Today, Sega fully revealed Stranger than Heaven, the upcoming Yakuza-like game by the Ryu Ga Gotoku studio. It turns out the connection with the popular Yakuza/Like a Dragon series is pretty strong.
When you think of a prequel to the Yakuza series, you would likely think of Yakuza 0, but what if we could go back further, much before the birth of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima?
This is exactly the foundation of the storytelling of Stranger than Heaven, which carries us through five cities in Japan and five diverse time periods, telling the story of the origin of the Tojo Clan.
We follow the footsteps of Makoto Daito, a young man born to an American father and a Japanese mother. He leaves America to escape the harsh treatment he receives due to his Asian heritage after losing both of his parents, and makes land in the industrial city of Kokura in 1915.
The story will span five different time periods and locations, as follows.
- 1915, Kokura, Fukuoka: home of what was said to be one of the world’s largest foundries, a smoke-scorched town bursting with the passion of hard-driven, equally fiery workers.
- 1929, Kure, Hiroshima: a port town dominated by Japan’s largest naval arsenal and heavily influenced by the presence of yakuza organizations.
- 1943, Minami, Osaka: the biggest entertainment district in western Japan, set against the ever-rising tension of a world at war.
- 1951, Atami, Shizuoka: a bustling seaside getaway synonymous with tourism in postwar Japan.
- 1965, Shinjuku, Tokyo: Japan’s most iconic pleasure district—a city of swirling and unpredictable chaos.
The cast of Stranger than Heaven is star-studded, including Yu Shirota, Dean Fujioka, Snoop Dogg, Moeka Hoshi, Tori Kelly, Akio Otsuka, Tokuma Nishioka, Satoshi Fujihara, Cordell Broadus, Ado, and Bunta Sugawara.
There are certainly some interesting names in there, like Akio Otsuka, whom you may know as Solid Snake, and the late Bunta Sugawara, who actually passed away, and who passed away over a decade ago. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio recreated his likeness with formal consent from his family. He’s voiced by Takashi Ukaji.
Below you can watch a trailer about the cast and story.
We also get an official summary about the role of music in the game.
“Early in the story, Makoto’s guide and mentor discovers his hidden talent for music, and, before long, Makoto finds himself not only singing a tune or two but stepping into the role of a showman, producing a wide variety of incredible acts throughout Japan.
In order to get these shows off the ground, Makoto must explore the streets and scout for skilled singers and performers. He can then head out into town, collecting any and every sound he can find, to create new music: the swish of a broom, snoring of a sleepy neighbor, the rumble of passing trains, distant animal cries, even the grunts and growls of the enemies he fights.
By combining these unexpected sounds, Makoto can craft original tracks and from there, he builds his shows from the ground up— choosing the setlist, arranging the band, assigning a cast, and designing the production, all in an effort to bring each show to life. As he tours the country staging performances and captivating audiences, players will experience Makoto’s rags-to-riches rise to success as a master showman.”
We also hear about the combat.
“The raw brutality of street fights in a time of upheaval is brought to life through an ever-changing and intuitive combat system. Players won’t just control Makoto Daito, they’ll become him—moving his left and right sides independently and instinctively as they attack, defend, and force their way to victory. Follow a jab with a crushing blow, send enemies flying with a charged attack, tackle them while they stagger or pin them to the ground and unleash a relentless flurry of punches. Nothing is off the table in Makoto’s world.
Players can also block enemy strikes with one hand and instantly counter with the other. Reading their moves and creating your own openings is key to coming out on top. Players will also master and enhance a wide array of weapons—knives, hammers, katanas, and more—as they fight their way through era after violent era.”
The game doesn’t yet have a specific release date, but it will arrive this winter on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass.
Below, you can check out the full presentation with commentary from the developers and cast.
