Yakuza's debut trailer is grim, violent and stylish. It has no karaoke.

I'm not a Yakuza fan, so take my words for what they're worth. But when I think about the series, I think, well, of this:

Not only, but a general perspective on the legendary Japanese criminal syndicate, which doesn't take themselves too seriously. Yes, there is violent crime and the unpleasantness that comes with it, but there's also karaoke and trivia games and good times spent with friends, as well as all-around weirdness.

The live-action Like a Dragon Yakuza series that will be coming to Prime is not light-hearted. Weird? Yes, but in a very dark way. No one in this video looks like they would be willing to take sambuca and sing their favorite Meat Loaf song in front of a group of strangers.

Like a dragon: Yakuza unfolds over two "intersecting time periods," 1995 and 2005, and promises to take you on a journey into the "dark underworld of yakuza." The film explores the universal theme of "family" not only through bloodline, but also through the ties between yakuza leaders and their underlings as well as orphans and the caretakers of those orphans, as well mentors and students.

Here's a blurb from the back of the box: "In 1995 Kiryu, his friends Nishiki Yumi and Miho, eager to escape a restrictive life, plan a heist in a local arcade. The arcade is controlled by the Dojima Family - a powerful yakuza group that rules Kamurocho. They plunge into the yakuza controlled underworld of Kamurocho in 1995. Kiryu will be released from prison in 2005. He learns that his friends are at risk from Detective Date and decides to go back to Kamurocho in order to protect them. Their friendship has deteriorated as tensions between Tojo Clan & Omi Alliance have reached a boiling point.

In the midst of all the drama, the Demons of Shinjuku are slicing up people, a guy gets a faceful of automatic gunfire and at least one car falls from the sky. There's no mention of Guitar Hero-style music games anywhere.

I suppose it makes some sense. A live-action Yakuza show that focuses on Like a Dragon, as we know it, might be too confusing for mainstream audiences. But a dark and stylish retelling Yakuza 1 would be a great fit. This could be a hit. It's more conventional than the highly regarded Fallout Live-action Series, also on Prime. That series successfully balances both the grit of the Fallout games and the humor. But it's also a more conventional subject, at least for those who are unfamiliar with the games. So playing it straight may be the best way to go.

If I were to speak for myself, I would be more inclined to watch a show that played like this:

Yakuza will debut exclusively on Prime on October 24.