A legendary member of the Yakuza’s Tojo clan wakes up on a seashore with no thought how they bought there. Clothing optional. Hijinx ensue. It’d sound like our preliminary have a look at Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth at the Xbox Video games Showcase in 2023, however it’s in reality a model new journey.
Our first look at Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii purposely performed on that now-iconic introduction, but it surely’s taking a distinctive path. At the least Goro Majima – the “Mad Canine of Shimano” and fan-favorite anti-hero of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon sequence – is sporting pants right here, for a begin. In Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Majima has misplaced his reminiscence (making this a good place to begin for many who haven’t performed earlier than) and has no thought why he’s on this seashore, or what’s going on. That makes two of us, good friend!
In right now’s Xbox Partner Preview, we noticed a entire new trailer, which (amongst many different issues) gave us a first have a look at the recreation’s brand-new naval battles, and a new, earlier-than-anticipated launch date of February 21, 2025. Between the two appears to be like at the recreation, this Yakuza fan has a lot of questions. And luckily, Like a Dragon sequence Chief Producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto has sailed to our rescue to reply them.
Xbox Wire: Waking up on a seashore is turning into *a factor* for Like a Dragon characters, huh? What are you able to inform us about the circumstances main up to the opening moments of this trailer? Is that this going down after the occasions of Infinite Wealth?
Sakamoto-san: Sure, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii takes place round 6 months after the occasions of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Whereas we don’t need to reveal an excessive amount of, we will say that there’s a deep story to unravel the thriller surrounding Majima’s reminiscence loss throughout an accident and setting off on an journey with a boy he meets on a tropical island.
Xbox Wire: OK, I’ve to know: the place did this concept come from?
Sakamoto-san: We really got here up with the thought for this recreation whereas we have been nonetheless creating Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and we puzzled what the three important characters, Majima, Saejima and Daigo would do after the story ended. The concept got here from compiling a historical past that may clarify what occurred to them after the occasions of Infinite Wealth, into a huge facet story.
Xbox Wire: Goro Majima has featured in at the least a dozen Yakuza/Like a Dragon video games, sporting an eyepatch in all of them – was it all the time his future for us to see him as a pirate?
Sakamoto-san: Though Majima’s eye patch has turn into his signature look, he didn’t all the time have to put on one. Whereas we don’t need to spoil this for followers who’re new to the sequence or trying to play all titles from the very starting, they’ll learn how he will get his eye patch in the first place in Yakuza 0. He has all the time solid his personal path and popped up in sudden locations, so whether or not future or not, it’s very Majima-like to take the helm of this new journey.
Xbox Wire: What are you able to inform us about the naval gameplay seen in this new trailer?
Sakamoto-san: On this recreation, Majima and his crew will take to the excessive seas and discover totally different areas past Hawaii, together with Wealthy Island, Madlantis and different hidden islands. Whereas we can’t reveal particulars simply but, gamers can count on thrilling cannon battles and a entire lot of motion, each between ships and brawls. We’ll share a extra in-depth have a look at the naval fight system in the future, however we hope the new trailer has bought you excited for the open sea journey you’ll embark on.
Xbox Wire: Apart from ship-to-ship battle, we get glimpses of what Like a Dragon is thought for: brawling. Are roles reversed in this recreation, the place naval fight is the major gameplay mode, with motion/preventing nearly in a ‘minigame’ function?
Sakamoto-san: Whereas naval battle will likely be new, real-time motion fight will nonetheless play a important function in the recreation. As well as to Majima’s Mad Canine model centered on velocity, agility, and knife preventing, he additionally has a Sea Canine model the place gamers can dual-wield cutlass quick swords, pistols and different pirate instruments in fight. We encourage gamers to mix-up assaults by switching between each kinds and getting a really feel for the quick, enjoyable type of motion that’s distinctive to Majima, in addition to the potential to do air combos to deal much more injury. We hope that gamers will take pleasure in the preventing fight simply as a lot as the new naval fight, which we are going to unveil extra particulars about in the close to future.
Xbox Wire: Inform us extra about Madlantis; how is it totally different from The Fortress, the floating on line casino/area, which was a key setting in Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Title?
Sakamoto-san: They’re very totally different. Madlantis is a ship graveyard dug into a cave on a secret island. It has a sprawling pleasure district the place criminals go to blow off steam and do battle in the Pirates’ Coliseum, the place ships duke it out in exhilarating real-time naval battles. There’s tons extra to take pleasure in and discover as you confront those that oversee this expansive hideout. The map can be bigger than The Fortress.
Xbox Wire: A pirate is just nearly as good as their crew: who’s Majima operating with in this trailer? What are you able to share about new characters like Queen Michelle and Raymond Legislation?
Sakamoto-san: Noah Wealthy, the boy who discovers Majima on the seashore of Wealthy Island, his pet cat Goro and father Jason Wealthy together with ship cook dinner Masaru Fujita kind the core of his crew. Dealing with them down are Queen Michelle and Raymond Legislation (performed by professional wrestler Samoa Joe), the pirate queen and king of Madlantis, who rule the island with an iron fist.
Xbox Wire: I don’t need to smash any surprises for gamers of the recreation, however ought to we count on to see some acquainted faces, apart from Taiga Saejima, additionally seen in the trailer?
Sakamoto-san: Sure, we hope longtime followers of the franchise will look ahead to seeing acquainted faces flip up all through Majima’s adventures. In the present day followers can even pre-order the recreation to add Ichiban Kasuga and his pet crawfish Nancy to their crew!
Xbox Wire: Lastly, in this trailer we see Majima taking part in a golden fiddle, wailing on a guitar, sharks in battle, a large monkey uppercutting any individual. Am I having a fever dream?
Sakamoto-san: If by fever dream you imply an over-the-top pirate yakuza journey not like something you’ve skilled earlier than, then sure! We are able to’t await gamers to uncover all the surprises out on the open seas.
Thanks Sakamoto-san! In a recreation whose very existence took everybody unexpectedly, right here’s one other: gamers will likely be in a position to unlock Majima’s chest of secrets and techniques sooner than beforehand introduced – Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is now delivery out on February 21, 2025.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
SEGA
$59.99
[PRE-ORDER BONUS CONTENT]
ICHIBAN KASUGA PIRATE CREW & SPECIAL OUTFIT SET:
Add-on for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii that features Ichiban Kasuga and his pet crawfish Nancy to your pirate crew, in addition to the potential to turn into two of Ichiban’s iconic outfits.
■ ICHIBAN PIRATE CREW SET
– Crewmate: Ichiban Kasuga
– Supporter: Nancy
■ ICHIBAN SPECIAL OUTFIT SET
– Particular Outfit: Ichiban Kasuga (Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth)
– Particular Outfit: Ichiban Kasuga (Yakuza: Like a Dragon)
*This particular provide will likely be included if pre-ordered by February 27, 2025 at 23:59.
The “Ichiban Pirate Crew Set” and “Ichiban Particular Outfit Set” will likely be obtainable for buy after the pre-order interval.
*The “Ichiban Pirate Crew Set” will likely be obtainable after the important character’s pirate ship improve occasion in Chapter 2 of the important recreation.
*The “Ichiban Particular Outfit Set” will likely be obtainable after the potential to change outfits is unlocked in Chapter 2 of the important recreation.
*The contents of the “Ichiban Pirate Crew Set” & “Ichiban Particular Outfit Set” won’t be counted towards in-game achievements.
A brand new legend begins as you step into the metal toe boots of Goro Majima, a man who has misplaced his reminiscence and reinvents himself as a pirate on the open sea.
Embark on an over-the-top, modern-day pirate journey with an ex-yakuza, now pirate captain and his crew as they interact in exhilarating fight on land and sea in the hunt for misplaced recollections and a legendary treasure.
■ PIRATE YAKUZA ADVENTURE AHOY!
Goro Majima, a infamous ex-yakuza all of the sudden finds himself shipwrecked on a distant island in the Pacific. Unable to bear in mind even his personal title, he units sail in search of clues to his misplaced recollections, accompanied by a boy named Noah who saved his life. Earlier than lengthy, they’re caught up in a battle between cutthroat criminals, modern-day pirates, and different scoundrels over a legendary treasure.
■ GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER
Assemble a one-of-a-kind crew whereas upgrading your ship as you discover the open sea and forge your legend in the cannon hearth of foes, sudden friendships, and immense riches made alongside the means.
When an enemy pirate ship catches you in their sights, an exhilarating real-time cannon battle breaks out. Shortly maneuver into place whereas avoiding hearth, then ship devastating injury to board the enemy ship and take down the captain in all-out crew vs. crew brawls. Conquer the seas, uncover hidden islands and purchase a great deal of loot like a true yakuza pirate!
■ KICK ARRRSS WITH CREATIVE COMBAT
Dynamically swap between the “Mad Canine” and “Sea Canine” preventing kinds to mix-up assaults and ship explosive combos, juggles, and aerial takedowns that reward your creativity with over-the-top motion.
With “Mad Canine” model, make the most of velocity, agility, and aptitude to ship exact but highly effective blows that stun your enemies into submission.
Or make enemies stroll the plank with the “Sea Canine” model that has you dual-wielding quick swords and deploying tough pirate instruments to kick some severe booty.
This product incorporates a standalone recreation. Please remember there are different editions of the recreation that embrace add-on content material, and extra content material can be bought individually.