The next Yakuza entry from SEGA is finally here! Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the seventh main title with an all-new fresh take for the series. Like a Dragon trades the beat-em-up action combat of the previous entries for a turn-based RPG approach akin to Dragon Quest. Many systems in Yakuza were already heavily-RPG influenced, but now this new battle system brings the series into a league all its own. I’ve put over a dozen hours into this new Yakuza and here are my impressions so far.
It’s been over two years since we saw Kazuma Kiryu’s finale play out in Yakuza 6, but his story is over and now we have a new protagonist in Like a Dragon - Ichiban Kasuga - whose name literally means “Number One” or “The Best”. It’s almost a joke and there are several instances of him swearing that it’s not a fake name. After over a decade of emotional involvement with Kiryu, it is a little jarring to switch over to Ichiban, who comes across more aloof and comedic than a badass. It’s like trading in Grand Theft Auto and getting Saints Row instead; same kind of gameplay, but one of them doesn’t take itself seriously.
The Story So Far
I am nearing 15 hours of total play time according to the in-game clock, which I feel like doesn’t account for all the time present because I know I’ve invested over 20 hours so far. The main story takes anywhere from 45-50 hours to complete, so I’m only about a third of the way til the end. For context, I am in Chapter 6 and my party members are all around level 20.
Like any previous Yakuza experience, the story is a rollercoaster of crazy events that will ultimately culminate in a grandiose finale. I feel like Yakuza: Like a Dragon has a better pace than previous entries, especially Yakuza 4 and 5 which really take a while to build up. There is still a couple hours of exposition in the beginning, chock-full of cutscenes and limited gameplay, but then Like a Dragon starts coming into its own around the 4-hour mark.
The story begins in Kamurocho, which is the same city that we’ve come to love in previous Yakuza entries, but will eventually transition to Yokohama. Within these first few hours, we learn more about Ichiban and how he is a loyalist to his Yakuza family - to a fault. He takes the blame for a crime he doesn’t commit and gets locked up for 18 long years. This is almost exactly the same premise as Yakuza 1, where Kiryu takes the blame for his friend and goes to jail for 10 years.
The story may begin in the year 2000 on New Year’s Eve, but it really starts going after Ichiban gets out of jail in 2019. It’s fun watching his reactions to certain things that changed in nearly two decades, like cellphones and seeing how the town of Kamurocho changed. Unfortunately, not everything changed for the better and Ichiban is forced to realize that his old family has abandoned him which leads him on a quest to find himself and uncover the secret of his family’s betrayal.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon Quest
The big hook in Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the new turn-based battle system, which is unabashedly inspired by the Dragon Quest series. In some of the opening dialogue, we hear from Ichiban directly that he loves the idea of being a ‘Hero’ and how he was inspired by Dragon Quest as a kid. This theme gets repeated several times and eventually even turns Ichiban’s perspective of enemies into more fantastical characters.
Like a Dragon does not shy away from this inspiration, and leans heavily on the RPG mechanics, including a class, or “job” system with class-specific equipment and skills. There is an overall character level, as well as a separate job level, much like in Final Fantasy or Bravely Default. After the first 10 hours or so in Like a Dragon, you get the ability to unlock new jobs and change your party member’s jobs as well.
Ichiban and his friends all share the same jobs, so you can mix-and-match however you like, except for Saeko, the one woman on my team. She is limited to five gender-locked roles - including being a hostess, an idol, or a dominatrix - and doesn’t have access to any of the other nine jobs that the rest of the crew have.. I feel like this is a huge miss for not only being behind the times, but also not allowing further customization of the party make-up. I wish that we could see all of the jobs incorporated for every character - because I would die to see Ichiban fighting while dressed up like an Idol.
By leveling up various jobs, it improves the overall status and abilities as well. So by investing the time to raise up each job, a character’s stats will increase significantly higher than if they stuck to one job. This system does look pretty in-depth and I can see myself grinding out for hours in order to level up every job and maximize my stats. Unfortunately, I don’t know what kind of end-game activities there are yet, but I hope that there’s a 100-floor dungeon or something that you would find out of a traditional RPG.
The Battling and Equipment Systems
The battles in Yakuza: Like a Dragon are all turn-based and are deeper than I expected from a series that focuses on brawling action previously. There are your standard options - like using Skills or Items, Guarding, or Attack - but are extra layers and mechanics that make the battles less tedious. You can time blocks with enemies attacks in order to perform a ‘Perfect Guard’ to reduce damage, and certain skills require timed button presses in order to cause extra damage.
The good news is that there are still Yakuza-isms in battle, like grabbing nearby environmental objects such as traffic cones and bicycles to attack with. Unfortunately, this system is automated and you can’t manually select to go pick up something to use as a weapon. There’s also a knock-back system when you can knock an enemy down for a limited time which opens them up for a more powerful attack by a teammate.
I found that my success in battles ultimately depended on the quality of my equipment. Weapons and armor were a little difficult to come across in the beginning, and the few shops I came across all had inventory that I couldn’t afford. Shops, like pawn shops or clothing stores, can sell equipment but every store has a unique selection of inventory. This can be a little annoying, especially later on, where you may need to visit several stores in order to find which one carries gear within your budget.
The Yakuza Experience: Minigames
It just wouldn’t be Yakuza without minigames, and there are several in just the opening hours. Of course, you have the traditional slot machines and mahjong parlours, but there’s also SEGA arcades which include some classics such as Fantasy Zone and Virtua Fighter 2. Naturally, there is Karaoke as well and it is every bit as entertaining as previous Yakuza titles.
There are some new minigames that can be beneficial too. For example, soon after arriving in Yokohama you unlock Can Quest, which has Ichiban riding a bike collecting cans to turn in for points. It’s not a great system for actually earning money, but the points from collecting cans can be used to purchase gear and collectibles from Kan-san. This is an excellent way to get geared up in the beginning, and unlock CDs to listen to, including some tracks from Persona 5.
More to Come
I appreciate the similarities and call-backs to the original Yakuza as it definitely feels that Like a Dragon is a reboot for the series. Mimicking the first story in the Yakuza series, but taking it to a fresh new location is healthy for the series. As much as I love Kamuchuro, I eventually want to see a huge open-world Yakuza in the streets of Tokyo, where I can explore Akihabara and Shinjuku. Going to Yokohama is just one step closer to that, and I hope that the series can continue to grow.
It’s questionable if Ryu ga Gotoku studios will continue this new turn-based system going forward, but I think that it is a fantastic fit for Yakuza and I am excited to see what new direction the studio will take the series. In the meantime, I still have a lot to explore in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and I feel like, even a one-third way into the story, I have just barely scratched the surface. Stay tuned for our full review of Yakuza: Like a Dragon next week!
