This game is so perfectly paced for a series like this, even moreso than the first. One of my favorite aspects about ME2 was always that it plays like a season of Mass Effect TV. Some missions may take a full episode, others can be more exploratory or crew heavy, but it always feels like something is being added to the big picture.
Man I was ready for a sequel immediately after completing ME1. Love the way that game wraps up, with strong forward momentum and interesting choices. Really enjoying the series, and with the way ME2 is structured it should be an even better fit for weekly serialized adventures with Shepshep. Gonna be good.
It really is, and still fun to play through (cough). Also interesting to see the progression in adventure design chops from Wadjet Eye from start to finish, with Unavowed being another significant step forward.
@odinsmana: @humanity: It's kind of necessary retcon really. There's already such a disparity with Yakuza 1 Majima and Yakuza 5 Majima that were already at odds with eachother. I don't think this game does a perfect job justifying the level of crazy in Yakuza 1, but it definitely helps smooth out his character arc over the course of the series.
I haven't played Yakuza 1 but was under the impression that Kiwami's updated portrayal of Majima is meant to smooth out his arc as well. Seems like they really wanted to make a clean transition from what was established in 0 for the whole cast, which I definitely appreciate.
Great season of Beast in the East, looked forward to it each week. Yakuza 0 was also my first game in the series and seeing it again through GBE's eyes made me appreciate it even more. Enjoy the cleanup stream, there's a few nuggets left to uncover.
This is where it all ramps up! There's some real good moments in this episode. I don't think they'll want to take too much time out of the story from here on out because things start to get pretty intense. But you can always finish the business games after completing it, so if they reach the end perhaps that could be a good spot to see all that side stuff (there might have to be a little time-killing on Kiryu's end though). It might be even a perfect time-filler before Kiwami arrives, presuming that they're still planning to go onto that afterwards.
It's a good suggestion to consider returning to the bulk of the business minigames and other activities in Premium Adventure mode if they want to see that stuff through instead of feeling obliged to get it all done before the main story wraps up. Things do start to push forward now in meaningful ways, and Premium Adventure has some cool perks.
Great episode, series has been and continues to be lots of fun. Seeing the later game payoff scenes again is giving me renewed appreciation for the storytelling and performances, they're truly great for any language.
Also having a one-off light gun sequence and numerous dramatic revelations followed up by a hammy pizza delivery bit is a great example of the tonal whiplash that elevates the game even higher. Seeing Yakuza shift from grounded to the surreal depending on the situation, remaining audacious on both fronts and still making it fit a cohesive vision never fails to impress and entertain.
megalowho's comments