Yakuza 5 – Five Cities?! Major Update to Yakuza Formula

[Shin-Ra]

Yakuza 5 in Development, Black Panther Sequel Due for PSP

Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi will be making some big announcements later today. Thanks to Famitsu, we know the content of the announcements, and they are quite big!

The magazine details three major Yakuza series developments this week:

First up, for those who thought Yakuza was just a five year fad, the magazine reports that Toshihiro Nagoshi has formed the Yakuza Studio. In Japanese, the studio's name is the slightly less alarming "Ryu ga Gotoku Studio."

The first game from the studio is a sequel to PSP spinoff Yakuza Black Panther. In development for PSP, the sequel is titled, in Japanese, Kurohyou 2 Ryu ga Gotoku. It retains the basic gameplay systems of its predecessor. The game will be playable at the Tokyo Game Show. A release is set for Spring 2012.

Finally, the magazine reveals that Yakuza 5 is in development.

We should get more details on these items later in the day at Sega's press conference.

Yakuza 5, YEAH!! I think the press conference is in about four hours.

Black Panther was developed by Syn Sophia/AKI so the sequel may not be taking manpower from Yakuza 5.

Ryū ga Gotoku / YAKUZA (PS2)

Ryū ga Gotoku 2 / YAKUZA 2 (PS2)

Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! (PS3)

Ryū ga Gotoku 3 / YAKUZA 3 (PS3)

Ryū ga Gotoku 4 / YAKUZA 4 (PS3)

Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō (PSP)

Ryū ga Gotoku OF THE END (PS3)

Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku (PSP)

Ryū ga Gotoku 5 / YAKUZA 5 (PS3?)

Pre-Yakuza 5 announcement:

Nagoshi, who's currently working on futuristic third person shooter Binary Domain, was reluctant to say whether the series would return, but said that Yakuza: Of the End, the spin-off game recently released in Japan, was the last of that style of Yakuza.

"The basic style and mechanics is really an old game that started on PS2 and continued on PS3," Nagoshi said, "Times keep changing, and if we started on some new games they would be in a very different shape - so the last game was the end of one particular era."

[Snake_XRS]

Between this and the teasing of a possible Bayonetta sequel, today has been an awesome day in gaming!

[Shin-Ra]

Yeah.. about that.

[Snake_XRS]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

Yeah.. about that.

Horrible info at the end of the day....You've ruined my night Shin

[Shin-Ra]

Well, there's still Persona 4 The Golden and Persona 5 on the way.

[Snake_XRS]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

Well, there's still Persona 4 The Golden and Persona 5 on the way.

I'm hoping this one will be flat out awesome....I love the Persona games, but only played 3 & 4.

[MOONPHASE]

I'm more interested in Yakuza 5 as long as it's like 3 and 4(even though some people actually think Of the End is Yakuza 5).

I have doubts of these Black Panther spin-off games being localized, just like Kenzan.

[Shin-Ra]

Nothing much was announced for Y5 at the press conference, it's really early in development so next year's TGS may be the big reveal.

[Shin-Ra]

A lesson in how to say a lot without really saying anything, when you can't yet:

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/201...oshi_yakuza_5/

Asked about the concept of the game, Nagoshi said that when looking at the "drama" side of the series, the concept will not see major changes. However, he feels that they must pursue new things in terms of technology and play style. They're aiming to innovate on the gameplay side of things.

Asked about how drastic the gameplay changes could be, Nagoshi replied that they won't be as drastic as the game's action or drama components being completely removed, for instance. He feels that they must think both about current fans and newcomers.

The game's basic settings (this is not the "setting" as in location, but the settings as in the game's design) will be seeing changes, so Nagoshi hopes that people won't mind waiting a bit this time. While it would have been possible to get Yakuza 5 out quickly without changing the settings, Nagoshi feels that this isn't desired.

Sega usually shows off new Yakuza games at the Tokyo Game Show. So will we see more of Yakuza 5 at the September event this year? Nagoshi wouldn't give a firm yes or no. The game appears to be quite early, though. Nagoshi explained that while it would be a lie to say that there isn't a design document in place yet, he did feel that the timing of the announcement was a bit too early.

Expectedly, Nagoshi would not provide details on release time frame or platform when asked during the interview session.

[Uxi]

Looks like Kazuma is driving the bus again. Maybe they'll implement something like GTA San Andreas' gang wars, if not goon/sidekick controls?

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by Uxi

Looks like Kazuma is driving the bus again.

Was there some news on Yakuza 5 today?

[Uxi]

No, I just meant from the end of Yak 4. Just found the thread.

[Shin-Ra]

Two cities again! YES!

Toshihiro Nagoshi Shares a Few Yakuza 5 Details

• The setting of Yakuza 5 will be Kamurocho along with another city. Current candidates include Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka.
• Nagoshi would not share the playable character count, nor would commit to the game being either single hero or multi hero.
• They've not yet decided if they'll have hostess auditions for the game's hostess component.
• Nagoshi says that it's unthinkable to have a Yakuza game without main character Kazuma Kiryu. He views Kiryu as Mario-like for the series.
• Nagoshi really wants to make a "chapter zero" like entry which is set in the past of the Tojo Clan.

[AikonEnt]

I'm currently playing Yakuza 3 (finished the story but only 42% complete so a few side stories and things to do), and have Yakuza 4 lined up ready to go

[Uxi]

Maybe instead of Chapter Zero, remakes of the original Yak 1 and Yak 2 as full PS3 games. Or at least remasters in addition to the zero

[Cplhicks]

Originally Posted by AikonEnt

I'm currently playing Yakuza 3 (finished the story but only 42% complete so a few side stories and things to do), and have Yakuza 4 lined up ready to go

I finished 3 a couple weeks back, and have 4 waiting to go, but I'm taking a break from Yakuza for the big games coming out lately (Batman, Uncharted, etc) I doubt I'll ever get 100% on it though, so of those mini games are impossible for me.

For cities, I'm hoping for either Sapporo or Osaka. I've been to both and really enjoyed playing Yakuza 3 and seeing Okinawa, it's amazing how well it recreates the real location. It was almost like being there again. I know Osaka was in Y2, but I'd love to see it in HD now.

[Shin-Ra]

All FIVE cities included?! New details from Famitsu:

http://andriasang.com/comz19/

Famitsu also reveals that the game will have locations in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka. Sega recently held a survey asking fans which of these five cities they'd like to see in the sequel. While northernly Sapporo was the clear favorite amongst fans, it looks like the survey was just a marketing stunt.

http://andriasang.com/comz1d/

• The game will have massive volume.
• Nagoshi says that if likening the series to a house, 5 would be like building a new house rather than adding an extension to an existing house.
• The five cities will be of scale at or beyond the previous Osaka (Dotonbori) and Okinawa (Ryukyu) locations.
• Rather than seeking out hostesses to appear in the game, Sega will be traveling to the five cities to seek out girls who will serve as a cheering squad for the game. The girls will appear in commercials as well.
• The game will have presentation improvements, including shortened load times, improved camerawork and better character expressions. The team is using some of the knowhow they gained from working on Binary Domain.
• The game will also have improved technology to allow for seamless conversations and battles. Nagoshi says that you will be surprised with the result.
• The story will connect directly with Yakuza 4. It will not carry over from the zombie-themed Yakuza Of the End.
• Masayoshi Yokoyama is now a producer. On past Yakuza games, he worked on such areas as script and scenario.
• Development is currently in an early phase. Famitsu lists the game as date TBA.

Loads times weren't exactly lengthy to begin with but even shorter it'll make all the travelling back and forth that much more comfortable. Character expressions were fantastic already in the full cutscenes, maybe they're improving the sub-cutscenes and regular street walking NPC's.

[Snake_XRS]

They need some nudity in this one....Yakuza without nudity is like the Italian mafia without f-bombs.

[Grim Reaper]

http://www.ign.com

Published by: SEGA
Developed by: SEGA
Genre: Action
Release Date:
US: TBA
Japan: TBA
RP-M+ for Rating Pending

According to Japanese blog Andriasang, information circulated out of Famitsu magazine that Yakuza 5 will indeed launch on the PlayStation 3, as has been the case with previous Yakuza games.

Famitsu also revealed that Yakuza 5 will span across a number of locations in Japan, including Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Furthermore, Andriasang notes that Yakuza 5's story will connect in some way to the plot of Yakuza 4. Yakuza 5 will also feature improved load times and camera control.

Lastly, Famitsu confirmed that Kazuma Kiryu will serve as the lead protagonist in Yakuza 5, though no details have surfaced regarding other playable characters.

Yakuza 5 is currently under development. Sega has yet to confirm a release date for Japan.

[androvsky]

Originally Posted by Snake_XRS

They need some nudity in this one....Yakuza without nudity is like the Italian mafia without f-bombs.

I agree, but nudity is virtually forbidden in Japanese console games. Even Z-rated games, which must be sold in specially partitioned areas that children can't even see into (and retail space is precious enough in Japan) and require an I.D. to purchase, still end up getting censored for nudity (definitely for genitalia, but I'm not sure if even breasts are allowed). A Z rating in Japan would pretty much kill the franchise. Yet porno mags and videos can be sold in the open.

Also, being able to fight innocent people on the street would also likely bump the rating to a Z. All the GTA and Saint's Row games are Z-rated there.