ARGHHHH! MATEYS!
Can you imagine a Like A Dragon game having pirates? I'm not just talking about modern pirates but the swashbuckling ones that we normally see in pop culture, and this is exactly what we get in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's latest entry Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
So imagine a universe where the pirates of the past are in the modern era, where players can dress up their characters as if they're a part of One Piece or Pirates of the Carribean, plus they get a chance to ride a wooden frigate, boarded with cannons.
Sounds like a stretch for SEGA's latest game, but how does it fare overall?
The charm remains
Regardless of these massive changes from the usual Yakuza tropes that we normally see, Pirate Yakuza still has the same charm of the previous entries. The game's signature peculiar humor is still at its peak. From the moment Majima debated on Goro's existence as a cat or a tiger, all the way forward, I couldn't hold my enthusiasm playing this game.
But this wasn't the only element that elevated Pirate Yakuza as I really loved the colorful blend of characters. Noah stands out as someone who synergizes well with Majima. If Majima represents the good-hearted Yakuza bada*s, Noah's childlike innocence adds to Majima's narrative. It was heartwarming to see these two individuals exchange their thoughts on surfing and other reflections in life.
And it was also nice to see Majima support Noah's dreams of exploring the world, further fleshing out their characters in the game and while it seems that RGG is making things melodramatic, the company does a great job in balancing both the humor and the emotional depth of the characters.
This was evident with the other members of the crew. For instance, Captain Beef may have one of the funniest character introductions ever, but upon learning his backstory, one could actually relate to his motivations.
And there have been other interactions worth noting such as Noah and his dad, and one will be able to dig deep into the bonds of these characters.
The return of a brawl-esque combat
While the previous entries namely Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth relied on a turn based approach, Pirate Yakuza went back to its roots, going for a more button mashed system. Personally, I enjoyed the return to the OG combat system and this was further fleshed out given its shifting mechanic.
Players can switch between two fighting styles, one centered on Majima's punching and traditional Yakuza movements, the other showcasing his pirate side. The latter will give players the chance to wield two cutlass or rapiers as well as a flintlock pistol.
Seeing Majima in the most pirate-fashion combat system was extremely fun and entertaining as it added more flavor to his moves.
And while the typical hack-and-slash mechanic may give players a plethora of means to unleash combos, the game does a great job in making sure that players do not just easily cut through their opponents.
Players are encouraged to try out different moves to dodge incoming attacks and there are varied enemy types to add more spice in the combat, adding a level of challenge and thrills for players to enjoy.
Ahoy!
However the combat isn't just limited to Majima swashbuckling his way against a group of thugs, as there are also naval battles that will take place.
With a vast ocean ahead, players will explore numerous islands and secure an unending harvest of treasure, but in front of these gold mines are enemy ships lurking ahead, and players are tasked to eliminate them before they proceed.
Looking at its overall combat, it reminded me of another game in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey where players control a ship, however Like A Dragon elevates the mechanic as players will not only manage the ship as they also need to take a deeper look into each of the crew members.
There's so much attention to detail involved as players need to boost the morale of the crew, while also giving them some much needed experience to further hone their navigational and pirating duties.
But the details do not just end with the crew members as there were factors that really challenged players in this game. While travelling around with the ship would bring back the inner pirate from our childhood, it isn't all daisies as players will have to deal with the changing environment as well as the boss ships.
This in turn would test players if they can maneuver their way in front of these obstacles, adding to the game's profound gameplay.
CONCLUSION
Once again RGG studios delivers another solid Like A Dragon game and based on the overall setting and how it was integrated into the game, the developers still have the creative juices to keep the franchise sailing to the fountain of youth.
It was entertaining to traverse the vast oceans, to Madlantis, and even Hawaii as players were left with a lot of activities. From playing the classic SEGA games like Poseidon Wars 3-D, to revisiting the old games in previous installments like Dragon Kart, there are so many ways for players to enjoy the game.
With so much life and color in Majima's pirating adventures, we give Pirate Yakuza an 8.5/10.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
