14 DAY TRIAL // Like a Swiss clock, Sega announced a new addition to the Yakuza franchise at every Tokyo Games Show edition, for the past few years. This year makes no difference, and series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi took the floor to give to the world Ryu Ga Gotoku 4: Densetu wo Tsugu Mono. The rough, if not very rough English translation used is Yakuza 4: Inheritor of the Legend. Sega's effort put in Yakuza truly is something to be admired, the company releasing new games in the franchise this often, considering other games stay in development for as long as six-seven years. A big banzai for Yakuza.
Yakuza 4 brings a brand-new fundamental element to the game: players will now have a choice in playable characters, as Kazuma Kiryu gets three new brothers in arms. The first is Masayoshi Tanimura, a crooked cop, and the second is Shun Akiyama. Shun is a fashionable loan shark with a humble beginning, who offers money only to people who present a moral code. The last is Taiga Saejima, a convicted criminal for the murder of a dozen Yakuza members. He is depicted as a “shoot first, then stab people, ask questions never” kinda character. Presented in the trailer are also Lili, a mysterious woman with long black hair, and the already known Goro Majima.
The four different playable characters will bring great variety to the gameplay, as each one has its own different style of fixing problems and of course a different style of beating people to a pulp. ”Each of these four characters are protagonists, so you'll be able to control and play with them. The Yakuza series has had a lot of adventures, and we're hoping to make Yakuza 4 the most comprehensive game yet, with an even bolder, more exciting storyline," said Nagoshi.
Another big feature of the latest installment in the game series is the alterations brought to Kamurocho, the red light district in which the game takes place. Meant to be a depiction of the real life Kabukicho of Tokyo, it will include a far more complex and all-around more accessible environment. Other details included are the gamble places and other specific activities of such a district, which includes interaction with the hostesses. The game will most likely be rated M for mature and has a current release date of spring 2010 for Japan, with no plans for a European or American launch.