Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Can’t Be Majima’s Swan Song

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As a long-time fan of the Yakuza series, I must confess that I have grown quite attached to the characters and their stories over the years. Each game seems to tug at my heartstrings more than the last, leaving me emotionally drained but deeply satisfied. But now, as I gaze upon the tropical paradise of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation.

SPOILERS AHEAD Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (and other recent games)

As a gaming enthusiast, diving into Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii might initially seem like an absurd adventure starring a quirky character living his dream life. Granted, Goro Majima’s tropical getaway takes an unexpected turn into piracy, but let me tell you, it’s no surprise that he excels in this role given the perfect harmony this outlandish concept brings to the world of Like a Dragon. In fact, many of the beloved characters from the Yakuza series could use a well-deserved break. Kiryu might need it more than most, but Majima, Saejima, and Daigo certainly deserve some rest too. Considering Majima’s age (54 in Yakuza: Like a Dragon) and the timeframe of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, he would be nearing 58 – a perfect excuse for an extended vacation!

The ages of Kiryu and these other original characters are a problem (if kind of a good one) for RGG Studio. Not only will they eventually need to be written off, lest they just become super old, but choosing to include them or not in games is a double-edged sword. Some fans will be fine with it, some won’t. But I’m afraid this is a problem Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii isn’t shying away from, and that scares me in the best way possible.

Pirate Yakuza” could be an entertaining tale about a holiday turned chaotic, where players control Majima as he battles against pirates in search of treasure and just for the thrill. Given that the “Like a Dragon” series is renowned for powerful, emotional narratives, it’s clear that this game won’t shy away from such themes.

Unconventional Hypothesis 1: Majima feigned memory loss, intending for everyone to believe it was genuine.

A Gaiden By Any Other Name

Regardless of exact happenstance, it’s very clear that Majima’s past, relationships, and his time as a Yakuza all matter. And why that scares me is because it might follow a similar path to Kiryu’s arc. It’s worth mentioning that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii may not have Gaiden in its English name, but it does in its Japanese name, meaning expectations for it should be on par with The Man Who Erased His Name. However, those expectations could be the exact same given Kiryu and Majima’s close relationship too.

The Man Who Erased His Name and “Like a Dragon 8”

The Man Who Vanished His Identity unveils the events following Yakuza 6, detailing all that Kiryu has lost and the impact his past has had on him. Despite being destined for a life in the Yakuza, Kiryu yearned for fatherhood like the man who raised him. The Man Who Vanished His Identity offers a heart-wrenching glimpse into what he’s lost. This installment delivers the most tragic ending across the series: the normally stoic Kiryu breaking down in sobs upon facing his truth. An age-old writing tip suggests that to make a character endearing, you must shatter their world. However, even this was not enough for poor Kiryu because the subsequent Like a Dragon game, Infinite Riches, added cancer to his struggles.

Throughout my playthrough of “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth”, I found myself constantly anxious about Kiryu’s fate, but it turned out his departure was fittingly well-executed. He truly earned a joyful conclusion, and he received one that was almost perfectly satisfying. However, Majima appears destined for tragedy, and that has always been the case with him.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Like a Dragon 9

It’s possible this is just a coincidence, but it seems reasonable to think that the Gaiden tales serve as a means to bridge a character’s past with their present, only to be excluded from the following main game. The upside to this could be having games centered around Saejima or Daigo, but the downside is if Majima reappears in LAD9 for the same treatment. If Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii delves into his moral struggles after years as a Yakuza, the connections and ruptures made throughout, and examines his psychological and emotional development like Kiryu’s story did, then the question arises: what’s next? And for Majima, that question doesn’t sound appealing.

Simply allow him to live as a pirate, enjoying his life to the fullest. The Man Who Erased His Name resonated deeply within me, Infinite Wealth tugged at my emotions, and I’m uncertain if I could endure this cycle once more if it centered around Majima. Yet, please touch my heart even more profoundly since I seem to enjoy suffering, and the impact would be twice as strong with Majima.

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2024-11-30 13:34