The Yakuza series is a treasure trove of the strange and spectacular, bursting with fascinating mainline entries and a variety of historical spinoffs, prequels, and side tales. It genuinely has a bit of everything for everyone. Whether you’re in search of the latest chapter in the ever-popular Like a Dragon saga or you crave a game that’s off the beaten path, our latest experience with Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii indicates that it’s shaping up to be yet another standout addition that could easily capture your attention for countless hours.
Since Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag made waves back in 2013, I’ve been on the hunt for a pirate adventure worthy of my time. There have been a few decent contenders since, but none really grabbed me until I got my hands on Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. On paper, pirates and Yakuza sound like an odd mix, akin to pairing oil with water. But once you delve into it, you’ll find that the unique world of Like a Dragon, combined with its quirky protagonist and light-hearted approach, creates a surprisingly entertaining and competent pirate escapade.
Stepping into the shoes of the beloved Goro Majima, who finds himself amnesiac and stranded on a Hawaiian island, the game cranks the series’ trademark eccentricity to eleven. During my hands-on session, I navigated battles against roving pirate gangs alongside a small tiger companion, assembled a crew of eclectic characters, and engaged in an array of enjoyable minigames. From a home-run derby to karaoke, and braving the high seas—complete with ship combat and treacherous weather—there’s a smorgasbord of activities to dive into.
Island Time
While previewing the game, I spent a considerable amount of time in Madlantis, a pirate-infested city that’s home to some truly peculiar individuals, even by Yakuza standards. The city offered heaps of distractions like arcade claw machines, classics from SEGA like Virtua Fighter, and the Pirates’ Coliseum—a hub for ship-based duels against unique pirate crews and combat-themed minigames.
Combat in the mainline experience shifts back to a more traditional beat-’em-up style, diverging from the JRPG turn-based system seen in previous Like a Dragon titles. Majima boasts two fighting styles: Mad Dog and Sea Dog. Each style, while grounded in the familiar mix of heavy and light attacks, offers a different gameplay experience. I often switched between them for strategic advantage and to inflict maximum damage. Mad Dog mode sees Majima in his iconic garb, executing quick combos to dispatch foes efficiently. Sea Dog, conversely, outfits him in pirate gear and utilizes themed weaponry like dual cutlasses, a pistol, and a grappling hook. Though both were enjoyable, I found myself gravitating towards Sea Dog for its diverse arsenal. Nevertheless, laying the smackdown on rival pirates was a blast.
While combat is engaging, it does have its quirks. Adapting to blocking and dodging takes practice, and enemy difficulty can swing from being simple to downright tough, leading to more game over screens than one might anticipate in a Yakuza game. Yet, mastering the art of switching fighting styles and leveraging all abilities transforms combat into a gratifying experience.
Set Sail
Naval combat makes a captivating debut in the Like a Dragon series. Unlike other games that overcomplicate the mechanics, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii opts for a streamlined approach in its oceanic battles. My ship came equipped with several offensive options: from short-range flamethrowers on one side to long-range cannons on the other. Alongside these, forward-facing machine guns became my go-to weapons in ship engagements. Alternatively, Majima’s rocket launcher, while less potent, added a thrilling dynamic as I dashed around the deck pot-shotting adversaries. No matter the method, navigating my ship and sinking enemies became an exhilarating endeavor.
All things considered, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is poised not just to uphold the high expectations of the Like a Dragon series, but it also presents a promising contender in the realm of pirate games since Black Flag. With its inventive combat, seamless ship battles, and delightfully wacky world, you might want to pack your Hawaiian shirt for this adventure.
