Yep.Western media has always labeled the Yakuza franchise as the Japanese GTA which is the most inaccurate thing to say bout the Yakuza games. Lol. Yakuza games prior to Like a Dragon 7 were action RPG with old school beat em combat. There are also lots of cutscenes and text reading. Sega considered Yakuza to be a spiritual successor to Shemue. Like a Dragon: Gaiden won't be turn based so it will have the action melee combat. Yakuza games are an acquired taste I will say cause these games are very Japanese.
I always prefered the more realistic combat of Shen Mue but yeah its more a spirtual successor to Shen Mue rather than Japanese GTA