2024-01-23 15:06:16
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There’s no easy way to put the Yakuza series (or Like a Dragon, as it’s also called in the West now) in the minds of gamers. You either love it or you want nothing to do with it. That all changed when the mainstream opened up to the series in 2020, when Ryu Ga Gotoku decided to adopt a turn-based RPG format in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth immediately puts on the table what Ichiban Kasuga’s adventure means for the series, even though story-wise it’s actually been hinted at for years in previous installments. In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Ichiban comes into contact with Kazuma Kiryu, to the extent that Dojima’s Dragon has entrusted the new protagonist to carry the burden of the future on his shoulders. Following the events of this Yakuza 7, fans have the chance to experience the pure hack-and-slash style of previous Yakuza titles and pave the way for characters’ stories, like Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. All the pieces are placed on the board and the game begins in Hawaii.
Without going into too many details, aside from what the studio has already teased in trailers, it’s been nearly four years since Yakuza: Like a Dragon concluded. After a series of circumstances that once again put Kasuga and his friends in trouble, Ichiban decided to travel to Honolulu to find his biological mother. There, he encounters a conspiracy involving himself, Hawaii, and Kiryu, a large criminal gang representing the Daidoji faction. Teaming up with the Dragon of Dojima and some new allies on the island, Ichiban will gradually become the hero everyone sees in him.
That’s about all I can say about the premise, but I’ll say more. The main story in each installment of the series manages to maintain a good balance between action and drama, and “Infinite Fortune” is no exception. The dual protagonists of Ichiban and Kiryu are also handled deftly, first together and then apart. Additionally, Kasuga, while still idealistic and trustworthy, has become wiser, while Kiryu is in a race against time, seeing his powers slowly fade, and must find a way to stand up and (seemingly) It’s his last battle. Infinite Wealth marks the end of many open storylines since Yakuza 0, and while playing Like a Dragon is enough to follow the story well, the game will be particularly rewarding for long-time fans of the series. Mind you, emotions will be running high throughout, so it’s a good thing we’ll at least be in a tropical paradise.
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Moving Like a Dragon’s story outside of Japan’s borders may be one of the most significant changes to the series, but it’s actually not as dramatic as it seems. Yes, Honolulu’s sunny, colorful, wild boulevards don’t have much in common with the gray alleys of Ijincho, Kamurocho or Sotembori, but its citizens behave similarly and there’s a strong Japanese presence there (which is what they do in the country). (outside the main resorts), overall everything on the world map follows the same pattern, and it’s also the largest in the series so far. There are now ways to get around flexibly, such as Street Surfer, and the process of taking a taxi is simplified.
Some mini-games best reflect changes in the environment, such as the social network game Aloha Links. You can’t take two steps without pressing a button to have Ichiban say “Aloha” to everyone you meet! Being nice to the townspeople pays off, so be a good boy and say hello.
But not everyone is kind in heaven, Hawaii is full of thugs, gangsters, thugs and all kinds of enemies. Not only do we have Kiryu and the old Yokohama gang, but we also have two new characters, Tomizawa and Chitose. Tomi is responsible for ranged attacks, while Chitose has attribute-changing and healing abilities. Finding a good class for each of them means trying out combos (don’t worry, Honolulu also has its own dungeon to “farm” the experience).
Combat follows the same pattern as previous games in the series, although the studio seems to have noticed how uncomfortable it can be to move so much combat around world events. You’ll see fewer groups roaming the streets now, although you can always find one near a treasure or shortcut. When you get close to this enemy or group of enemies, you’ll enter that altered state of reality that Ichiban sees (who knows, maybe it’s something contagious). I won’t describe the combat again, but I can confirm that the enemy AI has been updated, and abilities and the way they work on screen have been adjusted. There are now more types of combos and attacks of opportunity, but area abilities (power-ups or attacks) will also depend heavily on the active character’s location.
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However, it again errs on the side of Yakuza: like a dragon that doesn’t find a solution in infinite wealth. Classes still feel like a way to extend experience (in order to unlock inherited skills), and I still don’t understand how enemy stats work with weapons, as they’re sometimes inconsistent. Yes, I know boss battles should be memorable, but not at the expense of turning a scrawny, blank stare into a veritable sponge that can attack 4 times in a row and wipe out the entire team in one turn. Aside from these complaints (which are the same ones I had with Yakuza 7), I think with small tweaks here and there the combat once again delivers (you’ll see what Namba’s pigeons look like now) .
Another great aspect of Infinite Wealth is its secondary content. Mini-games are once again the spice that brings joy to the game. And more diverse than ever, all with biting and biting humor. There’s the already-announced Crazy Taxi delivery boy app, a Tinder-like dating app simulator (very shady) or a new Sega arcade game. Perhaps the place where this concept is growing fastest is at Sujimon. Now, it’s not enough to simply observe and defeat enemies to add them to the Sujidex. We will have to capture them so that they can join us and form a balanced team to compete in three-way battles with other Sujimon “trainers”. Yes, you can now get your Pokémon experience in Like a Dragon. There are even Suji-stops and raids as if it were Pokémon Go. This is crazy.
But Sujimon not only has his own storyline, they’re also the key to Infinite Wealth’s truly great mini-game, Dondoko Island. The resort management simulator on a deserted island proved to be another great move from the development team. Ichiban will have to figure out how to turn an island used as an illegal garbage dump into a 5-star resort, making a lot of money through it, which he will then happily spend in the main game. Needless to say, once you try it, you won’t be able to get rid of it for hours. You’ll almost forget what you’re doing before you’re chopping down trees, catching bugs, fishing, or building furniture and buildings for clients. You’ll also do this with Sujimon’s instructions. I think Dondoko Island is the best mini-game in the entire series, even if making money isn’t as smooth as Sweet Ichiban’s Real Estate. Small games generate profits over a longer period, which also lengthens the time it takes to obtain the funds needed to invest in equipment.
Again, this is just part of what Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has to offer. Ryu Ga Gotoku manages to expand and improve not only the JRPG systems of the current series, but also its narrative, character development, and extra content. In addition to being better at almost every aspect and delivering a gaming experience that no one else can match, it can also brag about being a graphical harbinger like no other. It takes up less than 55GB of space on the PS5 SSD we played with, and has a level of detail in facial expressions, scenes, lighting, and performance that many AAA games with bigger budgets would expect. It surpasses Yakuza: Like a Dragon in every way, and its ending sets a bright horizon for the series. As Kiryu said (also in the story trailer): “I will deal with the yakuza’s past, but I will leave it to you, Ichiban, to take charge of its future.
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