In December of this year, it will be 20 years since the first Yakuza game was released. And in those 20 years, I have never played a single game in the series. That is, until now.
Now called, ‘Like a Dragon’, there is a new game in the series that sets itself apart from the others. In February 2025, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios released ‘Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’ and it is as whacky as you might think!
Written by Tsuyoshi Furuta and Masayoshi Yokoyama, this new instalment in the Like a Dragon series takes place six months after the events of ‘Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’ and follows Goro Majima as he finds himself washed up on Rich Island, somewhere near Hawaii. Not only does Majima have no idea how he got there, but he also has no recollection as to who he is. Yes, the guy is suffering from a case of amnesia.
Majima finds himself forming a friendship with young boy Noah Rich, that found him washed up on the beach. Eventually, Noah introduces him to his father Jason and Majima finds himself fighting off a band of local Pirates to protect the family. However, Majima gets a taste for the pirate life and eventually becomes captain of a ship, with Noah and Jason along for the ride. Accompanying Noah is his pet cat Goro, that is 100% not a tiger cub. They also befriend Masaru Fujita, chef and former bodyguard of the pirate Jack the Collector.
The group set sail onboard the ‘Goromaru’ as they seek out Nele Island and hopefully the key to unlock Majima’s memory. And whilst they do find more yakuza and those that know who Majima is, the groups thirst for piracy and the allure of treasure grows stronger and stronger. Eventually, they find themselves embroiled in a plan to head to a place known as Madlantis and become the most revered pirates in history by climbing the ranks of the Pirates’ Colisieum. However, before they even qualify to take place in the naval battles, they must increase their crew and improve the Goromaru to a point it is deemed worthy.
The first thing I noticed when I sat down to play this game was that the writing and voice acting is great! I played the game with English audio, and I was impressed with what I was hearing and experiencing. Matthew Mercer portrays the English voice of Majima with Hidenari Ugaki as the Japanese voice actor. Mercer’s portrayal of Majima is quite funny. With a somewhat high-pitched infliction in the voice, Majima comes across as a guy who doesn’t give a shit about anything and will happily run headfirst into anything that is thrown is way. And quite literally, that is exactly what Majima does throughout the game.
That leads me to the brawling mechanics of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. New to the series, the fighting in this game is not what I expected. I know there are plenty of combos that I could execute, but I at first couldn’t get any of them to work properly. I would press jump, and Majima wouldn’t jump. So, in the end, I just happily smashed buttons like crazy until I defeated the enemies before me, or, died in the process, having to do it all over again. After a while, I learnt how to play the game properly and got the hang of it.
There is more than just brawling and fighting, there is quite a deep plot and plenty of sub-plots and side-quests to discover, especially once you reach Honolulu and get to explore the city. There is also a cooking mechanic that I was not expecting. You can collect seeds and plant them in the available planter boxes. Over time, they produce various ingredients. Along with different meats you can buy, find and earn, you can then cook a range of recipes to make delicious food that offer benefits like recovering your health.
I loved being a pirate. Once you reach the point in the game where you can set sail, you quite literally are sailing a Pirate Ship. Controlling the ship is fun and you can even encounter other ships on the water and take them on in mini battles. It is as exciting as you might think! You can fire your machine guns from the bow or swing around to port or starboard side and fire your cannons to sink the opposing ship.
And because you are a pirate, there is an uncontrollable thirst for treasure! As you sail the ocean, you can find islands and disembark in search of treasures. There will be foes in your way to hold you back and some are more difficult than others. There is no healing during these treasure raids, so ensure you have the right strength and party to take them on. When you succeed, the treasures range from gold to rare and collectible items.
A Yakuza/Like a Dragon game wouldn’t be complete without a slew of mini games to keep you entertained. From playing a Sega System on Rich Island to various casino games in Madlantis, there’s lots to do. Some are just for entertainment, some cost money and can also earn money. You can also raise funds by just brawling in the streets or taking out ships on the water. I found these aspects my favourite part of the game hilarious and fun!
Overall, Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirate in Hawaii is a lot of fun for long-time fans of the series and new players alike. You don’t have to have played the entire series to enjoy it but it really helps. If you like Japanese RPGs, have ever wanted to sail across the seas in swashbuckling adventures with a Japanese twist, then this game is a dream come true.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirate in Hawaii is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
For more information, visit:
https://www.sega.com/like-a-dragon-yakuza/like-a-dragon-pirate-yakuza-in-hawaii