Project Century Already Has a Clear Connection to Like a Dragon Franchise

by

As a hardcore gamer with a penchant for Yakuza series and a soft spot for Japanese cinema, I can hardly contain my excitement about RGG Studio’s upcoming projects! The prospect of delving into the criminal underworld of 1915 Japan as a brutal protagonist in Project Century has me intrigued, especially since the character’s likeness seems to be modeled after the talented Japanese actor Kazuki Kitamura.

Enthusiasts of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s games can eagerly anticipate an exciting future, as The Game Awards unveiled two upcoming projects from the developer. Apart from “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,” set to launch on February 21, 2025, RGG Studio is also developing a fresh “Virtua Fighter” game and an entirely new title named “Project Century“. At present, details about “Project Century” are scarce, but fans have been buzzing with theories about its possible link to the wider “Like a Dragon” universe.

Based on what we see in the trailer, it seems players will take on the role of a ruthless character in the criminal underworld of 1915 Japan, a departure from any protagonists previously seen in the Like a Dragon series. This heightened level of violence might be unexpected for RGG Studio, but some fans of the series may recognize this character. Whether or not Project Century falls under the Like a Dragon universe is uncertain, however, this protagonist does have connections to the franchise already.

Project Century’s Apparent Protagonist Actor Played Kiryu in Takashi Miike’s 2007 Yakuza Film Adaptation

Kazuki Kitamura Has a History with the Like a Dragon Series

In the trailer for Project Century, there’s a strong likeness between the unidentified character and Japanese actor Kazuki Kitamura, suggesting he might have been used as the basis for the character’s appearance. It’s worth noting that Kitamura has collaborated with RGG Studio before, voicing the character Kurosawa in the 2012 game Binary Domain, which was developed by them. However, Kitamura has a more significant tie to the Yakuza series, as he’s been associated with the Like a Dragon franchise in a more direct manner.

Prior to Amazon Prime adapting the Yakuza series with Like a Dragon: Yakuza, director Takashi Miike had already given his interpretation of the franchise with the 2007 film titled Yakuza: Like a Dragon. In this movie, Kazuki Kitamura played the renowned protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and portrayed the storyline from the initial Yakuza game. Given his past role, it’s exciting to speculate that Kitamura might return to this universe if Project Century is part of the Yakuza universe.

Despite having an extensive career in films, Kitamura is known for contributing to just one video game – Binary Domain.

Regardless of Canon, Project Century Has Clear Roots in the Like a Dragon Franchise

Before further details about “Project Century” become available, its exact position within the broader “Like a Dragon” franchise by RGG may remain a topic of discussion. Yet, it’s evident that if “Project Century” turns out to be a standalone IP, its roots can still be traced back to the “Like a Dragon” series and RGG’s past projects. The fact that Kitamura is the game’s protagonist suggests that RGG is drawing upon their history, planning to reintroduce Kitamura for this new project.

In essence, the fighting scenes shown in the trailer for “Project Century” seem reminiscent of the old-school, non-turn-based style of combat from the “Like a Dragon” series, which RGG Studios has perfected over time. The fact that “Project Century” appears to preserve the essence of the “Like a Dragon” series while offering a fresh narrative is promising.

Read More

2024-12-19 01:55