Chapter 8 is essentially one long, tense infiltration mission, which culminates in a major one-on-one boss fight. Stock up on healing items—this is where the game starts hitting harder!
Part 1: Setting the Trap
Back to New Serena: The chapter starts with a cutscene inside New Serena.
Preparations: You now have full freedom to move around Kamurocho. Make sure your stats are boosted and you have maximum healing items (e.g., Staminan Royale, Tauriner).
Initiate the Mission: When you are fully prepared, talk to Shun Akiyama inside New Serena and confirm that you're ready for the night.
Meeting Someya: A cutscene will trigger, and you'll find yourself back on the streets with Takumi Someya following you.
Part 2: Infiltration of the Building Ruins
The pink dot will lead you to a building ruin near Little Asia, a known base for the Saio Triad.
Gaining Entry: Head to the building entrance marked on your map. Kiryu and Someya will bust the door open, leading to a large brawl.
The Sledgehammer Path: The path forward is linear but blocked by piles of rubble and debris.
Find a Sledgehammer: Locate a sledgehammer (usually near a pile of wooden crates).
Smash the Rubble: Use the sledgehammer to smash through the debris that blocks your path. You may need to grab a new hammer if yours breaks.
The Sniper (Hangman): As you proceed, a rival gang member named Hangman may appear on a scaffold, throwing concrete blocks at you. You can try to fight him by intentionally getting hit and triggering a fight, but it's often best to keep moving and avoid him for now, as you'll face him later.
Mini-Boss: Yoneyama: You'll enter a room with several minions and one powerful enemy with a boss-style health bar named Yoneyama. This is a warm-up fight—use your Heat Actions to quickly dispatch him and the other thugs.
Finding the Gap: Continue following the path, and look for a small gap between some crates and the wall. You may need to drop any weapon you are holding (press Down on the D-pad) to squeeze through the tight space.
Part 3: Showdown with the Hangman
Following the path will lead you to another area where you'll be confronted by Hangman and his crew.
🔪 Mini-Boss Fight: Hangman
Hangman is a very tough, fast opponent who hits like a truck and blocks frequently.
Strategy: Your key advantage is Someya is with you.
Use Weapons: Run to the side and immediately grab a weapon (chairs, pipes, etc.) and use it on him. Weapons bypass his block and deal significant damage.
Exploit Distraction: Let Hangman focus his attacks on Someya. When he does, attack him from the side or behind with a quick combo. Do not overcommit to heavy attacks, as he will recover quickly.
Extreme Heat: Hangman has a relatively low total health pool. Pop your Extreme Heat Mode and immediately unleash a Heat Rush combo for massive, unblockable damage to take out a huge chunk of his HP. Be ready to heal immediately after the combo finishes.
After defeating Hangman, proceed through the newly opened path to a door, triggering a cutscene and the final fight of the chapter.
Part 4: Chapter Boss Fight
🥋 Boss Fight: Takumi Someya
Someya is a classic Yakuza-style boss—fast, deadly, and a master of counter-attacks. He is very challenging.
Avoid Grabs: Someya can easily break your guard and counter your grabs. Stick to striking.
Weaponize the Room: Like the previous chapter, use the environment! There are bottles and tables around the room. Use them to open up Someya and deal early damage.
Parry and Counter: Someya will often try to trade blows. Wait for him to attack and use your Quickstep/Dodge to circle him, or time a perfect Parry to stun him.
If you manage to stun him (white stars around his head), unleash a quick combo or your most powerful Heat Action.
Extreme Heat Mode: Save your Extreme Heat for when he is actively engaged in a combo animation, or immediately after he misses a heavy attack. It's an excellent way to guarantee significant damage.
Someya's Stun Lock (Advanced): If you can parry one of his punches, he may enter a brief stunned state. You can try to hold the left stick towards him and repeatedly tap the Triangle button to knee/kick him repeatedly. This can sometimes break his block and stun-lock him for a few extra hits.
Defeating Someya completes Chapter 8.
📱 Sub Story 22: The Temptation of Live Chat
This substory is quick to complete and unlocks the Live Chat minigame, a source of experience and a PSN Trophy.
| Detail | Information |
| Location | Southwest street corner of Theater Square, Kamurocho (near Wette Kitchen). |
| Availability | Can be started after Chapter 1, but often appears once you return to Kamurocho in later chapters. |
| Reward | Unlocks the Live Chat minigame and provides Experience. |
Step-by-Step Guide
Trigger the Substory: Walk to the southwest corner of Theater Square (across the street from Club SEGA and near Wette Kitchen). You will witness a couple arguing about online messaging.
Speak to the Man: After the argument, approach the man and talk to him. He will explain what a "chat room" is, and Kiryu will, predictably, be confused but intrigued.
Go to the Internet Café: The man will suggest checking out the new trend at a local internet café. A blue speech bubble icon will appear on your map, pointing to the Mantai Internet Café in Theater Square.
Complete the Substory: Head into the café, go to the counter, and speak with the man inside. Kiryu will ask about the "live chat" and get set up on a computer. This initiates a short cutscene and completes the substory.
🎮 The Live Chat Minigame
Completing the substory unlocks the minigame permanently at all internet cafés in Kamurocho. The minigame is a Simon-says style button prompt game:
You must successfully enter the button sequence displayed on the screen to type a message to the girl.
Successfully entering the sequence increases the Heart Gauge. If the gauge passes the marker at the end of the video clip, the video continues and you see more.
Successfully completing one full conversation with each of the two girls (Anri and Yua) will earn you a Trophy.