Yakuza: Midlife Shenanigans Unveil Relatable Adventure

The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, while expanding its appeal to younger and female players, will remain centered on the experiences of middle-aged men.

Like a Dragon Studio Prioritizes its Core Identity: Middle-Aged Men's Stories

Staying True to the "Middle-Aged Guy" Experience

The Yakuza series (now Like a Dragon) boasts a global following, captivated by protagonist Ichiban Kasuga. This has attracted a diverse player base, including many women and younger gamers. However, the developers have reaffirmed their commitment to the series' core identity.

Director Ryosuke Horii, in an interview with AUTOMATON, stated, "We've seen a significant increase in new fans, including women, which we greatly appreciate. However, we won't alter the narrative to pander to new demographics. That would prevent us from exploring themes relevant to the lives of middle-aged men, such as uric acid levels."

Horii and lead planner Hirotaka Chiba believe the series' unique appeal stems from its focus on the relatable experiences of middle-aged men, reflecting their own lives. From Ichiban's Dragon Quest obsession to his back pain complaints, they see this "humanity" as the series' defining characteristic.

Horii added, "The characters are realistic, mirroring our players. Their struggles are relatable, making the game immersive and akin to listening to ordinary people's conversations."

In a 2016 Famitsu interview (reported by Siliconera), series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi expressed surprise at the rise in female players (approximately 20%), while clarifying that Yakuza was originally designed for a male audience. He emphasized a cautious approach to avoid altering the series' core identity to cater solely to female players.

Scrutiny of Female Representation in the Yakuza Series

Despite the series' initial male-focused marketing, criticisms regarding the portrayal of female characters persist. Some fans argue that the series relies on sexist tropes, limiting female characters to supporting roles or objectifying them.

ResetEra users highlighted the series' shortcomings in female representation, citing sexist tropes and scenarios. The limited number of female party members and the prevalence of suggestive comments from male characters towards female characters were also criticized.

Many female characters fall into the damsel-in-distress archetype (e.g., Makoto in Yakuza 0, Yuri in Kiwami, and Lilly in Yakuza 4). This pattern, unfortunately, may continue.

Chiba, in a humorous comment, noted a scene in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth where a female-focused conversation is interrupted by male characters, suggesting this dynamic might persist.

While the series shows progress in adopting more progressive viewpoints, it occasionally falls back on outdated sexist tropes. Despite these setbacks, newer entries represent a positive step forward. Game8's 92/100 review of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth praised it as a fan-pleasing title that charts a promising course for the future of the Like a Dragon franchise. For a detailed analysis, see our review.