Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, scheduled for release on February 28 is an action-adventure game starring Goro Majima for the first time as the sole protagonist. After losing his memory and being stranded on Rich Island near Hawaii, Majima takes on the role of a pirate and sets out on a grand adventure across the ocean. Recently introduced at Tokyo Game Show 2024, I got my hands on the highly anticipated title and here are my impressions of the gameplay experience.
pirate life
In this hands-on preview, players will control Majima as he embarks on an adventure in Hawaii, engaging in battles and activities. At the start of the game, Majima is shown traveling by ship with his crew, including Jason, his son Noah, and Masaru, a chef and bodyguard. Their goal is to reach the imaginary island of Madlantis, but they stop in Honolulu to prepare.
Mad dog and pirate style
As Majima and Noah walk along the beach, the battle tutorial begins. Unlike the direct RPG command system of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, this title returns to Majima’s action-packed, fighting roots, last seen in Yakuza Kiwami 2. Players can switch Switches between two fighting styles, Mad Dog and Pirate, with the latter involving a transformation into a pirate-themed outfit.
In Mad Dog style, Majima mainly uses fists and knives to fight. Compared to Kazuma Kiryu, Majima’s movements are significantly faster, with nimble footsteps and quick attacks. The standout feature of this style is its ability to jump, allowing Majima to perform combos in the air. Players can enjoy the satisfying feeling of launching enemies into the air and continuing to attack mid-air. The extended airtime makes it easy for those unfamiliar with action games to perform aerial combos.
Additionally, as time passes or when Heat Impact is activated, the Madness Gauge in the top left corner of the screen will fill up, allowing Majima to create clones. Once activated, four shadow clones of Majima appear and begin attacking nearby enemies. It’s exciting to see Majima in the center, spinning like a top with his clones and knocking enemies around.
Pirate Style focuses on attacks using pirate-themed weapons, especially cutlass, a curved, single-edged sword that pirates carry in movies. Majima can use two types of glasses to slash enemies and even throw them like a boomerang. The Charge gun increases in power the longer the button is held, and also has the option to use a rope hook. This allows Majima to attack from afar or quickly close the distance with enemies, offering flexible combat strategies depending on the situation.
During combat, you can seamlessly switch between the two fighting styles at any time. Even players who aren’t comfortable with action games can enjoy flashy, dynamic moves by mixing and matching these styles. In particular, the Pirate style, with its use of pirate-themed tools and unique actions, is sure to become addictive. Similar to Kiryu’s gadget-based Agent style in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Majima’s Pirate style offers a tough way to fight.
Playing around in Honolulu
After completing the combat tutorial, I was free to explore and enjoy various activities in Honolulu. I got to try out popular features like Karaoke and Boutique, along with explosive racing Dragon Kart and the stunt-based delivery game, Crazy Delivery. While these activities are familiar to players, experiencing them as Majima instead of Ichiban Kasuga brings a refreshing change to the gameplay.
The crowd of Madlantis
Play for a while, you can talk to Jason and eventually set foot on the island of Madlantis. It is a desolate place called the ship cemetery, a gathering place for mafia and gangs. The island exudes an air of decadence and you will often have to fight with rowdy people. There are also gambling spots to enjoy games like poker.
As you gather information from the rude guys and head towards the bar where Keith resides, a battle will occur. Surrounded by a horde of henchmen, Majima’s fighting skills truly shine. Using the Mad Dog style, you can confuse your enemies with agile acrobatic movements while wielding a knife. Pirate style, on the other hand, allows you to unleash wide-area attacks with dual swords. The one-on-one fight with Keith offers thrilling action as you dodge, defend, and attack at the right moments.
While the idea of Majima becoming a pirate seems far-fetched, the gameplay proves to be a solid action-adventure experience. Majima’s signature Mad Dog personality shines through, showing that even with amnesia, he can’t help but enjoy the thrill of battle. There’s a lot to look forward to when Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches February 28 on PS5.
