Before anyone decides to throw a tomato at my typeface , I have to intromit that I ’ve never play a singleYakuza / Like a Dragon gamein my living . While I ’ve always been intrigued by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio ’s action mechanism - escapade franchise , I did n’t really know where to begin . The simple thought of pop out a series with over a dozen games already released felt like a intimidating task . And so it was with an open mind that I try out the next — and perchance unusual — entry in the series , Like a flying lizard : Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii , during Tokyo Game Show . What a mode to begin , correct ?
As I played the 20 - minute - longsighted demo , I was grinning from pinna to ear . It ’s so joyously preposterous and loaded with hopeful side contentedness that I ’m left wonder why I waited so long to get into the dealership . This may not be the idealistic starting point for newcomer from a narration linear perspective , but it might be the game that lastly gets anyone who ’s been on the fence about commence the series to dive in .
Majima and mayhem
Like a Dragon : Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiistars Goro Majima , the “ Mad Dog of Shimano ” and one of the most iconic characters in the long - be given serial publication . His misadventures have taken him on a unwarranted journeying to the high seas , where a tear with amnesia leads him to believe that he ’s a plagiarizer captain in search of gem . realise him seem on screen for the first fourth dimension in the demo , I could n’t help but be reminded of a rowdy and boisterous uncle who taught me how to booze and smoke when I was 8 years old .
When I get word how he share with a 12 musculus principal on the Hawaiian beachfront , I had to chuckle out loud . Majima ’s moveset consists of tight - paced action that make for frenzied and dynamic combat ( a counter to thetraditional brawling formulaof Yakuza games preceding ) . For his fighting stances , there ’s Mad Dog Style , which rely primarily on slug and dagger stabs , along with evasive maneuvers . Then , there ’s Sea Dog Style , where Majima all of a sudden switches to a lunatic ’s attire , slice foes with a cutlass and blasting them with small-arm .
Both playstyles are complemented by a bevy of additional impression . For instance , evading blows and striking enemies fills up Majima ’s Madness Gauge , which then allow him to spawn spectral doppelgangers . Majima ’s frenzied Sea Dog Style attacks trigger rapid cutscenes where he savagely knife several hostiles . It ’s unbelievably preposterous considering the mount and the downright disparity among battler — a group of thugs against a guy with flaming artillery , explosive cannons , and a grappling hook shot .
I ’ve always bang that Like a Dragon is notable for its minigames , andPirate Yakuza in Hawaiicontinues that clip - honour custom . In the short period of time that I played the demonstration , I was able to try everything from a intellectual nourishment delivery minigame and Dragon Kart , which do its grand restoration here . For the uninitiate , it ’s Like a Dragon ’s ownMario Kart , where you race against several resister around a lead ; the difference of opinion here is that I grab mogul - ups that allowed me to rip apart competitors with simple machine guns and bazookas .
The only minigame that I was n’t able to seek because of time restraint was karaoke . I ’ve been looking onwards to it not just because it ’s been a staple of the series but also because I ’m Filipino . We ’re somewhat much obligated by the constitution to sing whenever a karaoke machine is within a 1 - kilometer radius . I ’ll have to carve out time to belt some air when the game launch next yr .
As I explored the Hawaiian beachfront , I was notified that I had to progress the main quest further . I boarded Majima ’s ship , triggering a cutscene where my group make it at Madlantis , a glittering metropolis that dish up as the next destination in the effort . unluckily , I was n’t capable to research this area further , as this was when my demonstration school term end .
While my time playingLike a firedrake : Yakuza Pirate in Hawaiiwas all too abbreviated , I could n’t help but feel hooklike throughout . Over - the - top moments , combined with action - orient gameplay and an salmagundi of minigames , were correctly up my bowling alley . While I started off with only a go interest in the serial , it ’s good to say that this latest spinoff now has my full attending . I ’m looking forward to what ’s in store onceLike a firedrake : Yakuza Pirate in Hawaiireleases on February 28 , 2025 .
