It really is just a Yakuza/LaD game but as Samurai, peak fiction.
The gameplay has its share of issues in my opinion, the grind for completion is needlessly long, and gunman style is not fun but also simply overpowered for anything other than bosses. Swordsman and Wild Dancer styles are fun though, and brawler kinda just exists cause it's part of the DNA of LaD.

Fun game, would recommend for Yakuza/LaD fans.

History teacher: It's time to learn the Edo Period in Japan!
me: YAAAWN! BOOOORIIIING!!!!
Kazuma Kiryu: Do you want to learn the legendary tale of Sakamoto Ryoma and the transition into the Meiji Restoration?
me: SIR YES SIR 🫡

I am disappointed. The game starts on a high note, but it quickly falls on its face and finishes on a low one.

Setting: Perfect for Bakumatsu samurai fans.
Story: Mediocre.
Combat system: Poor.
Side activity: Interesting.

john yakuza

The battle system is based, remember to change ryoma's head to the funny chicken head
Well, in my opinion, the bare hand fighting system at the start is worse than other yakuza version, I recommend before upgrading it to a certain level, just use other fighting style or it would be painful. (I actually just uses other style, only use the bare hand after i finish the game just for the achievement.)

Fun way to learn part of the history of japan. ( MEIJI RESTORATION )

It's amazing to finally be able to play this game! Overall it was incredible starting with:

Story: Not a really big surprise as a RGG studio fan they've always delivered amazingly written stories. This one is no exception. This game has a ton of heart and I would give the story a 9/10 (minus 1 point because it kind of drags along in a couple of spots imo)

World: The map is really fun to navigate and they put a lot of attention and detail into the world to make you feel like you're in the end of the Edo period. I really enjoyed navigating the map, it has very distinct areas. 7.8/10

Combat: I think the combat was acceptable, it by no means is perfect but I did enjoy it quite a bit, being able to switch between 4 styles on the fly was really nice but i ended up spamming the special whenever I could get a boss against a wall. 6.5/10

Gameplay: Here's where the grinding begins... I made the mistake of trying to 100% this game, and I made it early on unfortunetly... I was really hurting myself by not progressing in the story before trying to level up because new skills would unlock that would make all that grinding a bit easier. But the game asks you to grind a lot. Most of the side content feels like grinding too, they're really funny/cute stories but they're damaged by their nature... you see a character, interact with him, he does something funny... you wander away then see him again, do the exact same thing again, he does the same funny thing again 6 or 7 times until you've raised his little love meter high enough for him to end your suffering. I honestly think if these were reworked this game would have been much better.. in the end it just feels like it's trying to squeeze more time out of you. 4/10

Mini games: Par for the course, they're what you'd expect 7/10

I'm going away from this game a bit burnt out. I really enjoyed the story and the places but I don't think i'll put another minute into trying to find memoirs or eating at restaurants. I'm happy where the story left off and I'm happy I finally got to experience this game

Overall I would give the game a 8/10 but please please just focus on the story