Just like its immediate predecessor, you play as Yakuza 4Yakuza 5, because there are five playable characters and FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, YOU PLAY AS A YAKUZA CHARACTER, Patriarch and Clan Captain Saejima (though players won't get to do Yakuza things with him because he's still a convict smh). The lovable, pseudo-psychopathic Majima is in the game, but is getting less screen-time to the point that he's becoming nearly forgettable. Missed cash money opportunity by RGG.

Fear not though, because one of the new playable characters, Tatsuo Shinada, is just as loveable in a wholesome way. He's charming, very honest, athletic, loves baseball, was a pro-baseball player, borderline homeless, gets beat up a lot, is in crippling debt, eats leftovers and expired foods from the local konbini, and is an underpaid porn journalist. Good times to be had with this guy.

Plot is well constructed and easy to follow along this time. Not the greatest plot you'll ever hear, but it's not bad. Characters who die stay dead. Gone are the days where getting shot in the head or getting pushed off a tall building doesn't guarantee that they are dead (at least for this game 😬). Nothing else much to say here; most people play Yakuza games for their legendary side content and minigames, and it's there in Yakuza 5.

Combat is re-adjusted for characters coming from Yakuza 4, but core gameplay is still maintained except for one massive inconvenience that for some reason was added to the game. After street combat is over, any other nearby hostiles who were not in the battle WILL NOT DESPAWN, unlike most other RGG games. This means you will encounter a time where you will complete a battle you stumble into, walk 2 footsteps and then somehow get into another battle. So have fun with that.

For Completionists and Trophy Hunters, this will be one of the longest Yakuza you will try to complete. I believe this has the second most side content and minigames in a game, behind LAD: Infinite Wealth. Good luck!

I would say this game gets pretty ♥♥♥♥ but it doesn't and there is Hatsune Miku so in a way it's actually the best game ever

going to tell my grandkids this was OSU