Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, commonly referred to as simply RGG, has established a strong foothold in Western markets over the past few years, primarily through the Yakuza, or Like a Dragon, games. Interestingly, Yakuza's explosion in popularity outside Japan coincided with its shift away from intense, action-brawler combat in favor of a flashy turn-based system, which defines the series' current releases.
Spin-off Like a Dragon games, like The Man Who Erased His Name and Ishin, retain a real-time combat focus even in the wake of RGG's stated desire to stick to the turn-based formula for future games.
But there's also the burgeoning Judgment series, crime-thriller detective games that carry the legacy of the bombastic combat Yakuza fans have grown to love so much. Through Judgment, RGG plans to keep developing this stance-based brawler formula, couching it within a new narrative that is only loosely connected to the wider Yakuza/Like a Dragon universe. This bifurcated approach allows RGG to stay flexible and comprehensive with its game design, granting audiences a greater variety of high-quality games in the process. With the announcement of Project Century, it looks like this two-pronged release strategy could become a three-pronged one.
Virtua Fighter and Project Century are Two Sides of the Same Coin
Although they both seem like bold new ventures for the veteran RGG Studio, Virtua Fighter and Project Century adhere to one of its oldest strengths.
Project Century Provides Yet Another Route for RGG to Explore
Ostensible Differences Between Project Century and Like a Dragon, Judgment
As previously mentioned, the Like a Dragon and Judgment series differ in terms of their gameplay fundamentals, but also in their tone and story. Make no mistake, the Judgment games are still silly in many ways, with wacky combat and absurd plot developments like the undercover highschooler storyline, but the narrative is overall much more sober and reserved. A lot of this comes down to the vastly different premises of the two franchises: Like a Dragon is about the criminal underworld of Japan, while Judgment is a cop drama with some RGG-flavored humor injected here and there.
It's impossible to say what Project Century will be like in terms of tone and narrative, but its decidedly dramatic Game Awards reveal trailer certainly didn't showcase much humor. In fact, it hardly offered any insight into the fundamentals of the game, other than that it will be taking place in 1910s Japan, with an apparent focus on crime and the sandbox exploration RGG has become known for. And yet, it looks remarkably different, at least at this stage, compared to Judgment and LaD, suggesting that it could be spun off into its own independent series.
Project Century's Gameplay Is Looking Considerably Distinct from Other RGG Games
Although RGG director Masoyoshi Yokoyama claims that no one can know what Project Century is about based on its trailer alone, one can't help but notice a few glaring departures from the studio's previous action titles. Looking at the combat, it seems much more grounded, slower, and methodical than that of Judgment or the earlier Yakuza games. Indeed, the dodging, parrying, and thoughtful positioning look more like something out of a Soulslike than the high-octane mechanics of Like a Dragon. There are no flying kicks, breakdance-inspired combos, or colorful buff effects in sight.
It would stand to reason, then, that Project Century will feel considerably different to play compared to its predecessors, regardless of what its story winds up looking like. This can only be a good thing, as it suggests yet another branching-off of the greater Like a Dragon tree, meaning that players could theoretically enjoy over-the-top turn-based action through Like a Dragon, crazy combo-based combat through Judgment, and something else entirely through Project Century. Assuming all these IP get ongoing attention, RGG could become an even greater powerhouse than it currently is.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Simulated Gambling, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- Franchise
- Yakuza
WHERE TO PLAY
EPIC EMOTIONAL DRAMA
Two larger-than-life heroes brought together by the hand of fate, or perhaps something more sinister…
Ichiban Kasuga, an unstoppable underdog who’s no stranger to crawling up from rock bottom, and Kazuma Kiryu, a broken man facing down his last days.
BEST-IN-CLASS RPG ACTION
Experience one-of-a-kind combat with dynamic, fast-paced RPG battles where the battlefield becomes your weapon, and anything goes. Adapt your party’s skills to the situation with outlandish jobs and customizations to strategically subdue enemies with over-the-top moves.
INFINITE ADVENTURE
Live it up in Japan and explore all that Hawaii has to offer in an adventure so big it spans the Pacific. Unforgettable moments await at every step of the journey with a unique mix of quests and activities to enjoy at your leisure.
