Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, commonly referred to as simplyRGG, has established a strong foothold in Western markets over the past few years, primarily through theYakuza, orLike a Dragon, games. Interestingly,Yakuza’s explosion in popularityoutside 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-offLike a Dragongames, likeThe Man Who Erased His NameandIshin, retain a real-time combat focus even in the wake ofRGG’s stated desire to stick to the turn-based formula for future games.
But there’s also the burgeoningJudgmentseries, crime-thriller detective games that carry the legacy of the bombastic combatYakuzafans have grown to love so much. ThroughJudgment, RGG plans to keep developing this stance-based brawler formula, couching it within a new narrative that is only loosely connected to the widerYakuza/Like a Dragonuniverse. 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. Withthe announcement ofProject Century, it looks like this two-pronged release strategy could become a three-pronged one.
Project Century Provides Yet Another Route for RGG to Explore
Ostensible Differences Between Project Century and Like a Dragon, Judgment
As previously mentioned, theLike a DragonandJudgmentseries differ in terms of their gameplayfundamentals, but also in their tone and story. Make no mistake, theJudgmentgames 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 Dragonis about the criminal underworld of Japan, whileJudgmentis a cop drama with some RGG-flavored humor injected here and there.
It’s impossible to say whatProject Centurywill 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 toJudgmentandLaD, 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 directorMasoyoshi Yokoyama claims that no one can know whatProject Centuryis 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 ofJudgmentor the earlierYakuzagames. Indeed, the dodging, parrying, and thoughtful positioning look more like something out of a Soulslike than the high-octane mechanics ofLike a Dragon. There are no flying kicks, breakdance-inspired combos, or colorful buff effects in sight.
It would stand to reason, then, thatProject Centurywill 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 anotherbranching-off of the greaterLike a Dragontree, meaning that players could theoretically enjoy over-the-top turn-based action throughLike a Dragon, crazy combo-based combat throughJudgment, and something else entirely throughProject Century. Assuming all these IP get ongoing attention, RGG could become an even greater powerhouse than it currently is.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
WHERE TO PLAY
EPIC EMOTIONAL DRAMATwo 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 ACTIONExperience 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 ADVENTURELive 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.
