Like a Dragon: Ishinwas a strange remake to see, yet one that now seems so obvious. With the recent success of theYakuza(now called Like a Dragon) series and the other games in the series, all remade with the Kiwami games, it’s no surprise the spin-off has now found its way overseas. And the remake boasts shifts to the gameplay to make it just as good as 5 and 0.
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And with it being a helping of the action-oriented gameplay that 7 shifted away from, it served not only as an excellent treat for fans but a way for new fans who started with 7 to get hooked on the old style. While the obvious suggestion is just to play the Yakuza games, there are plenty of other games that can scratch the same itches as Ishin, so here’s the best we can offer.
10Bayonetta
If there’s one thing Yakuza is known for above all else, it’s the over-the-top action and sheer absurdity of it — and for flashy combat, you can’t do much better thanBayonetta. The game follows an umbra witch known as Bayonetta as she attempts to track down her past memories and ends up getting into deep conflict.
The Bayonetta series is about one thing and one thing alone: Getting as stylish of a combo as you can, slowly stringing along special moves and chain attacks to keep it going as long as possible. The game is a flashy spectacle from start to finish, with so much to learn about the combat system throughout it. For those looking for just gameplay, Bayonetta is perfect.
9Devil May Cry 5
Plenty of Ishin fans may be looking for a bit more in the story department, as Like a Dragon always keeps a balance between flashy gameplay and a dramatic story, somethingDevil May Cry 5may also supply for players. Devil May Cry 5 sees an unlikely trio of heroes, both new and old having to team up to take on the Demon King Urizen and save the world.
Much like Bayonetta, DMC 5 offers fantastic combo-building gameplay now at an even faster pace and flashier than ever with the sheer amount of options it gives the player when picking apart their enemies. And while it may be far simpler than Ishin, it also offers a story that ends up being quite enjoyable, wrapping up all of their protagonists in great ways.
8Yakuza: Like a Dragon
If you like the writing and presentation but aren’t the biggest fan of the gameplay, you’re in luck with the future Like a Dragon games, as they’ll all be RPGs like the game that changed the series:Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Like a Dragon follows Ichiban Kasuga, a lowly member of a yakuza clan who ends up imprisoned and betrayed once released, now having to start a new life for himself.
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Like a Dragon was a major turning point for the series as it ditched the usual brawler gameplay to instead become a JRPG that still keeps with the flashy and comedic tone of the series. With the slate wiped clean with a new protagonist and story plus a lower bar to entry, Like a Dragon serves as a perfect point for newer fans who don’t like the action gameplay and don’t wanna go through the whole series.
7Samurai Warriors
But other times, you wanna turn your brain off completely while keeping up a fast pace, and if you want that taken to 11 along with the samurai theming,Samurai Warriorsmay be for you. Samurai Warriors see you taking control of famous kingdoms or warriors from Japanese history as you fight through massive battles against hundreds of enemies.
Samurai Warriors main appeal is the sheer spectacle and power fantasy; the games don’t offer too much challenge in combat and instead offer an experience of feeling like an unstoppable force having to manage an entire battlefield yourself. Combined with the story elements and character system, you have a fine series of games.
6Ghost Of Tsushima
The ancient eras of Japan are a rich setting for any type of media, and games are no exception, getting to wander around and duel as a noble samurai is a dream, andGhost of Tsushimais another game that grants that dream. In the game, you take control of the samurai Jin Sakai, protecting his homeland from the Mongol invasion.
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Ghost of Tsushima offers a beautiful open-world Japan for the player to explore, letting them get utterly lost and immersed in the role of a samurai as they find things to do everywhere, and not in the usual obtrusive ways like most open worlds. On top of this, it offers a rich story full of themes of loss and hardship that fans of Ishin will love.
5Metal Gear Rising
While the theming and story may be what brings some into the series, sometimes you need just sheer zaniness and nothing too flashy, such as withMetal Gear Rising. Metal Gear Rising is a spinoff of the Metal Gear series, seeing Raiden now facing off against a new group of warmongers trying to create a new conflict.
Metal Gear Rising is an absolutely crazy game in both gameplay and story — the gameplay is kept simple yet so aggressive and wild that it is such an easy adrenaline rush. And as for the story, well, it has all the over-the-top action and weirdness that makes people love the Yakuza series. You’ll find yourself debating philosophy with magnetic men and punching US senators, do we really need to say more?
For those who loved the old style of Yakuza, never fear because that style will be living on in a spin-off series that is going to keep going forward withJudgment. In the game, you play a detective named Yagami as he fights against thugs and yakuza while solving cases around his area of Japan.
Judgment follows the gameplay style of the older games with beat-em-up brawler action mixed with an open world with plenty to see and do within it. But it also adds onto the old formula with new investigative elements to make it a new detective experience. While it certainly takes on a new tone and identity, it’s the best place for Yakuza fans who stuck around mostly for the gameplay.
One thing that makes Yakuza’s combat something people can’t help but love is how smooth it feels, with every single move connecting perfectly and allowing for combos to flow like water, somethingSifualso is perfect at. Sifu sees you as the son of a martial arts master, now trying to seek revenge on his killers with the help of a talisman that keeps you from death.
Sifu has beat-em-up combat that is rather different but has the same appeal as Yakuza, with having to take on swarms of enemies and handling them all like it’s nothing with your combos and expert moves. And Sifu adds to it with the unique mechanic of age, as each time you die, you’ll grow older and older, losing health but gaining new moves, which presents an interesting dynamic that keeps the game fresh.
Ishin and Like a Dragon weren’t the start for the Yakuza series' recent boom in popularity as the most recent games have made sure to help people get into the series, such as the new starting point prequel:Yakuza 0. The game follows Kiryu and Majima as the two get stuck in conflict with various yakuza factions that set up the first game.
Yakuza 0 takes a step back to the start of the long story to give us a brand new introductory point to the series, letting new fans jump into it without having to go back to old games or get confused. And it serves as quite the convincing game for getting into the series asit has loads of content in its world, a fascinating look at these characters, and some of the best combat in the series. The only drawback is some aspects may be more effective for long-term fans.
1Yakuza Kiwami
For those who want the classic, authentic Yakuza experience, you don’t have to go back to ancient clunky titles as you can experience the first game through the remake:Yakuza Kiwami. The game sees a yakuza member named Kiryu, finally released after 10 years in prison, now finding himself locked in a yakuza conflict as he has to protect a little girl at the center of it.
Yakuza Kiwami updates the old gameplay of the PS2 game to be more like Yakuza 0 while also shifting some of the writing to be more in line with later titles. On top of this, it adds extra content focusing on Akira and Majima, easily making it far better than the original and making it the perfect entry point for new fans to the series coming from Ishin.
