Unveiling the Epic Return of Kazuma Kiryu in Like a Dragon: Insider Secrets Revealed!
Unveiling the intriguing decision to reintroduce Kazuma Kiryu into the limelight after Yakuza 6, the producer sheds light on the captivating motives behind bringing back the beloved character in the Like a Dragon series
Highlights
The producer explains the decision to bring back Kazuma Kiryu in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, stating it was always planned even during the development of Yakuza 6.
Fans were divided on Kiryu's comeback; however, he was incorporated solely as a nod to fans and to provide an exciting boss battle, without overshadowing the new protagonist, Ichiban.
Serving as a connection between Yakuza 6, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and the upcoming Infinite Wealth, Like a Dragon Gaiden explores Kiryu's persona and his encounter with Ichiban.
This article includes SPOILERS for Yakuza 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Hiroyuki Sakamoto, the producer of the Like a Dragon series, shares the reasoning behind the decision to bring back Kazuma Kiryu after the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. Kiryu has consistently been the face of Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku's long-standing franchise since the first game in 2005. However, this changed with the release of Yakuza 6, which was marketed as the final installment in the Kazuma Kiryu Saga. It was seen as a bitter yet understandable choice, with the game providing a mostly graceful and heartfelt conclusion before passing the torch to his successor, Kasuga Ichiban.
Even though Ichiban took on the role of the main character, Kazuma Kiryu still made an appearance in Ichiban's debut game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Fans were fine with him appearing as a fan service and having a boss fight since Kiryu didn't overshadow Ichiban in the seventh game. However, fans had mixed opinions on bringing back Kiryu twice, as he had his own spin-off title and served as the secondary protagonist in the eighth game. While some fans felt that his return was excessively gratuitous, the series' producer clarifies that the developers had always intended to bring him back after Yakuza 6.
In an IGN interview, Hiroyuki Sakamoto asserts that Kiryu's return has been in the pipeline for quite some time. According to him, this plan dates back to the development of Yakuza 6, when the idea of making Kiryu and Ichiban the main characters of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth initially emerged. As a result, Kiryu ended up assuming a supporting role in the seventh game, paving the way for the Gaiden spin-off, which aimed to introduce new players to the legendary hero.
Like a Dragon Gaiden serves as a bridge between Yakuza 6, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Infinite Wealth. It explores Kiryu's life after faking his death in the sixth game, shedding light on his activities during the events of these titles. Additionally, it connects him to the storyline of Infinite Wealth, where he unexpectedly encounters Ichiban on the shores of Hawaii.
The conclusion of Yakuza 6 marked a heartfelt and poignant end to Kiryu's character journey, as his faux demise was undertaken to safeguard the children at the Morning Glory orphanage. With Kiryu receiving more attention in the Gaiden interquel, it will be captivating to observe how his personality evolves in both this upcoming spin-off and Infinite Wealth.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will launch November 9, 2023, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: IGN
