Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a proper seafaring adventure

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In simpler terms, fans of Goro Majima are eagerly anticipating the new game from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, which is part of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series. This upcoming game, titled Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, puts Goro Majima front and center, leading players on an exciting pirate adventure across Hawaiian islands. Essentially, this game combines swashbuckling pirate action with the thrilling elements of previous Yakuza games.

A fresh start for the Mad Dog

Anyone familiar with Goro Majima recognizes that he’s been a source of chaos throughout the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series. He’s often either pursuing Kiryu to assist or confront him, or engaging in both activities at once. However, this time he finds himself stranded on islands near Hawaii with no memory of his past actions or how he arrived there. A youth named Noah and his tiger companion (also named Goro) aid Majima in regaining his footing. As they do, Majima decides to reciprocate their kindness by helping them deal with local troublemakers. This leads to him being appointed captain of his own pirate ship and gathering a crew for a voyage, aiming to recover his lost memories, improve the lives of those who helped him, and cause some positive change along the way.

As a die-hard fan, I must say, playing the demo was like being plunged headfirst into the seafaring exploits of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. The immersive experience is as intriguing and expansive as any game I’ve encountered recently. Once you commandeer your vessel, the Goromaru, you’re free to sail the seas, embark on quests that lead to far-off islands, pirate strongholds, buried loot, and so much more. The developers hinted that a significant portion of the map from Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth can be explored here, which only adds to my excitement!

It seems that the customization options for the Goromaru might be its most significant aspect. You can adorn this vessel with a wide array of collectible weapons, strategically placing them on the starboard, port, and bow. The selection includes machine guns, cannons, lasers, and even status-inflicting weapons that cause frost, fire, poison, among others, to harm enemy ships. Additionally, the game offers a plethora of recruitable crewmates for your ship, each possessing unique abilities such as enhanced ship attack bonuses or superior stats in deck battles. Some crew members will join you naturally through the storyline, while others can be found or obtained through additional quests. Lastly, you’re given the freedom to customize the appearance of your ship, making it as stylish or whimsical as desired.

In this action-packed game set in Hawaii, Goro Majima can be tailored to suit your preferences. You’ll find a vast selection of clothes scattered across the Pirate Yakuza world, which you can mix and match based on the fighting style you choose. Moreover, there are numerous rings in the game that can be placed on any of Goro’s fingers (up to ten rings in total). These rings can enhance his abilities in specific fighting styles, boost stats like HP and attack, or provide resistance to status effects when worn in a set. Overall, the customization options offer a rich and flexible experience, allowing you to tailor the gameplay to your unique style.

Anchors aweigh!

The intriguing gameplay loop for Pirate Yakuza set in Hawaii involves a lot of customization. A majority of the time, players will find themselves exploring on foot as Majima, completing missions, engaging in brawls, and collecting supplies and crewmates. Alternatively, they’ll be sailing their pirate ship across the ocean, taking on nautical quests and ship battles. In land-based activities, players can choose between two combat styles – Sea Dog and Mad Dog. The Sea Dog style features a pirate-themed moveset with Goro wielding two cutlasses, a pistol, and a grappling hook for more tactical combat. On the other hand, Mad Dog emphasizes Goro’s hand-to-hand skills (while his signature knife remains in use). In both modes, players will engage in intense Yakuza-style fights, using anything and everything at their disposal to defeat their foes.

Using Goro’s combat abilities offers numerous advantages as well. Throughout our journey, we encountered bounty missions where we could earn money by tracking down grumpy outlaws, groups of thugs who roamed peaceful regions seeking conflict, and a multitude of side quests and activities. Some of these side quests even featured attractions such as functional arcade machines (we found Virtua Fighter 4 among them), the comeback of Dragon Kart, karaoke sessions, and much more.

On the pirate vessel anchored in Hawaii, the bustling Pirate Yakuza becomes more lively. For instance, there’s Madlantis, a secret hideout hosting various competitions catering to diverse styles. The highlight is the captain duels where you go head-to-head with other captains and their fleets within Madlantis, aiming to climb up the ranks. Additionally, there are unique fleet battles that test your resilience and determination to prevail against progressively tougher opponents. Most of our time on the pirate ship was spent positioning our best weapons on the starboard, fore, or port sides, ready for a fight with enemy ships, ultimately leading to ship-to-ship combat.

In these ship combats, we would transfer our team to immobilized vessels for clashes with their crews and commanders. This was an exhilarating pandemonium as well. Typically, you’d find yourself engaged in a 20 versus 20 melee, pitted against rival captains and their respective teams. The skills of your assembled crew become crucial during these encounters, and ensuring a balanced team will be significant. Besides the Madlantis challenges and competitions, the ship is also utilized for voyages across the Hawaiian expanse, encountering patrol vessels, discovering treasures, fishing, and much more. It’s all quite immersive and rewarding, offering an experience that we haven’t felt in a pirate game for some time.

Set sail for adventure

In a surprising turn of events, the announcement of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was quite a shock, but upon reflection, it seems like it’s going to be a blast! Given the scarcity of quality pirate-themed games, this one looks promising as it fills a niche that other games have failed to address. The game combines classic brawling action from the Yakuza series with side activities, and the pirate gameplay feels like it could be top-notch for quite some time. In essence, whether you’re a longtime fan of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series or not, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is shaping up to be an adventure that’s hard to resist.

As a gaming enthusiast,

“I’ve had the privilege of getting an early sneak peek at Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii on the PS5. This epic adventure is setting sail for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on February 21, 2025. Can’t wait to join you on this journey!

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2025-01-16 20:27