The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, while expanding its appeal to younger and female players, remains committed to its core identity: middle-aged men experiencing middle-aged life.
Like a Dragon Studio Prioritizes its Core Demographic: Middle-Aged Men
Staying True to the "Middle-Aged Guy" Experience
The Yakuza (now Like a Dragon) franchise's popularity continues to grow globally, thanks in part to protagonist Ichiban Kasuga. This has attracted a diverse fanbase, including many women and younger players. However, the developers have reaffirmed their commitment to the series' core identity.
Director Ryosuke Horii, in an interview with AUTOMATON, stated, "While we're thrilled to welcome new fans, including women, we won't alter the core themes to cater to them. That would prevent us from exploring topics like uric acid levels!"
Horii and lead planner Hirotaka Chiba believe the series' unique appeal stems from its focus on the experiences of middle-aged men, reflecting their own lives. From Ichiban's Dragon Quest obsession to his complaints about back pain, they see this relatable "humanity" as the source of the game's originality.
Horii added, "The characters are realistic, like our players, making their problems relatable and fostering a sense of connection with ordinary people's conversations."
In a 2016 Famitsu interview (via Siliconera), series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi expressed surprise at the increase in female players (approximately 20%), but reiterated that the series' core design targets male players. He emphasized a cautious approach to avoid altering the series' core identity to overly cater to female audiences.
Concerns Regarding Female Representation
Despite the series' primary focus on a male audience, criticism persists regarding the portrayal of female characters. Some fans argue that the series sometimes relies on sexist tropes, limiting female characters to supporting roles or objectifying them.
ResetEra users have voiced concerns about the inadequate female representation and the prevalence of sexist tropes and scenarios. The limited number of female party members and the frequent use of suggestive or sexual remarks by male characters towards female characters have also been highlighted as issues.
Many female characters fall into the "damsel in distress" archetype, as seen in characters like Makoto (Yakuza 0), Yuri (Kiwami), and Lilly (Yakuza 4). This pattern, unfortunately, might continue.
Chiba, in a lighthearted comment, noted that even in "Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth," female characters' conversations are often interrupted and steered towards male-dominated topics.
While the series has shown progress in adopting more progressive viewpoints, it occasionally falters into outdated sexist tropes. Nevertheless, recent installments represent significant steps forward.
Game8's 92/100 review of "Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth" praises it as a successful blend of fan service and a promising direction for the future of the Like a Dragon series. For a comprehensive review, see the link below.
