Topic: Help regarding Yakuza Series.

Hi all, am planning to get into the Yakuza series finally after never having played one but wanting to for so long.

My question is, do I buy the games physically or digitally? And do I start with 0 or Kiwami?

@DonJorginho My best friend recently started playing the series, and she started with Zero, which I believe is a prequel, before then playing Kiwami (a remake of the first game) and buying Kiwami 2 (which she's yet to start). I guess it's like anything that skips around; do you play in release order, or story chronological order? All I can say is, my best friend loves the series, and is hooked.

As for physical versus digital, that's gotta be a personal preference call. I haven't heard any universal arguments for one being better than the other. Depends how much shelf space you've got for boxes, I guess!

@RogerRoger I will start in chronological for sure just some people say it is better to start on Kiwami as 0 kinda leans on nostalgia meaning some things may go over your head.

I will likely get it physical as would love to have the whole collection in discs on my dresser.

@DonJorginho That fancy box they're preparing to release next month, with the next batch of remakes, does look really swish. It's those kinds of things that can tip me over the edge.

Yeah, it'd be better to get the perspective of somebody who's actually played them, I guess. I think at one point, I even asked her "Won't you miss out on nods and winks?" and she didn't seem to mind, but I'm not sure how I'd approach the series for myself, as I love stuff like that and would hate to miss it.

@RogerRoger This video won me over so it might do the same for you, but yes I will likely get that fancy box as it looks so so nice, they even included a PS3 case of Yakuza 5 as the Western fans never got a physical release in their countries which is a classy move.

@DonJorginho Thanks; I'll give that a watch later.

@DonJorginho I had a similar quandary a year ago or so and the general consensus amongst the Push Square community has usually been starting with Zero. Besides it being chronologically first, it is pretty universally praised as the better of the two games. Kiwami is a little bit of a step backward gameplay-wise I hear. The idea being, if you’re dipping your toe in the water of the series then start as strong as possible and then if you like it then you’ll be motivated to play the others. As I said on the other thread, I played Zero last year and never finished it (it’s a pretty huge game if you do all the side quests and mess around with the mini games, commonly 100 hr+) and so I can’t speak from experience, but fans of the series hold Kiwami as a solid remake which retains the excellent mainline storytelling of the series but still is inferior overall.
As for physical vs digital, the Yakuza steelbook cases are some of the most beautiful that I’ve seen. If you can get them for Kiwami and Kiwami 2 (I haven’t seen one for Zero) then they will look great on the shelf.

@Th3solution Will definitely look into the steelbooks man thank you! And I am really hyped to play this series.

@DonJorginho I got into the games 18 months ago and I would say to start with Zero.

Like you say, there is a “nostalgia” element to it which would be amazing if you came to it after the other games (remember, it was one of the latest games in the series to be made) but it makes way more sense to play them in order. That said, the Kiwami games were made afterwards and have nods back to events in Zero themselves.

The biggest thing for people who would have played the other games first is how the story is split to also tell the backstory of Majima who is a huge fan favourite but was never a playable character before. Jumping between stories can get a little frustrating but it does work really well.

It’s probably still my favourite game in the series so far and certainly has some of the best substories and the dancing mini game is great fun too. Plus cabaret club!

If you’re desperate for physical editions then go for it. But Zero is quite often on sale and easily picked up for £10-15 which is nuts for a fantastic 90hr experience!

@Thrillho I can get it cheap on base.com for £12 but part of me wants it ASAP so might get it on digital, but part of me would love to build a physical collection so I don't know haha

@DonJorginho I have them all digitally. I actually bought 6 before the remastered collection was even announced as it was so low in price in one of the sales.

Still two and a half games to get through before I even make it there though!

@DonJorginho Zero is the starting point and arguably the best Yakuza game.

I've ran zero. Kiwami 1, Kiwami 2 and Fist of the North Star. Zero is the best of the bunch imo.

I wouldn't necessarily look to play them all. Try out zero, if you finish and love it, get the other ones. I played zero, couldn't wait for K1 and then was happy to play K2. It's a great game but they are so similar I suffered considerable burnout by the end of K2. I picked up FoTNS whilst out shopping and whilst its recommended, you get a strange feeling of dejavu.

Stranger still I am happy to avoid the other Yakuza games and maybe pickup judgement later this year instead.