Kiryu Kazuma and Kasuga Ichiban are two sides of the identical Like a Dragon coin. Their personalities couldn’t be extra completely different — Kiryu, a world-weary lone wolf, and Kasuga, a Dragon Quest-loving golden retriever — however they stay by a comparable code of ethics and share a comparable previous, each locked up for crimes they did not commit to assist out their yakuza households. It was a bummer that Kiryu did not stick round longer when he got here round in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The two males would positive as hell have a lot to speak about.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth lastly brings the 2 mainline protagonists collectively for an ultra-compelling and sprawling recreation that lives as much as its subtitle. The three-and-a-half-ish hours I spent roaming Honolulu and Yokohama, sprucing up the trashed Dondoko Island, and battling a Megalodon-sized shark felt like a drop within the Pacific Ocean when it comes to the sport’s scope. And that is simply talking to the gameplay. Having each Kasuga and Kiryu as playable protagonists place the story on a broad emotional spectrum that performs to the strengths of every character’s worldview: Kasuga and his ridiculousness, Kiryu and his legacy of battle. It is a nice steadiness between the previous and way forward for the Like a Dragon franchise.
Over in Honolulu, Kasuga and his buddies are out trying to find his mom as soon as thought lifeless. The map right here is one thing to behold. It is Ryu Ga Gotoku’s biggest-ever space for the sequence, fantastically designed, and the quantity of element put into it’s staggering to soak up. Extra eating places, outlets, minigames, and substories can be found, and places to unlock bond conversations with Kasuga’s teammates at the moment are conveniently marked. An even bigger map additionally means extra transportation choices. Except for the taxi stands, trolley strains are throughout Honolulu, which is a extra relaxed choice to soak up the sights and have conversations with Kasuga’s teammates. Lastly, Kasuga acquires a rechargeable Segway via an appropriately ridiculous substory, which is, after all, a lot quicker than working round on foot, much less inflexible than the set places of trolleys and cabs, and very goofy-looking. Throughout, a internet constructive.
Infinite Wealth additionally carries on the identical turn-based fight as Yakuza: Like a Dragon. It both works for you or it does not — I am within the former camp — and the studio has made particular enhancements to that system in order that I felt extra engaged and had extra methods to behave strategically. It appears easy, however having a circle wherein to maneuver round provides a actual benefit relating to actions like using close by objects as weapons or sneaking behind an enemy to carry out a highly effective again assault. The command interface has additionally been improved (and Persona-fied). Tag Group strikes are now not hidden in talent lists however proven straight subsequent to the command menu. Perhaps one of the best enchancment on this class is a better approach to keep away from preventing. In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, I at all times received a little aggravated once I received tousled with a few of the road freaks once I was simply making an attempt to get from one place to a different, particularly in the event that they had been so many ranges under me that the expertise factors from defeating them could be negligible. In Infinite Wealth, enemies at the moment are coloration coded by power, and so they’re much less delicate to me working by.
I can say a lot extra about simply hanging out in Honolulu — All my new mates! The abundance of job adjustments! Swimming within the ocean! — however then this might go on for an hour. As a substitute, I am going to simply say that Hawaii is a blast, full of hidden gems and a unbelievable humorousness.
Subsequent, I used to be ported over to Dondoko Island, which many individuals have already referred to as, rightfully, Like a Dragon’s Animal Crossing. The garbage-filled landmass will get Kasuga as its one-man cleanup crew with the objective of constructing it up into a five-star resort. Except for the extra violent spearfishing, the mechanics of choosing up shells and netting bugs is just about equivalent to Animal Crossing, and time additionally equally passes. Kasuga has a cozy home to embellish, he should purchase junk from the island’s common retailer, and he can craft new gadgets by buying sources like wooden and stone. However, in true Like a Dragon vogue, even the serene Dondoko Island is not proof against a little preventing right here and there. It is the one place the place the sport turns again into an motion brawler to take out pirates and different threats. All in all, it is a good break from the principle storyline and will legitimately be its personal standalone recreation that the comfy players may sink 300 hours into with out batting a watch.
Leaping over to Yokohama, Kiryu’s perspective begins and the tone of the storyline turns considerably extra melancholy and existential. Kiryu has most cancers, and his new buddies in Kasuga’s previous squad encourage him to jot down a bucket record of issues he desires to do earlier than he dies. On the high of the record is, sure, karaoke. On high of these duties, the map is plagued by callouts to take nostalgia journeys that replay key elements of Kiryu’s life. The fast 30-or-so minutes I performed in Yokohama felt like the start of what would most likely function a lengthy, bittersweet goodbye to Kiryu.
In some ways, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a watershed second for franchise. It is fairly possible a last ship off for the cancer-stricken underworld legend Kiryu, and the official induction ceremony for Kasuga as Kiryu’s successor within the sequence transferring ahead. It is no shock, then, that RGG would have put an immense quantity of effort and time to make such a large recreation that ups the ante on the practically 20 years of titles that got here earlier than it whereas nailing the steadiness of foolish and severe. I’ve no motive to consider this recreation isn’t gonna rule.