'Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii' Spoiler-Free Review
Image Source: IGN
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is not only a mouthful of a title but also the newest game within the Like A Dragon/Yakuza franchise. This is the first game that features Goro Majima as the single protagonist. The game takes the silliness of the Yakuza series to a whole new level, but not in a bad way.
Gameplay
For this game, RGG brought back the brawler style, which a majority of fans prefer to the turn-based combat, which was in the previous two games. Even though Majima lost his memory, his fighting skills are still there. Majima fans are familiar with his signature ‘Mad Dog’ style, which earned him the title of Mad Dog Of Shimano, is back in this game.
It uses quick moves and unleashes flashy combos. In addition to that, there is the new ‘Sea Dog’ Style, which benefits any pirate at sea. Majima can wield a pair of cutlasses and up to three sidearms. It enables him to hack and slash his way through enemies and also fall back and use a sidearm if the fight gets too tough. Those who have played the Yakuza games will have no issues when it comes to this fighting style. Even though it’s been improved, it’s still familiar. Ship battles also occur while traveling on the ocean.
Graphics
The game is visually gorgeous. It’s hard to compare it to some of the older games, as those games are much older. Each game in the franchise looks better and better.
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Story
The game follows Goro Majima, the ex-Patriarch of the Majima Family, a Tojo Clan Subsidiary, who washes up on Rich Island. Majima has no idea how he washed up on the shore, or even who he is. He is suffering from a classic case of amnesia. Luckily, a local boy, Noah Rich, finds him and helps him. He brings him home, much to his father’s displeasure. They figure out that Majima must be a Yakuza from the local Nele Island, which was a big part of the previous game, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth. To find out what happened, Majima must find passage off the island and head over to Nele Island to find some answers. Along the way, Majima acquires a pirate ship and becomes its Captain. He names it after Goro, the tiger, with whom he shares a name, even if he doesn't know it. He’s on a quest to get his memory back and to find out what happened to him.
Pros And Cons
Yakuza fans are always prepared for long cutscenes and long games. This installment is a bit different, as it clocks in at about 40 hours. That's not a bad thing, and it makes sense, considering it’s a spin-off. It’s nice playing as Majima again, considering it's been a while since we got to play as him. The minigames are fun, and it's great they got to utilize the map of Hawaii again. The characters Majima meets on his journey are wonderful, especially Noah. The soundtrack is absolutely spectacular. This game is super silly, yet definitely worth it for a Yakuza fan.
Image Source: Backdash
Verdict
Majima has never been my favorite Yakuza character, but this game made me grow to love him. He’s silly and crazy, but will do anything to protect the ones he loves and cares for. It is a must-play for any fan of the series. I would recommend playing at least the previous games before jumping into this one, as this game spoils major events of the previous game. Hopefully, with the success of this, we will get more Gaiden-type games in the future. Akiyama spin-off anyone?
Ranking: 8.5/10
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Publisher: Sega, Player: Single-player, Release: February 21st, 2025, Platform: Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows, ESRB: M, Price: $59.99
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is now available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Windows.
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