10 Video Game Companions So Strong You're Just Getting In The Way
6. Kazuma Kiryu - Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Not unlike Metal Gear Solid 2, Yakuza: Like A Dragon introduces characters to a new protagonist - though does so without lying about it - and uses the narrative to draw comparisons between them and the series' O.G. hero.
Like a Dragon revolves around low-ranking criminal Ichiban Kasuga, who the game categorically points out is not in any way, shape, or form the utter one-man bulldozer that is original protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. And that's the point.
In fact, the game even features a gloriously fan-serving boss fight against Kiryu, which concludes with Kiryu damn-near punching Ichiban into the shadow realm and confirming beyond any doubt that our new hero can't even hold the the Dragon of Dojima's jockstrap.
Hell, you can even argue that the infamous late-game difficulty spike is the ultimate meta-narrative commentary on Ichiban's inferiority. Kiryu would've beasted his way through that nonsense without breaking a sweat - probably.