The Yakuza series is a phenomenal set of games that are rich in storytelling and humor. The characters have always been interesting, and there is so much to do in every game. Yakuza Like A Dragon has the same amount of stuff to do but changes one key aspect, and that is the combat. Yakuza Like a Dragon is an RPG, and it leans heavily on that and is quite similar to Dragon Quest. The Dragon Quest elements flow nicely throughout the game. From the musical flourishes to the names of the monsters, and even the combat. This game is filled with nods to so many amazing JRPG’s, and they never seem out of place. This game is a new start for the series in a lot of ways, and breathing this fresh life into it works.
Yakuza Like A Dragon tells the tale of a new hero, Ichiban Kasuga. Kasuga is a new character who is also part of the Yakuza online game. But, he’s now the main character of his own game, and he has a lot of gusto. At the start of the game, he’s thrown in jail and ends up staying there for nearly 20 years, nicely setting the game in the year 2019. He goes to help out the family under the orders of his boss, and he’s proud to help him out. When he finally leaves jail, the world is nothing like he knows it.
The characters in Yakuza Like A Dragon are fantastic they are all so lifelike that the drama that ensues is made all the more vivid. Nanba becomes Kasuga’s best pal and is smart yet ready to do whatever he must for a quick buck. Adachi is a hard-boiled cop, so close to his retirement day. They are joined by numerous other characters that help weave a tapestry of intrigue that is Yakuza Like A Dragon . After making a few friends and having quite the reunion with his former boss, Kasuga finds a weapon. Seeing as he’s the only one who can pull it from the ground, he deems it to be the hero’s weapon. That’s when things start to change. The fights up to this point are turn-based, but now the enemies change. The enemies themselves all have wacky names similar in tone to Dragon Quest.
The battles themselves are turn-based but do have action elements, a staple of the Yakuza series. Players will select an attack, and the character will charge in ready to battle. Regular attacks can lead to enemies knocking the character back if they are in the way, so choose wisely. It adds a nice layer to combat and is a solid Yakuza move. Players will run into battles and use all sorts of moves. These moves can either come with an action command or won’t at all. Some will require the player to mash a button, and the other will have them press a button at a certain time. Players can also press a button to guard the attack and take less damage from it. The battles might not be like they’ve been, but there are still all of the charms from the older games battle system.
It’s thrilling to run into a battle and see what title the enemies get. Early on, players will, for instance, run into enemies like Berserkers, who are drunk men with an umbrella for a weapon, and a tie around their head. There are a large variety of enemies in this game, and they often are quite imaginative. Crafting all of these enemies and their titles must have taken time, and it shows. The characters again are so lively. The party members, which becomes a running gag in the story, become close to the others. They have little chats as they pass by different areas. Players can listen in to learn more about the characters. They have so many thoughts, and it’s nice to hear them speak their mind.
One of the new additions to this series is the drink link system. Going to a certain bar, Kasuga can have a drink with his party members. After leveling up their friendship he can learn more about them. It’s a nice way to delve into each character separately even though it feels like the social link system from Persona. Players will take on several side stories as the game progresses. These stories might take a few in-game days to wrap up, but they always give Kasuga a good reward and tell a nice story too. Players will want to find and complete these because they do make Kasuga a bigger hero. He’s so willing to help anyone, and it’s touching, seeing as he did get out of jail.
There are numerous foods for the players to eat in the game. Players will often heal from a magical fridge of energy drinks which is free. But, they can also head to numerous restaurants. It’s always fun seeing the menus, and hearing different discussions when players mix and match foods. They will even gain bonuses depending on the matches, so take time and mix it up. The game also has a ton of wacky summons, and Ichiban will gain access to more and more summons, as the story progresses. The summons can be called upon in battle in an over the top summoning sequence. Calling them can yield many results; all he needs is money, and he can use them as he likes. It adds another layer to the combat, and it is a treat watching their summon sequences.
The game itself is full of mini-games to pass the time. Kasuga can drive through the city in Dragon Kart, which is similar to other racing games. He can sing his heart out in Karaoke, collect cans, take classes, and even play old Sega games. There are loads of other mini-games to discover, and finding them all is a lot of fun. They often hide behind story elements, so players never know when they will find a new activity. Yokohama is also brilliantly shown off in all its glory. In this pandemic, it’s been hard to do much traveling, even going a short distance hasn’t been possible often. Walking around Yokohama has felt like a bit of a vacation. The world is so lively, and seeing this place has been a treat. Of course, I’ve never been there, but the series is known for being good with matching real-world places.
The city of Yokohama is a bustling one, and players will see numerous characters walking to and fro. It’s often hard to not run through the city brushing past people and having them get offended by it. During story quests, they will often walk into view, see something is going on, and turn around. It doesn’t cease to be funny, at least in my humble opinion. The Yakuza series hasn’t been dubbed in English since the first release years ago, but this game changes that. There is something so magical about having this series dubbed in English. I’ve been a fan for a little while, but having it in English makes it easier for me to enjoy it. There is often so much text, and sometimes when I’m playing a game, I want to enjoy it, not read a novel.
If the player has been interested in the franchise, they should start from the beginning, but players can also start here. This story is a fresh one with new characters, and players don’t need to know about the older ones. While it might be helpful this game does a good job, setting itself up to be in a different continuity.
Yakuza Like a Dragon is a fantastic game and one that shows off a new style for the series. I’ve been enjoying this game quite a lot, and I’m hopeful we get more like it. It would be great to see another Yakuza game dubbed, and maybe this could lead to them dubbing the older games. There is something about this game that says it’s a new beginning, and I think it’s a great time for a newer player to start playing. Ichiban has quite the quest, will the player help him become like a dragon?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided