Who doesn't love a big swing, a bold new direction, especially when so many video game publishers seem increasingly determined to walk the safest route? While Stranger Than Heaven might look familiar at first glance - particularly if you're a fan of Like a Dragon developer RGG's other third-person action games - it differs where it counts. And to my mind, it's one of the most exciting games the studio has worked on in a while.

Stranger Than Heaven tells the story of Makoto Daito, a man of half American and Japanese lineage, as he attempts to make a home for himself in Japan. It's a tale spanning numerous decades as the country evolves - decades you'll experience first-hand as the story unfolds - blending a strong narrative throughline with striking melee combat and touches of silliness too. Its Like a Dragon heritage is clear, but it also feels like so much more.

Three things in particular stood out after a few hours of play: Stranger than Heaven's brilliant approach to fighting, the setting's gradual evolution through the years, and the surprisingly musical heart of it all.

Now, the combat, I suspect, will be divisive. Rather than replicating Like a Dragon's trusty action, Stranger than Heaven assigns your left and right strikes to your controller's triggers and bumpers. Attacks are hefty and weightier than other RGG games, the shift in set-up making each blow reverberate through the gamepad.

There's also a strong emphasis on parrying and dodging, encouraging players to spot the direction of an incoming attack and respond with a manual defensive manoeuvre matching that direction.

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