Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii review: Bury me in Madlantis

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In the world of Yakuza/Like a Dragon, Goro Majima is more than just a jovial character; he’s someone who should be respected and not underestimated. If there comes a time when words won’t suffice to settle disputes in this universe, Majima stands tall alongside the legendary Kiryu Kazuma. It’s fitting, given that only Goro Majima could have masterminded an escapade like Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Hawaii edition). This game not only revisits the action-packed roots of the series but also dares to be eccentric by allowing you to assemble a crew and embark on a genuine pirate adventure across the high seas.

What’s one to do when you don’t know you?

On a secluded island near Hawaii, Goro Majima finds himself, with no memory of his past. A local resident, Noah Rich, along with his feline companion named Goro (yes, the tiger is also called Goro), stumbles upon Majima and offers him water and aid. The small island they inhabit is home to Noah, a sickly boy with respiratory issues, and his father, Jason, a disheartened former treasure hunter who gave up his adventures for the sake of protecting Noah. However, their existence on the minuscule Rich Island has left them feeling trapped and unfulfilled. Eager to explore beyond the island’s shores, Noah yearns for adventure, and Majima vows to help him fulfill this dream as a gesture of gratitude for saving his life.

By mere coincidence, pirates are as abundant as molasses in the waters surrounding Rich Island. Furthermore, there exist factions advocating for a pirate haven called Madlantis, ruled by the cunning Queen Michele. Additionally, stories persist of an unclaimed treasure, known as Esperanza, said to be worth over a billion dollars in gold and other valuables. Another island is home to a nuclear waste clean-up facility, inhabited by a secretive religious sect and a community of former Yakuza, possibly linked to Goro Majima’s memories. With so many intriguing leads to follow, Majima acquires control of a pirate vessel and embarks on the Hawaiian seas, seeking adventures with Noah Rich and potentially recovering his lost memories if time permits.

In a whimsical twist, the absurdity that surrounds the Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is perfectly fitting for Goro Majima’s character. Despite his memory loss, Goro’s reckless, fearless, and light-hearted nature complement the eccentric circumstances he and his team encounter throughout the game. Accompanying him are an array of compelling characters such as Jason, Noah Rich, the chef Matsuru, and Queen Michele who collectively form a strong supporting cast. Samoa Joe’s portrayal of Pirate King Raymond Law is noteworthy too. Though it occasionally veers into excessive campiness and goofiness, including a pirate crew musical number, there remains an allure of hidden treasure and engaging plot twists to unravel with this entertaining cast.

Not only does it transport us to numerous stunning destinations, but each place offers something unique. From exploring the vast oceans on a ship, to playing among the pirates in Madlantis, which resembles Vegas, or returning to normal life in Honolulu, there’s an abundance of sights to behold and most of it is breathtakingly beautiful. Madlantis, in particular, shares a spirit reminiscent of Final Fantasy 7’s Gold Saucer. It’s like a non-stop carnival filled with rogues, and I find it captivating.

I found that the treasure islands in Ryu Ga Gotoku lacked a bit of creativity, as they mainly consist of cave, jungle, and dock corridors for combat, giving off an uninspired vibe and appearing to be made from prefabricated pieces. However, if you ignore that, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii offers an enjoyable storyline and features many stunning locations to explore.

Mad Dog turned Sea Dog

In the game Ryu Ga Gotoku, set in Hawaii, the developer chose to revert to the original combat styles seen in earlier Yakuza games when it comes to ground-based action. Characters like Pirate Yakuza, who goes by Goro, can exhibit his Yakuza “Mad Dog” martial arts style during exploration between missions or side quests, even carrying a knife as part of this style. However, he also has the option to switch to an entirely new style called Sea Dog. In this pirate outfit, Majima is armed with two cutlasses that can be thrown like boomerangs, and later acquires a pistol and chained hook. This transformation makes him into a formidable single-style weapon. Both styles are enjoyable, but I find Mad Dog particularly useful in one-on-one confrontations while Sea Dog excels at managing large groups.

I find myself slightly less enthusiastic about the extensive tutorializing in Pirate Yakuza Hawaii, as it seems to spend an excessive amount of time teaching you how to interact with its numerous systems and features during the early stages of play. While I understand the importance of familiarizing players with game mechanics, there appears to be a considerable amount of time spent on these lessons, which can slow down the pace of the game. By the time you reach Honolulu, you’re required to learn about all its offerings, such as side jobs, ship upgrades, and crew recruitment. As a result, you spend less time sailing and exploring the seas, and more time learning these new skills.

To be honest, I find the piracy element to be the most captivating aspect of this entire setup. The game “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii” is divided into several maps of islands and sea, where you’ll navigate your ship, engaging in combat with hostile pirate ships, docking at lighthouses to establish checkpoint areas, and sailing towards treasure islands to seize their riches (respectively). With each victory, more money is accumulated to enhance Majima’s fighting skills, unlock new moves, upgrade the ship and its weapons, or acquire ingredients for potent health items or feasts to boost your crew’s spirits. The happier they are, the better they perform in battle.

Gathering a crew is another exciting challenge in Pirate Yakuza Hawaii! Potential recruits can be found in abundance, but most will demand something to join your team. This could range from defeating them or someone else in combat, providing them an item, gaining fame through pirate-related activities, completing side quests, or simply progressing the story far enough. Each new crew member brings fresh abilities and benefits to your team. They are essential for manning the weapons on your ship, leading deck battle squads, accompanying you on treasure island expeditions, and much more. The more crew members I could recruit, train, and level up through activities and feasts, the more my powerful vessel and crew grew stronger with every new recruit, upgrade, and victory.

In addition to the main storyline, there’s plenty more to explore and engage with within Pirate Yakuza. The game is richly populated with side-activities and minigames, thanks to Ryu Ga Gotoku’s knack for such features. You’ll find familiar pastimes like arcade and console games, claw machines, Mahjong, darts, and karaoke, but they’ve been given a pirate makeover – think baseball batting cages and golf ranges reimagined as pirate-themed versions. A cooking mini-game is also included, which can boost the quality of your food. There are various side missions too, many of which are amusingly absurd but often reward you with new crew members. Madlantis even has a coliseum system where you battle other pirate crews in ship combat, rising through the ranks as you go. In short, Pirate Yakuza offers a wealth of intriguing activities to keep you busy!

Anchors aweigh, we sail for Madlantis

Experiencing Goro Majima in a pirate escapade was just as amusing and action-packed as I’d imagined. This game offers a delightful gameplay experience, combining thrilling sea voyages with ship-wrecking cannon attacks, followed by intense battles against the enemy crews. Even though the land-based storylines and side missions occasionally delayed my sailing expeditions, there was usually something interesting to engage in between main quests and numerous optional activities. Like a Dragon: Hawaii Pirate Yakuza doesn’t require as much commitment as Yakuza 6 or Infinite Wealth, but it certainly provides an enjoyable way to while away the time with our beloved Mad Dog of Shimano, keeping us entertained until RGG unveils its next major project.

The critique I’ve written is based on an early PlayStation 5 digital version that was provided by the publisher. On February 21, 2025, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will be available to play on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

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2025-02-18 18:28