The story of an aging yakuza
Sometimes, just a few screenshots or a GIF alone can make you stop and say “dang, I need to check this out.” I feel like I’ve done that a dozen times with developer Yeo’s previous games,The Friends of Ringo IshikawaandArrest of a Stone Buddha, and now, I’ll be doing it all over again withFading Afternoon.
Yeorecently announcedtheir next game,Fading Afternoon, with a brand-new trailer. While it’s currently aiming to launch for PC sometime in 2022, the trailer alone sets the mood pretty well.
Rather than playing as a school delinquent or a professional hitman,Fading Afternoonis about Seiji Maruyama, a middle-aged yakuza recently released from jail. Known as “Gozuki,” Maruyama has some prestige, but he’s also not getting any younger.
According to theSteamlisting forFading Afternoon, it will have multiple endings, a city to explore, and mini-games to play, as well as the beat ’em up action you’re probably expecting. There’s also just a look to these games that Yeo has been gradually honing; the gorgeous backdrops and sprites reminiscent ofRiver City Ransomis a style that always manages to catch my eye.
I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes once 2022 rolls around. In the meantime, I think I might finally put some time intoRingo Ishikawa.
