Like a Dragon’s ‘Surprising’ Next Title Should Star Shun Akiyama

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Like a Dragon's 'Surprising' Next Title Should Star Shun Akiyama

Highlights

  • Like a Dragon series fans can look forward to a surprising new game announcement at the Tokyo Game Show in September.
  • Considering the past success with spin-offs, fans speculate on a potential game featuring an underutilized protagonist, Shun Akiyama.
  • Akiyama’s adventures in Singapore post-Yakuza 6 could set the stage for a new international Like a Dragon game, offering fresh character development and exploration.

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt and countless hours invested in the Yakuza series, I can confidently say that the prospect of a new Like a Dragon game is enough to send shivers down any fan’s spine. With the Tokyo Game Show fast approaching, the anticipation is palpable, especially after the announcement of the upcoming live-action TV adaptation.

Following a string of impressive releases within the Like a Dragon franchise and an upcoming live-action TV adaptation on Amazon, fans of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s renowned series are in for a real treat. Apart from the TV show slated for release in October, RGG Studio has teased that they will reveal their next Like a Dragon game at this year’s Tokyo Game Show in September. Though specific details about the upcoming title remain scarce, the developers hinted that fans will be taken aback by it, suggesting that this new installment could offer something entirely novel for the series.

In the Like a Dragon series, it’s often the case that the games take risks with their concepts. For instance, we’ve seen spin-offs that abandon contemporary yakuza plots for medieval Japan or zombie scenarios, and in the case of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, RGG Studio even changed genres from action-brawler to turn-based JRPG. To keep players guessing, the studio might decide to change the focus of this upcoming game by placing an underrepresented character at the center instead of the usual protagonists we’ve grown accustomed to.

The Next Like a Dragon Game Should Let Shun Akiyama Take the Wheel

Akiyama’s Protagonist Status Has Been Underutilized in the Past

In the world of Like a Dragon, both Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga are well-known figures, but they’re not alone. This series has always had other prominent characters alongside these two legendary figures. For instance, Yakuza 4 was the game that really diversified the protagonist lineup by introducing Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura, in addition to Kiryu. While each of these characters had their individual storylines within the game, it was Akiyama who quickly won over fans with his endearing, somewhat distant demeanor as the proprietor of Sky Finance.

In Yakuza 5, Akiyama reappeared as a playable character, yet unlike before, his story intertwined with that of Haruka Sawamura, Kiryu’s adopted daughter who was trying to make it big in the idol industry. This shift, however, seemed to diminish Akiyama’s full potential after his previous game had established him as a well-liked and well-received protagonist. He resurfaces briefly in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, but his role is minimal once again as Kiryu departs from Kamurocho for the town of Onomichi.

Infinite Wealth Already Sets Up the Perfect Premise for an Akiyama-Led Game

Following his unexpected exit in Yakuza 6, Akiyama returns in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth as a Life Link for Kiryu. Advancing the Memoirs of a Dragon side quest and triggering the unique encounter with Akiyama sheds light on his activities since Yakuza 6 up until the present. He explains that he spent years globetrotting and carefully managing his finances, worried that Ryo Aoki’s Kamurocho 3K Plan might encroach upon the questionable operations of his Sky Finance business. Simultaneously, he harbored faith that Kiryu was still alive.

Upon his return from his journey, where he received news that Kiryu is still alive, Akiyama remarks that a significant portion of his time was spent embarking on an independent escapade in Singapore. This tale could serve as an excellent foundation for a Like a Dragon Gaiden game featuring Akiyama, since it offers the series a fresh setting to delve into Singapore while granting Akiyama the growth in character he needs. Since Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth ventured out of Japan for the first time, the path has been paved for global escapades, and Akiyama’s time in Singapore could be the unexpected twist that RGG Studio is planning to reveal.

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2024-08-17 15:04