It’s time, once again, to put down the controller and pick up the needles. I’m 10 hours into Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and I’ve already knit an entire hat, because approximately 75 percent of that time has been spent watching cutscenes. Don’t get me wrong, cutscenes are an integral part of modern gaming, but they’re out of control in Yakuza. I started this game to keep my hands busy because I scroll my phone too much, but with all the action I’ve been watching (instead of playing), I’ve had to resort to crafting to distract my idle hands.
Cutscenes haven’t always been a chore. Back in 1997, when Final Fantasy VII came out, the cutscenes were revolutionary. They pulled you into the game rather than making you feel as if it were happening without your input. I still remember the feeling of watching that opening scene, the chills running down my spine as I was trying to…
