In a recent Seganama broadcast (also featuring Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice, and Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X), Toshihiro Nagoshi broached the possibility of remasters of Yakuza 2 through Yakuza 5 on Playstation 4. These comments come in response to strong sales of Yakuza Kiwami, the ground-up remake of the first game for Playstation 4. Of Sega’s Japanese brands that have a presence in the console games market segment, Yakuza has always been one of the relatively steadier and healthier names in sales.
We’ll have to remember that Yakuza 6 is the last mainline title to feature Kazuma Kiryu as a lead (and only) protagonist. Once Yakuza 6 is released, the franchise will be in an interesting state of flux. Personally, I would think that a new protagonist or set of protagonists would lead the next title – perhaps even some characters that we already now. With being said, one would wonder when these remasters, if they are made, would be released, considering new characters would have to lead any future Yakuza mainline titles (and that new titles take time to develop.)
If these remasters were released in the West, how would they be received? The West will be playing catch-up with regards to Yakuza releases for quite some time. While Yakuza 5‘s release is comparatively recent, depending on how the games are sold (individually or compiled together somehow) you have to wonder how to make it properly appeal to any interested fans.
Let us know your thoughts on how to release these remasters in Japan, Asia, and the West, if they end up being developed!
Credit to DualShockers for the initial news posting.
If Yakuza 2 could have the remake treatment like Kiwami it would be better than a remaster. For the rest, remaster/port seems enough, and if they came west, then restore all the previously cut content in Yakuza 3.
I would prefer other titles to get localized thou, Kenzan or Ishin, but since that it’s not happening…
I agree Kenzan and Ishin have approximately a snowball’s chance in hell of localization. 😉
Which is sad, because Ishin did look interesting.
I’m a bit interested in why you singled out Yakuza 2?
Because since Kenzan/Y3 the games look almost the same, and the one that needs to be up to date the most is Y2. Y3-5 could really do with just a 1080p upgrade (with 720p prerendered curscenes lol, unless they re-render them).
There is always room for improvement, Yakuza Zero is an example of the limits of the PS3 (Ishin too, but it looks almost the same, just with slowdowns), but if they ended doing the Kiwami treatment to all 5 games and charging full price that would feel like milking too much, imo. A 3to5 remaster pack with few improvements would be enough to me. And a few years later the Dragon of Dojima collection from 0 to 6 and we will buy them again for the third time 😀
Yeah, I understand what you’re saying on 3-5. I don’t know if Y2 has enough fan support to attract a lot of people to a fully-remade title (meaning, the game never struck me as one of the most favorite titles), but what you’re saying makes some sense to me.
I agree also that there should be a way to offer these games as a compilation, even if it’s not a 2-5 one.
Can’t wait for Yakuza PS5 – Kazuma Kiryu Saga edition (0-6)