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We had the opportunity to try out Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii for an hour on the PlayStation 5. In our hands-on preview of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, we’ll explore RGG Studio’s bold maritime adventure that transforms Goro Majima from ex-yakuza to swashbuckling captain in paradise. While the premise of an amnesiac Majima becoming a pirate might sound outlandish even by Like a Dragon standards, the result is a surprisingly cohesive blend of familiar franchise elements and fresh nautical gameplay.
Naval Warfare: A Fresh Take on Combat
The naval combat system emerges as one of the game’s standout features, offering accessible yet engaging ship-to-ship battles. Players have multiple tactical options at their disposal – from traditional broadside cannon volleys to more aggressive approaches like ramming or direct weapon control. The unlimited ammunition system, restricted only by cooldowns, keeps the action flowing while maintaining tactical depth through positioning and timing.
Particularly impressive is the ability to position your ship between two enemies and fire both broadsides simultaneously, creating satisfying tactical moments. However, this freedom comes with strategic trade-offs. Taking manual control of the ship’s machine guns or bazooka can deal significant damage but leaves your vessel vulnerable without a captain at the helm.
On-Deck Combat: Majima’s New Moves
When battles move from sea to land, the game returns to more familiar territory while introducing new elements. Upon depleting a stronger enemy ship’s HP, players must board the vessel for traditional Like a Dragon-style combat. These boarding actions integrate well with the naval mechanics, as your crew’s effectiveness depends heavily on how you’ve customized and assigned roles to your team members.
Ship Life and The Hawaiian Playground
Your vessel serves as more than just a combat platform – it’s a living hub of activities that add depth to the experience. The cooking minigame stands out as particularly engaging, offering genuine challenge while remaining entertaining. Beyond cooking, players can build relationships with their subordinates through a gift-giving system and even participate in the series’ signature karaoke sessions at sea.
While the Hawaii map may be repurposed from previous Like a Dragon installments, RGG Studio has expanded the playground significantly with additional grappling points and areas for Majima to explore. This vertical expansion adds fresh perspectives to known locations, making the familiar territory feel renewed.
Side Content: The Return of Minato Girls and Various Activities
The Minato girls storyline returns with increased prominence, driven by Masaru Fujita (played by comedian Ryūji Akiyama). These side quests promise substantial content for series fans, blending entertainment with comedic scenes. The addition of personalities like KSON adds further depth to the character interactions.
The game maintains the series’ reputation for engaging minigames, with each offering genuine challenges without becoming frustrating. The cooking and baseball minigames particularly shine, demonstrating RGG Studio’s commitment to quality side content that enhances rather than merely extends the experience.
Final Thoughts
From our hands-on time with and preview of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, the game successfully balances sea exploration with traditional Like a Dragon-style drama. The various gameplay elements – from naval combat to character interactions – feel naturally integrated rather than forced together, creating a cohesive experience that should satisfy both series veterans and newcomers.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii successfully expands the series’ horizons with its maritime mechanics while maintaining the core elements fans love. The combination of naval warfare, traditional combat, and rich side content creates an engaging experience that feels fresh yet familiar. While some might wish for entirely new locations rather than expanded existing ones, the quality of content and engaging gameplay loops make this Hawaiian pirate adventure a worthy addition to the Like a Dragon series.
A new legend begins as you step into the steel toe boots of Goro Majima, a man who has lost his memory and reinvents himself as a pirate on the open sea.
Embark on an over-the-top, modern-day pirate adventure with an ex-yakuza, now pirate captain and his crew as they engage in exhilarating combat on land and sea in the hunt for lost memories and a legendary treasure.
