Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is one for the sea-sickos.
The Yakuza/Like a Dragon sequence has been telling interlocking tales with overlapping characters over the course of 11 core video games now and with extra anticipated sooner or later. Whereas this may be a good way to maintain an viewers engaged, it additionally inevitably turns the whole factor into an more and more impenetrable behemoth.
It’s one thing we’ve been seeing the Marvel Cinematic Universe lumber via for years, (which is very ironic provided that this similar drawback plagued Marvel comics for generations earlier than it).
I’m a fan of the sequence however form of an informal one. I’ve accomplished about half of the mainline video games however nonetheless have but to seek out the time for Yakuza 4, 5 and 6. 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon was positioned and pushed as a recent on-ramp for the sequence however its 2024 sequel veered frustratingly exhausting into its legacy. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s story is mostly a coda to Infinite Wealth, and a bit much less on to the Kiryu/Majima saga which sprawls throughout the whole property too.
I had an absolute blast with its gleefully foolish pirate shenanigans, however only a few of its narrative beats will land with a lot influence until you’re well-versed in what got here earlier than it. The sport being a chaser to final yr’s juggernaut entry is not at all a foul factor, simply know stepping into that that’s what you’re in for.
Say his identify and he seems, I consider in Goro Majima
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s journey begins with the franchise’s beloved antagonist Goro Majima in full pirate regalia, staring down the barrel of the digital camera and telling the story of how he washed up on an island with amnesia. It’s a story framework which I really like, however that few video video games use, and it fits the character of Majima completely. He’s then rescued by a younger boy named Noah and a cat, coincidentally additionally named Goro, and shortly finds himself the captain of an old-timey pirate ship.
Whereas video games within the Yakuza/LAD sequence have a tendency to make use of a brilliant critical story because the pillar upon which to hold a great deal of supremely wacky side-content, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii blends these energies collectively rather more centrally. There are many good dramatic beats all through the journey however the conditions they stem from are all the time utterly absurd. It really works splendidly although, because of the conceit of it being a yarn spun by a personality who has existed in that particular space of tonal drift for thus lengthy.
I genuinely saved eager about Thor: Ragnarok as I performed via it – a intentionally goofier entry in a sprawling franchise, with a narrative that features properly sufficient in itself, however most of its key beats actually rely on viewers data of the bigger franchise to which it belongs.
The seven (square-mile) seas
I already mentioned Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s land and sea fight techniques in addition to the seafaring system’s construction in my preview final month. I received’t waste phrases repeating particulars right here, besides to say that the 2 melee stances are good enjoyable, and I did get on loads higher with the very arcade-y crusing and ship battles than I did throughout the preview occasion.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a a lot smaller sport than Infinite Wealth, and whereas Dragon Kart, Aloha Hyperlinks, Kamulop Fortunes, Picture Rally, Loopy Supply and different diversions return, I’m completely high quality with the massively complicated Animal Crossing-like Dondoko Island and Pokémon-like Sujimon options being lower. Frankly, I believe their return would’ve made the entire sport roll like an egg anyway.
It’s a goddamn delight seeing a lot of Infinite Wealth’s sidequest characters return although. It’s additionally hilarious discovering out what number of of them both beforehand lived as pirates, or have lengthy dreamed of changing into one.
I solely dabbled in lots of the non-core or non-new options that Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii gives, however it’s a testomony to how rattling satisfying I discovered the entire sport to be that I’m itching to return and totally clear via them as soon as my schedule frees up a little bit.
Flotsam and jet-engine-sam
Whereas I am keen on RGG Studio’s video games deeply, there are two main high quality of life options that I’m dying to see them implement. Firstly, it’s absurd when any sport with this a lot dialogue gives no approach to scroll up and reread something you’ll have missed. Secondly, the lengthy, multi-phase boss fights want to begin that includes checkpoints all through them. A badass transitional motion cutscene is enjoyable to look at the primary time, however it grows tiresome on the third or fourth.
Outdoors of that, I actually don’t have any actual unfavorable criticism to throw at Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. (Nicely, past the disappointing revelation that Samoa Joe shouldn’t be an excellent voice actor and subsequent realisation that the producers of Twisted Steel have been in all probability proper to dub him over anyway.)
The staff at RGG Studio proceed to be absolutely the leaders in constructing sensibly scoped video video games. They show time and time once more that there’s completely no must reinvent the wheel, as long as you’re delivering one thing compelling and enjoyable.
If Yakuza/LAD is the MCU of video video games, then Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is its Thor: Ragnarok. It’s an enjoyably breezy romp that opens the property up in a enjoyable new route, however that nonetheless feels shackled to what got here earlier than.
4-and-a-half stars: ★★★★½
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Writer: Sega
Launch Date: 21 February 2025
A PC code for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was offered by the writer for the needs of this evaluation.
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By Jam Walker 19 February 2025
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