This saga, which has sold over 21 million copies, is now serialized on Amazon!

From the small screen of video games to television, sometimes it’s just one step. After winning this year thanks to Fallout, Prime Video is embarking on a new challenge, adapting the iconic saga from the world of video games. This time, the streaming platform tackles the Yakuza saga, which consists of about twenty games that have been published since the release of the first opus in 2005.

Is the series faithful to the video game?

More specifically, the series focuses on the game Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020), which marked a turning point in the saga by abandoning the game system in favor of turn-based RPG combat. Another notable change: the action of the plot moved from the fictional Kabukicho district of Tokyo to the port city of Yokohama.

The series As a Dragon: Yakuza features four teenagers who plan to rob a gambling hall. Their meeting with the owner of the place, a member of the local underworld, and the incident sends them into a downward spiral. Ten years later, one of the members of Kiryu’s group is released from prison, but finds his past catching up with him.

The recipe that made the game such a success is covered here extensively, though the emphasis is more on the dramatic aspect than the action or violence. Surprising fact: the series does not repeat the story of the game identically, but develops its own story through a narrative that takes place in two different eras.

The first adaptation has already seen the light of day!

Thus, the series seems to be aimed more at those unfamiliar with the games than die-hard fans of the franchise. However, the latter will be able to appreciate all the remarks directed at the license, but also the superior quality of this television adaptation compared to the poor cinematographic version (Yakuza: Order of the Dragon, directed by Takashi Miike in 2007).

Director Masaharu Take’s (naked director) presence behind the camera doesn’t do justice to the cinematic aspect of the video game. Boring and academic direction, probably due to lack of resources, can neither manage the pace of this adaptation nor deliver shocking scenes.

If watching this program makes its viewers want to discover video games, then the main purpose of this series will be fulfilled. On the other hand, fans of the saga will probably waste their time with this new, unconvincing adaptation.

Like a Dragon: The first three episodes of the Yakuza series are now available to watch on Prime Video.

Discover the list of series currently available on the platform!