Today’s issue of Weekly Famitsu included a spread on the upcoming Yakuza JRPG Ryu ga Gotoku 7, which will be released in the west with the title Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
We already know that the game will allow protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and his companions to change jobs (or classes, as we call them in the west), which will radically alter their skills and battle style.
This actually comes with a funny in-game explanation. At the beginning of the game Ichiban finds himself jobless, so he has to visit the Hello Work office in the new setting of Isezaki Ichinjo to find a job. That’s where you can go to change class when you want to.
The first job that we take a look at is Ichiban’s Dancer (which we actually already saw before). Not only his appearance changes during battles, but his attacks becomes more powerful the more he fights, hitting enemies in a wide area.
Next, we move on to Namba, who can change job to Fortune Teller. At first sight, he simply looks like someone who fights with a crystal ball, but it can produce several mysterious effects. It’s basically what in a JRPG you’d call a mage job.
You can damage the enemies with misfortunes like fire or lightning strikes. On the other hand, this job is not good in close combat and has low defense.
Adachi, who originally is a detective, can change to Riot Police, equipping a giant riot shield and a full protective suit.
This job boasts impenetrable thoughness and defensive power, therefore it’s good at absorbing enemy attacks. Basically, it’s what you’d call a Paladin in a JRPG, or a tank class.
You can also attack using the shield and protect your friends with a variety of defensive techniques.
Saeko can change to an Idol, which is a job available only to female characters.
It’s similar to a Monk in a JRPG, and it boasts direct attacks with the microphone on top of many singing skills. It also comes with reasonable defensive power and plays an active role in both offense and crowd control.
Of course, you can’t have a JRPG without stats, but those aren’t exactly the same you’d find in any JRPG (but they’re actually rather reminiscent of the Persona series). They represent your character’s “human power” and are very relevant to your ability to change jobs.
We get to see the menu that displays them.
The stats are Passion, Mental, Kindness, Humor, Intellect, and Style.
Passion is the source of romance. It can grow when you wholeheartedly dedicate yourself to something or behave enthusiastically.
Mental is what it says on the tin, the source of your willpower and focus.
Kindness is the power of accepting others and empathy. It can grow if you gently touch people, animals, and plans in the city.
Humor is at the base of socialization and cheerfulness. It may grow if you take action that brighten the mood around you.
Intellect is your stat related to education and memory. It can grow by making logical proposals or study.
Style is the stats related to your charm and character. It can grow if you have a witty exchange or behave in a charming way.
Interestingly, you can actually go to a qualification school in Isezaki Ichinjo, and pass exams to increase your human power.
That being said, passing qualification exams isn’t the only way to increase your human power.
You can do so in various ways including choices made in side-stories and achieving results in various minigames.
Companions also have their dedicated parameter, which is their relationship with Ichiban.
Their bond will deepen by having fun together at various play spots. Not only that will add to the variety of jobs they’ll be able to switch to, but it’ll also influence co-op attacks in combat.
You can have meals together or watch movies with your friends. You can also solve their problems in specific questlines, which won’t just deepen your bond, but also show hidden traits of their personality and reveal their past.
You can check out all the images below.
If you’d like to see more about the game, you can check out the original reveal, the first trailer with English subtitles, more trailers and gameplay, even more clips, another batch of videos, the latest one, and the previous gallery.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon will launch in Japan on January 16, 2020, exclusively for PS4. It’ll also come west later next year.
Published: Oct 2, 2019 01:40 pm