Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii on PS5
Each of the mainline entries in the long-running Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise has been received with fervour, and both Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and SEGA know that fans can be insatiable. There is an appetite to see and learn more about this burgeoning universe that the developers have created, and who are they to deny the ones who have helped put the series on the map? Enter Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and the misadventures of fan-favourite Goro Majima.
Similar to Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name, this latest addition isn’t exactly a sequel but functions more as an additive to an already complicated timeline. Following the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, players will return to the sunny islands of Hawaii with an amnesiac Majima, washed up on shore with no recollection of what has previously unfolded.
Having met some friendly locals, including the adorable cat also named Goro, our anti-hero steps into the boots of a would-be pirate in a bid to save these islands from those who want to bring harm to its people. Naturally, while the series has always maintained groundedness, spin-offs such as Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii get to go all out when it comes to the action.
This is evident in the two combat styles of Majima, with the appropriately named Mad Dog and Sea Dog styles paying homage to his past and what appears to be his future. The former should be familiar to everyone who has encountered this underworld character in the past, with speedy knife strikes and lightning-quick blows to bring his enemies to heel. Keep up the pressure, and you can utilise the Madness Gauge and summon a bunch of doppelgangers to not just confuse, but thoroughly squash your opposition.
With the Sea Dog style, players get to embrace the full majesty of being a pirate captain, using cutlasses to slash away while having the benefit of a trio of sidearms that each bring a different function. Use the boomerang for effective crowd control, the charged pistol for focused damage, or close the gap using the chain hook.
If shadowy clones and over-the-top ranged combat weren’t enough, progression and naval combat in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii also unlocks access to several Dark Instruments, immensely powerful summons that don’t just tip the scales; they literally flip the entire table. Giant apes, man-eating sharks, monstrous jellyfish, when the studio goes crazy, they do not really hold back.
It is this contrast with the naval combat that makes for a confusing time. While the hope was that ship-on-ship combat would be equally as entertaining and full of mayhem ala Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, in practice, it usually does not pan out that way. On board the Goro Maru, encounters are usually easily manageable with sustained cannon fire and close-quarters ramming. Sure, the occasional boarding brawls can liven things up, but there really isn’t any reason to.
With crewmates that have various abilities and buffs, there is supposed to be some tactical depth to be found in naval combat, but it all seems unnecessary once you have upgraded your ship accordingly. Collecting coliseum fighters in The Man Who Erased His Name was much more involved and had tangible effects on the gameplay, but the same cannot be said for your sea-worthy crew.
Of course, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is not just about the fisticuffs, with Hawaii being a lush and exotic location prime for exploration and hijinks. And it doesn’t disappoint, for the most part. Parts of the islands will be familiar to those returning from Infinite Wealth, but RGG Studios has made sure to sprinkle a dose of freshness here and there to tease and tantalise.
Honolulu is where you’ll get your classic Like a Dragon adventure, with foundational elements such as shops, substories, mini-games, and other activities to keep you occupied for hours on end. It is always amazing to see just what kind of crazy things the studio can think of, and it is safe to say that Majima is going to get into some truly sticky situations that are always good for a laugh. Dragon Kart is high-octane fun, hitting the batting cages brings back sweet memories, and karaoke with the characters of this franchise is something never to be missed.
However, it is the dating minigame in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii that stands out, and not for good reasons. Instead of letting Majima be the lead here, the Minato Girls mechanic becomes an endeavour to fulfil the wishes of dying crewmate Masaru instead. The cast of ladies may be bolstered by real-life personalities such as cosplayer Enako, race queen Seiko Kirishima, and streamer Misoshiru, but the charm of the dating minigame gets lost with Masaru being in the spotlight. Furthermore, the lack of player agency in affecting things further eliminates that sense of surprise that made this a staple in the series, which is unfortunate.
Thankfully, you can drown your sorrows at the secret island of Madlantis, where criminal organisations mill about like it’s family day at the park. Within the caves of this island is a colourful and vibrant pleasure district, home to illicit activities, the Pirates’ Coliseum, and the Pirate Lords. It is reminiscent of The Castle in The Man Who Erased His Name, but with a more distinct visual feel, and you already know that there’s plenty to sink your teeth into here, including ship battles that take the place of the more traditional brawls.
And we haven’t even talked about Nele Island yet, the home of the believers known as the Haku. With ex-yakuza volunteers now part of the population, there is a larger mystery here about nuclear waste and its effects awaiting players to uncover. Besides, ex-Majima Family members Minami and Nishida call the island home, and for players hoping to find out even more about the protagonist, what unfolds here should not be missed.
Such diverse locations obviously require exploration, but not all of it is done on foot. With the Goro Majima at his disposal, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii also brings in ocean exploration. Docking and getting your feet full of sand isn’t just restricted to the main islands; there are plenty of spots out on the ocean waiting to be discovered, and that can lead you to treasures, artefacts, and more. It is yet another extension of what makes this series magical for fans, although how painfully slow sailing the high seas can be takes the wind right out of the literal sails.
As a spin-off that leaves us wanting more for the next mainline entry, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii definitely checks a few boxes. Character development is once again stellar, with Majima deservedly being spotlighted, and the various nautical elements infused into combat, exploration, and the world help to breathe new life into Hawaii and its surroundings. Yet, there are still rough edges to this adventure, such is the pirate life, but the crests of the waves most certainly outshine the troughs.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii releases on February 21 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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Summary
With fan-favourite Majima at the helm, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii would always be a fun time, and it proves to be, even if some confusing decisions held it back from being a proper treasure.
