-us
Reprise wrote: Plus, honestly the series are nothing alike
Well, you're welcome to that opinion, which I completely disagree with, yet lack the energetic conviction to debate you about.

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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

Post by Reprise »

Haha for some reason I just knew someone would post that image or at least mention the arcades :lol:

I love both series, own both series, have played them both extensively, but I just find the similarities overstated. The games feel nothing alike, they're only similar on a very superficial level. When you get to the meat and bones of both games, they play very differently and have a very different feeling.
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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

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I've beaten Shenmue, Yakuza, and Yakuza 2. I can think of very many similarities. Are they 100% the same? Nope. Are they 75-80% similar? I say yes. But I invite others to play both series and enjoy them, and draw their own conclusions.
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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

Post by ElkinFencer10 »

I'm certainly not the biggest fan around here (looking at you, Bogus), but I'm a HUGE Shenmue fan, and I've got those Yakuza games in the mail, so I look forward to playing them and making some comparisons for myself.
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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

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I'm looking forward to your reviews. And if you recognize the Shenmue similarities I noticed.
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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

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Reprise wrote:Nah Shenmue > Yakuza.
Why of course, your avatar says it all... :P :lol:
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Re: More PS2 Reprints, Yakuza 1-2

Post by Blu »

I think the series are comparable, but both hold a nice warm spot in my heart.

I love the arcades, minigames, and fighting in both. Yakuza has much more action.

Shenmue is more disciplined and relaxed. There's less pressure on getting there, and more emphasis on enjoying the journey in a non-specific timeline.

Yakuza is the experience of slamming 4 Red Bulls, snorting a line of crushed adderall, drilling a bystander with a traffic cone, laughing at him, and making a bee-line for the finish. I love that there are frequently guns, but fists and swords are always the answer. Always.

I've beaten all five of the Western-released Yakuza titles so far, and have Yakuza 0 to go through when I have some free time in the near future. They're all great. 1, 2, 4, and 5 are awesome. 5 is really fucking cool. It's got the greatest teamwork and cohesiveness between cast members in my opinion. 3 is my least favorite in the series, but it's still pretty good. Dead Souls is just above average, but it has its moments. I love the over-the-top style the series sticks with that ventures between not taking itself seriously, but has moments where all of a sudden it does take itself seriously. It's hard to not laugh at the irony of all when those serious moments happen, because there's so much random-what-the-fuck humor and high level of violence throughout. It's such a great series that I gladly will pay full retail price since they're so enjoyable.

I mean, how can you not love moments like this? (minor gameplay spoilers from 4)
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