Mad Dog Vs Sea Dog: Which Stance Is Better In Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

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In most Yakuza games, players can select from various stances to use. However, in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, these were transformed into character classes, maintaining the original idea. Interestingly, the new spinoff featuring Goro Majima, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, has opted for a different approach, offering him just two stances instead.

In the game “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,” players start off controlling Mad Dog (Goro). He’s equipped with a knife and fisticuffs, perfect for fighting on sandy beaches and city streets. Once you acquire your ship, Goromaru, you’ll gain access to the second stance: Sea Dog. This pirate-themed stance equips Goro with two swords, later adding a gun and grappling hook. Among these two stances, which one is more effective at defeating enemies? (The answer is that both have their unique advantages, depending on the situation.)

8. Tricks: Mad Dog

A More Versatile Moveset

Experiencing the role of Sea Dog can bring delight reminiscent of a pirate, however, Goro’s Original Mad Dog stance offers an array of unique abilities instead. Unlike other RPGs that rely on MP for magical capabilities, these special moves, or tricks, are at your disposal without any resource depletion. For instance, the Mad Dog Trick: Serpent empowers players to build up the Square button, on a PS5 controller, before unleashing a powerful punch that sends enemies flying.

1. In flight, players find it effortless to keep enemies aloft, a technique that also applies to bosses.

2. The Mad Dog Trick: Frenzy allows players to build up the Circle button and then spin around enemies, making it easy to manage large spaces.

7. The Outfit: Sea Dog

Fits The Theme Of The Game

In “Yakuza: Like a Dragon,” the series took on a new form as a turn-based role-playing game and introduced Jobs, roles that characters like Ichiban Kasuga and his crew adopt to fit their classic RPG personas. This job system carried over into “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.” Given the pirate theme of “Yakuza: Like a Dragon in Hawaii,” it’s fitting that Goro assumes the Sea Dog stance, which is reminiscent of the Job systems from the previous two installments.

Goro is a free-spirited individual who fully embodies the persona of an old-school pirate captain. Players can style Goro to resemble a pirate captain in the Mad Dog stance or dress the Sea Dog stance casually on the streets, but it feels more authentic and fits the narrative better for him to remain as the Sea Dog character.

6. Melee Output: Mad Dog

Faster Punches And Stabs

The stance known as the Mad Dog is significantly swift overall. Remarkably, the Sea Dog’s twin cutlasses move at an astonishing pace and can effortlessly slice through numerous adversaries, much like Goro in a Musou game. However, it should be noted that the Mad Dog has a slight edge in speed, as Goro can also easily defeat enemies using his fists or dagger.

In the franchise, the original leading character Kazuma Kiryu is generally stronger than his adversary Goro in terms of physical strength. Yet, Goro’s slender, serpentine physique provides him with a distinct advantage in agility during combat. Interestingly, it seems more fitting for Goro to adopt his Mad Dog stance in this game.

5. Range Output: Sea Dog

Three Ways To Stay Away From Danger

In Mad Dog’s close-combat prowess, the one aspect lacking is reach. However, the Sea Dog stance offers various strategies to safeguard Goro from injury. Initially, the form incorporates a trick enabling Goro to hurl his blades like boomerangs. These blades remain stationary for a short duration, allowing Goro to pound enemies until they return. Additionally, a pistol will become accessible, which can be fired using ammunition.

With time, space, and improvements, it will prove beneficial. Ultimately, the hookshot can catch enemies off guard while also bringing Goro closer to them – an opposite approach compared to ranged attacks, yet effective in its own way.

4. Special Moves: Mad Dog

Gadgets Vs The Madness Gauge

In the battle against Goro, filling up a circular meter beside his health indicator represents the final strike. This process takes quite some time for it to be effective when using the Sea Dog stance. Consequently, the Mad Dog stance gets an automatic victory due to this delay. The Madness Gauge of the Mad Dog stance summons shadowy doppelgangers to aid Goro in combat, much like a character from the anime series Naruto.

In the skill development, players have the opportunity to advance this method more. On one hand, having an abundance of gadgets is beneficial for the Sea Dog posture, but on the other, the raw strength of the Frenzy Meter takes precedence when using the Mad Dog stance.

3. Heat Actions: Sea Dog

Become A Swashbuckler Like Jack Sparrow

In the heart of every Yakuza gamer, there’s a special affection for the Heat Gauge, that blue bar nestled beneath the health bar. It’s a classic feature in the Yakuza series, and each stance it unlocks is like opening a treasure chest full of flashy moves. But when it comes to Sea Dog Heat Actions, they just seem to fit the game perfectly and are an absolute blast to execute!

In a similar vein, when navigating on the vessel, Goro assumes control of the helm using Essence of Piracy: Sky Dominion, causing chaos among adversaries. Similarly, Essence of Piracy: Crimson Downpour unleashes a barrage from his gun that sends opponents into nothingness. It’s difficult not to draw comparisons between Goro and Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean series after witnessing such dynamic moves.

2. Counter Maneuvers: Mad Dog

Getting The Extra Step In

Each defensive position offers numerous strategies for dodging or repelling attacks from adversaries. By mastering certain abilities, you can access two exceptional techniques – Perfect Guards and Ultimate Counters – that significantly enhance your defense. The choices for the Mad Dog and Sea Dog postures are quite similar in their effectiveness.

Players have an additional option to combine R1 and X buttons to perform quicksteps, evading enemy attacks in either stance. Notably, Mad Dog can elevate this quickstep ability through Mad Dog Mastery: Perfect Quickstep. While it benefits both stances, it’s Mad Dog who reaps the rewards for tapping into its hidden potential.

1. Verdict: Mad Dog

Old School Is Best

Traditional enthusiasts of the Yakuza series might balk at the alterations in “Like a Dragon: Ishin! Hawaii” edition. This could explain why Mad Dog seems to look down on Sea Dog, as the developers likely anticipated this reaction.

Two playstyles for Goro are entertaining to alternate between, but on a technical note, while swashbuckling seems intuitive for this spinoff, it’s generally better to keep Goro in his Mad Dog stance for the majority of the game. In terms of the overall outcome, as with many fighting matches, the difference in victory is minimal.

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2025-02-24 19:04