The Yakuza sequence has no scarcity of bizarre video games. From the intense however goofy at instances mainline entries to its plethora of historic spinoffs, prequels, and aspect tales. There’s one thing for everybody right here, actually. Whether or not you’re searching for the subsequent installment within the lengthy operating Like a Dragon sequence, or simply need to play one thing just a little totally different, our final hands-on with Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii forward of launch means that it’s shaping as much as be one other stable spin-off that may plunder dozens of hours from you.
Ever since Murderer’s Creed IV: Black Flag dropped manner again in 2013, I’ve been itching for an additional worthy pirate journey. Whereas there have been a couple of first rate makes an attempt launched since then, none of them managed to seize my consideration and made me excited to get to pirating till I obtained the possibility to play Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. At first look, Pirates and Yakuza might look like a mix that’s about as suitable as oil and water. However upon nearer inspection, Like a Dragon’s world, eccentric essential character, and never too overly critical presentation makes for a surprisingly competent and enjoyable pirate journey.
In Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii you assume the function of longtime sequence favourite Goro Majima after he loses his reminiscence and winds up on an Hawaiian island. From every thing I noticed throughout my few hours of hands-on time, the sequence’ weirdness is cranked as much as 11 right here. Outdoors of beating up roving gangs of pirates and the occasional bounty with my small tiger companion, I discovered myself recruiting a large assortment of weirdos to my pirate crew, taking part in a plethora of enjoyable and surprisingly addicting minigames – akin to a house run derby, karaoke, and crusing the pacific ocean in my pirate ship, full with ship-to-ship fight and aggressive climate. To place it bluntly, there’s loads to do right here.
Island Time
Throughout my preview I spent quite a lot of time within the pirate metropolis of Madlantis, an space overrun by pirates, criminals, and a few genuinely unusual individuals even by Yakuza’s requirements. I used to be capable of take part in quite a few minigames and aspect actions akin to claw video games, ports of traditional SEGA arcade video games like Virtua Fighter, and the Pirates’ Coliseum, an space the place I used to be capable of have interaction in ship-to-ship fight to battle it out with an assortment of distinctive pirate crews, in addition to different combat-based minigames.
Talking of fight, in essential gameplay, it strays away from the JRPG flip primarily based fashion of the 2 earlier Like a Dragon video games in favor of a extra conventional beat-’em-up fight fashion. Majima has two preventing kinds: Mad Canine and Sea Canine. Whereas each preventing kinds are rooted in the usual “heavy and light-weight assault combined in with dodges” method, each kinds play in another way sufficient that I discovered myself swapping between them with a view to preserve the momentum on my aspect and deal out as a lot injury as doable. In Mad Canine mode, Majima will don his acquainted getup and use a plethora of quick combos to rapidly dispatch an enemy. Sea Canine, alternatively, has Majima sporting a pirate getup and depends on pirate-themed weaponry akin to two cutlass swords, a pistol, and a grappling hook. Whereas Mad Canine was enjoyable to play, the vast majority of my fight time was spent in Sea Canine resulting from its numerous assortment of weapons and talents. No matter what preventing fashion I had chosen, although I discovered myself having a ton of enjoyable beating up dozens of rival pirates.
That’s to not say fight didn’t have its shortcomings, although. Blocking and dodging took a little bit of follow to get used to, and the enemies can vary from a complete pushover to a problem that had me seeing the sport over display screen extra instances than I had anticipated to in a Yakuza sport. Nonetheless, as soon as I discovered the way to successfully change between preventing kinds and reap the benefits of each software and skill I had accessible, the fight grew to become a difficult however rewarding expertise.
Set Sail
Naval fight is a welcome addition to the Like a Dragon universe. Whereas some video games are inclined to over complicate ship fight, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii goes with a “much less is extra” method to its maritime warfare sections. My ship had a couple of strategies of destroying enemy vessels the port aspect of my pirate ship was donned with short-range flamethrowers that would deal immense injury so long as I used to be near my goal, whereas the starboard aspect of my ship was outfitted with long-range cannons. Firing off these two choices along with the front-facing machine weapons is how I spent most of my time in ship-to-ship fight. The third choice was to go away the helm of my ship and use Majima’s rocket launcher. Whereas this didn’t do as a lot injury as the opposite choices, it was fairly enjoyable to leap round my boat and take pot pictures at enemy ships. No matter which technique I selected to interact in, I discovered myself having enjoyable drifting my boat round and sinking enemy vessels.
Based mostly on every thing I’ve performed to date, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is unquestionably shaping as much as not solely stay as much as the excessive requirements of the Like a Dragon sequence, nevertheless it additionally has the potential to develop into one of many higher pirate video games launched since Black Flag. With its enjoyable and inventive fight, intuitive ship warfare, and genuinely attention-grabbing and wacky world, you’re going to need to pack your Hawaiian shirt.
