Protagonists in video games have a pretty important job. Players will be embodying these characters for hours on end, so they need to make a broadly positive impression. That’s a tough ask for narrative driven games, especially those with tons of expository dialogue like Yakuza. The Yakuza series thrives on its depictions of melodrama, and previously Kazuma Kiryu was the protagonist at the center of it all. For over a decade, Kiryu was the stoic yakuza tough guy enveloped in several criminal conspiracies, but now a newcomer has stepped up to the plate as the Yakuza series’ protagonist: Ichiban Kasuga.
Taking the series in a completely new, JRPG-infused direction, Yakuza: Like a Dragon would branch out from the series’ action game roots. Ichiban Kasuga was one of the biggest changes to come with Yakuza‘s shifting of genre, but more importantly, this new character helped emphasize what’s always made Yakuza so special. Long-time fans have been with Kiryu for many years, but to be able to swap to Ichiban Kasuga with great praise, it just goes to show how important the protagonist is in Yakuza. Even if personality-wise Ichiban Kasuga is fairly different from Kazuma Kiryu, Ichiban still emphasizes why having an endearing protagonist is one of Yakuza‘s defining aspects.
For Ichiban Kasuga to replace the protagonist of a video game series that’s been running for 15 years, and not cause backlash, is an incredible feat. To do that and also potentially become the next Yakuza protagonist for another decade is even more special. Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu do share some key traits, but in the way that Kazuma Kiryu’s personality fit the original Yakuza games, Ichiban’s personality melds so well with the JRPG approach in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Both characters devote their lives to helping and supporting others around them, despite being wrapped up in the metric ton of problems of their own.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon, much like previous Yakuza games, spends a lot of time introducing players to the selfless and loveable oaf that is Ichiban Kasuga. While Kiryu was a stoic hero often placed in various situations with a mordant sense of humor, Ichiban’s personality and reactions feel more natural in the game’s JRPG quest atmosphere. Much of Yakuza: Like a Dragon‘s story spends a significant amount of time focusing on the downtrodden and disrespected people in Japanese society. However, Ichiban’s a bombastic and loud hero, who puts his whole self out there. He endeavors to making himself endearing to everyone he meets, and he never compromises on his morals.
Character investment is a good thing for a series that plans to stick around for a while, especially Yakuza. If the Yakuza series is going to continue moving in the JRPG direction with games similar to Like a Dragon, then Ichiban Kasuga is the perfect protagonist to do so. Kiryu’s character arc throughout the last six Yakuza games was a key aspect that kept players coming back after all this time. And yet, for a completely new style of Yakuza game with a new protagonist, fans took to Ichiban’s personality quickly. If Ichiban Kasuga will be sticking around for the next few entries like before, it’ll be hard to find very many Yakuza fans complaining.
Ichiban’s character design fits so well with Yakuza‘s new JRPG framework, as his endearing personality melds with the character driven open world so well. Not only does Ichiban never evoke a single semblance of disingenuousness, but his confident and compassionate disposition helps contextualize the side quests in a unique way. Various characters seek his help because Ichiban makes it clear he’s willing to provide it, with no reservations or ulterior motives. He’s brutally honest, even emotionally vulnerable, to basically anyone that’s willing to listen to him. It’s why so many ask for Ichiban’s help, trust him, and expect him to pull through for them without expectations.
He’s loyal, in some cases to a fault, and that’s why Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a very promising look at what’s next for the Yakuza franchise. The strength of the protagonist has always been a pivotal aspect of the Yakuza games, and Ichiban Kasuga acts as a very different yet worthy successor to Kazuma Kiryu.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is available now on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The PS5 version releases on March 2, 2021.
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