The legendary Yakuza series is getting a series on Amazon, but after the first trailer, many fans are asking the question: “Is this still Yakuza?” We explain why this is the case here.
What is it about? Like a Dragon: Yakuza is a new series on Amazon Prime based on the popular game series Like a Dragon. For a long time, it was known in the West only by the name Yakuza, but it has been aligned with the Japanese original with Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
The story of the series is loosely based on the first game of the series. Kazuma Kiryu is a (former) member of the Yakuza – a general term for criminal organizations in Japan, comparable to the Mafia. However, he quickly becomes entangled again in the machinations of competing clans. In a trailer, Sega already gives a first glimpse into the series.
You can watch the trailer here:
What does the trailer show? On one side, we have Kazuma Kiryu, who is released from prison after serving a sentence and wants to leave the Yakuza. On the other side, we also have the young Kiryu, who as a child – seemingly fascinated by a fighter with a dragon tattoo – wants to become a member of the Yakuza.
A proud 10 billion yen has been stolen from a Yakuza clan. The culprits are said to belong to another clan – a gang war is brewing. To make matters worse, a masked assassin known as the Demon of Shinjuku is also on the loose.
Looks like Yakuza, but doesn’t feel like it
How are fans reacting to the trailer? Visually, the series has captured the look of the characters very well. With Goro Majima, the trailer also features an absolute fan favorite – his iconic “Kiryu-chan!” simply cannot be missed.
However, several comments under the trailer on YouTube agree: Compared to the Yakuza games, this series is far too serious. It’s hard to imagine that this is the same Kiryu we used to sing “Baka Mitai” with at the karaoke bar.
Surprisingly, the latest game in the Yakuza series does not even attempt to become more serious. Moreover, the exact opposite is the case: The game was leaked months ago, but the premise sounded so absurd that no one believed it.
