"Much harder than Yakuza" — impressions of the combat system in Stranger Than Heaven
Not long ago, Tristan Ogilvie of IGN attended the BiliBili Game First Look in Shanghai and got hands-on time with a demo of Stranger Than Heaven — the new prequel from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon line. Back home, he posted his take on how the combat feels up close.
Compared with the usual Yakuza pace, Stranger Than Heaven seems to dial things down: fights feel more measured and weighty. The control scheme is odd enough to stand out — you manipulate the left and right sides of the protagonist separately (i.e., each limb or side responds independently), which makes movement less predictable and lets you thread attacks more surgically through groups of foes. Ogilvie did point out a couple of rough edges in the build he tried, namely enemies sometimes losing focus on the player and heavy weapons failing to land with satisfying oomph.
Expect violent, close-quarters brawls where positioning matters and the system adapts as you do. You’ll move Makoto in a way that tries to sell being in his skin: attack with one side, guard or feint with the other, and react in the moment.
Start light, follow up with a charged swing, push an opponent back, then follow through while they’re off-balance — chains of actions, not just single hits. One hand can hold a block while the other delivers a counter; spotting an opening becomes part of winning. Over time you’ll pick up a varied kit of weapons, from knives and hammers to the odd katana.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
A reminder: Stranger Than Heaven centers on Makoto Daito, the man tied to the early story of the Tojo Clan. The narrative spans about 50 years of his life — five distinct cities, deep involvement in Japan’s criminal underworld, and yes, a parallel arc where he builds a music business (an unusual mix, frankly).
Stranger Than Heaven launches on January 15, 2027 for PC (Steam, Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series (including Game Pass). Russian text localization is available.