| arsenicazure said: has anyone ever wondered if this game would have happened- if shenmue was never released? I doubt it. |
That is probably true, as I think they just wrote a new setting for the existing Shenmue game system, but still there is a slight chance they already had the concept/setting rdy and just used the Shenmue-like system, because it fits to it the best.
If you look closely at it you will realise it is based on action jrpgs with realtime battle in a confined place, a basic beat'em Up engine (which they refinded a bit and added several weapons and interaction with objects and surroundings). You gain experience and level up your skills with it/gain new moves and ofcourse there is the focus on a linear, cinematic, over-the-top storyline (with tons of small sidequests and missions).
The things that set Yakuza apart from a "normal" ajrpg in my opinion is the setting, the focus on a single character and the massive amount of mini-games.
With that in mind it wouldn't be outlandish to think they might have come up with something similar to Shenmue, if they already had the setting for the game, but it might have been used for a turn based jrpg or even srpg aswell.
