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
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.
Recommended games
Related game recommendations on this platform
PlayStation 2AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
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
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Characters and crime drama establish the series; Limited inventory, interface, and transitions. | Reviewed | 8.2 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension City, weapons, mini-games, and substories feel alive; Heavy targeting, camera, encounters, and loading. | Reviewed | 8.6 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Characters and crime drama establish the series; presentation is judged within the original platform conditions, with no bonus for age alone. | Reviewed | 8.8 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Judged on the original ps2 release's input, readability, saving, and accessory conditions. Heavy targeting, camera, encounters, and loading. | Reviewed | 6.0 / 10 | Not 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
- Categories
- Action · Primary genreAdventure
- 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
- PlayStation 2Worldwide2005
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided