Help
Book creator ( disable )
Page semi-protected

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Yakuza 6 cover art.jpg
North American cover art
Developer(s)Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio[a]
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Hiroyuki Sakamoto
Producer(s)Masayoshi Yokoyama
Designer(s)Ryosuke Horii
Programmer(s)
  • Koji Tokieda
  • Yutaka Ito
Artist(s)Nobuaki Mitake
Writer(s)
  • Tsuyoshi Furuta
  • Masayoshi Yokoyama
Composer(s)Hidenori Shoji
SeriesYakuza
Platform(s)
ReleasePlayStation 4
  • JP: December 8, 2016
  • WW: April 17, 2018
Windows, Xbox One
  • WW: March 25, 2021
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life[b][1] is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Sega for PlayStation 4. The game is the seventh main entry in the Yakuza series and the final game to feature Kazuma Kiryu as the primary protagonist,[2][3][4][5] and was released in Japan in December 2016. The English version was released in Southeast Asia in March 2018,[6][7][8] and worldwide the following month[9][10] since its release in Japan in December 2016.[11] Versions for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One were released in March 2021.[12] The game was followed up by Yakuza Kiwami 2, a remake of the second game, and by Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the next chronological installment, released in 2020.

Gameplay

Yakuza 6 is an action-adventure game set in an open world environment and played from a third-person perspective. It is similar to that of other Yakuza titles with exploration mixed with arcade style beat 'em up combat with ragdoll physics. Yakuza 6 was the first game in the series to use the new Dragon Engine game engine (later used in Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and the spin-off Judgment), which overhauls the presentation and combat mechanics compared to past games. It also features an advanced variant of Yakuza 5's Dragon Spirit Mode, called Extreme Heat Mode, where Kiryu becomes resistant to knockback as long as his Heat remains, and his combo finishers can turn into Heat actions that take out immense amounts of health. Additionally, as is also later used in Yakuza Kiwami 2, the game categorizes experience into different types and the player can grant themselves various upgrades by using experience of the correct type; experience points can also be earned by eating at restaurants, though doing this raises the hunger gauge which limits how much food the player can eat and reduces itself with time.

Unlike Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5 and Yakuza 0, Yakuza 6 does not feature any playable characters besides Kiryu himself. Additionally, unlike 0 and Yakuza Kiwami, Kiryu only uses one fighting style. This game features the series staple location of Kamurochō, Tokyo, as well as a new city, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture. Onomichi stands out from other cities in the series in that its name is the same as its real world counterpart, with the area featured in game being a recreation of the city's Shingai district.

Characters

Several renowned actors voice the characters in Yakuza 6. Among them: Takeshi Kitano as Toru Hirose, Shun Oguri as Takumi Someya, Hiroyuki Miyasako as Tsuyoshi Nagumo, Tatsuya Fujiwara as Yuta Usami (Miyasako and Fujiwara both being recurring actors from Yakuza 3), and Yoko Maki as Kiyomi Kasahara, as well as other artists that have participated in the Yakuza series.[13][14][15]

Plot

Recovering from injuries sustained in the previous game, Kazuma Kiryu is arrested for past crimes, and willingly spends three years in prison, hoping for a peaceful life with his fostered children. In his absence, an arson in Kamurocho's Little Asia district skews the criminal underworld's power balance: Daigo Dojima, Taiga Saejima and Goro Majima are framed for the arson and imprisoned; Katsumi Sugai and Takumi Someya usurp the Tojo Clan; the Chinese Saio Triad, specializing in heihaizi human trafficking, rises to power in the area; and the Jingweon Mafia resurfaces, occupying most of Kamurocho.

Upon release in 2016, Kiryu discovers that Haruka hid herself in Onomichi, Hiroshima from the paparazzi after her controversial retirement, and is currently unconscious after being a hit-and-run victim in Kamurocho. Learning that she has an infant son, Haruto, Kiryu travels with the baby to Onomichi. Upon arrival, Kiryu befriends the local Hirose family, its patriarch Toru Hirose, and members Tsuyoshi Nagumo, Naoto Tagashira, Takaaki Matsunaga and Yuta Usami.

Searching for Haruto's father, he meets prominent figures of the Onomichi Yakuza world: Takeru Kurusu, real name Heizo Iwami, chairman of the powerful Yomei alliance, and his son Tsuneo Iwami, CEO of his front company, Iwami Shipbuilding. Kiryu also learns that Sugai and Someya initially provoked the war with the Saio Triad in the Tojo Clan's name, which included burning Little Asia, so that Daigo could be framed and arrested. However, the hostility between the gangs became genuine after Tsuneo Iwami empowered the Saio Triad. Iwami later betrayed them and dispatched the Jingweon Mafia to murder the eldest son of their leader, Big Lo. Iwami and the Saio Triad also share the "secret of Omonichi". Likewise, Sugai and Someya want the Saio Triad suppressed, with the latter requesting support from Kiryu. Kiryu rejects the offer because of his role in framing Daigo.

Hirose eventually reveals that Yuta is Haruto's father, and the youngest son of Big Lo. From birth, Big Lo's subordinates, Masuzose and Tatsukawa, secretly manipulated Yuta into learning Chinese culture in case his elder brother died, so that he could replace him and reign over the triad, per hereditary succession. After his brother's murder, the Saio Triad attempted to kill Haruto because of his mixed bloodline. However, Tatsukawa and his Jingweon allies decide to sell Haruto to Tsueno Iwami, who wants to keep the child to prove how directionless the Saio Triad is. He convinces Haruka of the plan in Kamurocho but accidentally runs her over during the process. The triad then tortures Tatsukawa to death for his treachery.

Iwami later orders the Jingweon Mafia to kidnap Haruto, who is saved by Kiryu and his allies. Yuta, disgusted by his father's actions, attempts to commit murder-suicide by burning down Little Asia. Kiryu saves them. Big Lo recovers and tells Kiryu that Hirose deliberately told Yuta about his background to provoke him to kill him. This is because Big Lo failed to obey Hirose's command to leave Japan, because of his knowledge of the "secret of Omonichi". Realizing that Hirose had been killing anyone connected to the "Secret", Kiryu returns to Onomichi to confront him; the secret is revealed to be aYamato-class battleship intended for use against the American occupation forces, built illegally by Iwami Shipbuilding. The project was funded by Minoru Daidoji, nicknamed the Fixer, a politician who embezzled taxpayer money from Hiroshima citizens. Kurusu appears and reveals that not only did he order Hirose to commit the murders, but that he was the one who thought of the idea in the first place. He orders Hirose to kill Kiryu and the Hirose Family for exposing the secret but Hirose refuses, resulting in his execution. Daidoji names Iwami as his new right-hand man and orders him to execute his father, since he failed to execute Kiryu and his allies. Iwami also announces his plan to fully dominate the Yomei Alliance and Tojo Clan.

Kiryu invades the Millenium Tower to confront Iwami and Sugai, but is forced to fight Someya. Someya's defeat however led to his ex-wife being held hostage at gunpoint by Iwami and Sugai, forcing him to commit seppuku to save her. Mourning Someya, Kiryu and the Hirose Family mount a full-scale invasion on the Yomei Alliance. In anticipation, Iwami and Sugai kidnap the awoken Haruka and Haruto. The Hirose Family rescues the two, and a heavily wounded Kiryu defeats Iwami, but is shot by Sugai. Iwami is imprisoned, Daidoji dies of old age, and Sugai commits suicide.

By January 2017, a politician serving as Daidoji's successor attempts to bribe a recovering Kiryu into silence regarding Daidoji's crimes, which would jeopardize several high-profile politicians. In exchange for his silence, Kiryu demands Daigo's release from imprisonment to prevent a war between the Tojo Clan and Yomei Alliance, and has the politician fake his death to ensure that Haruka and her family can live in peace. After their release from prison, Daigo, Saejima, and Majima create an alliance with the Yomei in honor of Kiryu's will.

In the final scene, Kiryu observes the Morning Glory orphanage from a distance, where Haruka, Yuta, Haruto, and his fostered children live peacefully. As Haruto take his first steps, he sees Kiryu, who disappears before anyone else can spot him.

Development

Yakuza 6 was announced on September 15, 2015, at the Tokyo Game Show during the Sony conference, exclusively for PlayStation 4 and with a release date of "Autumn 2016".[5] Toshihiro Nagoshi of Sega confirmed that more details would be revealed during the rest of the event.[5] A traditional Chinese localisation has been announced for the Asia region.[16] Beat Takeshi was also announced to be playing a character within the game.[17] The game also features New Japan Pro-Wrestling wrestlers Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Kazuchika Okada, Satoshi Kojima, Tetsuya Naito and Toru Yano, who play fictionalized versions of themselves in the game.[18]

This is the first game to be developed exclusively for the PlayStation 4, featuring the all new "Dragon Engine".[19]

Yakuza 6 also includes Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, Puyo Puyo, Out Run, Super Hang-On, Space Harrier, and Fantasy Zone as playable games in the form of basic play spots. Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown and Puyo Puyo include two-player modes as well.[20] Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown is based on Version B of the game and Yakuza 6 is the only official release of this version outside Japan.

For Yakuza 6, Kiryu's orphanage, named "Sunshine Orphanage" in previous western releases, was renamed to "Morning Glory" (the literal translation of its Japanese name Asagao (アサガオ)). Yakuza series localization director Scott Strichart explained that as Goro Majima had managed a cabaret club called Sunshine in Yakuza 0, it felt too much of a coincidence that both Majima and Kiryu would both come to have a place called "Sunshine" play a big part in their lives. He then said that as such, it would likely lead to the impression that Kiryu had decided to name his orphanage after the cabaret club, which seemed highly inappropriate for his character. This change was retained in later re-releases of prior games.[21]

Demo

The demo for Yakuza 6 was released on February 27, 2018, for North America, Europe, and Australia. The US version was pulled from the PlayStation Store after Sega discovered that they accidentally released the full game in that region.[22] The Australian and European demos were pulled from the PlayStation Store the next day, and all the free copies of the game in the US had their digital license revoked.[23] On March 19, 2018, the demo was re-released on the PlayStation Store.[24]

Reception

Critical response

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[25]

The game received a score of 39/40 from the video game magazine Famitsu.[31] The German magazine 4Players gave it 85 out of 100 points.[38]

Sales

In its first week of release in Japan, it sold 218,168 copies.[39] As of December 23, it has sold 400,000 copies in the region.[40][41] Combined with the rest of Asia, the game shipped over 500,000 units by December 2016.[42] It was the third best selling video game in the United Kingdom during its European debut week,[43][44] making it the biggest launch for the series in the UK.[45] As of June 2018, the game has sold 800,000-900,000 units worldwide, with overseas markets accounting for approximately half of the game's sales.[46]

Accolades

The game was nominated for "Best Storytelling" and "PlayStation Game of the Year" at the 2018 Golden Joystick Awards,[47][48] and for the Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game at the New York Game Awards.[49]

Notes

  1. ^ Microsoft Windows port developed by QLOC.
  2. ^ Ryū ga Gotoku 6: Inochi no Uta. (Japanese: 龍が如く6 命の詩。, Like a Dragon 6: The Poem of Life.)

References

  1. ^ "「龍が如く6」，PS4向けで2016年秋発売決定。初代リメイク「龍が如く 極」は2016年1月21日リリース". 4gamer (in Japanese). September 15, 2015. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015.
  2. ^ "Sega Announces HD Remake of Yakuza, and Yakuza 6". Wired. September 15, 2015. Archived from the original on April 11, 2017.
  3. ^ "Yakuza 6 announced, exclusive to PlayStation 4". Destructoid. September 15, 2015. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
  4. ^ "Yakuza 6 Announced For PS4". GameSpot. September 15, 2015. Archived from the original on September 25, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "TGS 2015: Yakuza 6 Announced". IGN. September 15, 2015. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017.
  6. ^ "Yakuza 6's Delay Only For US And Europe, English Version Still Set For Release In Asia March 20th – Gamer Matters". gamermatters.com. March 17, 2018. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  7. ^ "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life". PlayStation™Store. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  8. ^ Square, Push (March 20, 2018). "Yakuza 6's Release Roll Out Continues to Be a Mess". Push Square. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  9. ^ "Sega Announces Western Release of Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza 6 Games". December 4, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  10. ^ Game, Yakuza (February 2, 2018). "An important update on Yakuza 6 : The Song of Lifepic.twitter.com/8MILlBPI4x". @yakuzagame. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  11. ^ "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Will Release in the West". December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  12. ^ "RGG Studio on Twitter: "We're excited to announce that the entire mainline Kiryu Yakuza saga will soon be available on Xbox Game Pass, Windows 10, and Steam! Yakuza 6: The Song of Life – Mar 25, 2021". Twitter. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  13. ^ "Meet the Voice Actors of Yakuza 6's Cast". twinfinite.net. April 17, 2018. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  14. ^ "Yakuza 6 has very good faces". criticalhit.net. May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  15. ^ "New PS4-Exclusive Yakuza 6 Trailer Features Famous Japanese Actors". gamespot.com. July 26, 2016. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  16. ^ "Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia unveils its strong hardware and software line-ups for the coming holiday season". PlayStation Asia. September 16, 2015. Archived from the original on July 21, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  17. ^ "First look at Yakuza 6 shows Beat Takeshi's character". Gematsu. September 28, 2015. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015.
  18. ^ 新日本プロレスリングの人気選手が神室町最大のギャングに？！オカダ、棚橋、内藤ら6選手がPlayStation®4専用ソフト『龍が如く６ 命の詩。』に出演決定！. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). September 16, 2016. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  19. ^ "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Game : PS4". Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  20. ^ Romano, Sal (September 6, 2016). "Yakuza 6 adds "Live Chat" play spot [Update: Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown and Puyo Puyo]". Gematsu. Archived from the original on September 6, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  21. ^ Scott Strichart (June 8, 2017). "Scott Strichart on Twitter". Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  22. ^ Plunkett, Luke. "Sega Accidentally Released Yakuza 6 For Free". Kotaku. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  23. ^ "Sony Revokes All Free Copies Of Yakuza 6 On PS4, No Penalties Will Be Given To Owners". GearNuke. March 1, 2018. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  24. ^ PlayStation (March 19, 2018). "Good news, Yakuza fans! The Yakuza 6: The Song of Life demo is back: Get a head start on the conclusion of Kiryu's story — your progress will carry over when the full game launches April". @PlayStation. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  25. ^ a b "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  26. ^ "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  27. ^ "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  28. ^ Glagowski, Peter (March 15, 2018). "Review: Yakuza 6: The Song of Life". Destructoid. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  29. ^ "Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life". Edge. No. 317. Future plc. April 2018. pp. 108–110.
  30. ^ Patterson, Mollie (March 15, 2018). "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  31. ^ a b Romano, Sal (November 29, 2016). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1461". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  32. ^ Cork, Jeff (March 15, 2018). "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  33. ^ Faulkner, Jason (March 15, 2016). "Yakuza 6 Review: Like a Dragon". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  34. ^ Tran, Edmond (March 16, 2018). "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  35. ^ Avard, Alex (March 15, 2018). "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Review: "Sweet, Sagely, And Surprising Subtle In Its Storytelling"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  36. ^ Ogilvie, Tristan (March 15, 2018). "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Review". IGN. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  37. ^ Parkin, Jeffery (March 15, 2018). "Yakuza 6 review". Polygon. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  38. ^ "Test (Wertung) zu Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (Action-Adventure)". Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  39. ^ Sato (December 16, 2016). "This Week In Sales: Yakuza 6 Pummels Its Way To The Top". Siliconera. Archived from the original on December 17, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  40. ^ "PlayStation 4 - Game Data Library".
  41. ^ "2018 Digital - Game Data Library".
  42. ^ "Yakuza 6 Crosses 500,000 Shipments In Japan and Asia, Franchises Sees 9 Million in Sales Worldwide". Segalization. December 16, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  43. ^ "TOP 40 ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE, WEEK ENDING 21 April 2018". Chart-Track. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  44. ^ Mason, Damien. "God of War and Yakuza 6 dominate the UK charts". Kitguru. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  45. ^ "Sarah Wellock on Twitter". Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018 – via Twitter.
  46. ^ "Yakuza 6 Sales Nears 1 Million Mark Worldwide". PlayStation LifeStyle. June 5, 2018.
  47. ^ Hoggins, Tom (September 24, 2018). "Golden Joysticks 2018 nominees announced, voting open now". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  48. ^ Sheridan, Connor (November 16, 2018). "Golden Joystick Awards 2018 winners: God of War wins big but Fortnite gets Victory Royale". GamesRadar+. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  49. ^ Keyes, Rob (January 3, 2019). "2018 New York Game Awards Nominees Revealed". Screen Rant. Retrieved January 7, 2019.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yakuza_6:_The_Song_of_Life&oldid=1106762326"