It’s been a little over a year since Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and SEGA left us stunned with the announcement of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, a game that would once again put us in the shoes of Kazuma Kiryu, the protagonist of practically the entire Yakuza series (now globally renamed as “Like a Dragon”). Beware, there might be some spoilers ahead.
The Dragon of Dojima surprised us all by “coming back from the dead” in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, a turning point in the Yakuza series that introduced us to a new cast of characters led by Ichiban Kasuga, as well as a new combat system, shifting away from the classic beat’em’up to become a JRPG inspired by classics like Dragon Quest.
While Yakuza: Like a Dragon provided some small details about what happened to Kiryu since then, almost everything else remained a mystery. Until now. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is set to release in a few days, but the press has already had the chance to play it and share their reviews. Is it a good game?
The quick answer is: yes, Like a Dragon Gaiden has turned out well, as indicated by the media outlets. As a fan of the series, I was relieved when I read the reviews from Spanish outlets like Eurogamer, MeriStation, and 3DJuegos, which talked about the ambitious nature of a game developed in just 6 months. Yes, a “Yakuza” game developed in half a year, you read that right.
The specialized critics unanimously agree that Like a Dragon Gaiden is a short game, as one might expect given its development time. However, it is just as enjoyable as the previous games in the Yakuza series. True to form, it delivers a plot loaded with drama (and plenty of tear-jerking moments) along with numerous side activities and minigames to keep players engaged.
Moreover, Kiryu’s return as the protagonist also means a return to the classic beat’em’up system, albeit with significant improvements, thanks to the new agent combat style. With this mode, players have access to various gadgets for combat, such as a lasso to immobilize enemies, explosive cigarettes, and drones. Yes, drones.
If you want to find out what happened to Kiryu after the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and get a taste of what’s to come in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, you’ll have to get your hands on this new installment starting from November 9th. The wait will be short, but it will feel incredibly long.
