SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have just announced their new Like a Dragon/Yakuza game, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii appears to be a spin-off, and not the next part of the main Like a Dragon series.
In this game, players will assume the role of Goro Majima. From what I can see, the game will have a real-time combat system. So, don’t expect the turn-based combat system of the main Like a Dragon games.
To be honest, I’m not a fan of this spin-off. Don’t get me wrong, I love Majima. But I’m simply not a fan of pirate-themed games. That’s also why I didn’t play Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag. I know I know, shame on me. However, this isn’t a Yakuza game I’m remotely interested in.
The game takes place during (or right before) the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Since it’s a spin-off, it won’t continue the story of the series.
Players will be able to assemble a one-of-a-kind pirate crew. And, like most open-world pirate games, it will allow you to upgrade the ship as you explore the open sea.
When an enemy pirate ship catches you in its sights, a real-time cannon battle will break out. During that battle, you’ll be able to quickly maneuver into position while avoiding fire, and deliver devastating damage to board the enemy ship and take down the captain. And, again, like Ubisoft’s Black Flag, you’ll be able to discover hidden islands and acquire loads of loot.
Moreover, the game will allow you to dynamically switch between the “Mad Dog” and “Sea Dog” fighting styles to mix-up attacks and deliver explosive combos, juggles, and aerial takedowns that reward your creativity with over-the-top action.
With “Mad Dog” style, you’ll be able to utilize speed, agility, and flair to deliver precise yet powerful blows that stun your enemies into submission. On the other hand, the “Sea Dog” style will have you dual-wielding short swords and deploying tricky pirate tools to kick some serious booty.
Finally, like a true Yakuza/Like a Dragon game, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will feature numerous side missions and side activities.
SEGA plans to release Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii on February 28th, 2025.
Enjoy the trailer!
John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
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have faith
Majima turned into one of the best characters in the last decade with y0 and y2 remastered.
he deserves his own game.
Goro is easily the best character from this series, but this game is a lame cash grab, imho.
They gotta make sure they get their money's worth after spending all the resources making those Hawaii assets. I bet Judgement 3, an Infinite Wealth Expansion and a 3 Kiwami will all use Hawaii and the assets for a long while.
Sadly this is very plausible.
Agreed, though it's at least better getting a standalone game than boring and short DLCs for Infinite Wealth.
i find it hard to believe that there is a audience for so many yakuza games.
They are nice RPGs focused on characters and hit and miss narratives, the clash of tones between the main story and the side quests are usually well done.
And once you get into one, you have to play the next one…they are addictive that way if you are interest in a bit of japanese culture.
Huge Like a Dragon fan here. This does not bring joy. Hopefully its at the same price as like a dragon gaiden.
edit: just saw the gameplay portion, it has potential. Hopefully its still just $40.
same, i played almost every yakuza game, loved every bit of them etc and it's the very sirt time that a yakuza game doesn't attract me
i don't like direction RGG took since few year aggo since some original people working on RGG left the studio
Personally I guess I thought there would be more of a balance between the darker/serious/crime drama stuff to the goofier stuff. Going from Gaiden to Infinite Wealth was fine. I had expected maybe a dlc or expansion for infinite wealth that would focus more on a follow up with the freed yakuza from its ending. I like Majima as much as the next guy but It feels like we got 2 goofy ones in a row. Maybe by next year Ill have drained the Yakuza urge enough to be more welcome to this.
Like a Dragon Gaiden was a substantial game for $40.
It earned every dollar too. And that ending is probably in my Top 3 endings of any game ever. I'll admit I got emotional watching it.
It was a big payoff for people that had played the previous games.
I never know what to expect when it comes to the Like a Dragon franchise now.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
With such insanely ridiculous titles like these for such pathetic excuses to milk out as much as possible from the same franchise that has already been milked to death, don't you think that they kinda ring a bell?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/364b23d14ff74f7df0e0047461c53fb0e5ae33de88595e27f231f4147e19f1d2.png
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/10959510416cbff75a707376cef86bc10b9d353186d5b5bedb68d13ad715f87b.jpg
Disclaimer: The first image is not a real game, but the second one is real that literally got made into an actual fucking thing.
yeah it should have been Like a Dragon Pirate or Like A Dragon Gaiden Pirate
Goro Majima is one of the best and underused character in the series so this is very good news.
Flanderization: the game.
I like the Yakuza games and Majima, and this obvious cash grab looks promising for mindless fun, i have to respect Sega for having the balls to go all in towards the absurdity…it will get old eventually (i miss the days of the classic Yakuza games, basically Japanese criminal dramas tbh).
To be fair, they still do that to some extent with the Judgement series and Man Who Lost His Name Gaiden. It just feels like its been so long now.
True, but it feels like most characters are wacky now, when usually that was Majima's role, that made him stand out among other things. There was this contrast of having these colourful characters in a more or less grounded world.
Then you have Ichiban and his games, and everyone is over the top now.
Absolutely right you are!
I feel like Infinite Wealth rode the line well and until the final series of battles on the Hawaii side. I really love the Kiryu Ending even though a lot of people see it as weakness but it felt cathartic as a fan of the series for so long. Delusional 40 Year Old Man fighting off Megalodon, Kraken and Evil James Bond Villain Cult was hype but in contrast to the other Kiryu it was quite literally jumping the shark so to speak and kills any ability to suspend disbelief in an already fantastical series where you fight giant ghost bears and construction cranes.
Looks super lame. I really wish they could have done a spinoff of the main series after 0 or somewhere in there that was majima focused idk it was ok I guess having him stalking kiryu but we wanted more of majima as the boss of his own crew etc This just franchising of a character I guess oof.
I'm actually mildly excited for this( i havent played IW yet though). JUST MAKE A BLACK FLAG SERIES someone plz and ty. ubi already had the marketing and buy-in on brand….and they Fuc*ed it