Stranger Than Heaven, the new action game from Yakuza/Like a Dragon developers Ryu Ga Gotoku (RGG) Studio, had a long presentation that showcased much of what we can expect from the game.
The latest from RGG focuses on Makoto Daito, a half-American, half-Japanese kid who faces discrimination in America and then takes off for Japan. Sneaking on to a ship, he meets Orpheus (Snoop Dogg), and falls into a saga that takes place over 50 years and 5 different locations, detailing the rise of the iconic Tojo Clan, one of the biggest Yakuza families in the Yakuza series.
Makoto’s journey will take place across five distinct eras and locations: 1915, Fukuoka; 1929, Hiroshima; 1943, Osaka; 1951, Shizuoka; and 1965, Shinjuku. RGG highlighted a few of the gameplay systems, including a new music-based mode. Makoto can listen and pick up sounds from the environment, and even from enemies in fights. Using these, he can put together songs and stage shows to try to make money on his way to becoming a master showman.
Combat has also been overhauled, with the left and right sides of Makoto’s body controlled separately. The left trigger punches and kicks with his left arm/leg, while the right trigger controls the right side. Using them in combination leads to deadly results, along with a host of weapons that can be upgraded and used to lay enemies out.
We also got a look at the absolutely stacked cast, which includes the iconic Akio Otsuka (Yakuza: Like a Dragon, One Piece), Snoop Dogg, Tori Kelly, and plenty more.
Stranger Than Heaven looks like a true evolution for RGG Studio, and thankfully, we won’t have to wait too long to play it. Stranger Than Heaven is out this winter on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.
