TheYakuzaseries has experienced an upsurge in popularity in the Western market since the release ofYakuza 0andYakuza Kiwamiin 2017. The eighth main entry in the series, 2020’sYakuza: Like a Dragon,broke from the established gameplay formula of previousYakuzatitles by switching from real-time action to turn-based, party-focused RPG mechanics.
Despite this drastic change,Yakuza: Like a Dragonwas well receivedby many players, even earning a nomination for Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2020 Golden Joystick Awards. One of the names behind the continued success of theYakuzaseries is Hiroyuki Sakamoto, who has worked on the latest three titles, serving as producer and writer onYakuza: Like a Dragon.
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In an interview with Giant Bomb published on January 19, Sakamoto shared a few of his favorite releases of 2020, beginning withSucker Punch Production’sGhost of Tsushima. The developer said he was impressed that an overseas studio was able to successfully create a game about Japan’s unique history, stating that even a Japanese studio would have had difficulty achieving the level of quality found in the game.
Sakamoto namedCyberpunk 2077as the next title on his list of last year’s top games. This is perhaps a surprising choice due to the amount of controversy surrounding the game’s release, but Sakamoto said the game’s characters and dense world were inspiring, particularly the well-written dialogue. Despite thetechnical issues plaguing the launch ofCyberpunk 2077, the game producer felt respect for the development team, who challenged themselves with creating a highly detailed sci-fi world “by making no compromises.”
Animal Crossing: New Horizonsalso earned a place among Sakamoto’s favorite releases of 2020, as it likely did for many gamers. The title, which has sold over one million copies in Germany and wasFrance’s bestselling game last year, appealed to Sakamoto because it is a game for everyone of any age or nationality. The developer shared his appreciation for the carefully crafted characters and game assets, while also noting that the appeal ofNew Horizonscould not be summed up in a single word.
A party game for the Nintendo Switch topped the list for Sakamoto, who enjoyed being able to connect with otherplayers online inClubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics. The title, which is a compilation of various board and card games, launched in June 2020 and has already sold more than a million copies. TheYakuzaproducer said the game is a reminder that story and graphics are not the only things that matter in game development.
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