September 2024

Yakuza Adventures: Samurai Pirates Hit the Hawaiian Shores

After an exciting announcement on September 20, 2024, "Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii" made a brief appearance at the Tokyo Game Show. This new spin-off brings action-packed adventures set in the beautiful Hawaiian islands. The game promises to be as dense and thrilling as its predecessor, "Infinite Wealth," which captivated players earlier this year.

Return to Action

The game takes us back to the action format, reminiscent of "The Man Who Erased His Name." The studio, Ryu Ga Gotoku, assures us that this title will be just as rich in content. The general atmosphere is similar to "Infinite Wealth," which is a relief for fans who loved that game.

Majima is particularly quick and fierce in action. His moves are incredibly violent, matching his wild personality. He can change costumes and gameplay modes accordingly. Fun fact: the music changes with him. He also has a grappling hook, a trendy feature in this console generation, useful for collecting items and accessing secret areas.

Familiar Yet New

The game brings a sense of familiarity while offering new experiences. We quickly recognized the Hawaiian beach we explored with Ichiban and his team. Although NPCs and activities have moved, there's a clear continuity between "Infinite Wealth" and this new installment.

Another area showcased is Madlantis, a yakuza version of Tortuga, seemingly overseen by a character resembling Lady Dimitrescu's cousin. This zone appears to be a hub of vice and gaming, where players will spend a lot of time on side quests. Collectibles in the form of larvae, similar to those in "Infinite Wealth," are present and tied to resources on Dondoko Island.

What's Next?

There’s still much to discover, including naval phases that were skipped during the hands-off demo, likely to allow more development time. We have many questions about "Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii":