The Tojo Clan….
Opening not just the trailer but the showcase as a whole with those 3 words washed away the worry I had for Stranger Than Heaven. Stranger Than Heaven was announced at the Game Awards in 2024 under the working name Project Century. Its name was officially revealed only 6 months later in June 2025. Stranger Than Heaven is looking like it’s going to be RGG’s biggest and most ambitious game yet. From 5 set pieces in 5 different time periods, to the new combat features, Stranger Than Heaven is going to be no stranger when it comes to style and substance. I don’t just mean that because of drip all of the characters have going on.
Much Ado about snoop
Getting past the opening segment of the trailer, though, that’s when things take a wild turn. The music starts off with a few gentle piano chords as the camera pans down to a ship carrying not just the two main characters, Makoto and Yu, but Snoop Dogg! I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t been the biggest fan of the “western” guests in RGG’s recent games. Specifically, Danny Trejo and Samoan Joe and this was another case of that. My negative feelings on it were completely dashed soon after, though, as the rest of the trailer played out.
Playing as Makoto, a Hafu man going to Japan to find a better life for himself. We follow him not just becoming the “King Of Sotenbori” but also creating the Tojo Clan. RGG had me sold before the showcase even got to the gameplay/combat mechanics. I get the feeling that Yu and Makoto are going to share a similar relationship to that of Kiryu and Nishiki. Maybe ending with Makoto starting the Tojo clan and Yu starting the Omi Alliance.
Heaven shows its claws
Going into the show, I was expecting the combat to be similar to LAD Gaiden, just far more grounded. Especially when compared to what was previously shown. To my surprise, though, they’ve gone completely rogue with each limb being controlled by a different button. Similar to the combat mechanics in fighting games. It’s not just the combat they’re mixing up, though, far from it. Stranger Than Heaven isn’t going to have multiple dubs, rather just one audio track with subtitles where needed. Something that I personally think should have been done for Infinite Wealth and Pirate Yakuza.
Stranger sounds lead to stranger compositions
One thing I love about the Stranger Than Heaven trailer and showcase is that there is a heavy emphasis on music and composition. Starting off with what could be one of RGG’s best theme songs, the main theme that plays through the trailer. This is where the trailer shines, and the guest stars quickly make sense. Starting off with some gentle piano chords and vocals by Tori Kelly, we quickly evolve into a 90’s rap vibe with a bit of a “swing” by Ado.
For the main part of the song, it switches between Tori and Ado singing in English and Japanese, respectively. Mirroring not just RGG’s new outlook on language barriers, but the story as well. A bit into the song, though, we have Snoop join in to really ramp up the old school vibe.
Not only is the main theme one of their best, but during the trailer, we’re shown Makoto clicking his fingers as a train goes by, hinting at using the world around him for music. Similar to Miles in Spider-Man. In the showcase itself, though, we’re told and shown why. A new cabaret mini-game, similar to those found in Kiwami 1 and 2. This one seems to have more of an emphasis on putting on a good show rather than managing customers and servers/hostesses. Between the song and what we’ve seen in the trailer and showcase, I will admit I am almost more excited for the music than the story. Almost.
Stranger no more, someday.
My only real issue with the game, on the other hand, is that it looks TOO DAMN GOOD. I know Like A Dragon and Infinite Wealth brought Yakuza as a whole to a new, wider audience, but I think that Stranger Than Heaven is the game that’s going to make RGG a lot more popular. I can see it being what The Witcher 3 was to CDPR, or TLOU was to Naughty Dog, and that’s not my bias talking. The setting, the gameplay, the fact it’s on Gamepass day one? I’ll be surprised if it came out to no fanfare at all.
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