Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the most recent installment of the previously named Yakuza sequence, which adopted the characters Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu of their varied video games. Known for its loopy tales and wilder facet actions, Infinite Wealth is not seeking to take a break from this components.
In reality, it doubles down in ways in which make sense and are downright unbelievable. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is at it as soon as extra, and followers of the franchise are in for a deal with in relation to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth as a contender for one of many greatest Xbox video games in 2024.
This evaluation was made doable with a code offered by Sega.
The Story
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Price: $69.99 at Microsoft (Xbox) | $69.99 at Steam (PC)
Release date: Jan. twenty fourth, 2024
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: SEGA
Genre: Action-Adventure
Players: Single-player
Install measurement: 78 GB
Playtime: 30+ hours
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Xbox Game Pass: Yes
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X|S and PC
Picking up the place issues left off in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and bolstered by the occasions of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, the story follows the previous protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga. A person who lined for his former clan and spent 18 years in jail to take action.
After coming back from jail, he discovers that his former chief and father determine, Masumi Arakawa, has disbanded the Tojo clan completely. He’s additionally develop into a higher-ranking member of a rival clan, the Omi Alliance. All of this involves a head when it is found all through Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Arakawa was working to dissolve the extra distinguished Yakuza factions in what the 2 former video games and Infinite Wealth dub the “Great Dissolution.”
These occasions lead immediately into the beginning of the sport, the place the participant finds Kasuga diligently working to find work for former Yakuza members. Old faces emerge, and also you meet former allies in Yu Nanba and Koichi Adachi. After a number of triumphs and setbacks befall Kasuga and one hell of a twist that appears good for the sequence, occasions finally lead him on a journey of self-discovery that lands him in Hawaii.
Along the way in which, he crosses paths with the fabled Dragon of Dojima, Kazuma Kiryu. In Like a Dragon Gaiden: Infinite Wealth, we see Kiryu’s perspective because the Great Dissolution is occurring round him. After these occasions, Kiryu is shipped on a mission to Hawaii, the place the 2 lastly meet solely a few chapters into the sport.
One of the primary issues I had with Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name was the story’s pacing. It felt like issues took too lengthy to get going, as if a few of the sport featured filler episodes. I’m completely happy to say it is an entire lot higher this time round. Infinite Wealth looks like a whole sport in comparison with Like a Dragon Gaiden.
I will not spoil anymore as a result of I’m shortly studying how enjoyable this sequence’ tales are to expertise. You’ll catch previous faces as typically as you come throughout new ones, and characters develop into allies and enemies simply as randomly as ever.
Combat
Top Gaming Recommendations
The fight on this sport is one thing else however in a great way. At first, it was a tough departure from what I performed in Like a Dragon Gaiden. Flipping the live-action fight for one thing turn-based dealt with humorous to me. It wasn’t till extra get together members got here in, different jobs began to unlock, and assist talents turned crucial to make use of that all of it clicked.
Most of the characters deal with equally, with single-target assaults alongside wide-sweeping blows. Some talents carry elemental injury, whereas others enhance or present therapeutic expertise for you and your staff. Even weapons may be adorned with varied results that may paralyze, stun, create enemy weaknesses to chilly, and extra. Carefully positioned assaults will land hits on a number of foes, or you possibly can chain assaults together with your allies.
Kiryu is the one which has a further layer added on high of every little thing else. His specialty lies in with the ability to use a number of types of assault, much like Like a Dragon Gaiden. The participant is given the choice to swap between three variations that boil right down to energy, velocity, and a stability between the 2. Where energy can break a hostile’s guard, velocity can shortly end off one or a number of enemies, permitting Kiryu to knock somebody to the ground after which actually kick them whereas they’re down.
The potential to swap and study new jobs comes later within the sport; for me, that later was round 20 hours. I spent a lot time doing something and every little thing that wasn’t story-related that I did not unlock primary services till a lot later. I want that had come sooner due to this. I virtually felt penalized for spending a lot time doing different issues, however that is the magnificence of this sport.
You can do no matter you wish to do. It’s your alternative.
The sport of video games
Speaking of doing no matter you need. Want to play Mahjong or Poker, sing karaoke, go to a strip membership, or play a model of Tinder? No? Well, perhaps you’d fancy delivering meals whereas leaping over workplace buildings as a substitute.
There are facet actions on high of facet actions in Infinite Wealth, to the purpose that I’m optimistic I have not tried all of them. The ones I’ve tried can typically be amusing, like that of the supply service job, the place I get to do backflips whereas taking part in a mini model of what looks like Crazy Taxi. There could be a few stinkers, although.
Poker, as an illustration, is Texas Hold’em. The approach it is finished, although, is a tad quirky, and the AI you play towards is as readable as they arrive. If you wish to increase or wager, you are restricted to putting smaller bets of ten at a time. There isn’t any going “all in” both; gamers can solely fold, name, or increase by the desired quantity.
These bizarre guidelines result in unusual eventualities the place you are elevating forwards and backwards with the AI at instances when you have got three of a form, and the AI has a pair of twos. You can inform the AI will get a pair or a profitable hand the second they wager or begin elevating after a card is laid down. If you get a ten on the river and the AI bets, I can assure they’ve a ten of their hand.
However, not all mini-games have been created equal.
Becoming a Sujimon grasp
Early within the sport, you are approached by some man who complains about you needing a Sujimon app put in in your telephone. The use of this does not develop into totally obvious till a number of chapters in while you’re all of the sudden in the midst of a secret underground area mandating the actions of three individuals making an attempt to beat the hell out of three others. And it is freaking superior. Whoever considered a miniature Pokemon rip-off in a Yakuza sport wants a beefy increase.
The Sujimon are individuals with totally different talents, costumes, and rarities. They are extremely complicated in how they’re dealt with. Fire, water, and grass-type Sujimon exist, which means sure Sujimon are stronger or weaker than each other. They can assault from totally different angles, swap positions, or change out with somebody not on the battlefield. It’s Pokemon.
You can purchase some type of uncommon sweet to assist stage them up and get them to the purpose the place you possibly can even evolve them. You can evolve your human Sujimon. I repeat, they’ve evolutions.
This is a facet exercise that may be fully ignored and forgotten about. Sure, there are normal reminders round city as you play with icons popping up, however you needn’t contact these. The potential to play this facet sport does not even occur till you are a number of chapters in. That’s wild to me.
Your predominant aim is to defeat a model of the Elite Four that goes by a unique identify, however I name them the Elite Four for simplicity’s sake. I’ll say it as soon as extra, Sujimon is freaking superior.
Dondoko Island
Speaking of facet actions that may be ignored completely, that are overly complicated, welcome to Dondoko Island. I do not even care if this is not authentic content material at this level; the loopy individuals recreated a model of Animal Crossing in Yakuza. Complete with a home that the participant can adorn with random crap.
Dondoko Island is launched when the participant is knocked out on the seaside after saving a turtle. Waking up, they discover themselves in a battle between a resort proprietor and a few gang that makes use of the island to dump their trash. All of this culminates in Kasuga going all-out hero mode and promising to assist rebuild the island and shield the resort from this gang.
You do very comparable actions to these in Animal Crossing: breaking down rocks, chopping timber, amassing objects on the seaside, and even fishing. These objects can be utilized to create DIY furnishings or offered on the retailer for a revenue. There’s even a bit of low cost part on the retailer the place you should buy furnishings items for a lot lower than full worth.
My house began with a mattress, a window, a lightweight, a wardrobe, and shrubbery. It was beautiful- every little thing a former member of the Yakuza may wish when making an attempt to rebuild a resort. It’s the place gamers go on the finish of their day to recuperate well being and stamina to allow them to get up and do it yet again the subsequent day. Pure love went into the creation of this mode, and it exhibits.
How does all of it look?
Graphically, Infinite Wealth gala’s higher than The Man Who Erased His Name. The latter was acceptable in its personal proper, being a $50 title crammed to the brim with content material. Infinite Wealth begins off reusing the identical space from Like a Dragon Gaiden, so the distinction between the 2 is extra easy to match.
The predominant distinction comes as soon as the participant reaches Hawaii. The atmosphere is extra detailed, textures are higher ready, and there’s much more life to be discovered within the metropolis. Everything appears to have had extra touch-ups finished from the seaside to the again alleys than the earlier areas gamers discovered themselves in. Other than that, the distinction is minimal, if nil. However, nobody is taking part in these titles for a graphical showcase.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – Final Thoughts
You ought to play this if…
You shouldn’t play this if…
I do not really feel near ending this sport or being practically glad sufficient to name it quits. While it began a bit sluggish, as time progressed, the sport started opening up in ways in which I’ll have seen by means of trailers however by no means anticipated to be so splendidly finished. It’s been a deal with to expertise, hiccups and all.
This is my second Yakuza sport, and I’ll doubtless spend a number of weeks right here and there all year long tackling a few of the different titles within the sequence. Infinite Wealth has satisfied me that beneath all of it, there is a assortment of video games that appear to hit each single time.
