Hey this game is $6 on PSN this week and I've always wanted to check out the series but I understand Yakuza is pretty story driven.

For people familiar, any chance this game is okay for someone fresh to the franchise?

I think you'll be fine. With each release maybe except for Yakuza: Dead Souls, there's an option on the main menu that allows you to watch the previous games cut scenes so you can get an idea about what has happened over the past games. Just a heads up though the game is very story driven so you might be spending an hour or so watching all the cut scenes.

This was my introduction to the series and I loved it. I felt like it was the best place to jump in at this point. There are video recaps in-game to get the gist of the story up to now, but the story in the game seems to be the least connected to previous games of the bunch. Most of the characters are new, barring the last character you play pretty late in the game.

There is a pretty intensive catch up feature for the previous games, so you should be good. You might not understand some side stuff or minor story things that aren't covered but you should be fine. 4's story does relate back to the previous games but you can still enjoy it quite a lot going in fresh. 3 of the 4 playable characters are brand new so it's not like it just throws a bunch of stuff at you it expects you to know in the beginning.

Thanks everyone!

Also a bit of a warning for anyone thinking of buying it too, it's 22gb!!

You'll be fine but I think you're missing out on Yakuza 3 which is my favorite of the series.

@liquiddragon: BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY.

Dead Souls is also on sale. I take it that I should avoid that one?

Edit: Alright, got it. Avoid it unless you are the world's biggest Yakuza fan. Thanks everyone.

Yes. Avoid dat shitware like... well, as if it was wares made out of shit. Unless you're into that sorta thing. I won't judge.

@thunderslash: it's not that bad, and for six bux it's definitely a fun goof. Just nowhere near the other games.

Also yeah it's fine to jump into 4 but I would still recommend playing 3 first.

@thunderslash: 4 is way better. Dead Souls was fun in the "goofy what if nod for diehard fans" perspective, but it's not that great.

In all reality it's completely skippable.

Yes.

There is a feature on the options that includes a very extensive video explanation of the plot of the previous games, but even without it you are not going to have much problem.

Just be warned that Yakuza 4 will take a metric buttload of time and HDD space to download, but other than that BUY IT. BUY IT NOW.

Don't buy it unless you really, really, reaaaaaally liked Yakuza 3&4 and wanted more.

Watch the recap videos. Its a slog but you need to know what happened in the other games to enjoy the story

Yakuza games have really good recap videos. I would dive in at 4.

@getz: I don't think the recap is all that necessary to play 4 unless you really want to know what's happening. I do think it's important though to have at least a general understanding of the returning characters and what their relationship is to the other characters. From what I remember Yakuza 4 starts off a few years after 3 and kinda starts off a whole new storyline.

Though you do at least get to listen to that awesome For Faith song throughout the download!

@i_stay_puft: He's going in completely blind, the story isn't going to have any impact if he doesn't have any context for the characters and their relationships. That's what the recap is for.