Update: March 3, 2006
«©NCSX» Sega recently took a look at the modern Yakuza with a little game called Ryuu Ga Gotoku. Genki also takes a gander at the Yakuza but retro rockets a few centuries back to feudal Edo when the gangsters wore wooden sandals instead of steel-toed alligator wingtips. Ninkyouden Toseinin Ichidaki starts outside the estate of a local Yakuza (well, the correct term back then was machi-yokko which translates into "servants of the town") boss where the protagonist ambles up, looking for two underlings who raised a ruckus the night before at a hostel. When the two mobsters in question appear, a battle starts where the hero kicks and punches (in that order) to avenge his family honor. The hero also carries a staff that's slung across his back that may be used to smack the two foes. Once they're beaten however, things take an unexpected turn... From lowly peasant to Yakuza warlord, gamers adopt the role of a young and aspiring gangster who endeavors to become more than his station would allow in normal society. By using force, thuggish behavior, and the ever lovin' shakedown, the protagonist gradually grows from local gang affiliate to connected Yakuza boss who eventually wields influence and settles territorial disputes. As the gangster's power grows, he may eventually supplant the boss of bosses. Jan Code: 4994934400240 View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.
NCS Game Notes
* Rock music plays in the intro to the game where the lead hero appears in a beautifully designed montage that features rendered characters that move in a background of hand-drawn modeled cities. It's a unique style that will catch the eye of onlookers. Afterwards, the characters fight other characters on fields with fists, axes, and other weapons. This is how feudal Yakuza did it back in the day.* In the Now Loading Screen, a green bird periodically flaps its wings while perched on a branch and surrounded by a setting of red peonies. * After starting a game, a green field appears along with a statue at the edge of town where a man looks at it. He's wearing a straw hat that covers his head but he later looks up and tips it higher to look at the shining sun. Birds sing and the scene changes to a little village and the title screen wafts into view before the game proper starts. The camera pans in on a building where a gangster leaves his house and is met by the hero from earlier in his blue costume. Two other gangsters arrive and a challenge is issued and met. * A battle starts where the hero squares off against the two junior gangsters. The controls are as follows: L-ANALOG / Move
R-ANALOG / Move camera
O-Button / Attack. Pressing it continually issues a kick followed by punches
L1-TRIGGER / Remove staff from strap and use it to attack
X-BUTTON / Guard * In the first battle, the gangster in purple is wielding a knife but he rarely attacks and his tubby yellow-shirted friend isn't much use either as he stands back and watches you beat up his friend. After purple clothing guy's health bar reaches zero, he runs away like a little girl. After beating up the guy in the yellow shirt, a cut scene begins where the lead gangster from earlier draws his sword and is about to kill the two for being useless when hero stops the descent of the blade with his bare hands - blood can be seen where the blade cut into his palms. The lead gangster turns around and is greeted by the local gangster boss who approaches the hero and lead gangster and puts an end to the swordplay. The lead gangster walks away and hero turns around - the two thugs that he just beat are grateful to him for saving their hides and they resolve to follow him and become his little gangster followers even though he just beat their asses. After they join the hero's party, they're shown bowing to their new master on their knees and they pledge eternal loyalty. Gangster boss from earlier enters the room laughing and blesses the new union. * In the next sequence, an image of feudal Japan is shown with people walking on their way to work and appointed rounds. A narrator recounts the social mechanism of the time and the aspirations of the hero to become a Yakuza boss himself in any which way but loose. With two new recruits, he's well on his way... * Once the game starts, move the hero with the L-Analogue and laugh out loud as you watch his two underlings scramble after him like dogs. The sound of their sandals scrabbling on the dirt roads may also elicit some laughter. There's not much to do in the first area other than break three clay pots to recover the coins inside each one. After leaving the little compound, the three stooges may wander into town where they can interact with the town folk and speak to a beggar as well as a juggler. There's a building you may enter to explore. A funny thing that may be observed is the big oaf guy in the yellow shirt that you beat earlier follows you so closely that he occasionally bumps into screen doors and breaks them. * To ensure authenticity, Genki researched the Yakuza tattoos that were used back in the day and recreates a good number of them in the game. The clothing of the period is also accurate along with the weapons that the Yakuza used way back when - while there are the standard swords and knives, a mallet and hooked weapons are also available. * Battles may be fought with cooperative attacks from your underlings for some energetic slashing sequences. If different weapons are equipped, the type of attack changes for flesh hacking variety. This document is ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of this document may be made without express written consent of National Console Support, Inc.
|
