Yakuza refers to the crime syndicate in Japan, similar to the mafia known around the world. Most people often associate terrible stuff like kidnappings, torture, and other acts of extreme violence when thinking about the word.
It’s also the title of a video game, which follows a part of the Yakuza in a large city. So why are fans of the game talking about large men being babys and being a pizza delivery boy?
Yakuza’s Serious Story And ‘Serious’ Story
Yakuza has been around since 2005 and will turn twenty years old in December 2025, with more than ten games. Each year is a chance for another game, expanding the lore that many fans love more with each game.
Yet, any time gameplay is shown off, it includes something goofy happening while rock plays in the background. What’s with that, and why does the game keep getting more loved while it seems to include so many jokes?
There’s a good reason for this, thankfully, and it’s that most of them are low-ranking Yakuza members starting. They are the closest to normal people as they get, so seeing and being goofy is going to happen.
From helping save a dog from getting hurt to fighting men pretending to be babies, you’ll see the dumbest stuff. Sometimes, the sub-stories are even goofy, with you needing to do something like dress like a clown.
Even though the story includes a lot of silly moments, the way it handles the serious parts is done well. It shows the violence and cruelty of the yakuza when it needs to, never letting you feel like a civilian.
One moment, helping an old lady cross the road, the next, fighting through gangs of yakuza while almost dying. There’s often no space between the moments, which is often what happens in real life with gang violence.
It has mastered the ability to have a balance in the games, making you enjoy the little time you have. Without it, the games and stories wouldn’t be able to hit people with the same feelings it does now.
It’s something people like to the point that other games have tried to be like the Yakuza games. That has caused some games to fail or struggle, which is interesting when realizing that it’s a simple idea.
Even still, every Yakuza game continues with the trend, having the perfect balance of goofy and serious moments. The developers, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, are proud of each game, and fans love them to death with each new game.
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