Like a Dragon Meets Dave the Diver in Epic Crossover

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The connection between the Like a Dragon series and other popular franchises has been strengthened, as was announced during the PlayStation State of Play event on February 12. This announcement confirmed a collaboration with the character Dave the Diver, an indie title that’s been generating significant buzz since its release in 2023. The game is already known for its numerous crossovers, having successfully teamed up with titles like Dredge and Balatro.

The upcoming fusion of “Like a Dragon” and “Dave the Diver” appears rich with content, as suggested by the gameplay footage shown during its unveiling. It seems the developers are blending the mechanics from both series, with much of the crossover’s material focusing on side-scrolling brawl combat. Notably, it includes key characters from “Like a Dragon’s” storied past, which is reminiscent of the temporary release of “Streets of Kamurocho”, a promotional freeware title that some fans might have missed.

Dave the Diver’s Like a Dragon DLC Seems Like a Logical Evolution of Streets of Kamurocho

The collaboration content for the character Dave the Diver from the “Like a Dragon” series has been named “Ichiban’s Holiday.” This extra content is anticipated to be released as downloadable content in April. As its title implies, this crossover revolves around Ichiban Kasuga, the new main character of the “Like a Dragon” franchise, going on vacation at the Blue Hole and eventually becoming an accepted member of Dave’s team.

Working together with former arms dealer Cobra, Ichiban discovers a wicked dolphin-poaching scheme orchestrated by the Sea Blue gang. In the “Ichiban’s Holiday” expansion, you’ll find Ichiban and familiar faces sneaking into the gang’s lairs for a beat-em-up battle reminiscent of classic arcade games. This vintage gameplay and design fit perfectly with Ichiban’s passion for retro gaming, which has significantly influenced the aesthetics of the contemporary “Like a Dragon” series. The expansion is generating lots of enthusiasm among fans.

In the crossover of “Ichiban’s Holiday,” another notable character hinted is “The Bartender” from Survive Bar, who longtime fans of the Yakuza series will recognize as Osamu Kashiwagi, Kiryu’s steadfast mentor. Remarkably, “Ichiban’s Holiday” incorporates traditional mini-games from Yakuza, including karaoke, and this downloadable content appears to be an affectionate homage to the franchise’s past in multiple ways.

Dave the Diver’s Ichiban’s Holiday DLC Pays Great Respect to the History of Like a Dragon

Fans swiftly pointed out the resemblance between the DLC’s brawling-style gameplay and the 2020 release, “Streets of Kamurocho”, a fusion of the “Like a Dragon” and “Streets of Rage” franchises, launched to commemorate Sega’s 60th anniversary. “Streets of Kamurocho” showcased characters such as Kiryu, Majima, and Ichiban in a short gameplay sequence modeled after “Streets of Rage 2”, and the game was officially available for a limited period.

Initially released for a limited three-day period in October 2020, the streets of Kamurocho managed to evade wider attention despite an intriguing concept.

Many players might have regretted not playing the transient game, “Streets of Kamurocho”. However, the impending partnership between “Like a Dragon” and “Dave the Diver” appears to be an ideal opportunity for enthusiasts to delve into a more comprehensive and enriched rendition of the game’s fundamental adventure. The manner in which the DLC is designed to fluidly blend the gaming mechanics of “Dave the Diver” with traditional “Like a Dragon” mini-games significantly expands the overall experience, surpassing what “Streets of Kamurocho” provided. Yet, it’s gratifying to observe the captivating side-scrolling history of the “Like a Dragon” series being meticulously brought to life in such an engaging and thoughtful manner.

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2025-02-13 22:34