Prime Video Like a Dragon: Yakuza – Review

Thanks to Amazon Prime Video, we had the chance to preview the first three episodes of Like a Dragon: Yakuza. Based on SEGA’s global hit video game series, this crime-suspense-action adaptation spans two decades—1995 and 2005—following the lives of childhood friends and exploring the lasting consequences of Kazuma Kiryu’s choices. Kiryu, a feared Yakuza warrior, is renowned for his combat skills and strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity.

But does this adaptation live up to the video game’s reputation for fans, and is it worth watching for newcomers to the series? Check out our review in the next section of the article.

Interview: “Like a Dragon: Yakuza” Actors Ryoma Takeuchi & Kento Kaku, Executive Producer Erik Barmack

Thanks to the production team of the upcoming streaming series Like a Dragon: Yakuza and Prime Video, SEGAbits was given the opportunity to interview Series Lead Ryoma Takeuchi and Co-Star Kento Kaku, and series Executive Producer Erik Barmack.

In a round table setting, joined by fellow video game fan sites, we asked the creative team about how the project began and the challenges of portraying characters like Kazuma Kiryu (played by Ryoma Takeuchi) and Akira Nishikiyama (played by Kento Kaku). You can see their answers to our questions after the break or watch our video interview above, and stay tuned to SEGAbits for more coverage of the series as we near the October 24th release date on Prime Video!

Like A Dragon: Yakuza Heads to Prime Video on October 24

RGG Studio dropped some major news regarding a live-action series adaptation of Yakuza/Like a Dragon series by announcing Like A Dragon: Yakuza for Prime Video set to be released on October 24th.

According to Variety, The series’ story is set in two time periods, 1995 and 2005, and follows the life, childhood friends and the repercussions of the decisions of a fearsome and peerless Yakuza warrior with a strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity.

The screenplay and story are by Sean Crouch and Nakamura Yugo, with a Japanese screenplay by Yoshida Yasuhiro and Yamada Kana. The six-part crime-suspense-action series is directed by Take Masaharu and stars Takeuchi Ryoma as the lead character, Kiryu Kazuma.

It will upload to Prime Video in two batches of three episodes on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, with subtitled and dubbed versions in 30 languages.

We had a couple of live adaptations of the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series through Japan and other media. How do you guys feel about this one? Will you watch it when it airs? Let us know in the comments below!