The “Like a Dragon” series is brimming with cherished characters, and one of the most adored is Goro Majima, also known as the Mad Dog of Shimano. This character is renowned for his occasionally cunning behavior, particularly in older games such as “Yakuza Kiwami,” where he’d surprise Kiryu from various disguises. For the first time in quite some time, Majima is in the spotlight in “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.” The game takes place following “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,” in which an amnesiac Majima becomes a pirate while trying to retrieve his memories.
In a recent gaming session, Game Rant spent a couple of hours on Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, focusing predominantly on the naval aspect of the game. Unfortunately, this didn’t allow for a comprehensive exploration of Majima’s character or the broader storyline. However, even with limited exposure, Majima appeared more composed than his younger years, hinting at RGG Studio’s promise of showcasing the real Mad Dog of Shimano. This revelation is particularly intriguing when coupled with the game’s engaging sea-based gameplay, which made a strong impression during our brief experience.
From Rich Island to Madlantis
Stepping into Majima’s Shoes
Our journey was broken down into three distinct phases. The initial part involved setting sail towards Madlantis from Rich Island following our pirate ship’s enhancement. Our mission was to reach Madlantis to demonstrate our capabilities and gain entry into the Pirate Colosseum. It was previously mentioned that we had visited Hawaii for ship improvements before returning to Rich Island. During this sojourn, we encountered Majima’s two fighting techniques: Mad Dog and Sea Dog. Mad Dog is essentially an agile version of Majima, proficient in knife combat and even more dangerous with his doppelgangers. Sea Dog, on the other hand, represents a pirate-style adaptation of Like a Dragon‘s action combat, featuring a chargeable pistol and sword-based attacks.
In every fighting style, there are special abilities that become available when the player fills up Majima’s Fury Meter. When Mad Dog Majima reaches this state, he can summon a couple of his doppelgangers to join the fight, allowing for team-up-style combos with these clones. RGG Studio advises us not to question it too much because it’s Majima. Indeed, such abilities seem fitting for him. Filling up the Fury Meter as Sea Dog Majima empowers players to summon one of four dark sea deities (shark, parrot, ape, or jellyfish), each with unique effects when they enter the battlefield.
Check out our initial peek at the game for additional details about the combat styles, specifically Mad Dog and Sea Dog, featured in ‘Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’.
On the island of Wealthy Isle, we engaged in a fierce battle against a formidable enemy faction, chased away some mischievous pirates lurking around, and then proceeded to our vessel. Along the way, we took a brief pause for dinner, checked on our team members, and even acquired some pets to nourish. At Wealthy Isle’s harbor, players can interact with animals by offering them various types of pet food such as a cow and a Shiba Inu hybrid. On board the ship, we could observe each crew member’s individual levels, where they excel within our team in combat or otherwise, and discovered means to organize celebrations or feasts to boost morale and advancement. Additionally, there is karaoke on the ship, reminiscent of Like a Dragon, which meets fans’ expectations perfectly.
Setting Sail
After wrapping things up on Rich Island, we teleported to a Lighthouse situated in Madlantis’ waters and proceeded northward. We opted to travel to a slightly distant Lighthouse to acclimate ourselves with the sea. The experience mirrors “Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag” in many ways, as its nautical controls bear a striking resemblance to the original while incorporating elements reminiscent of “Like a Dragon.” Players can easily relinquish control at any moment to climb up to the Crow’s nest for a panoramic view or even belt out a tune on the open sea (it’s not only limited to ports). During our voyage, we discovered wind tunnels that boosted our speed, came across floating treasure, and experienced various environmental phenomena such as lightning and whirlpools. These elements can potentially damage the ship, so it’s essential to steer clear of them. This initial sailing excursion was relatively straightforward, but it remained unclear whether later challenges in the game would prove more perilous. However, avoiding these dangers seemed relatively easy at this early stage in the game.
On several occasions, we engaged in battle, yet failed to board any of the ships we destroyed during this period. Our vessel was equipped with cannons on both sides, requiring us to align precisely with our adversaries before we could return fire, while a machine gun at the ship’s bow allowed for frontal attacks. For smaller vessels, the machine gun proved more than sufficient to eliminate them, but we often preferred using our cannons instead. This gameplay style perfectly captures the pirate essence of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and the ship’s ability to boost and drift makes it an incredibly enjoyable experience to maneuver around enemies and unleash a barrage of cannonballs upon them.
In simpler terms, players may discover areas across the map they can claim as their own territory. This often leads to intense battles between our team and the pirates occupying those spots, where we, a small group, face off against 100 pirates who appear from surrounding trees. Being outnumbered, firing our pistols rapidly proved effective in defeating the weaker enemies, while we concentrated on the tougher NPC bosses among them.
Exploring Madlantis
In the end, we arrived at Madlantis for an exploration, and found ourselves captivated by numerous opportunities to engage in mini-games based on “Like a Dragon.” However, what truly piqued our interest was the abundance of Non-Player Characters (NPCs) who could be recruited. Some of these characters had conditions like winning a specific event in the Pirate Colosseum or defeating them individually, while others joined us upon receiving enough funds. We managed to recruit an older woman who claimed to once be the most beautiful pirate on the sea, picked up several other crewmates, and headed towards the colosseum. Our inaugural battle initiated a scene where various pirates from Madlantis placed bets against us, while the Pirate Queen and King (the latter portrayed by Samoa Joe) observed from above.
In the world of Like a Dragon, battles at the Colosseum are nothing out of the ordinary, but this time it’s a Pirate Colosseum – a setting for naval combat. Following our fall over a waterfall, we clashed with our adversaries in an underwater dome and eventually managed to invade their ship. Some of our crew members had unique abilities, such as increased damage or healing over time, and our main objective was to defeat the X remaining members of the enemy crew. It’s worth mentioning that our band of misfits consisted of a variety of characters, including grown men in diapers, dominatrices, at least one man wearing a suit with a sheep’s head, among others. The boarding sequence gameplay is comparable to Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, although it placed less emphasis on gathering loot or materials for ship repairs.
The Pirate Colosseum
Following this, we managed to explore additional game modes within the Pirate Colosseum: Quick Clash, Tournament of Captains, and Swashbuckler Showdown. The first one, Quick Clash, is similar to our previous skirmish with another crew. In this round, we encountered Biker Pirates who displayed unique fighting styles compared to the standard pirate crews from earlier. Additionally, there were concepts like ghost pirates that piqued our interest. The Tournament of Captains consists of a series of battles, including some fights against radioactive pirates who spread sickness. Lastly, Swashbuckler Showdown is an intense land battle between rival pirate groups.
In this phase, we mounted flamethrowers on one part of the vessel, which proved useful for inflicting close-quarter damage. However, there was some misunderstanding as our symbol still depicted a cannon. Unlike cannons, flamethrowers have limited range, and if used prematurely, they often missed the target. We experimented with an innovative approach by abandoning steering control and attacking enemy ships from the deck using our rocket launcher. This tactic might be enhanced in the game later, but at this stage, it wasn’t particularly effective. More often than not, the enemy managed to inflict significant damage (requiring repairs) as we were vulnerable sitting ducks. The harm we inflicted in return didn’t outweigh the danger, so after trying it a couple of times, we opted for circling our adversaries instead.
As a dedicated gamer, I must say that diving into the world of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii felt like an exciting twist on the franchise’s traditional colosseum gameplay. For those who have enjoyed building colosseums in previous Like a Dragon games, this new take promises to deliver the same thrill. The addition of leveling up your crew, recruiting new members, and strategically placing them for optimal support adds a layer of systemic gameplay that complements the straightforward pirate gameplay. Frankly, I didn’t expect the Like a Dragon franchise to explore pirate gameplay, but now that it has, fans of both Like a Dragon and pirates are in for a treat! The game effectively captures the pirate fantasy from a gameplay perspective, and with Like a Dragon’s knack for storytelling, I can’t wait to see how they develop the narrative around the pirate life and Majima.
Free Exploration, Hawaii, and Dragon Kart, Oh My
Later on, we found ourselves with some spare moments to venture across the seas and neighboring spots. A bit deeper into the game, we started noticing the appearance of Devil Flags dotting the open waters. These formidable foes are more challenging than typical ones, but not as tough as the Legendary Ships from AC4: Black Flag. They offer a decent fight that requires players to engage them intentionally rather than accidentally bumping into them at sea. This situation tested our skills up to this point and prevented long stretches of idle or defeated time on the open seas. The excitement never dwindled, especially since there was a special catalog of treasures for players to unlock as they discover these from Devil Flags and other adventures.
In our quick visit to Hawaii, we found that the map resembled the one from “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,” showcasing RGG Studio’s clever use of asset recycling. Despite having limited time, we couldn’t help but try out Crazy Delivery and explore a side story. As fans are aware, these side stories often highlight the humor in Like a Dragon series, and this one was no exception – it offered a touching tale about animal emotions, childhood aspirations, and predatory microtransactions, all set against the backdrop of the franchise’s cabaret-style gameplay with a tiger. Our adventure with “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii” concluded with a round of Dragon Kart racing before we had to leave.
Final Thoughts
There’s still much we don’t know about “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,” particularly its storyline. I’m eagerly anticipating the new direction for an older Majima, considering the way The Man Who Erased His Name handled Kiryu. These spin-off games are fantastic for expanding the universe of “Like a Dragon” and delving deeper into cherished characters like Majima, as they further their stories while the main series focuses on Ichiban. Fans will undoubtedly be left hanging for these narrative developments until release, given how story-driven these games usually are.
Without a doubt, the gameplay of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is modeled after AC4: Black Flag, yet it maintains its distinctive action combat and mini-games. If the story matches up to previous RGG games, then this title appears poised to deliver on all fronts.
Game Rant was provided travel and lodging for the purposes of this preview.
Read More
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- FIS PREDICTION. FIS cryptocurrency
- ULTIMA PREDICTION. ULTIMA cryptocurrency
- EUR ARS PREDICTION
- XRP PREDICTION. XRP cryptocurrency
- Marvel Rivals Shines in its Dialogue
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- Pokemon Fan’s Wife Finds Perfect Use for Their Old Cartridges
- POWR PREDICTION. POWR cryptocurrency
- How to Get Scurvy Rod in Fisch
2025-01-16 20:07