Last week, Sega revealed the next installment in the Yakuza game franchise, and its a mainline entry titled Yakuza 7 or alternatively Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Surprisingly, it will no longer be a classic beat ’em up and instead will now be a turn-based RPG. Yakuza 7 follows new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, a yakuza who spends 18 years in prison after taking the fall for his boss’ crimes. He is abandoned by his clan while his boss, Masumi Arakawa, attempts to murder him.

Though the game adopts a whole new combat system, there will still be plenty of familiar components shared in the series. Yakuza 7‘s producer, Masayoshi Yokoyama, explained how the game’s new JRPG-style combat will work. The system is turn-based, being referred to as “Live Command RPG Battle”, which promises fights that are “constantly in motion.” There will be more emphasis on the environmental objects and transitioning between each area of the environment. You still have the ability to use objects such as bicycles on the street to deal massive damage on your opponents.

“The situation completely changes depending on your distance from the enemy character you’re attacking, as well as the “city objects” in the area,” says Yokoyama. “If a bicycle or something similar rolls by, you can kick it at the enemy, or pick it up and attack with it. This action also depends on the character’s class and traits.”

The world is “constantly in motion” as NPCs and enemies move about as the fights take place. However, Yokoyama warns that even though the game is stat-based, you won’t get the same result by attacking any enemy. When attacking a character farther away, you’re more likely to be interrupted by another enemy’s attack.

Yakuza 7 is coming to PlayStation 4 January 16th, 2020 in Japan, while its western release is scheduled later the same year.

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