Sega caused a stir during this year’s Summer Game Fest opening showcase, revealing that a digitally resurrected Tupac will feature in the upcoming Stranger than paradise. Snoop Dogg even took the stage to talk about his collaboration with the rapper’s estate. Even if my handling of the game was not a complete dive into the world of Stranger than the sky, exploring one of five cities and eras, it was an extensive demonstration showcasing the combat system. It requires that kind of focus, because it’s an entirely new system compared to decades of RGG Studio. Yakuza series.
Attack inputs are categorized into left and right sides, RB and RT control your right hand and leg, LB and LT for your left side. During my time with the demo, the trigger buttons produced slower, more powerful shots. Each can be held to charge an attack, while the combination of LT and RT leads to grappling moves if you time them correctly. Launching a charged attack at the perfect time also seemed crucial.
Several new combat dynamics come from this new system. Each side is blocked separately, meaning you can block (or parry) an attack while preparing a counterattack with the other side. Grabbing moves practically resemble a street brawl, attacking enemies through furniture or even rolling down steps together. Pin them to the ground and you can then rain down blows on your opponent.
Unlike most Yakuza titles, weapons seem to be a more essential aspect of combat. The protagonist Daigo will eventually be able to upgrade the knives, mallets, and other equipment he finds.
Sega said that, over a 50-year journey, special weapons could range from “ancient masterpieces” to brand-new inventions. Well, new for the 60s. Some weapons will even come with their own special attacks, usually involving a downed enemy.
Sega put together three different demos to test the combat system. First up, a relatively easy fight against a group of thugs that focuses on fighting a group and using your opponent’s weapons against them. This was followed by a tougher fight against another gang led by an imposing heavy who hit much harder.
Luckily, you start the fight with a heavy crowbar, unusually heavy and slow to swing. This fight was where you could really feel a difference from the mostly button mashing dynamics of Kiryu et al. I don’t know if I prefer it?
Stranger than paradiseThe system seems to demand more from the player (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) and the final fight is a good example of this. Taking on a topless tattooed guy relaxing in Osaka with his katana required Souls-like levels of timing and stupid luck. I finally managed to beat him because of the latter.
The enemy healed itself if left alone and would occasionally kneel, prompting the player to approach them before unleashing a quick slice. Perfectly timed parries (or dodges) were crucial, allowing for powerful counterattacks, as were follow-up attacks when downed. In this fight, my character was equipped with a short knife and could use both weapon attacks with his left hand and punches and kicks with his right hand. It seemed like each weapon created a different range of attacks.
I admit I missed the opportunity to shove a mafia minion into a microwave or other ridiculous contextual moves. Hopefully some highlight moves will appear in the full game – Sega has teased combat on moving vehicles, which is at least a start.
This was a combat-focused demo, so I’m intrigued to see how the rest of the game plays out. Hopefully, STH clings to some of the ridiculous humor of Like a dragon And Yakuza. It was a welcome change in tone from all the melodrama and violence.
Stranger than paradise is scheduled for January 15, 2027 on PS5, Steam and Xbox Series S/X.
