Figured I'd try to get a general discussion thread going on this comm. If there's interest I'll make a new thread every now and then.
I've been going through the Ratchet and Clank series on PS2 and am just starting up Going Commando. Emulating everything on PCSX2 (ask me about emulation for anything ever and I'll be glad to help you) which has been a really great experience so far. This franchise has lots of nostalgia for me and represents the best of the PS2-era platformers (although I did love both Sly and Jak). I think the reason I've always like the R&C series more than Jak is that the weapons were more creative/fun to use than those in Jak 2 onwards.
I'm thinking about trying out the System Shock Remake this weekend but never played the original. I'm aware it's a much older design-style of game but it looks like something I could really enjoy.
Haven't played LAD7 yet but I'm glad to hear they've worked through some of the writing issues from earlier games. I do like how the games often have a sympathetic portrayal of stuff like poverty, losing family, or adapting to new environments. I also like the constant messages of how you should be nice to kids.
I'm pretty sure Japanese media standards are stricter than you'd see in North America, yeah. There are state censors in Japan, and most pieces of media need a license to have a mainstream release from what I know. There are various laws concerning games/movies that would glorify crime or actions against the government. For instance, you'll notice you never actually fight a police officer in the Yakuza games. I'm pretty sure that's why there are so many lines about that Saejima's prison island in 4 being illegitimate or not connected to the government. Sega didn't want to risk glorifying a prison breakout and getting censored or denied release.
Maybe this is part of why the games have an easier time portraying the rival gangs as more malicious? I don't know.
Interesting detail about the state censors in Japan, but not all that surprising. I'm reminded of when I recently watched Kurosawa's Drunken Angel, which was made in 1948 and takes place in a bombed out Japanese town and was subject to the censorship of the American occupation.
During the final long battle of Judgment, you fight a shitload of cops. No twists, just straight up cops. And it fucking rocks. Aside from that, I think your theory probably holds water.
Which kinda sucks, as the infamous plot twist from that game throws away his arc of
spoiler
"I'm a murderer and I fucking regret it". The Colosseum speech to the bloodthirsty crowd he gives is one of my favorite moments from the series.