Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza: Like a Dragon’

by Flora Merigold · Published October 22, 2021 · Updated October 21, 2021

I had no idea when I finished the mainline Yakuza games that Yakuza: Like a Dragon would be more than a spiritual successor to the franchise. When Yakuza 6: The Song of Life so elegantly brought closure to Kazuma Kiryu’s saga, it felt as though Like A Dragon would be a sheer reboot. A cynical outsider to the series might see the radical change in protagonist, setting, and gameplay systems to suggest an aggressive cutaway from the brawler gameplay in iconic Kamurocho. In reality, however, Yakuza: Like a Dragon directly continues the storied legacy, paying respects and nodding to many story beats, themes, and characters from over the years. Somehow these nods never feel as though they require an encyclopaedic knowledge of Yakuza 0 through Yakuza 6, but they add a flavor to the experience that always hits between sweet and spicy notes of nostalgia and innovation.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon could have failed on so many of these adventurous new innovations, but I was delighted throughout my 60 hours with the game’s main story at how the game tapped into everything I wanted from a Yakuza-related experience. From Kamurocho to Sotenbori, I’ve always somewhat considered the cities in the Yakuza series to be as critically important as the protagonists themselves. Yokohama, Like a Dragon’s new foray into fictionalized hyper-reality, completely succeeds as a locale for Ichiban Kasuga to explore. Yokohama and its protagonist feel frayed and in need of updating, yet loved and full of heart; I consider them a mirror reflection of each other in a way that is hard to pinpoint as extant in other games. Finally, the new battle system — shifting from button mashing brawler combat to precise JRPG turn-and-weakness-based mechanics — is a complete success from start to finish. In a year where Persona 5 Royal and Final Fantasy VII Remake released, games at the apex of my all-time JRPG enjoyment, Yakuza: Like a Dragon stands shoulder-to-shoulder with these giants. Its dramatic makeover miraculously maintains all the exaggerated and endearing animation of the original series. Like a Dragon’s magic trick of preserving the spirit whilst eschewing the foundations underneath it is a case study in how having a clear vision (however humorous in origin) can hone a project in a way that few other creative constraints can.

In binging the entire Yakuza series within a relatively short timespan, I admittedly struggle to recall which memorable stories came from which game in the franchise. Like a Dragon does so many different things, however, that I feel it made an indelible impression on me in a way that hadn’t truly been done since the Kiwami games. Saddling all these frontloaded changes onto the shoulders of Ichiban, our new protagonist, was the perfect move, for I cared deeply about him and his surrounding cast within minutes. The game’s pacing and difficulty spikes come out of nowhere sometimes, but Ichiban is so likeable and the surrounding game’s presentation is consistently fortified and polished enough to excuse any perceivable issues I had throughout Like a Dragon‘s runtime. The kicker? I spent another 60 hours after the credits just zooming around the city, mopping up achievements, and surmounting the most difficult video game challenge I have ever faced — The True Final Millennium Tower — sheerly because I loved Like a Dragon as much as I’ve ever loved another Yakuza game.

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Fun

Yakuza: Like a Dragon maintains the over-the-top charisma of the Yakuza series while making a bold and fresh move for the franchise. I enjoyed maxing out each character’s stats, learning all their hidden techniques, and calling on the game’s ridiculous Poundmates (summons) in dire situations. Like all Yakuza games, the mini-games and side content always gave me a breather between the intense action if I needed it.

Performance

I never ran into a single performance issue in my nearly 120 hours with the game, running on the highest settings on PC. From controller support to framerate, Like a Dragon felt well-crafted.

Art

On top of the already lustrous and evocative Japanese setting the Yakuza series is known for, Like a Dragon introduces an alive-feeling city with some of the best-looking character models in the series to date. With the slight exception of the general battle theme never varying except for story climaxes, the art in Like a Dragon never ceases to impress.

Story

The introduction and conclusion to Yakuza: Like a Dragon take several hours each, but no details are wasted in this multifaceted tale of life, loss, sacrifice, and hope. The characters are distinctly written and the game is laugh-out-loud hilarious in dozens of places while still bringing me to tears in others.

Lasting Power

Once you finish the main story, the achievement mop-up is ample but ridiculously lengthy. Half of my playtime was spent voluntarily grinding towards the end. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the beginning of a new chapter in the Yakuza series, though its impact on the series’ future remains yet unforeseen.

Verdict

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is an incredibly compelling story that refreshes everything the series is known for while still preserving its heart. The game is zany and self-serious in equal doses, leading to a roller coaster of an experience. I might caution some against the completionist pilgrimage, but I loved the game so much that I was willing to climb the True Final Millennium Tower several times before the end.

Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza: Like a Dragon’

Verdict

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