Maybe janky is the wrong word.

Disparate? Oddly unexpected? Left field? Consistently inconsistent?

Shenmue like. A big mix of little bits here and there that somehow meshes into a whole.

Okay, I got it. And you're right about that. The original Yakuza games have a very different tone than the modern ones. A lot more humor and weirdness have been added gradually through time. So when they went to do the remake for one, they needed to find a way to incorporate some of that, so it wouldn't feel quite so dry. The Majima Everywhere missions for instance. Anyway some of it worked, some of it didn't. But that definitely helped the game feel a little uneven at times.

I think you would especially like the spin-off series, Judgement and it's sequel. You play as a detective for a defense attorney, and it's basically Yakuza + Phoenix Wright. The town becomes More detailed and filled with even more things to do.

robio said:

I think you would especially like the spin-off series, Judgement and it's sequel. You play as a detective for a defense attorney, and it's basically Yakuza + Phoenix Wright. The town becomes More detailed and filled with even more things to do.

niiice

Resident Evil Requiem

01/26/26 - Kotaku, Polgon, Game Informer and IGN have played Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem (PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PC) and published their impressions; the game will ship on 27.02.26 in Europe:

Impressions (+ / -)

+ Resident Evil Requiem feels like a coherent "Greatest Hits" collection of the entire series and elements from different eras are meaningfully combined.

+ The change between Leon and Grace's perspectives and playing styles is surprisingly harmonious and is not perceived as an annoying break.

+ Capcom manages to draw a clear distinction between Leon's overstated action and Grace's methodical survival horror, making both approaches to the game work on their own. The contrast between Leon's dominant action and Grace's slow, tense survival horror leads to an effective build-up of tension.

Leon's sections convince with massive, hard action gameplay with axe, chainsaw, melee attacks and finisher, which deliberately ties in with Resident Evil 4 (and is reminiscent of its late hours of play) and is sensibly expanded with new mechanics; especially the use of the chainsaw is extremely satisfying.

+ Grace's gameplay sections are praised for their dense atmosphere, focus on stealth and resource scarcity, and proximity to classic survival horror games like Resident Evil 7 or Haunting Ground.

+ The mixture of resource scarcity, exploration and classic puzzle design is a harmonious return to earlier parts of the series.

+ The level design has a special appeal due to the different perceptions of the same places, depending on whether you explore them with Leon or Grace.

+ The stalker opponents, especially Chunk, are cleverly staged, as they consistently use the level design and build up pressure in a believable way.

+ The new enemy concepts, including zombies with individual behaviors and personalities, provide variety and an unusual mix of menace and black humor. These zombie idiosyncrasies contribute more to the environmental and background story than the classic diary entries.

The humor itself is surprisingly well done and enriches the game without undermining the horror atmosphere.

+ The new crafting system around "Blood Synthesis" is a useful and fun expansion that promotes tactical decisions.

+ The reintroduction of classic series mechanics such as "Safe Rooms", puzzles, backtracking and enemy tracking is a coherent homage to the roots of the series.

+ Overall, the interplay of action, horror and playful freedom is well thought out and much better implemented than originally expected.

+ The high level of violence is consistent, impressive and technically convincing, but it does not slip into the ridiculous or tasteless.

+ The graphic quality convinces with love form detail, especially in character models, materials and subtle environmental effects.

+ The boss fight against Chunk is the highlight of the demo, as it successfully combines action, tactics and extraordinary enemy design.

- Leon's aiming mechanics still seem a bit wobbly, so that precise shooting remains cumbersome at times.

Grace's weapons feel very weak, which often makes fights seem ineffective and makes the use of ammo less rewarding.

- The long backtracking phases in Grace's sections are potentially tiring, as you cross the same areas for a long time.

- The puzzle structure in Grace's sections seems deliberately constructed and partly illogical, because the game environment relies heavily on familiar series conventions.

- The extreme difference in combat power between Leon and Grace makes Grace seem very helpless in direct comparison.

- The incredible number of keys, gems and puzzle boxes does not seem very credible from a narrative point of view.

- The possibility to play Leon in the first-person perspective seems unnatural and not very convincingly implemented.

- Some interactive elements in Grace's sections, such as unopening cabinets, can seem confusing at first and seem like unnecessary distractions.

Despite the positive overall impression, there is a certain uncertainty as to whether the strong contrast of the playstyles works evenly over the full duration of the game or whether the experience could seem unbalanced in places. The same applies to the high level of tension and the intense atmosphere, because it is unclear whether both can be offered consistently until the end of the game.

*backs away slowly*

Total sales of the series
- Resident Evil: 183 million units
- Monster Hunter: 125 million units
- Street Fighter: 58 million units
- Mega Man: 44 million units
- Devil May Cry: 38 million units
- Dead Rising: 19 million units
- Ace Attornes: 14 million units
- Dragon's Dogma: 13 million units
- Marvel vs. Capcom: 12 million units
- Onimusha: 9 million units
- Okami: 4.8 million units

Resident Evil Requiem Leon Kennedy became a “hot uncle” thanks to hawk-eyed female Capcom staff who reviewed “even the finest wrinkles on his neck,”

Leon Kennedy's "hot uncle" (ikeoji) redesign in *Resident Evil Requiem* was the result of meticulous internal review at Capcom—especially by female staff—balancing detailed visual aging with a carefully redefined veteran personality that respects his long series history.

Summary
- His new, aged-up appearance was unveiled at The Game Awards 2025 and quickly drew strong fan reactions.
- Japanese fans coined the nickname "ikeoji" (イケおじ), meaning an attractive middle-aged or older man, often translated by fans as "hot uncle."
- In an interview with AUTOMATON, director Koshi Nakanishi explained that Leon's new look required extensive refinement over a long period.
- Female development staff at Capcom played a particularly strict and influential role in reviewing Leon's visuals.
- According to Nakanishi, they scrutinized extremely fine details, including subtle wrinkles such as those on Leon's neck.
- Leon is a popular character internally at Capcom, which led to strong opinions and careful attention during the design process.
- Nakanishi noted that the visual refinement aimed to create a version of Leon that would emotionally resonate with players.
- Beyond visuals, the development team debated Leon's personality even more intensely.
- As a long-time veteran in the game's universe, Leon has experienced decades of horror, making overt fear or surprise feel out of character.
- Staff members frequently challenged character behavior, citing their own interpretations of Leon's roughly 30-year in-universe history.
- Discussions focused on how Leon should realistically react to situations given his experience compared to newer characters like Grace.