The Next Like a Dragon Game Should ‘Steal’ One Aspect of FF7 Rebirth’s Side Quest Design

by

The Next Like a Dragon Game Should 'Steal' One Aspect of FF7 Rebirth's Side Quest Design

Highlights

  • Like a Dragon games excel in balancing serious crime plots with wacky substories, showcasing RGG Studio’s tonal range and character depth.
  • Infinite Wealth’s focus on solitary substories could benefit from integrating party members, akin to Rebirth’s duo-based side quests for richer storytelling.
  • Letting party members join in the wackiness of subplots could deepen their personalities in future Like a Dragon games, enhancing the overall experience.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen the evolution of RGG Studio’s masterpiece, the Yakuza series, now rebranded as Like a Dragon. From Kazuma Kiryu’s stoic rise to Ichiban Kasuga’s zany antics, these games have always managed to balance the serious with the surreal, and I’ve been hooked since the days of Kamurocho.

At the core of the ‘Like a Dragon’ series lies an intricate blend: captivating crime stories, heartwarming character reunions, diverse mini-games, and a remarkable knack for tackling the quirky and absurd through substories. The series’ ability to seamlessly balance sincerity, gravity, and humor is largely thanks to its side quest creation. Whether it’s the stoic Kiryu or the charming Ichiban as the main characters, the substories throughout the games showcase RGG Studio’s versatility in storytelling. As ‘Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’ sets the stage for its upcoming installment with Ichiban leading the way, it also hints at the possibility of a party-based system in future titles, echoing a key aspect of ‘FF7 Rebirth’s design philosophy.

In the game “Like a Dragon: Unlimited Fortune,” the dual-character narrative switches between the zany tales of Ichiban’s Hawaiian escapades and the heartwarming recollections of Kiryu, reminiscent of a dragon’s memoirs. The characters’ unique traits and absurd circumstances are used to great effect, as seen in previous “Like a Dragon” games. However, similar to its predecessors, the side quests in “Unlimited Fortune” are primarily solo endeavors. Although this was fitting in earlier games that didn’t have a party system, it results in the absence of the party within the narrative context, except for their battle support. The exception to this rule in “Unlimited Fortune” is Saeko’s involvement in Kiryu’s Club Four Shine adventure, which could pave the way for a more integrated party role in future quests.

How the Next Mainline Like a Dragon Game Could Bring Party Members into its Substories

Branching in Perspective for Like a Dragon’s Substories

In this refined strategy for subplots, there are definite advantages since a significant aspect of the game “Like a Dragon” involves expanding on its characters’ personalities beyond their tragic pasts, showcasing the empathy that binds them, even in peculiar situations. Given that Ichiban from “Like a Dragon” is well-rounded in terms of both personality and background, future main series installments might contemplate incorporating the other party members into subplots, allowing them to interact with Ichiban or any potential new protagonists. However, having every member participate in each subplot could lead to chaos, so the method used in “FF7 Rebirth” could serve as a guide for achieving this balance.

Similar to Infinite Wealth, FF7 Rebirth incorporates an affinity system within its party through dialogue choices and side quests. In this semi-open world, regions of Rebirth feature noticeboards where Cloud and his companions accept tasks to aid the communities they encounter. Although Rebirth manages a large cast, these quests focus on pairs; primarily Cloud and another member of the party, developing their interactions and delving deeper into each character’s past. This design allows for captivating narrative moments, maintaining the humorous and emotional tone reminiscent of the Like a Dragon series.

Letting Party Members Shine in the Wackiness of Subplots

In the game “Infinite Wealth,” Drink Links and Walk n’ Talks were effectively used to strengthen the bond between Ichiban, Kiryu, and the rest of the team. However, it was primarily Ichiban who delved into the more thought-provoking, somber aspects of each character’s storyline. For instance, Tomi’s struggle with his past relationship’s tragedy and Seonhee’s confrontation with Geomijul’s outdated values were both explored through Drink Links. Presenting the characters from future “Like a Dragon” games in situations outside of their usual circumstances, allowing them to offer advice similar to what Ichiban and Kiryu did for them, could make for an intriguing addition if incorporated into substories. This would not only help develop the characters further but also highlight the absurdity that often surrounds Ichiban’s adventures within “Like a Dragon.” Integrating party members into the game’s eccentric subplots could serve as a means to enhance character development while underscoring the peculiar nature of Ichiban’s experiences.

Adopting a method similar to how stories in Rebirth are handled would enable future Like a Dragon side-stories to strike a balance between focusing on individual NPCs while also providing insights into the party members’ perspectives. Given the abundance of side-stories in Like a Dragon games, it wouldn’t be necessary for every quest to feature a party member. Occasionally incorporating Rebirth’s approach could add variety to the gameplay experience. Allowing party members to participate in the quirky plotlines of substories could help flesh out their personalities as effectively as other narrative techniques employed by Infinite Wealth, making it a worthwhile consideration for future mainline games.

Read More

2024-07-31 14:33