Yakuza 6 marked the top of protagonist Kazuma Kiryu’s journey, leaving us with a single query: “What now?” For years, gamers had explored Japan with Kiryu, changing into hooked up to the character in addition to the template that his games inhabited. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio may have merely dropped a brand new face in Kamurocho and known as it a day, however that’s not what occurred. In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the studio raised eyebrows by scrapping the normal arcade-brawler fight and changing it with turn-based RPG-inspired battles. And whereas there’s a new face to the motion, he’s accompanied all through his journey in Yokohama with a rotating troupe of like-minded heroes. It’s a pivot that might have resulted in catastrophe. Fortunately, Like a Dragon’s daring gamble pays off, resulting in among the finest entries to this point.
Ichiban Kasuga had some huge slip-on loafers to fill. Kiryu’s stoicism and willpower had been a pure match for the legal underworld he orbited, however his allure and willingness to assist individuals with their issues gained audiences over. Kasuga isn’t any Kiryu, and that’s sort of the purpose. This new hero is impulsive, hotheaded, and a little bit of a goofball. At the start of his journey, Kasuga shares his enthusiasm for the Dragon Quest collection with an underling. He sees himself as a hero, even when his talents don’t initially line up together with his aspirations. Kasuga’s willingness to assist is weaponized towards him, resulting in him taking the autumn (and an 18-year jail sentence) for a homicide.
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We don’t know a lot about Kasuga at first, which finally ends up being some of the refreshing issues that Like a Dragon presents. Without the load of half a dozen or so games and their related histories on his shoulders, Kasuga is a clean slate for this new Yokohama journey. Kasuga definitely has targets and motivations – determining why his father determine within the Tojo Clan betrayed him is chief amongst them – however the truth that he’s such a small determine on this world creates an exhilarating feeling of freedom. This new hero doesn’t have established relationships on this new city, so the primary few hours are stuffed with easy issues like discovering work. What could possibly be a boring slog cleverly leans into the RPG programs that underpin all the expertise.
Like a Dragon isn’t only a superficial tackle RPGs; it holds a satisfying quantity of depth, together with the assorted jobs that characters can take. You start as a bat-swinging hero, however it’s also possible to swap to a number of different roles, similar to a chef, musician, or break dancer. Each position acquires new talents as they’re leveled up, just like the chef utilizing an area-of-effect flambé method or the musician strumming a tune that heals the occasion. The jobs and the general assaults are fairly foolish, which is suitably on model. Changing these jobs is easy, although it requires a fast cease on the employment company – a pleasant reminder that, as goofy because it all might be, it’s grounded in its personal sense of actuality.
I used to be a bit postpone by the turn-based fight at first, however I rapidly warmed as much as it. Returning gamers will discover some acquainted animations, together with some bike-swinging motion when characters come throughout these props within the area. Well-timed button presses grant further injury or mitigate enemy assaults, which helped me keep engaged throughout battles. As Kasuga establishes himself within the city, different characters take part on the motion. That permits for lots extra depth and specialization. I loved having a few bruisers soften up my targets whereas the others centered on debuffing enemies or offering heals when wanted. I particularly liked the Poundmates, that are primarily Like a Dragon’s model of summons. These are supremely silly, and so they typically are rewards for participating within the myriad substories. I gained’t spoil an excessive amount of, however I’ll say that having a gaggle of low-level yakuza thugs attacked by crawfish is among the much less weird choices out there. When you’re appropriately leveled, random battles resolve themselves as rapidly as they might in earlier games, however bigger boss encounters have strategic parts that reward planning and endurance.
There is a big legal conspiracy at play right here – it’s a Yakuza game, in any case – however it doesn’t really feel as needlessly difficult as a few of the intrigue has been within the different entries. Keeping monitor of the vital figures isn’t fairly as overwhelming, almost certainly as a result of Kasuga isn’t aware of plenty of what’s occurring. I liked the way in which the story step by step involves mild, too. Kasuga and his mates be taught a lot about Yokohama’s legal underworld by working varied jobs all through the town; he’s studying in regards to the city and its individuals on the identical time we’re, which is a refreshing strategy.
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It wouldn’t be a Yakuza game with out an abundance of facet actions, and Like a Dragon delivers right here, too. If you’re not having enjoyable with the present process at hand or desire a break from the story, a number of prolonged facet actions or pursuits are round to occupy your time. Yokohama is dwelling to a number of nice diversions, together with a Mario Kart-like Dragon Karting collection, full with racing rivals, powerups, and tiered tournaments. I spent a lot of my time within the oddly participating administration sim, the place you rent individuals to run quite a lot of totally different companies to extend income, after which tackle buyers in board-room battles. It’s related in spirit to the cabaret administration or baseball simming in earlier entries, and it’s a enjoyable option to make some huge cash for upgrades and consumables.
Like a Dragon is a departure from the games that got here earlier than it, however I discovered these modifications to be revitalizing. As a lot as I loved the Yakuza system, it was positively a system. Like a Dragon has sufficient acquainted parts to make it really feel like, at its coronary heart, it’s a Yakuza game. All the whereas, I totally appreciated how a lot of a brand new id this entry is establishing. Here’s hoping this is step one in one more nice journey for the collection.
Score: 9.25
Summary: It’s a brand new course for the collection, however Like a Dragon captures the essence of what got here earlier than whereas setting out by itself journey.
Concept: Shake up the Yakuza system by introducing a brand new protagonist, shifting the motion to Yokohama, and – most notably – shifting from conventional brawling motion to turn-based RPG-style fight.
Graphics: Yokohama is an unlimited and dazzling place to discover, with loads of visible particulars to soak in. Some of its less-prominent residents are likely to look a bit unusual, however the main gamers look nice.
Sound: Battles are juiced by an lively soundtrack, which additionally provides dramatic pressure and intrigue when wanted. Voice appearing continues to impress, whether or not you’re enjoying in English or Japanese.
Playability: You do every part from beating up low-level thugs to operating a profitable enterprise empire throughout your time with Like a Dragon, and the controls are uniformly as much as the problem. Figuring out a few of the programs might be difficult at first, however persistence pay
Entertainment: It’s a brand new course for the collection, however Like a Dragon captures the essence of what got here earlier than whereas setting out by itself journey.
Replay: Moderately excessive
