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Order to Play Yakuza Games

 Video games  4 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Aug 142020
 

Questions about the order to play the Yakuza series come up routinely in Yakuza discussions, especially from new fans wondering which Yakuza game to start with.

Yakuza, or Ryu ga Gotoku (Like a Dragon) as it’s known in Japan, is a long-running brawler/action RPG series featuring intense crime drama storylines, wacky side quests, and a ton of fun mini-games.

There are currently 9 games in the main series, 6 localized spin-offs, and 4 spin-offs exclusive to Japan.

The series has now been rebranded to Like a Dragon in the west to match the Japanese title, and future games will use the Like a Dragon title.

In this post, I’ll be answering popular questions like “Which Yakuza game should I start with?”, “Can I start with Yakuza 7?”, “When should I play Dead Souls?”, “Where is Yakuza 8?” and “Is Yakuza Ishin ever going to be localized?” (the answer is YES).

The Yakuza game order is actually pretty straightforward, so let’s take a look.

Main Series Order

The original Yakuza and Yakuza 2 for the PS2 have been remade as Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2. Meanwhile, Yakuza 3-5 were remastered and bundled together as the Yakuza Remastered Collection.

Currently, all of these games are available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon has a PS5 version available as well.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the western title for Yakuza 7, and it is the first game in the series to move away from brawler action RPG combat in favor of turn-based combat.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the next mainline title, despite not using the “Yakuza” title in the west. Yes, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is Yakuza 8. Like its predecessor, it will be a turn-based JRPG. It will be out in 2024 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

There is also a live-action movie called Like a Dragon, which is an adaptation of the first game in the series due to that being the actual translation of the series title. The movie is not based on the game Yakuza: Like a Dragon or the upcoming Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth.

So, which Yakuza game should you start with?

Ideally you should play Yakuza 0 or Yakuza Kiwami first. Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the entire series, while Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the first game. I suggest you start with Yakuza 0, since Kiwami added content that references it, but either is fine.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a soft reboot for the series and stars a new protagonist, which means you should be able to start there if you want. However, it still follows the events of the seven games that precede it and contains some spoilers for earlier Yakuza games.

Now, can you skip any Yakuza games? Each game has its own standalone story, but they’re all connected and the characters grow and change over time. You can skip games if you must, but it’s not recommended.

To summarize: start with Yakuza 0 or Yakuza Kiwami and then play the rest of the games in numerical order.

Yakuza Spin-Offs

Now, let’s talk about the spin-offs. There are six localized Yakuza spin-offs:

Perhaps the most important of these to discuss is the newly-announced Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. This is a shorter game for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC that follows Kiryu, set after Yakuza 6. Until Infinite Wealth comes out, it is difficult to know how important Gaiden will be to the overall story.

(If it turns out that you need to play Gaiden before Infinite Wealth, or if Gaiden’s story is especially important to Infinite Wealth, I may move it up to be classified with the main series titles.)

However, if you do intend to play them all, Gaiden should be played after Yakuza: Like A Dragon. It contains major spoilers for both Yakuza 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

Moving on, Yakuza: Dead Souls is a non-canon spin-off for the PS3 set during a zombie outbreak in Kamurocho. Since it’s not canon, you might think there’s no particular time when you should play Dead Souls, but it draws on content from up through Yakuza 4. For the best experience, save Dead Souls until you’ve finished Yakuza 4.

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise on the PS4 is the spin-off most fully removed from the Yakuza series, since it is a Fist of the North Star game that uses the Yakuza gameplay formula. It has no relation to the main series and can be played anytime.

Judgment is a detective spin-off set in Kamurocho, the same city where most of the series takes place. Judgment is canon and set after the events of Yakuza 6, but is a separate story and requires no knowledge of the Yakuza series. It will show changes in Kamurocho from later in the series, but you can play Judgment anytime.

Lost Judgment is the sequel to Judgment and takes place after the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. While it technically stands on its own, it builds on the events of Judgment and also spoils a significant event from Like a Dragon. If you intend to play both, you should play Like a Dragon before Lost Judgment.

Both Judgment games are now available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. (Yes, Judgment is on PC now!) Lost Judgment is also on the Xbox One.

Finally, I never thought the day would come when I’d get to move Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin out of the unlocalized list. Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin, a historical spin-off set in the Bakumatsu period, was previously only available in Japan, but now it has been remade and released worldwide as Like a Dragon: Ishin for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Then there are five Yakuza spin-offs currently available only in Japan:

  • Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan (Yakuza Kenzan)
  • Kurohyo: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (Yakuza: Black Panther)
  • Kurohyo: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (Yakuza: Black Panther 2)
  • Ryu ga Gotoku Online

Kenzan is the earlier historical take on the Yakuza series, set in the Edo period. While the long-requested Yakuza Ishin localization is finally happening, there are currently no known plans for a Kenzan localization. In a 2019 interview, Yakuza producer Daisuke Sato suggested a hypothetical Yakuza Kenzan Kiwami would be our best chance of getting Yakuza Kenzan in English. If Ishin is successful, that should greatly improve our chances of getting Kenzan as well.

Moving on, the Black Panther games are PSP spin-offs about a young street punk who runs into trouble with the Tojo Clan.

Finally, Ryu ga Gotoku Online is a free-to-play gacha game for mobile/PC that ties into Yakuza 7/Like a Dragon. It isn’t canon, although the character backstories/context it gives is.

To summarize: It doesn’t matter when you play Judgment, Fist of the North Star, or Ishin. Judgment’s sequel Lost Judgment should be played after Like a Dragon, Dead Souls is ideally played anytime after Yakuza 4, and Like a Dragon Gaiden should be played after Yakuza 6. The other spin-offs aren’t available in English.

Conclusion

And there you have it! If you’re getting into the Yakuza series and aren’t sure where to begin, I hope you’ve found this Yakuza order guide helpful. Let me know if anything could be improved, and feel free to ask any remaining questions you have about the order to play the Yakuza games.

Order to Play Kingdom Hearts Games

 Video games  8 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Nov 282016
 

order-to-play-kingdom-heartsSkip directly to:
What order should I play Kingdom Hearts in?
Do I need to play the Kingdom Hearts mobile game?
Which Kingdom Hearts games can I skip?
What about Melody of Memory?

Like the numerous questions about the order to play Professor Layton and Ace Attorney, which prompted me to write a guide, questions about the order to play Kingdom Hearts appear regularly.

Where should I start Kingdom Hearts? Should I go in release order or chronological order? Which Kingdom Hearts games are the best versions? Is it necessary to play Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ? What IS Kingdom Hearts 2.8? Is Melody of Memory important?

And one of the most common questions of all: If I’ve only played Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2, will I be lost in 3? The answer to that is YES, because every game contributes to the story.

Fortunately, the Kingdom Hearts series isn’t quite as intimidating as it used to be. You can now play most of the series on a PS3, and the entire series on a PS4.

But with all the releases, re-releases, and remixes (not to mention their wacky titles), it can be confusing. Let’s take a quick look at the remixes.

What’s in the Kingdom Hearts Remixes?

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix (PS3) – Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Re: Chain of Memories, and the remastered cutscenes from 358/2 Days

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix (PS3) – Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Birth By Sleep Final Mix, and the remastered cutscenes from Re:coded

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix (PS4) – all of the above, on one disc

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (PS4) – Dream Drop Distance HD, 0.2: Birth By Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, and a new cinematic called χ Back Cover

Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far (PS4) – all the contents of 1.5 + 2.5 and 2.8, on two discs

In short, if you get Kingdom Hearts 1.5, 2.5, and 2.8, you will be entirely caught up for Kingdom Hearts 3. The one exception is the mobile game, Unchained χ, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

For now, let’s move on to the critical question, the order to play the Kingdom Hearts games.

Kingdom Hearts – Order to Play the Games

If you’ve never played the series before, you should play the Kingdom Hearts games in order. That is, the Kingdom Hearts release order.

The most efficient way to get into Kingdom Hearts is to buy the 1.5 + 2.5 and 2.8 (or The Story So Far), then Kingdom Hearts 3, and go in the following order: Kingdom Hearts, Re: Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts 2, 358/2 Days, Birth By Sleep, Re:coded, Dream Drop Distance, Back Cover, 0.2.

Here is a more detailed list, with links included for convenience:

  1. Kingdom Hearts (PS2) / Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (1.5 Remix – PS3 / 1.5 & 2.5 Remix – PS4)
  2. Chain of Memories (GBA) / Re: Chain of Memories (PS2 / 1.5 Remix – PS3 / 1.5 & 2.5 Remix – PS4)
  3. Kingdom Hearts II (PS2) / Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix (2.5 Remix – PS3 / 1.5 & 2.5 Remix – PS4)
  4. 358/2 Days (DS) / watch the remastered cutscenes (1.5 Remix – PS3 / 1.5 & 2.5 Remix – PS4)
  5. Birth By Sleep (PSP) / Birth By Sleep Final Mix (2.5 Remix – PS3 / 1.5 & 2.5 Remix – PS4)
  6. Re:coded (DS)1 / watch the remastered cutscenes (2.5 Remix – PS3 / 1.5 & 2.5 Remix – PS4)
  7. Dream Drop Distance (3DS) / Dream Drop Distance HD (2.8 Final Chapter Prologue – PS4)
  8. χ Back Cover (2.8 Final Chapter Prologue – PS4)2
  9. 0.2: Birth By Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage (2.8 Final Chapter Prologue – PS4)
  10. Kingdom Hearts III (PS4 / Xbox One)
  11. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory (PS4 / Switch / Xbox One)

1: Re:coded is the remake of a mobile game called Kingdom Hearts Coded, but the original was never released outside of Japan.
2: It doesn’t particularly matter if you watch Back Cover before or after you play 0.2, but since 0.2 leads directly into Kingdom Hearts III, I prefer this order.

There are some variations, but this is the best Kingdom Hearts playing order.

And yes, 358/2 Days should be played after Kingdom Hearts II, despite their placement in the remixes. It clarifies confusing points in Kingdom Hearts II’s story, but it also spoils some key plot revelations.

Now, let’s talk about that one game I haven’t included so far.

What About χ[chi] and Unchained χ?

Japan had a Kingdom Hearts browser game called χ[chi], which has now ended. It was more or less adapted into the mobile game Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ (commonly written as Unchained X, because X is a lot easier to type than χ), which was then renamed Union Cross. Its title is now Kingdom Hearts Uχ Dark Road because it includes both Union Cross and the new mobile game Kingdom Hearts Dark Road.

It is available for iOS and Android devices.

Kingdom-Hearts-Unchained-X-title

χ[chi] and Union Cross are set long before the rest of the series and cover the events leading up to the Keyblade War. χ Back Cover takes place at the same time, but from a different perspective. The game shows the perspective of a Keyblade wielder, while the movie focuses on the Foretellers.

However, this means the two stories don’t overlap as much as you might expect. It is recommended that you still go through the Unchained χ / Union Cross story.

Be warned, the story is slow-paced and stretched out across a ton of missions. If mobile gaming isn’t your thing, but you want to be caught up on the story, here is a video compilation of the story so far.

As for its spot in the order, Union Cross still isn’t finished, so it’s hard to say. It’s probably best played after Dream Drop Distance or at least after Re:coded. However, the story progression is slow enough that you shouldn’t worry about starting it sooner.

Events in Union Cross are tied directly to Kingdom Hearts 3 and the future of the saga.

Meanwhile, the Dark Road half is another prequel, this time set when Xehanort was training as a Keyblade wielder. Like with Union Cross, it’s probably best to play Dark Road later in the series, although the story progression is even slower here.

Now, let’s clear up a few final points…

Which Versions Should I Play?

As you can see from the above list, the remakes and remixes mean there are multiple versions of everything.

In general, it is better to play the newest version possible. For example, it is better to play Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix than Kingdom Hearts II, if possible. (If it’s not possible, it’s not critical.)

The most questionable case is Chain of Memories. Chain of Memories on the GBA has 2D combat, where Re: Chain of Memories has 3D combat. 3D is not necessarily an improvement. I struggled with the combat system, and many people say it worked better in 2D.

However, some story events were altered, so Re: Chain of Memories is probably the best version from a story perspective.

What About 358/2 Days and Re:coded?

358/2 Days and Re:coded are not playable in the remixes. Only their cutscenes, remastered in HD, are available. Re:coded also has a new secret ending found only in 2.5.

If you only care about the story, the cinematics are enough. If you want to play them, you’ll need to get the DS versions. The full game for 358/2 Days has additional characterization through moments not included in the cutscenes. Meanwhile, Re:coded is generally praised for its gameplay over its story.

What Kingdom Hearts games can I skip?

Short answer: You really shouldn’t skip anything.

Long answer:

  • If you need to skip Chain of Memories, you can get by, but it’s not recommended.
  • You can skip 358/2 Days, but at least watch the cutscenes.
  • You can skip Re:coded, but at least watch the ending and secret endings.
  • You can skip Union Cross and Dark Road, but you might want to watch the story scenes, especially in preparation for the next saga.
  • Whatever you do, don’t listen to Master Xehanort.

And that brings us to the latest game to be released…

What about Melody of Memory?

Kingdom Hearts III concluded the Dark Seeker Saga, and Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is the first game in the next saga, set immediately after the events of Kingdom Hearts III’s Re:Mind DLC.

However, it is primarily a rhythm game. The vast majority of the game is focused on playing through songs from past games in the series, with the new story content coming at the very end.

With that said, Melody of Memory’s ending looks like it might be critical to setting up story events for the next saga. It is one of the more skippable Kingdom Hearts games, but if you’re going to skip it, you should at least look up the new story content to understand what is going on.

And finally…

Kingdom Hearts Chronological Order

Chronological order is not recommended if you’re new to the series. However, if you’ve already played the games and you want to see the story as it happens, you might want to play the Kingdom Hearts games in chronological order:

  • Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] / Unchained χ / Union Cross / χ Back Cover
  • Dark Road
  • Birth By Sleep
  • 0.2: Birth By Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage3
  • Kingdom Hearts
  • Start of 358/2 Days
  • Chain of Memories
  • Most of 358/2 Days
  • Kingdom Hearts II
  • Re:coded
  • Dream Drop Distance
  • Kingdom Hearts III
  • Melody of Memory

3: Kingdom Hearts 0.2 is primarily set after Birth By Sleep, but it is told as a frame story set between Dream Drop Distances and Kingdom Hearts III.

And there you have it!

Kingdom Hearts might look intimidating on the surface, but it’s easier than ever to play the games, thanks to the remixes. Do you have any other questions about where to start Kingdom Hearts or how to play the games? Let me know in the comments.

Order to Play Silent Hill Games

 Video games  15 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Jan 132016
 

Order-to-play-Silent-HillSilent Hill is one of my favorite series. It introduced me to the survival horror genre and it’s had a huge influence on my writing, particularly The Book at Dernier.

If creepy supernatural horror and twisted symbolism sound good, you should check out Silent Hill.

But with 8 games, 3 spin-offs, and an HD collection, it can be a bit tricky to know which Silent Hill game to play first.

So, what order should you play the Silent Hill games in? Let’s take a look.

Main Silent Hill Series

To start, let’s focus on the main series. Release order is often a great way to play games, since you’ll see them as they became available. Here are the main-series Silent Hill games in release date order:

*As with all my articles, I have included affiliate links only to the games I honestly recommend.

However, it is not at all necessary to play them in that order. While each individual game is story-driven, most are not connected to one another.

The main exception is Silent Hill 3, which is a direct sequel to the original Silent Hill. You can play and understand Silent Hill 3 on its own, but it’s best experienced after the first game.

Silent Hill: Origins is a prequel to the first game. It, too, is best experienced afterwards… although I didn’t like Origins, and don’t actually recommend playing it at all.

And Shattered Memories (which fans often put down as not a true Silent Hill game, but I loved it) is a “re-imagining” of the first game. In a sense, it’s a unique experience, but it will feel even more bizarre and surreal if you’ve already played the original.

Henry Townshend from Silent Hill 4Silent Hill 4: The Room has a few minor connections to Silent Hill 2, but otherwise it stands completely on its own. Unlike Silent Hill 2, which is hailed by many people as the greatest game in the series, Silent Hill 4 is often criticized… but it’s actually my favorite game in the series.

Homecoming, which I consider a mediocre entry in the series, also stands entirely on its own. I believe Downpour does as well, although I haven’t yet had a chance to play it. One of my friends says it’s fantastic.

To recap: you can start the Silent Hill series anywhere, but you’ll have the best story experience by playing the original Silent Hill before Silent Hill 3, Origins, or Shattered Memories.

Spin-Offs

There are three Silent Hill spin-off games:

  • Silent Hill: The Escape (mobile)
  • Silent Hill: The Arcade (arcade game)
  • Silent Hill: Book of Memories (Vita)
If this IS something I should play, persuade me in the comments.

If this IS something I should play, persuade me in the comments.

Book of Memories is some sort of dungeon crawler action RPG, which is pretty far from survival horror. It received mixed reviews… dungeon crawler fans might want to look into it, but I think it’s easily skippable.

The rail shooter, Silent Hill: The Arcade, was only released in Japan and Europe. It’s also an arcade game, though fans made an unofficial PC release. If you’re dying for an arcade rail shooter, you might enjoy it, but you won’t lose anything if you don’t seek this one out.

Now, I actually played Silent Hill: The Escape. I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s a maze game that sends you on a tedious search for the exit while fending off monsters and searching for batteries before your flashlight dies. The flashlight adds some tension… but the game just isn’t particularly fun or scary.

It’s also been removed from the App Store, most likely due to a sweep of Konami game removals last August. You aren’t missing much.

To recap: the spin-offs can be safely ignored, and Book of Memories is likely the only one you’ll be able to find anyway.

HD Collection

*deep breath* Here we go.

You might have noticed it’s rather hard to find new copies of the Silent Hill games (except for the PC version of Silent Hill 3).

You might also know Silent Hill 2 and 3 were compiled into an HD Collection for the PS3 and Xbox 360, which is much easier to find. So, is the HD Collection worth playing?

Well… yes and no.

On one hand, it’s still Silent Hill 2 and 3. The core games are there.

However, they have… some problems:

  • New voice actors (though you can opt to use the originals in Silent Hill 2 only)
  • Dialogue changes (weird minor changes to the script that don’t always match the subtitles)
  • Some texture/font changes
  • Minor scene changes
  • More difficult to see what happens in one of Silent Hill 2’s most important scenes
  • Changes to Silent Hill 3’s soundtrack
  • Lack of Silent Hill’s iconic fog (more fog was later patched into the PS3 version only, though not to the same level as the original)
  • Bugs, glitches, and other technical issues (some were fixed in the PS3 version only)

If the Silent Hill HD Collection is the only way you can play Silent Hill 2 and 3, go for it. But if you can find the originals, even used, it’s the much better option.

In Summary

Konami has disappointed its fans lately, but once upon a time they had a fantastic series called Silent Hill. Survival horror fans should try it. If you’re wondering where to begin Silent Hill, there are only a few games where order matters.

Silent Hill 1 –> Silent Hill 3/Origins/Shattered Memories

Can you start with Silent Hill 2? Yes! Can you start with Silent Hill 4? Yes! Other than the games listed above, you can easily play a Silent Hill game if you haven’t played the others. And even with Silent Hill 3, it isn’t critical.

Have any more questions about where to begin Silent Hill? Let me know in the comments!

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