'Like a Dragon: Yakuza' and a Recent Release Roundup | Button Mash
Nov 8, 2024
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Join Matt James, Ringer's Deputy Art Lead, Brian Phillips, a senior staff writer and host of the '22 Goals' podcast, and Joshua Rivera, a seasoned contributor to Kotaku and Polygon. They dive into the intriguing adaptations of 'Like a Dragon: Yakuza,' discussing the blend of gaming and political engagement. The group also explores the evolution of Mario's humor, the thrills of 'Black Ops 6,' and unexpected joys in mobile Pokémon card battles. Their insights into industry dynamics and nostalgic gaming moments keep the conversation lively and entertaining!
The podcast explores how political candidates are increasingly engaging with gamers through streaming and campaign-themed games to rally support.
The hosts analyze the challenges of adapting the 'Like a Dragon: Yakuza' franchise into a TV series while capturing essential game elements.
Discussing Nintendo's recent announcements, the conversation highlights the company's commitment to creativity and innovation through playful, experimental projects.
With 'Dragon Age: The Veil Guard,' the hosts note the pressures Bioware faces to meet fan expectations while preserving narrative depth and choices.
The episode wraps up by emphasizing the importance of balancing nostalgia with bold innovation in the gaming industry for future success.
Deep dives
Introduction of New Hosts and Episode Overview
The podcast introduces the new season of the NBA and The Mismatch, highlighting co-host Chris Vernon's excitement about joining forces with Dave Jacoby to discuss NBA events twice weekly. The discussion promises to cover a range of topics including player performances, trade rumors, and team dynamics. Listeners are encouraged to interact through social media and provide ratings on various platforms. The anticipation surrounding their insights into the latest league developments sets an engaging tone for the episodes to follow.
Gaming Highlights and Pop Culture Phenomena
The discussion transitions to gaming culture, where the hosts delve into the influence of video games on social events, particularly focusing on the run-up to elections. They highlight instances where political candidates engage with gamers to rally support, including streaming activities and campaign-themed games. Various examples are shared, such as Bernie Sanders and AOC playing games to connect with young voters. This engagement demonstrates how gaming has increasingly become intertwined with political outreach, albeit with mixed results.
Critique of the 'Like a Dragon' TV Adaptation
The hosts shift focus to the adaptation of Sega’s 'Like a Dragon' franchise into a TV series by Prime Video, examining its reception amongst fans. While acknowledging that adaptations are often tricky, they discuss how this show attempts to capture the essence of the games. The conversation reveals fan disappointment over certain creative decisions, such as the absence of beloved in-game elements like karaoke. This points to a larger challenge in adapting video game narratives effectively to TV format without losing core elements that resonate with the fanbase.
Broader Challenges in Adapting Video Games
The conversation expands to the inherent difficulty of adapting video games into other media, especially considering franchise lore and character development. The hosts explore the dual nature of crime games in that they often tell dual narratives of honor and chaos, which can confuse adaptation efforts. They express concern about how adaptations can struggle to balance engaging storylines with interactive gameplay, highlighting how games like 'Like a Dragon' have loyal followings precisely because they successfully navigate these complexities within their original formats.
Upcoming Nintendo Innovations and Legacy
As the episode progresses, the hosts discuss Nintendo’s recent announcements, including a plethora of small-scale projects and games, which continues to showcase their experimental spirit. Among these announcements are the launch of new music apps and collaborations that blend innovation with nostalgia. Nintendo's distinctive approach towards engaging users through quirky collaborations and unique concepts like Wii Fit or Labo demonstrates its commitment to exploring boundaries in gameplay. Despite its quirks, the company's persistence in creative experimentation continues to endear it to fans around the globe.
Reflections on Bioware and Dragon Age
With the release of 'Dragon Age: The Veil Guard', the discussion turns to Bioware's journey and the stakes involved in delivering this long-awaited title. The hosts note that the game’s development has undergone multiple changes, resulting in a product that grapples with expectations both from fans and the gaming community. While 'The Veil Guard' offers engaging content and attempts to recapture the spirit of previous entries, questions remain about how well it can stand on its own amid the weight of previous installments and Bioware's storied legacy.
The Impact of Player Choices in RPG Narratives
The podcast further examines how 'Dragon Age' has traditionally placed emphasis on player choices within its narrative structure. The hosts underscore the tension between crafting a character’s journey while managing the studio's expectations for consistency and storytelling direction. They explore how player choices contribute to personalizing the narrative experience, but also how constraints may limit narrative exploration in 'The Veil Guard'. The evolving nature of RPGs in this context poses an ongoing challenge for developers aiming to create meaningful player-driven stories.
Nintendo’s Unique Approach to Gaming and Fan Engagement
The hosts wrap up by reaffirming Nintendo's distinctive position within the gaming industry as a company that thrives on creativity and innovation. They juxtapose Nintendo’s willingness to experiment with unconventional projects against the backdrop of other major gaming corporations, which often harbor a more risk-averse mentality. The conversation reflects on the importance of staying true to the essence of gaming while also forging new paths in storytelling and interaction. Ultimately, they celebrate the blend of nostalgia and innovation that defines Nintendo's impact on the gaming landscape.
Ending Thoughts and Future Outlook
In the final segment, the podcast looks to the future, probing how upcoming titles, adaptations, and experiments will impact the gaming landscape. The discussion examines the challenges and opportunities facing both established franchises and new IPs as they navigate the evolving gaming world. The hosts emphasize the need for studios to take creative risks and foster environments conducive to innovation while retaining the core elements that attracted players to their titles in the first place. As the gaming community anticipates the next wave of content, the hosts leave listeners with a sense of excitement for what's to come.
From 'Like a Dragon' to 'Dragon Age,' settle in for a supersized ‘Button Mash’ blowout! First, Ben, Brian Phillips, and Matt James discuss which games they would stream to enhance their appeal if they were running for office. Then, they break down Prime Video's latest TV adaptation of a video game franchise, 'Like a Dragon: Yakuza' (14:00), before Ben and Matt recommend several recent releases that are easy to consume, including the latest 'Call of Duty' and a 'Pokémon' mobile sensation (52:00). Then Ben and Joshua Rivera discuss 'Mario & Luigi: Brothership,' comedic Mario, weird Nintendo, the swan song of the Switch, whether 'Dragon Age: The Veilguard' is BioWare's big comeback, and the pros and cons of the industry's franchise reliance (1:20:00.
Host: Ben Lindbergh
Guests: Brian Phillips, Matt James, and Joshua Rivera
