X posting this from the Yakuza thread, finally completed the first chapter: 8 hours... and that was with me mainly just focusing on the story. Yeah. This game is going to take me quite a long time to finish if each chapter is packed with content like this!
So the first chapter introduces is preceded by a short prologue chapter that introduces Yagami and most of the other main characters and acts essentially as a tutorial to basic combat and investigation aspects. Then its into the first chapter...
The chapter focuses around one particular murder case and most of it involves a mix of gathering evidence in order to strengthen your case (sorta like a more free roam Phoenix Wright - its linear so you gotta go to all the plot points and get all the evidence) but there is one set piece about half? way through the chapter where you get the option of storming a building by force, by stealth? (I think that was an option) or using a disguise. Naturally I took the disguise route as that sounded like the most fun option - its a mix of lockpicks, finding more evidence and then when inevitably your disguise fails, good old fashioned brawling - this particular set piece I really enjoyed as you scout out the entire building via drone first before you make the choice as to how you enter, so you get a brief idea of the layout of it. Again, its linear so its not as if its hard to navigate, but I liked the extra layer of immersion.
Combat wise the set pieces have some brilliant cinematics, QTEs and EX actions you can use (and Kaito rocks as a buddy to fight beside). Difficulty wise it feels at least a notch above the last couple of Yakuza games, because EX moves aren't doing insane damage so that's nice. I like the more underpowered nature of Yagami, helps makes the longer fights last and feel more epic when you take out a boss.
There's also loads of side stuff to do which I've basically not touched yet (so really, most of the 8 hours is me doing the story) but you have friend events which mainly just require you to shop/eat at places and get to know the owners/workers and you eventually earn perks/new EX moves.
Mini game wise I've mainly just been focusing on Puyo Puyo - it had a challenge to beat all 10 rivals (required for the 100% trophy) so of course that basically means you need to win 30 consecutive times in the game. That took a few tries but I nailed it down in the end! While 90% of the trophy list is really straight forward the 100% requirement is basically what happens if you take the sheer number of requirements of Yakuza 6, then make all of them required for the trophy, not just some of them. Great for me who enjoys this stuff loads, not so good for anyone wanting an easy plat like 6 ;)
So in terms of opening chapters. This is right up there with 0 - maybe even better as stuff opens up faster and there is just so much to do. This is the kind of thing that could be sold as an episodic game (or just its own game outright) and you'd still have more content than many other games I've played. And I've still got like another dozen to clear!
Story wise the cinematics are fantastic and as expected characters are brilliant. And the chapter ends on a nice cliffhangar hook for the story to branch out further. Can't wait to play more :)
Only real negative I see is the game having trailing sections. But it depends on how many they have, as it was easily the weakest section of the game for me, though it was so short that it isn't really that bad. Just not especially fun.
