Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’
For years, I have been beating the drum that video games are far too long, but it took me well over 90 hours with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth to decide that I was ready to wrap it up. Overwhelmingly the largest game in the series, both in terms of the world’s scope and the narrative’s length, Infinite Wealth truly lives up to its namesake in feeling like a neverending game that has no bottom – which is a blessing and curse that reaped its rewards in equal measure throughout my playthrough. This limitless feeling to Infinite Wealth is a great strength, as all of its gameplay systems coherently interlock in a synergistic manner that clearly takes studious notes from Persona 5 Royal. Infinite Wealth can also feel gargantuan at times and therefore overwhelming, which makes me worry about players new to the series who don’t catch all the winks and nods to previous Yakuza entries. In fact, that dependency upon player nostalgia is one of the greatest potential weaknesses of Infinite Wealth, as a majority of this game’s character arc for Kazuma Kiryu, longtime series protagonist, depends upon a storied history with the many entries to the franchise, and I wonder how impactful the game’s finale truly feels to a newcomer.
There is so much to love about Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, however, that it’s easy to overlook flaws like nostalgia baiting. I was immediately drawn to the refreshing setting of Hawaii, where most of Infinite Wealth’s story takes place. From its tropical exotica to its cultural commentaries, placing these Japanese character archetypes in an Americanized location feels like the logical extension from where the predecessor Yakuza: Like a Dragon left off. There’s joy in exploring the island, encountering the cultural stereotypes that the series chooses to scrutinize, and engaging with the many new systems that are Hawaii-specific like the street surfers, Miss Match dating app, friendship meters, and Dondoko Island renovations. This novelty comes at the cost of story pacing, an imbalance which is magnified by returning romps to Japan that feel more like an awkward holiday visit than a proper return home.
Mechanically, Infinite Wealth refines practically everything you’d hope for in a sequel, from enemy balancing to finishing animations (a favorite of mine being Zhao’s “Essence of Wok and Hard Place”). The Sujimon system, heavily borrowed from Pokemon, includes winks and nods characteristic of the series’ love for satire, like the “Discreet Four” and invocations to “catch ‘em all.” As silly as such systems like Sujimon are, each pays incredible dividends as you invest into them. “Drink Links” are a particular highlight, contributing to your relationship with other party members and strengthening their attack combinations in battle – a quintessential example of how no amount of diversion ever feels like an indulgent waste of time in Infinite Wealth. Despite this abundance of strengths and improvements from Like a Dragon, I will remember Infinite Wealth more for its mechanics and setpieces than its characters and story revelations, making Infinite Wealth feel just shy of greatness.
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Is the Game Fun?
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the best possible sequel to a game like Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Every element of gameplay, from the core content of combat to the side content of substories and minigames, feels better integrated with the overall game than its predecessor. I fully plan to return to Infinite Wealth by picking up the DLC.
Does the Game Perform Well?
I didn’t have a graphical bug or hitch that felt meaningful in the near-100 hours I spent with Infinite Wealth. Graphically, and in terms of animations, it’s the best looking game in the series – which is saying something.
Does the Game Have A Fitting Art Style?
While the Like a Dragon games tend to recycle assets and locations, the brand new elements present in Infinite Wealth’s Hawaii consistently blew me away. The world and character design feels top notch for the series.
Does the Game Have a Unique Story or Premise?
Despite the unique setting described above, I can’t shake the feeling that the game’s finale suffers from a severe case of creative rot. What should be the climactic arc of the game feels sadly cliche, from the final Millennium Tower fight to the game’s central villain, Bryce. When so much of this game was about finding closure in the series’ past, it was disappointing that the ending specifically lacked impact.
Does the Game Have Replayability or Lasting Power?
The enormous amount of character jobs on offer in Infinite Wealth make the game feel like it could truly come alive in a second playthrough. And clocking in at 100 hours, it’s astonishing how much content I left unexplored. That being said, what’s new here doesn’t feel like it takes the series forward in a meaningful way and ends up retreading many themes present in Like a Dragon Gaiden rather than making a declaration of the series’ future.
Verdict: 4/5
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is my favorite installment since its predecessor, Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The scope of the gameplay and narrative don’t always work well, and some narrative beats felt thematically repetitive by the end, but I had so much fun in the moment-to-moment of Infinite Wealth that these issues are easily forgiven. I am not confident that this is a welcoming entry point for people who want to try the series, but this will fill veterans’ fridges with comfort food for those seeking more of it.
