Current version:PlayStation 2
Ryu ga Gotoku cover

Ryu ga Gotoku

The original Yakuza returns Kazuma Kiryu to Kamurocho for street combat, side stories, crime intrigue, a missing ten billion yen, and the protection of Haruka. This catalogue entry evaluates the recorded original-platform release, including its period-specific controls, presentation, content structure, hardware limits, and intended mode of play.

AI score · out of 10
8.2 / 10
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About this game

The original Yakuza returns Kazuma Kiryu to Kamurocho for street combat, side stories, crime intrigue, a missing ten billion yen, and the protection of Haruka. Compact districts, environmental weapons, mini-games, and many substories create a living city, while characters and crime drama establish the series. Combat targeting, camera, and random encounters are heavy, transitions load often, and inventory or interface convenience is limited. City and cast offset rough technology. This description covers the original ps2 release represented by this catalog entry and does not assume conveniences introduced by later ports. The assessment also treats period hardware limits, documented mechanics, original controls, and release-specific access as explicit evaluation boundaries.

Collected in series

Like a Dragon, formerly known in English as Yakuza, follows people trying to hold on to loyalty and dignity amid crime and betrayal. Dense city districts invite you to step away from serious drama for games and eccentric side stories. Some entries use direct-action brawling, while Ichiban Kasuga’s adventures bring a party into turn-based combat.

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PlayStation 2

AI review

AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:

8.2 / 10PlayStation 2

The original Yakuza returns Kazuma Kiryu to Kamurocho for street combat, side stories, crime intrigue, a missing ten billion yen, and the protection of Haruka.

Compact districts, environmental weapons, mini-games, and many substories create a living city, while characters and crime drama establish the series. Combat targeting, camera, and random encounters are heavy, transitions load often, and inventory or interface convenience is limited. City and cast offset rough technology. Overall, its main strengths are City, weapons, mini-games, and substories feel alive; Characters and crime drama establish the series. Its material limitations are Heavy targeting, camera, encounters, and loading; Limited inventory, interface, and transitions. This score covers the original platform release represented by this catalog record and excludes conveniences added by emulators or later ports. The conclusion also accounts for original hardware readability, input, and access conditions. Documented uncertainty remains explicit. The evidence supports this balance.

Strengths

  • City, weapons, mini-games, and substories feel alive
  • Characters and crime drama establish the series

Weaknesses

  • Heavy targeting, camera, encounters, and loading
  • Limited inventory, interface, and transitions

Who it is for: Players who value city, weapons, mini-games, and substories feel alive and can accept the recorded release's limits.

Play notes: Before playing, expect heavy targeting, camera, encounters, and loading and limited inventory, interface, and transitions; this assessment covers the recorded platform release.

View scoring basis
DimensionReview stateScoreWeight
Dimension

Characters and crime drama establish the series; Limited inventory, interface, and transitions.

Reviewed8.2 / 10Not provided
Dimension

City, weapons, mini-games, and substories feel alive; Heavy targeting, camera, encounters, and loading.

Reviewed8.6 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Characters and crime drama establish the series; presentation is judged within the original platform conditions, with no bonus for age alone.

Reviewed8.8 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Judged on the original ps2 release's input, readability, saving, and accessory conditions. Heavy targeting, camera, encounters, and loading.

Reviewed6.0 / 10Not provided

Review sources

Not provided

Core information

Developer
SEGA
Publisher
SEGA
Release date
2005
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Content kind
Game
Release state
Released
Region
Worldwide
Official website
Not provided
Offline minimum players
Not provided
Offline maximum players
Not provided
Online minimum players
Not provided
Online maximum players
Not provided
Tags
Melee CombatStory-drivenCrime3D GraphicsModern SettingSolo-friendlyThird PersonSemi-open World
Supported game languages
Not provided
Requires base game
Not provided
Standalone
Not provided
Age ratings
Not provided
Play modes
Not provided
Perspectives
Not provided

Release editions

Sources

Not provided