One of the peculiarities of Sega's PC port release schedule is that by releasing the series in (near) chronological order rather than in order of production, the original impact that "Yakuza 6" once had is weakened. This is because "Yakuza Kyoku 2" exists, and it is better done. It is also not as experimental or new as "Yakuza": it is not as experimental or new as "Ryu ga Gotoku," which features turn-based combat and a different protagonist, making it a good choice for those who want to jump into the latest entry in the series.

That said, there are plenty of reasons not to play "Yakuza 6," at least not yet: the entire series has been released at a relatively rapid pace on the PC, with remastered versions of "Yakuza 3" through "Yakuza 5" all appearing earlier this year. Have you played "Yakuza 5"? It's wild, arguably the most ambitious in the series' history, and ultimately fun. Have you played "Yakuza 4"? Not my favorite, but it features characters who would make a major presence in subsequent games. Have you played "Yakuza 3"? Honestly, you can probably skip it.

And "Yakuza 6" is the final game as Kiryu Kazama's protagonist and the conclusion to a story that has unfolded over hundreds of hours over the past six games. And while each game featured a different antagonist, ensuring that the threat at hand was always somewhat independent, the connective tissue of the series was always the relationships that Kiryu had built along the way.

In short, if you are new to the series, or have only had a handful of brief exposure to it over the years, I would suggest that you fall a little deeper down the rabbit hole and then come back to it.

After setting the tone with an in-media-lesbian opening, a lengthy sequence that follows directly from the semi-cliffhanger ending of "Yakuza 5" awaits. Much of the early time is spent dealing with the influences and ramifications from "Yakuza 5" and slowly putting the pieces in place to prepare the characters for the drama of the finale. The end result is this: Kiryu arrives in Onomichi, a declining port town in Hiroshima, with his baby.

Although he will still spend much of his time in Kamurocho, both in the story and as the de facto base for the mini-game, Onomichi is the center of Yakuza 6 and a statement of intent. Whereas Kamurocho has karaoke, old Sega arcade machines, cat cafes, and a new gym where you can work out your arms, Onomichi is small, quiet, and rural. Onomichi is small, quiet, and rural. It is a tight-knit community that Kiryu has a hard time breaking into, and distractions are sparse. An entire chapter of the story is devoted to Kiryu's search for powdered milk. It is that kind of town.

In short, there are many reasons why those who have not played the entire series should avoid "Yakuza 6" for now, but Onomichi is a reason to definitely return eventually. The appearance of Onomichi sets "Yakuza 6" apart from its predecessors and provides a change of pace that blends well with the story being portrayed. As Kiryu strives to gain the favor of the locals, he befriends a small yakuza family. This is a reiteration of the setting of Yakuza 3, but contrasted with the gang's destructive political dealings that threaten to tear everything Kiryu holds dear once again.

At first it seems odd that so much of the series has focused on Tojo clan leaders such as Majima, Saeshima, and Daigo, who barely appear in the finale, but it allows the story to focus on the values Kiryu fights to protect and his relationship with citizens who ultimately mean more to him than his former associates. It allows the focus to be on the relationships. Of course, there are plenty of things that don't land, such as the huge, absurd developments and intricate contrivances that are the hallmark of this series. But when "Yakuza 6" gives its characters room to think, it is often a triumph.

It is also surprisingly silly and fun. Onomichi's subplots include parodies of "Freaky Friday" and "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time," as well as a fun sequence introducing Onomichi's new mascot. Meanwhile, "Kamurocho" continues the series' trend of Kiryu being a dinosaur of the technological age. It's a broad, subtle satire, but the escalation of absurdity is as enjoyable as ever. I particularly liked the banter in the funny, gamified tavern, one of Onomichi's standout supporting cast chains.

As the first Dragon Engine game, "Yakuza 6" has some compromises. Kamurocho is not as fully formed as in "Kyoku 2" or the PlayStation exclusive "Judgment," and parts of the town are closed off. And I did not get into the combat at all. Instead of the crisp, clean encounters of "Yakuza 0," the animations here are more fluid, and yes, they are, but the result is sluggish. I have seen speculation that this was a deliberate attempt to represent Kiryu's aging (perhaps the fact that it was improved in "Kyoku 2" confirms this). In the end, however, the fighting game is not as satisfying as its predecessor.

At least the PC version of Yakuza 6 offers a significant performance update, with an uncapped frame rate offering a nice upgrade over the PS4 version. I was a little concerned when Kiryu's luggage started shaking uncontrollably early on, but otherwise the game seems to be working as intended.

Even playing at almost max settings of 1440p on an aging GTX 1070 graphics card, the game remained stable at around 60fps. And while Yakuza has never been a beautiful series, the Dragon Engine games continue to look great (at least for the characters who seem important enough to bother to appear), with surprisingly detailed faces and animations. That said, the subtitles are still somewhat low-resolution and aliasing is still noticeable. A minor but ongoing issue.

The general framework of all yakuza games is the same. A variety of storylines, from hard-boiled mysteries to interpersonal dramas, a number of silly subplots that almost always end with beating up a guy and a heartwarming revelation, a number of mini-games and side stories, all tied together by a likable protagonist who can withstand a change in tone The difference between the two is that each of them has its own unique characteristics. The differences between each can be summed up in a handful of things: plot, theme, surprising new developments, and destination atmosphere. Yakuza 6 is not the best game in the series, but it is still a worthy entry in the series and well worth playing: ...... At least, if you're so inclined.