Platform: PS3, PS4 and PS Vita
Release date in Japan: February 22, 2014
The odds look grim for your opponent in Yakuza: Ishin
Background
Yakuza: Ishin, alternatively known as Yakuza: Restoration, is a spinoff title of the popular Yakuza franchise. Announced during Tokyo Game Show 2013, it is one of several cross generational titles in development. The spinoff titles have tended to feature departures thematically or gameplay-wise from standard Yakuza games in their own right: Dead Souls with a zombie-infested Japan, Kenzan! set in the Edo period of Japan and also featuring a character referencing series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in the form of his “ancestor” Kazumanosuke Kiryu. However, Ishin is set to be the most radical departure from traditional Yakuza: featuring new elements including dungeon crawling missions and recruitment of party members for these missions (each with different beneficial attributes and leveling up capabilities, some of which may be better suited to certain dungeons.)
Players assume the role of a character designed to recall Kazuma – Sakamoto Ryouma, also assuming the alias Saitou Hajime. Both are names of prominent late Edo period historical figures: the former inspired by a vision of post-feudal Japan and worked to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate; the latter a member of the Shogunate’s police force, the Shinsengumi. Indeed, the game’s plot follows Kazuma as Sakamoto, who takes on the name of the Shinsengumi captain Saitou Hajime so that he can avenge both his father and his teacher’s deaths. The likeness of other characters from the Yakuza franchise, such as Goro Majima, appear in the game. Ishin is crafted around four types of combat, each with different merits: a traditional unarmed style from the Yakuza games that allows you to pick up objects, a katana-based style, a pistol-based style, and a dual-wielding katana+pistol style. As is customary to Yakuza, there will be a variety of minigames and activities. There are “life-simulator” type activities including gardening and fishing, (the products of which can either be cooked or sold), and keeping pets at your house. Haruka (whose name hasn’t changed) will also apparently be staying at Kazuma’s place after he rescues her from an attack, the details of which are yet to be revealed.
Localization Status
The timing of development is such that Ishin will be a launch title for Japan’s Playstation 4 release while also coming to the PS3. While Sony’s Third Party Relations team is aware of the demand for the Yakuza series, once stating that Yakuza 5 was one of their most requested titles for localization and another time referencing the Yakuza franchise in general, it remains to be seen if both Yakuza 5 and Ishin will be localized. NeoGAF user Verendus, who claims to be an insider, has said a couple of times that Ishin will be localized, though the user hasn’t commented on Yakuza 5. Presumably Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi is aware of demand for this game’s localization, and having cited the full investment of Sega’s Yakuza team to Ishin’s development as the reason for the inability to internally localize the game, perhaps with the team already working on the title, localization may be more open for Nagoshiation. Nagoshi has expressed his desire to see the world play Ishin.
How can you help?
It is perfectly acceptable to continue to tweet @giocorsi or create trending hashtags relevant to the Yakuza series in order to maintain awareness and fan demand. After the #buildingthelist campaign, Sony have likely already mobilized their own staff to initiate discussions with relevant parties, but there is no harm in continuing to build awareness for the franchise. Consider also asking for PSN re-releases of the mainline entries, especially Yakuza 1 and 2 (originally PS2 titles) which received an HD re-release for the Playstation 3 and a 1+2 bundle for the Wii U in Japan. Continued production of awareness videos may be helpful too. The earliness of the PS4’s life cycle is also arguably a compelling reason for bringing the title Westward. Also, be sure to the Yakuza section of the official Sega forums!
Links
Yakuza Fan: a Yakuza fan blog. See also their Twitter and Facebook pages!
Gematsu explains the story concept for Ishin, courtesy of Famitsu and Game Jouhou
Siliconera covers dungeon-crawling, party building mechanics
Siliconera covers the combat styles featured in Yakuza: Ishin