Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

As a longtime Yakuza fan, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the Goro Majima game I’ve always dreamed of and somehow more unhinged than ever before. Ryu Ga Gotoku has outdone themselves once again and I’m so excited for players to get their hands on the helm to take Yakuza’s version of a naval RPG for a spin.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a very enjoyable game with a lot to do, and players can spend plenty of time exploring Honolulu or playing minigames without even engaging all that much with the story. There's plenty to do and a large amount of it is incredibly fun, from using a baseball bat and a cannonball to blow up exploding barrels or just fighting your way up through the ranks of the pirate arena. The only real flaw this reviewer could find is that it might be a bit too eccentric for players that might not be used to the Yakuza series, and even for the series Pirate Yakuza goes a bit beyond the pale. But if you're ready to embrace the madness, hoist the sails, and take the helm- this game is a fantastic experience that no Yakuza or pirate fan should miss, and is a blast from start to finish.

The combat is thrilling, the side content is endless, and the naval battles? Absolutely addictive. I can (and have) lost hours to every fetch quest and minigame Honolulu has to offer, only to turn around and demolish enemy ships in a storm of cannon fire. The sheer variety of activities means I'm never left looking for something fun to do. The characters are fantastic, the story—while as ridiculous as ever—is a blast, and the signature Yakuza madness is cranked up to eleven. Focusing an entire game on Majima is a bit like having just cake for dinner... but honestly? It’s the best damn cake I’ve ever had.

Taking lessons learned from previous games, trimming out anything less effective, and scoring home runs with its fresh additions, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the new gold standard for the series and an absolute treat for RPG and action game fans.

After more than 30 hours of gameplay, I can safely say that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is exactly the kind of madness we needed. It's a game that embraces the absurdity of its premise and turns it into its greatest strength. The story kept me engaged, the characters are memorable, and every aspect of the game is bursting with personality.

If Yakuza/LAD is the MCU of video games, then Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is its Thor: Ragnarok. It’s an enjoyably breezy romp that opens the property up in a fun new direction, but that still feels shackled to what came before.

Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an excellent addition to the Yakuza franchise and has enough content and polish to qualify as one of the best Yakuza games. Pirating on the high seas has never been this fun before.

What Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio touches turns into success, because even a spin-off that is absurd on paper manages to be excellent again. The combat is fantastic, there is plenty to explore and the story manages to captivate, thanks in part to good humor. You really are a pirate and that is incredibly fun. In short, praise for this new game, but if we have to be critical: graphically it could be better and there are still some minor bugs in the combat, but do not let that stop you.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii follows the series' motto of not being afraid to be a video game, something that should be a priority in the industry again. The title takes the best of the franchise's formula, building a solid and familiar base, and then spends its efforts on delivering very well-structured and engaging combat and maritime exploration systems.

Sega and RGG Studios are once again successful and show that they understand the path of making many games in the Like a Dragon franchise with high quality, even though the technical part, such as the graphics, requires care in future releases. The return of Goro Majima is excellent and in a game full of good ideas with quite a lot of content.

Because of its size and range of missions from serious to stupid, Pirate Yakuzain Hawaii feels like a “Best of” album from past Like a Dragon games. Its odd marriage of pirates and yakuza works and gives you a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously but knows how to impress a crowd.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a hilariously absurd spin-off that leans into its over-the-top premise with chaotic combat, a vibrant Hawaiian setting, and Majima at his wildest. While it lacks the deep narrative punch of mainline entries, its sheer fun factor and pirate-themed insanity make it a must-play for fans of the series.

So, does Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii deliver the madcap pirate-y quest starring Majima we were promised? Almost! It certainly isn’t the gold standard of Like a Dragon, or pirate games in general for that matter, but it delivers a solid representation of both. It features one of the series’ best protagonists, tells a pretty compelling story, and fills in many of the blanks left over from Infinite Wealth. I certainly enjoyed it more than The Man Who Erased His Name. Pirate Yakuza might not be the treasure we were hunting, but with its solid plot and a delightful cast of characters, maybe the real treasure was the friends (and enemies) we made along the way.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a good spin off game, even if it is fairly negligible, if you want a fun Pirate experience, you may want to give this game a shot.

Treasures, even simple ship battles, slicing through pirates with a sword... It has everything fun about piracy... And on top of that, there's Goro Majima! All it's missing is my Guybrush.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii proves to fans and newcomers alike that you can step out of your comfort zone in more ways than one as a player or developer. Not only does a fan favorite finally get the spotlight he righteously deserves, he shines in a way that only Goro Majima can. I had a blast being a right scallywag with the Goro Pirates, and I’m confident that anyone that picks this up will likely feel the same about their high seas shenanigans. If Secret Agent Majima somehow becomes a thing, you better believe I’ll be there enjoying every second of it. Turns out you can teach a Mad Dog new tricks.

After tackling its most serious story, the latest Like a Dragon embarks on its most lighthearted adventure. Majima and the pirates are a perfect match, and the narrative ties up neatly in a single installment. Naval battles may feel light, but Majima’s determination to fulfill a ten-year-old boy’s dream is anything but.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is another special entry into a series that hasn't missed in quite some time. While the engine and their need to publish on last-generation platforms may be catching up like old age chasing the protagonists, you'll find plenty of beauty in a legendary tale, swashbuckling gameplay, and freebooter friendships.

If you love the (Yakuza) series, you'll love this too. It's crazy, action-packed, and addictive, just as it should be. I can't wait to see what (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio) and Sega come up with next, but I think I'll recognise a lot in it.

All of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s wild and varied minigames and combat mechanics feed into the idea of Majima collecting a ragtag menagerie of wanderlust-stricken weirdos willing to follow him on the path to fortune and glory.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a carefree and spirited island adventure. Whether you're navigating your pirate ship between islands in search of treasure, recruiting eccentric crew members from the streets of Honolulu, or battling enemy ships in the perilous pirate arenas, the game keeps you engaged at every turn.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a pleasant, if not unforgettable, adventure. While we're always happy to find Majima and his gameplay, the storyline of this episode isn't up to scratch, just like its particularly empty and under-exploited maritime zones. Nonetheless, the game boasts solid side content: crew management, side quests, mini-games galore... There's plenty to do.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii could be a sensational misstep for SEGA's series or yet another great success following its unexpected RPG-style revolution. On one hand, the pirate theme is always very popular, Majima's character seems perfect for the role, and there's no doubt that the many activities the game offers - especially the side ones - could win over the audience. However, in terms of story, characters, and atmosphere, we are truly far from the standards that Ryu Ga Gotoku has accustomed us to.

If you're a fan of the newer, more lighthearted Like A Dragon titles and enjoy quirky pirate adventures, then Pirate Yakuza is worth your time. However, if you’re looking for the grittier crime drama of previous Yakuza titles, you might find Pirate Yakuza is too wacky of a departure for the franchise.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza is difficult for me to evaluate. The aspects of the main narrative it chooses to dwell on seems unevenly paced, and strangely misguided at times. Its combat system is slick, especially with all the tools that the brand-new Sea Dog style brings to the table - yet the balance of power feels lopsided in Majima’s favor to the point that enemy AI can’t keep up. A lot of its pirate-oriented systems feel like a jack-of-all-trades; they’re all competent and serviceable, though only provide a surface-level layer of satisfaction. I like a lot of what Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is putting down, but I can’t ignore the numerous significant misfires either.

Flawed and overfamiliar, but still as joyously OTT and hilarious as ever.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a solid spin-off, putting fan-favorite Goro Majima front and center with a suitably eccentric diversion into buccaneering piracy. The story doesn't pick up until an excellent final chapter, and it's disappointing that the narrative doesn't delve into Majima's complex personality, but this is still a thoroughly entertaining adventure on the high seas. It's quite unlike anything else in the long-running series, and even if it falters more often than usual, it's still essential for anyone who's previously called Kamurocho home.