Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirates Set Sail in Hawaii – The Ultimate Preview

The Yakuza franchise is a treasure trove of eccentric and captivating games. From its mainline adventures, which balance seriousness with humor, to a wide array of historical spin-offs, prequels, and side tales, there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you’re eagerly awaiting the next Like a Dragon chapter or just craving a fresh gaming experience, my recent hands-on with Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii suggests that this spin-off is set to capture your attention and hijack endless hours of your gaming life.

Ever since Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag sailed onto the scene back in 2013, I’ve been on the lookout for another pirate escapade that matches its charisma. While a few contenders have emerged since then, none managed to fully reel me in until Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii came along. At first, blending Pirates with the Yakuza universe seemed as odd as mixing oil with water. However, diving deeper, the unique world, quirky main characters, and not-too-serious vibe of Like a Dragon offer up a surprisingly competent and enjoyable pirate adventure.

In this installment, you step into the shoes of the beloved series icon Goro Majima, who, after losing his memory, finds himself on an island in Hawaii. From what I experienced during my hands-on, the series’ well-known weirdness has been dialed up significantly. Beyond clashing with wandering pirate gangs and tackling bounties alongside my small tiger buddy, I found myself assembling a colorful crew of eccentric individuals, engaging in addictive minigames like a home run derby and karaoke, and steering my ship across the Pacific for battles involving ship-to-ship combat and battling adverse weather conditions. Simply put, there’s a wealth of things to do here.

During my exploration, I devoted a substantial amount of time to Madlantis, a pirate-infested city teeming with criminals and characters even stranger than Yakuza’s usual crowd. Here, I indulged in various side activities and minigames, including claw machines, versions of classic SEGA arcade hits like Virtua Fighter, and the Pirates’ Coliseum, where you participate in ship duels against a range of bizarre pirate crews, among other combat-oriented games.

When it comes to the heart of the game—combat—it shifts away from the JRPG turn-based strategy of the prior two Like a Dragon titles, opting for a more traditional beat-’em-up style. Majima showcases two combat styles: Mad Dog and Sea Dog. Each is based on the classic formula of mixing heavy and light attacks with dodges, yet they differ enough to keep the action dynamic. With Mad Dog, Majima dons his classic attire and employs swift combinations to dismantle foes quickly. Sea Dog has him in pirate garb, wielding themed weaponry like dual cutlasses, a pistol, and a grappling hook. While I enjoyed both styles, I found Sea Dog particularly engaging due to its arsenal variety. Regardless of the style, the thrill of challenging waves of rival pirates was a consistent joy.

While the combat is highly enjoyable, it’s not without its hiccups. Mastering blocking and dodging required some practice, and enemy difficulty fluctuated from easy to unexpectedly challenging, leading to more frequent game-over screens than anticipated. Yet, as I honed my skills in switching styles and leveraging available tools, the combat became not only a challenge but also a rewarding experience.

Introducing naval combat into the Like a Dragon universe is a refreshing twist. Unlike some games that overcomplicate ship warfare, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii employs a “less is more” philosophy. My pirate ship came equipped with several offensive options: the port side’s flamethrowers for devastating short-range impacts, the starboard cannons for long-distance shots, and the front-facing machine guns for sustained attacks. There was also the option to leave the helm and use Majima’s rocket launcher, which, while not the most potent, added a fun, interactive element. Whether I was maneuvering the ship or jumping aboard to launch attacks, I enjoyed outmaneuvering and sinking enemy vessels.

From what I’ve seen so far, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks set to uphold the Like a Dragon series’ reputation for excellence. With its entertaining and inventive combat mechanics, intuitive ship battles, and the captivatingly bizarre world, it’s a game where you might just want to pack a Hawaiian shirt and get ready for an unforgettable adventure.