Kurohyou Ryu ga Gotoku Shinshou: a (hi)story of violence
Looking back on when the news of SEGA’s financial difficulties first emerged, later culminating with the announcement of severe changes in the company structure ceasing the production of hardware, it is quite surprising to see how the brand once synonymous with the word videogame has survived - and in some instances prospered. Even if there was a noticeable decline in the quantity and quality - or even perhaps the variety - of original game productions, as the internal development studios lost some of the key-figures who sought employment elsewhere, SEGA has been an active and successful game publisher with particular weight in western markets. In Japan, however, the brand is presently associated with a few quality titles like Valkyria Chronicles, Phantasy Star Portable, Project DIVA and none other than Ryu ga Gotoku, the best-selling series now close to a total of seven episodes created during the last five years.
Together with an amusing twist given to the series under the name Ryu ga Gotoku: of the End - soon to be released on the PS3 - the studio spearheaded by Toshihiro Nagoshi has also prepared a different entertainment in close collaboration with syn Sophia (formerly AKI Corporation), a studio widely specialized in the genre of wrestling games. Project K, or Kurohyou: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinshou as it came to be officially known, is a highly experimental title based on the same mechanics of the main series while introducing a generous figure of completely unseen features which I will attempt to describe below. Few, if any other videogame on the console has offered such balance between technical prowess and game depth, no doubt the result of a very attentive study led by the studio in order to create a title that suits the best interests of the system where it is played; as well as offer all new pretexts for the followers of the series to once again explore the virtual streets of Kamurocho from the perspective of an entirely different protagonist.
Like a fistful of other PSP games, Kurohyou (or Black Panther) allows data install on the memory stick, an option which drastically improves loading times and transitions between exploration and battle.
A known venue for Yakuza game devotees, the entrance gate for the virtual Kamurocho streets has become a symbol for great things to come. While the previous episodes made use of real-time FMA or CGI sequences to tell the stories, SEGA drew a page from Konami’s book and assimilated their real-time animation techniques manipulating bitmap graphics and special effects filters. It is said in the box description that the game has over 300 minutes of these powerful and enticing sequences, with full voice support from an enviable cast as always.
Three average street hoodlums: or are
they? Among the mean-looking bunch leads Miyako Tatsuya, the
protagonist of this new episode. Like any other young boy of his age,
Tatsuya attended school until he was expelled for his violent
behavior. Alienated from the real world, he found his place among the
corrupted streets of Kamurocho where he leads a small group. However,
he acts on his individual interest, showing no mercy even towards his
bretheren, as the next screen captions will show.
This is, truly, the case where stills
aren’t enough to depict how beautifull animated these clips are.
After the fight, in which there was
little
challenge for him, Tatusya moves on to take care of his business.
The first glance at the game, this is a
landscape
known to aficionados of the series: however, to see them in the small
PSP screen is somewhat surprising. Essentially the team forfeited the
use of complex 3D graphics, making the background into sill pictures
although preserving the 3D for the character and people walking on the
streets. To enhance the visual impact, the 3D models are subject to a
specific filter which helps perceive the distance between elements as
can be viewed here.
As expected, the first interactive fight
of the game
comes soon after.
After a brief loading pause, the combat
scenario
appears in full 3D. With a very good detail, the fighters are presented
on the screen in a fashion which reminds common boxing games, usually
shown from the hip up.
The first part of the tutorial teaches
the essential
moves: punch, kick, grab and evade button, quite similar to the
previous games, only with entirely new combos.
The degree of violence and the impact of
the fight,
however, has not decreased one single notch.
Common to brawlers and also very
characteristic of
the Ryu ga Gotoku universe, the possibility to grab different objects
was also preserved here.
When approaching key-places on the
streets, the
background changes instantly to a close-up view. Because the PS2 games
were in fact limited to the camera perspectives, even if entirely
designed in real-time 3D, playing Kurohyou produces a very familiar
feeling.
The usual supermarket where
consumables can be
purchased for just the right price.
The magazine browser. A surprising
number of magazine
covers can be viewed…
… such as the classic Famitsu
magazine…
… or the average teen beauty periodic.
Another key aspect of these games, the
random fights
help keep the player on the edge of the seat, never knowing when a
fight might break in the streets.
While the models used for the usual
street going mob
during exploration phase are very much the same from place to place,
one can’t help but being surprised at the number of different opponents
to whom Tatsuya can fight against. This is the second part of the
tutorial in which advanced techniques are taught.
By pressing the L button and any of the
directions at
just the right time, the player is able to parry the opponent’s attack
and strike back instantly.
Rage attacks vary, according to
different situations.
One of them is this acrobatic kick which knocks down any common oponent.
Now, after finishing the fights, the
player can
sometimes opt between taking their money or keeping experience points..
Arrived to the destination where
omething is surely going on behind those closed doors. Tatusya is
acting on a tip.
When Tatsuya enters, a man is knelt down
in tears begging for his life. Smells of extorsion.
A group of mean-looking people seems to
be at the root of the distress.
But young and reckless Tatsuya is always
up for a cocky display of his fighting skills.
Not surprisingly, the group belongs to
the Yakuza, this being a respectable member of the Tojo-Clan.
After a brisk exchange of words,
Tatsuya is almost ready to give it up and leave, although the Yakuza
grabs him, meaning to show him some manners.
However, Tatsuya strikes back.
With a few kicks and punches, he leaves
the thugs hurting on the ground.
Foolishly, he invites the Yakuza
dignitary to a fist-fight.
Taken by surprise and puched hard in the
stomach, he quickly strikes back finishing him off with a deadly kick.
Feeling empowered by his conquest, he
lets out a loud and devilish laugh.
At the height of his arrogance, Tatsuya
takes a moment to realize that he’s just killed a Yakuza and is now in
a tight spot.
To make matters worse, a man observed
his actions from the shadows without taking action. For now…
Running away from the place where he
commited a grave mistake, the young fighter finds his share of hoodlums
to fight against.
To grab the head of the opponent
throwing his bare face against a wall is a classic in the series. No
matter how many times Kazuma has done this in the past, it still looks
violent today.
A new addition: on occasions, the fights
may commence with the fighters grabbing one another: the key here is to
mash the buttons without any particular order, merely to decide who
makes the first attack.
The kid’s kicks are particularly
damaging. This ruffian’s hairdo was enough to justify it.
A little stop by the Matsuuya restaurant for some hot curry.
The entrance to the games parlor:
however it’s too soon to play casino games for the time being.
Tatsuya returns home…
… and receives a mysterious text
message.
While exiting the house to meet up with
the mysterious text message sender he is surprised by a man who attacks
him with a taser gun. Leaving him unconscious.
He wakes up in an unknown place and is
forced to meet someone by a man pointing a gun at him.
Inside a dark office room, a shady
character presents himself: Kuki Ryuutarou is the vicious leader of an
underground corporation based on gathering fighters for illegal
combats. Tatsuya is offered a deal he can’t decline: he knows of his
involvment in the murder of the Tojo member and is demanding he fights
for his team otherwise he’ll be delivered to authorities. Little or no
choice is left. On the other hand, he’ll be a valuable addition to the
Kuki team, his scout having watched his unusual skills earlier on when
he singlehandedly defeated four men.
Also, notice the fast-forward icon: by
pressing the triangle button, it is possible to hasten the cutscenes a
little, while it is impossible to entirely skip them. Ryu ga Gotoku is
all about story, afterall.
Tatsuya is shown the ropes: inside a
large warehouse, the hexagonal ring is surrounded by people who crave
for the violent fights.
The master of ceremonies presents the
next match.
Extremely violent in graphical content,
this fight is another beautifully animated sequence showing how
competent this choice was.
Tatsuya watches, enraged, his
inescapable future inside the ring.
Illegal prize fighting is more
organized than ever. The Kuki team has its own installations and even a
staff to attend to their fighters who couldn’t afford to show up in
local hospitals so as to maintain the secrecy of the combats. On the
back, Tai Amemiya, the first-aid man who helps the team members recover
from injuries; on the front, Saki Kudo, the nice-looking assistant and
a probable romantic pair for Tatsuya.
Of course, due to his irreverent
personality, Tatsuya - who is still not entirely conformed with his
present situation - tries to escape the premises.
He lures the guards to a closed room
where he performs all sorts of stunts.
With most of the securities down, this
is his chance to leave Kamurocho.
Now is the time to run fast and run far, so he puts his hood on so as to remain unnoticed.
Unexpectedly, he finds that the way out might not be so easy as anticipated. Goons working for Kuki are scattered around town and will chase Tatsuya if he wishes to leave.
A small minigame commences where the player must reach a safe haven indicated in the map without being caught by the many thugs wishing to put their hands on the young punk.
But just when he thinks he reaches a safe location he is surpised by men in purple suits.
And so, Tatsuya is faced with the inevitable: he must give in to the threats and demands of his new boss.
Making his way into the ring…
… he’s inspired by his own confidence…
… and meets his first opponent. Tomoki, by name. A professional MMA wrestler by trade.
Perhaps now may be the time to mention how fluid the fighting sections are in this game. Not only can the player observe some great animations and models, as the very camera helps bring motion to the combats, based mostly on “one on one” interactions rather than the group fights made famous by the previous episodes.
An example of a counter-attack, grabbing the oppnenent by the leg before he can release a kick.
And a furious pre-charged punch to the face which leaves Tomoki on the ground for a few seconds.
Tomoki is particularly dangerous on the ground, grabbing and using his knees to inflict pain.
However, another timed punch leaves his face in a seriously dramatic condition.
The finishing move is displayed in the form of a cutscene, with the confident young fighter throwing a powerful kick that leaves a trail of blood over the ring.
While so far the Yakuza games have been focusing on the values of tradition, with Kazuma as the champion of the old codes of honor among the corroded society of the Yakuza, this new episode faces an entirely new problem taking place in the red light districts of Japan. This is a history about a young boy from a new irreverent generation, growing up to become a man while facing with his own background of violence and abuse, the only aspects of life he has known so far. Solitary and egocentric, his skills are no doubt above the average, although he has still much to learn about what it takes to achieve honor and respect.
With no release date set for western markets, PSP owners who are incapable of importing or playing games in Japanese might yet miss the opportunity to play one of the single most important titles of their time.
1 year ago