Kiryu Kazuma and Kasuga Ichiban are two sides of the identical Like a Dragon coin. Their personalities couldn’t be extra completely different — Kiryu, a world-weary lone wolf, and Kasuga, a Dragon Quest-loving golden retriever — however they stay by the same code of ethics and share the same previous, each locked up for crimes they did not commit to assist out their yakuza households. It was a bummer that Kiryu did not stick round longer when he got here round in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The two males would certain as hell have so much to speak about.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth lastly brings the 2 mainline protagonists collectively for an ultra-compelling and sprawling sport that lives as much as its subtitle. The three-and-a-half-ish hours I spent roaming Honolulu and Yokohama, sprucing up the trashed Dondoko Island, and battling a Megalodon-sized shark felt like a drop within the Pacific Ocean when it comes to the sport’s scope. And that is simply talking to the gameplay. Having each Kasuga and Kiryu as playable protagonists place the story on a broad emotional spectrum that performs to the strengths of every character’s worldview: Kasuga and his ridiculousness, Kiryu and his legacy of wrestle. It’s an amazing stability between the previous and way forward for the Like a Dragon franchise.
Over in Honolulu, Kasuga and his friends are out trying to find his mom as soon as thought lifeless. The map right here is one thing to behold. It’s Ryu Ga Gotoku’s biggest-ever space for the sequence, fantastically designed, and the quantity of element put into it’s staggering to absorb. More eating places, outlets, minigames, and substories can be found, and areas to unlock bond conversations with Kasuga’s teammates are actually conveniently marked. An even bigger map additionally means extra transportation choices. Aside from the taxi stands, trolley traces are throughout Honolulu, which is a extra relaxed possibility to absorb the sights and have conversations with Kasuga’s teammates. Lastly, Kasuga acquires a chargeable Segway by way of an appropriately ridiculous substory, which is, after all, a lot quicker than working round on foot, much less inflexible than the set areas of trolleys and cabs, and very goofy-looking. All round, a internet constructive.
Infinite Wealth additionally carries on the identical turn-based fight as Yakuza: Like a Dragon. It both works for you or it would not — I’m within the former camp — and the studio has made particular enhancements to that system in order that I felt extra engaged and had extra methods to behave strategically. It appears easy, however having a circle wherein to maneuver round provides an actual benefit relating to actions like using close by objects as weapons or sneaking behind an enemy to carry out a robust again assault. The command interface has additionally been improved (and Persona-fied). Tag Team strikes are now not hidden in talent lists however proven instantly subsequent to the command menu. Maybe the very best enchancment on this class is a better option to keep away from combating. In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, I at all times received a bit aggravated after I received tousled with among the avenue freaks after I was simply making an attempt to get from one place to a different, particularly in the event that they had been so many ranges under me that the expertise factors from defeating them can be negligible. In Infinite Wealth, enemies are actually shade coded by power, they usually’re much less delicate to me working by.
I can say a lot extra about simply hanging out in Honolulu — All my new pals! The abundance of job modifications! Swimming within the ocean! — however then this might go on for an hour. Instead, I’ll simply say that Hawaii is a blast, stuffed with hidden gems and a unbelievable humorousness.
Dondoko Island might legitimately be its personal standalone sport that the comfortable avid gamers would possibly sink 300 hours into with out batting a watch.
Next, I used to be ported over to Dondoko Island, which many individuals have already referred to as, rightfully, Like a Dragon’s Animal Crossing. The garbage-filled landmass will get Kasuga as its one-man cleanup crew with the aim of constructing it up right into a five-star resort. Aside from the extra violent spearfishing, the mechanics of selecting up shells and netting bugs is just about equivalent to Animal Crossing, and time additionally equally passes. Kasuga has a comfortable home to brighten, he should purchase junk from the island’s common retailer, and he can craft new gadgets by buying sources like wooden and stone. But, in true Like a Dragon trend, even the serene Dondoko Island is not proof against a bit combating right here and there. It’s the one place the place the sport turns again into an motion brawler to take out pirates and different threats. All in all, it is a good break from the primary storyline and will legitimately be its personal standalone sport that the comfortable avid gamers would possibly sink 300 hours into with out batting a watch.
Jumping over to Yokohama, Kiryu’s perspective begins and the tone of the storyline turns considerably extra melancholy and existential. Kiryu has most cancers, and his new buddies in Kasuga’s outdated squad encourage him to jot down a bucket checklist of issues he desires to do earlier than he dies. At the highest of the checklist is, sure, karaoke. On high of these duties, the map is suffering from callouts to take nostalgia journeys that replay key elements of Kiryu’s life. The fast 30-or-so minutes I performed in Yokohama felt like the start of what would in all probability function a protracted, bittersweet goodbye to Kiryu.
In some ways, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a watershed second for franchise. It’s fairly seemingly a closing ship off for the cancer-stricken underworld legend Kiryu, and the official induction ceremony for Kasuga as Kiryu’s successor within the sequence transferring ahead. It’s no shock, then, that RGG would have put an immense quantity of effort and time to make such an enormous sport that ups the ante on the practically 20 years of titles that got here earlier than it whereas nailing the stability of foolish and critical. I’ve no purpose to consider this sport isn’t gonna rule.
