PC Gamer UK 01.2021 @InternationalPress75

Ichiban starts out as a low-level

yakuza in Kamurocho, the Tokyo red

light district that serves as the main

setting for most of the Yakuza games.

But after a series of unfortunate

events, he ends up homeless in

Yokohama. Yakuza:

Like a Dragon is about

Ichi getting his life back

together, reckoning

with his past, and

beating a lot of people

up along the way.

In many ways, this

is classic Yakuza. It

features an immersive,

detailed urban Japanese setting filled

with minigames, absurd sidequests

and karaoke bars. The story is an

unlikely mix of criminal conspiracy,

heartfelt melodrama and slapstick

comedy. And when a problem arises,

it’s usually solved with outlandish

violence. If you’ve played any Yakuza

game before, its distinctive rhythms

and quirks will be instantly familiar.

However, when it comes to the

combat, this is anything but a typical

Yakuza game. The usual combo-

based brawling has been replaced by

a new turn-based battle system. It’s

pretty standard JRPG fare, with buffs,

debuffs, status effects, and a mix of

weapon-based and magic attacks.

The vibrant presentation, superb

animation and lively pace make up

for its simplicity, but selecting things

from a menu does lack the satisfying

brutality and immediacy of a

standard real-time Yakuza fight.

There are some real-time

elements. Hit the block button at the

precise moment an enemy’s attack

lands and the damage you take will

be reduced. And the power of some

special abilities can be boosted by

following simple QTE prompts.

DRAGON PUNCH

The problem is, there’s far too much

fighting. Yokohama isn’t as dense or

storied as Kamurocho, despite being

several times its size, but the

developer’s knack for evocatively

capturing the mundane

details of everyday life

in Japan is as strong as

ever. I just wish I could

enjoy the place at my

own pace without

running into large

groups of enemies

every 30 seconds.

In previous Yakuza

games you’d frequently get stopped

on the street by thugs looking for a

fight, but the battles were over pretty

quickly and seamlessly. Here, the

endless transitioning in and out of

turn-based battles really ruins the

flow of exploration.

You feel like you’re being

interrupted, rather than these

encounters being an organic part of

the world. And the sheer volume of

battles means the novelty of your

party’s ludicrous special abilities soon

wears thin, which in turn makes the

combat incredibly repetitive.

This extends to the dungeons too.

These maze-like collections of bland

corridors are filled with rubbish loot

and non-stop battles, marking a real

low point for the series.

It’s a shame, because when the

combat isn’t grinding you down, Like

a Dragon has moments of brilliance.

I love hanging out with my party

between missions, singing karaoke,

bullshitting, and knocking back beers.

The characters are as colourful and

interesting as you’d expect from the

series – especially Nanba, a tough but

kind-hearted homeless guy who gets

some of the game’s funniest lines.

The Yakuza games have always

told great stories, but Like a Dragon

lacks the thrill and focus of Yakuza 0.

There are some standout scenes,

especially in the first few acts.

Ichiban crawling out of the gutter

and trying to make a name for

himself in Yokohama are some of the

best moments in the game. But the

overall narrative is quite weak, with a

meandering pace and some slightly

ridiculous twists towards the end.

Like a Dragon is one of the most

uneven Yakuza games in the series. A

lot of the time you can’t help but get

swept up by its eccentric charm.

Then, at other times, you’re praying

for the battles to end as you traipse

through another series of corridors.

NEED TO KNOW

WHAT IS IT?

A new take on the

Yakuza series inspired

by classic JRPGs

EXPECT TO PAY

£55

DEVELOPER

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio

PUBLISHER

Sega

REVIEWED ON

RTX 2080 Super, Intel

i7-9700K, 16GB RAM

MULTIPLAYER

No

LINK

likeadragon.sega.com

72

A fun, charming, and

occasionally brilliant

Yakuza game, let down

by an overabundance of

turn-based battles.

VERDICT

When it comes

to the combat,

this is anything

but a typical

Yakuza game

P

laying a Yakuza game without series stalwart Kazuma Kiryu in

the leading role takes some getting used to. But luckily for

Yakuza: Like a Dragon, it’s easy to warm to new hero Ichiban

Kasuga. He has all the strength and determination of his

predecessor, but with a goofy sense of humour and an

endearing enthusiasm for everything he does – whether that’s taking on

the Korean mafia or employing a chicken to run a sweet shop.

DRAGON QUEST

YAKUZA: LIKE A DRAGON doubles down on the series’ RPG elements

with a brave new turn-based battle system. By Andy Kelly

FREAK SHOW

Some of the weirder enemies you’ll face

PSEUDOTRASH

This oddball

disguises himself

as a bin bag and

ambushes you as

you walk by.

DINE-AND-

DASHER

Big lads who are

the scourge of

Yokohama’s

streets.

WELTRAISER

A body piercing

fanatic who has

modified himself

so much that he no

longer feels pain.

IMP PATIENT

A patient who has

escaped from his

ward. Sneezes on

you and gives you a

debilitating cold.

TURNCOAT

TITILLATOR

Creeps who inflict

negative status

effects by dancing

suggestively.

FASHION

POLICE

A fashionista who

attacks anyone he

sees who has zero

fashion sense.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

REVIEW