The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, while expanding its appeal to younger and female players, remains committed to its core identity: middle-aged men experiencing middle-aged life.
Like a Dragon Studio Prioritizes Authenticity Over Appeasing New Fans
Staying True to the "Middle-Aged Dude" Experience
The Like a Dragon series, featuring the endearingly clumsy ex-yakuza Ichiban Kasuga, has garnered a diverse fanbase. However, director Ryosuke Horii affirmed in an interview with AUTOMATON that the series will stay true to its roots. Despite welcoming new players, including many women, the team won't alter core elements to cater to them. As Horii stated, "We don’t plan to...change conversation topics...That would make us unable to keep talking about things like uric acid levels."
Horii and lead planner Hirotaka Chiba believe the series' charm stems from its focus on the relatable experiences of middle-aged men, a perspective they share. From Ichiban's Dragon Quest obsession to his complaints about back pain, they see this "humanity" as the source of the game's originality. Horii adds, "The characters are flesh-and-blood human beings...so their problems are relatable."
Series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, in a 2016 Famitsu interview (reported by Siliconera), expressed surprise at the rising number of female players (around 20%), but emphasized that the series' design prioritizes male audiences. He stated a commitment to avoiding changes that would deviate from the intended vision.
Concerns Regarding Female Representation
Despite the series' target audience, criticism persists regarding its portrayal of women. Some fans argue that female characters are often relegated to supporting roles or are subjected to objectification. Online discussions highlight this, with comments on ResetEra pointing out that while progress has been made, "female representation is still poor and many of the tropes and scenarios in the games are sexist." The frequency of suggestive remarks from male characters toward female characters is also a recurring concern.
Many female characters fall into the "damsel in distress" trope, as seen in characters like Makoto (Yakuza 0), Yuri (Kiwami), and Lilly (Yakuza 4). This pattern, unfortunately, might continue. Chiba, while jokingly, alluded to this in the AUTOMATON interview, referencing a scene in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth where a female conversation is interrupted by male characters.
The series continues to navigate the balance between embracing modern sensibilities and maintaining its established identity. Although setbacks occur, newer entries represent progress. Game8's 92/100 review of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth praised it as a "love letter to fans...brilliantly setting the course for Like a Dragon’s future." For a deeper dive, see our full review.
