By Co-op modifications are immensely popular at the moment, partly due to that FromSoft modder who has incorporated seamless multiplayer into various titles ranging from Elden Ring to Sekiro and even Dark Souls Remastered. And now, fans of Yakuza can enjoy a similar experience.
The Intertwined Fates modification for Yakuza 5 allows you to experience nearly the entire game in cooperation or with an AI-driven partner. Naturally, throughout most of this criminal escapade, protagonist Kazuma Kiryu stands entirely alone. Thus, modder Jhrino placed everyone’s beloved character Ichiban Kasuga into scenes where he typically doesn’t fit.
This doesn’t quite adhere to canon, since Ichiban, the main character from the seventh and eighth entries in the Like a Dragon series, isn’t even present in Yakuza 5. However, that’s part of the charm of modding, right?
The only scenario where the mod becomes less effective with an AI-operated Ichiban is during free-roaming. Apart from that, dance competitions with Haruka are now fully accessible in co-op mode, along with hunting, the taxi minigame, and idol contests. It wouldn’t feel like functional Yakuza co-op if the minigames weren’t also available to enjoy with a companion, would it?
Ichiban possesses his distinct moveset and even makes appearances in cutscenes. However, if you find his quiet demeanor in the backdrop of the narrative to be distracting, you can easily remove him by following the guidelines on the NexusMods site. There’s even a setting that lets you include him in cutscenes without affecting gameplay, should you prefer that. While the mod is primarily created for a local co-op experience, some software indicated on the site allows online play as well.