What are your expectations for the new Yakuza/Like A Dragon game? What would you like to see added/removed from previous entries?

I hope they go all in on variety between the two protagonists and the way their gameplay goes. There's a lot of potential there for surpassing Yakuza 0 in this regard by having more distinct settings (Kiryu in Japan, Ichiban in Hawaii) and combat. I'd love to them each keep their own gameplay styles too; switching between Kiryu and Ichiban as well as beat-em-up and turn-based combat respectively could make the gameplay loop feel super fresh and crazy addicting.

With that being said, I think I'd like to see Ichiban's half of gameplay scaled back a little bit in some areas. I'd like the total party to be four with no one on the bench - this would make it easier balancing RPG elements for only one half of the game and easier to revisit after breaks with Kiryu. I also hope they make tough fights a little less frustrating and make turn-based combat overall less grindy compared to Yakuza 7.

What are your thoughts?

What expectations do you have for the new Yakuza/Like A Dragon game next year? What would you like to added or removed from previous entries?

It's known that the story will include both Ichiban and Kiryu. According to the trailer released recently it looks like Ichiban will be sent to Hawaii which is an exciting idea. We have to assume Kiryu will get Japan to himself then. I think this idea of a dual setting is exciting for sure.

I also think the dual protagonist role can work really well with this one with potential to be better than Yakuza 0 in this regard. If Ichiban's half has turn-based gameplay and Kiryu's stays with a traditional beat em up then I think the gameplay loop could get very addicting and feel fresh switching between the two.

Because of the two protagonists mechanic I'd like to see this as an excuse to downsize Ichi's party to four total which will make the RPG elements a little more manageable and will hopefully scale nicely with sharing a game with Kiryu. I love Yakuza 7 but I hope they make the turn-based side of this new game is a little easier/less frustrating as well as make it less grindy.

What are your thoughts?