Revive Yakuza: Dead Souls – The Pirate Yakuza’s Wild Success Proves It’s Time!

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The Yakuza series, renowned for its extensive output in the gaming world, has some lesser-known treasures tucked away in its collection. Given that the series wholeheartedly embraces the over-the-top nature of its concept and tone, it’s no wonder that a game like Like a Dragon: Ishin! Set in Hawaii serves as a testament to this. With Ishin! Set in Hawaii reinforcing Ryu Ga Gotoku’s dedication to outlandish and unconventional storytelling, it won’t be long before we witness the return of a frequently underestimated spin-off.

In 2011, the game titled “Yakuza: Dead Souls” was launched with minimal excitement in the western world, as it came before the series gained significant popularity through games like “Yakuza Kiwami” and “Yakuza Zero.” The title itself hints that this is a bizarre spin-off from the regular soap opera, mafia-related storylines of the main series. Instead, it features iconic characters such as Goro Majima and Kazuma Kiryu battling hoards of zombies in Kamurocho, thereby altering the familiar city sandbox setting. It’s worth noting that “Dead Souls” was a daring departure from the already zany “Yakuza” formula at the time. However, considering the quirky, wild adventure of “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,” going back to this “Resident Evil”-influenced game doesn’t seem too unlikely.

Yakuza: Dead Souls isn’t canon: it’s considered part of an alternate continuity in the series.

Why RGG Should Bring Yakuza: Dead Souls Back Into the Fold

LaD: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Has Made Players More Comfortable With Out-There Yakuza Spin-Offs

The allure of Yakuza lies in its unique mix of absurdity and genuine emotion: the series skillfully combines humorous elements with heartfelt, sometimes cheesy storylines to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii showcases this perfectly – even its lengthy title hints at its over-the-top nature. Featuring amnesiac character Goro Majima as a contemporary pirate, the action-brawler game surprisingly increases the absurdity of the main series, making it an exceptionally outlandish installment.

Dead Souls wouldn’t seem so far-fetched. The RGG studio has shown that they aren’t afraid to take risks with the Yakuza/LaD franchise, which gives them a unique advantage: they can basically explore any direction with the Yakuza IP, and their core fans are likely to appreciate it. Given that there’s already been a zombie spin-off, another Dead Souls sequel could be quite appealing.

What Bringing Back Yakuza Dead Souls Could Look Like

In essence, given that “Dead Souls” is linked within its own narrative framework, it’s possible for RGG Studios to create a sequel directly following from where the last game ended. The Yakuza series typically has interconnected stories in various aspects, so this wouldn’t present significant challenges from a storytelling or gameplay perspective.

On the other hand, RGG could also develop a spin-off of Dead Souls based on either the Yakuza or Like a Dragon platform, featuring Ichiban Kasuga as the protagonist instead of Kiryu and Majima. This hypothetical spin-off could be set in Hawaii, similar to Infinite Wealth and Pirate Yakuza, allowing a potential Dead Souls successor to resonate with modern fans while preserving the distinct characteristics of the 2011 game.

Perhaps RGG Studio might consider creating a remake similar to the “Kiwami” style for the game “Dead Souls”, releasing an updated and refined version of the 2011 original on contemporary gaming platforms. This could be an excellent opportunity to honor the original game, but it may also tie the studio to its less-than-stellar shooting mechanics and broader design aspects. Regardless of the direction taken, it’s evident that RGG isn’t confined by realism or gravity in their games, and revisiting the concepts from “Dead Souls” would be a fantastic way to continue their philosophy of the absurd.

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2025-04-25 14:34