Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Review — Goromaru

Would you believe me if I told you that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was the first Yakuza/Like a Dragon game I’ve played?

I know, I know; it’s tantamount to heresy for me to enter such a coveted franchise with such a late entry to the series chronology. That being said, I’ve been a long-time, albeit distant, admirer of the franchise, specifically of the way it tells incredible stories, combining zany hijinks and incredible action with characters that manage to feel grounded and relatable despite the larger-than-life circumstances they find themselves in. I’ve always wanted an excuse to jump into the franchise, and thankfully, the chance to review Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii gave me the excuse to make time for some Like a Dragon in my life.

I can positively say that, my introduction to the series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii did not disappoint, and in fact, exceeded my expectations.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii follows Goro Majima, an ex-yakuza (and a franchise character that people have been long awaiting a stand-alone title for, something even I, a newcomer to the series, knew), who finds himself shipwrecked and washed up on an island in the Pacific. Having lost his memories, Majima chases answers to his past, and in the process, adopts a new life as a pirate, captaining his own crew and getting up to some wacky nautical adventures in the Pacific Ocean.

Something I find incredible about Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is just how action-packed and to the point the game is. In a world where video games like to pad their runtime with filler content, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii maintains an incredible pace both in its story and the frequency of its action. Not only does the game constantly throw fights at you, whether it be attackable thugs just roaming in the hub areas or back-to-back action sequences (one area in the game’s introduction had me fight three separate boss battles, with the only break in between being a few cutscenes), there is very little time wasted in the story with Goro Majima questioning his new role as a pirate captain. A true man of action, our franchise antagonist-turned-protagonist washes up on an island, and within a day, is captaining a ship of his own. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is not afraid to make the only obstacle between our main characters and story progression a fight or two, allowing Majima to solve his problems with his fists.

And frankly, it’s kind of awesome. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii not only mimics the feeling of campy, action-packed karate or crime movies, it is beholden to an ass-kicking status quo. At least 90% of your playtime, when you aren’t engaging in the game’s equally fun mini-games, talking to your crew, or watching incredible cutscenes, will be spent in some incredibly meaty fight sequences.

The combat in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii feels incredible. Picture the Arkham series’ one-versus-many crowded fight scenes, but take away the protagonist’s need for stealth and double the number of enemies on screen. Goro Majima flows through huge crowds of enemies with a combat system that is just complicated enough to provide a challenge while being simple enough that you won’t forget how to pull off a combo or dodge a deadly attack.

Fighting is an incredibly cinematic experience, with not only multiple combat styles to change up the mechanics, looks, and sound of how Goro Majima mows down his pirate foes (the new Seadog style quickly becomes a favorite, with incredible sweeping attacks and omnidirectional blocking making you truly feel like a terrifying… well, sea dog), fights are also, literally, cinematic, with both the player and enemies often executing cutscene-like attacks, some of which are quick-time events that the player must respond to in order to avoid being flattened out.

While the combat is relatively simple to figure out, it can be difficult to master, with each boss you face fighting a little smarter and hitting a little harder than the last, constantly keeping you on your toes. Cash, being the main way to upgrade your stats and skills (with some locked behind story progression), makes every fight, every treasure hunt that requires you to beat down a rival pirate crew, and every other way you gather dollar bills feel like direct, impactful progression.

Finally, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii must be complimented for just how over the top and irreverent the game is. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii never takes itself too seriously, never stops to over-explain why people in the 21st century are dressing like classic pirates, and effortlessly delivers some great humor alongside genuinely emotional moments. There are some speeches in the game that hit me in the feels, and rarely has a game made me grin from ear to ear and nod my head during its hype moments as much as Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii did.

I can’t tell you how Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii holds up to previous titles in the franchise. I can’t tell you what’s new, what the game improves upon, or what familiar features might be missing. However, for a first-time player of the franchise, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii has me absolutely blown away, and is something I’m jumping right back into once this review is published.

Try Hard Guides was provided a PC review copy for this Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles on our Game Reviews page! Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.