Unskippable: Yakuza 4 - Part 1

[mlsterben]

Akiyama may not be customizable, but he's already completely awesome as it is.

Once you get past his tedious phone calls and daily errands, that is. Loan sharks are people too.

 

[GamemasterAnthony]

Biting sarcasm at the end there. I like it.

Talk about ambiguous anti-spam puzzle...

You typed in the word "odd", didn't you? *points dramatically* Admit it! ADMIT IT!!

 

[syrdefi]

Mr. A is with Mr. B inserting stuff into Mr. C...

So where's Mr. T in all this?

 

[samsonguy920]

Nice to know you guys can still have fun riffing these.

I can't wait for when he conquers crossing the street.

 

[GeorgW]

That was brilliant, really looking forward to the next one!!

 

[PayneTrayne]

I think the truly banal is Unskippable. Not funny in the least and clearly done by two guys who don't have any interest in a story that isn't paced for the ADHD generation and really don't understand the Yakuza games and why people like them.

I get that this is a humour feature, but when you're as off-base as this, it's just sad. The second time I've checked out Unskippable. I'll probably give it one more go before I write it off completely, but this has got to be one of the lamest Escapist features.

For what it's worth, we make fun of games I love too. The quality of the game has no relation to whether or not we'll give it a ribbing.

And this has nothing to do with modern attention spans, nothing happens in this scene. It, in keeping with Japanese cinema, is very slowly paced and meanders quite a bit. It's a style I'm not personally a fan of, but that doesn't mean you can't be.

I suppose you can say "nothing happens" in the scene, but it but that doesn't mean it doesn't tell us about the character, set tone and mood and set the story in motion. The fact that for you "nothing happens' just supports my opinion that you can't appreciate something that isn't paced for the ADHD mind set or comprised of flashcuts and shaky cam video.

You know what it tells us about the character? That he has MONSTROUS hands.

 

[Zom-B]

I think the truly banal is Unskippable. Not funny in the least and clearly done by two guys who don't have any interest in a story that isn't paced for the ADHD generation and really don't understand the Yakuza games and why people like them.

I get that this is a humour feature, but when you're as off-base as this, it's just sad. The second time I've checked out Unskippable. I'll probably give it one more go before I write it off completely, but this has got to be one of the lamest Escapist features.

For what it's worth, we make fun of games I love too. The quality of the game has no relation to whether or not we'll give it a ribbing.

And this has nothing to do with modern attention spans, nothing happens in this scene. It, in keeping with Japanese cinema, is very slowly paced and meanders quite a bit. It's a style I'm not personally a fan of, but that doesn't mean you can't be.

I suppose you can say "nothing happens" in the scene, but it but that doesn't mean it doesn't tell us about the character, set tone and mood and set the story in motion. The fact that for you "nothing happens' just supports my opinion that you can't appreciate something that isn't paced for the ADHD mind set or comprised of flashcuts and shaky cam video.

You know what it tells us about the character? That he has MONSTROUS hands.

Haha, that is true. You can't help but notice that most of the characters have hands that are much too big. Oh well, small flaw in an otherwise great game.

 

[cyber95]

I actually really like the deliberately paced, kind of slice of life sort of feel to this, in a game about a Japanese mafia. I've been meaning to check out the Yakuza series for a while now, and this actually convinces me more.

 

[Something Amyss]

Just wow. Something must have gone wrong in translation, there's no way anybody would make a cutscene as banal as that...right? Also kind of ironic that this comes out the same day as Jimquisition releases an episode called "Cutscenes Aren't A Failure State".

It's a conspiracy.

Anyway, you know what would have made the stairs more epic? Quicktime events to keep from tripping, falling down, breaking your neck and having to start all over.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

The commentary in this one sounded great, felt really flowing rather than a jab at the game here and there. It also sounded very natural, as if this was exactly what the player would be thinking while watching this cutscene. I had a real sense that this was structured and planned, meticulously, more so than the others were.

Also it was funny.

Calumon: ...I miss home... : (

 

[Taunta]

"Hey, the intro to Zoids Assault is calling, they said to pick up the pace."

I literally said "OH SHIT!" at that moment. (No but seriously, Zoids was probably the worst cutscene you've ever done. And also my favorite episode for that reason.)

Also, I thought they were supposed to be super hardcore gangsters? Why is he so whipped? If I wanted to watch someone ignore the phone while trying to take a nap on the sofa, I'd videotape my afternoons.

 

[GingieAle]

I want there to be a GPLP of this. I want it soon.

 

[Kwatsu]

Is it me, or did Mr. A have *enormous* hands? I know they're easier to animate, but that was a little scary.

EDIT: Never mind, already came up. Still can't un-see them though.

 

[Deejilator]

Also, I thought they were supposed to be super hardcore gangsters? Why is he so whipped? If I wanted to watch someone ignore the phone while trying to take a nap on the sofa, I'd videotape my afternoons.

Akiyama isn't a gangster, he runs a special loan company. At the beginning of the game he doesn't have too much to do with the Yakuza. Not all the characters in this game are Yakuza. The story does revolve around the Yakuza and they are a really big part of the game but not all of it. Heck one of the playable characters is a cop.

On another note this is actually a really good game, and series for that matter. If you want some really fun beat-um up gameplay with an interesting story and one of the most immersive cities in videogames then this is the game for you. However I can see how the story can be too slow for some so I understand that it isn't for everybody just don't let this one cutscene dissuade you from trying this game if you get a chance is all I'm saying.

 

[Fenris Frost]

As a couple of other people have mentioned, it rather misses the point to criticise the opening based on a lack of immediate action. I thought that whole first part was good in that it developed Akiyama's character and gave the player a real sense of investment when the payoff did come. After all, a payoff is just that - something that should follow a building of tension and interest in the situation. Akiyama's relationship to Hana was one of the most engaging parts of the plot and central to his arc; moreover, his playful, laid back attitude was in deliberate contrast to Frownyface Kiryu. The point of the fourth game was to mix things up and demonstrate wildly divergent characters to act as counterpoints to the series protagonist. For this reason, it is my favourite of the four that have been released as part of the main franchise.

 

[GasparNolasco]

This scene is all foreshadowing, the phone is the last boss.

 

[Aardvaarkman]

They have phones in Japan?? That seems rather implausible.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

While he was on the cellphone, you could see the display but you couldn't see the display image or, any image of any kind. What's Akiyama's wallpaper and more importantly, how much battery life does his phone have left?

 

[OZITOMAI]

that was a great episode, i loved the ending, where you guys are all excited lol