It’s the end of the road for Kazuma Kiryu
All good things must come to an end, such is the way for the amazing journey of Yakuza protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Following a lifetime of good deeds, heroic actions, and smashed bicycles, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life sees the sharp-suited ex-gangster face the final curtain.
Released back in 2016 on PS4, this final act in the story of Kazuma and Haruka is now finally available to purchase on Xbox One and PC, and is also available as part of the paid subscription service, Xbox Game Pass. With The Song of Life’s arrival, the entire Yakuza saga (save for its spin-off releases) is now available to purchase on the Steam platform – including prequel Yakuza 0, both Yakuza Kiwami remakes, and the Yakuza Remastered Collection. If you want to go all-out, then 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon is also available, and sees new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga comfortably step in as the series’ new lead.
I often see people suggesting that they’re about to “play through all of the games back-to-back” and, even as a die-hard Yakuza fan – I’d strongly recommend against doing that. With so many titles set in the same locale, featuring incredibly similar gameplay, and even repeating several setpieces and plotlines, I think it’s very easy to burn out on the series, especially on a first run. Do play all of these games – they’re great – but I think it’s far wiser to enjoy an entirely different game between each entry, or things tend to blur very quickly.
Regardless, when all is said and done, Sega’s brilliant action-RPG series is now available on a variety of platforms, ensuring that while Kiryu may no longer be the star of the show, his violent, dramatic, and often totally ridiculous world will remain readily available to revisit for many, many years to come.