[PS5] Review: Like a Dragon – Yakuza Pirates in Hawaii

The latest installment in the acclaimed SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio series, now known as Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, showcases fan-favorite character Goro Majima. As a die-hard fan of the series formerly called Yakuza, I’ve reviewed almost every game, with the exception of Like a Dragon: Ishin!, which my colleague ThaRaven403 covered.

I’ve journeyed through Yakuza Kiwami and its sequel on PlayStation 4, revisiting the gripping storylines of Yakuza 5 on PS3 and its successor, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, in 2018. The Yakuza Remastered Collection on PS4 allowed me to dive back into Yakuza 3, 4, and 5. More recently, I enjoyed the delightful Dragon Quest tribute in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and savored the spin-off Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Needless to say, my anticipation for this new sea-faring adventure was high.

In this spin-off set after Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Goro Majima, who finds himself with amnesia, washes ashore on the quaint Rich Island. As fate would have it, young Noah Rich comes to Goro’s rescue, providing much-needed water after his near-death experience at sea. Unfortunately, not long after, they encounter a group of pirates. As they lay a finger on Noah, Majima’s latent rage bubbles to the surface.

Players can choose from three difficulty settings: Beginner, Standard, and Professional. The Beginner level suits those new to the series or those more interested in its storyline without too much combat challenge. Standard strikes a balance, providing a thrill without being too overwhelming. As for Professional, well, expect a hard-hitting challenge where every move counts.

Upon starting the game, a tutorial will guide you through the basics: using the left stick to control Goro, executing combos with Square and Triangle, and mastering enemy launches and aerial attacks. The Circle button allows for strategic enemy grabs, while L1 helps guard against incoming attacks. Navigating the battlefield with R1 in a fighting stance, along with well-timed dodges using X, becomes essential. Your Heat gauge, critical during battles, fills up as you attack and take damage, allowing you to unleash devastating Heat Actions with the Triangle button.

Keep an eye on the Madness gauge at the screen’s top left. As it fills, perform Heat Actions to hasten its increase. Once full, a press of the R2 button brings forth a Goro Majima doppelganger to aid in battle—provided you’re in the Mad Dog stance, of course.

Progression hinges on upgrading your skills: enhance health, boost attack strength, and learn evasions to become more resilient. Unlock new attacks for each stance and unleash the Sea Dog’s might for a maritime edge.

For those who revel in naval combat reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii won’t disappoint. Assemble a crew and sail the seas to tackle dastardly pirates, recruiting diverse characters and engaging in both main and side quests. Challenge your mettle in the Pirate Coliseum, honing your strategic prowess in intense naval skirmishes.

Trophy hunters rejoice! This game teems with achievements to snag, including a coveted Platinum trophy. With it being a Cross-Buy title, purchasing either the PS4 or PS5 version allows access to both version lists. The trophy roster includes unlocking abilities, dispatching enemies with unique weaponry, and engaging in bounty missions, among others.

Though smaller in scale compared to the main series, this spin-off packs a rich content offering for completionists aiming to add another Platinum trophy to their aisle. Additionally, nourishment is key to survival, whether through buying healing items or cooking meals from gathered ingredients. And for those nostalgic moments, enjoy gaming on a SEGA Master System within the game, indulging in classics like Poseidon Wars 3-D and Fantasy Zone.

Priced at $59.99 for the Cross-Buy version, the game offers both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 experiences. For $74.99, the Deluxe Edition adds fantastic extras like Legendary Pirate Crew and Outfit packs.

A big thank you to SEGA for providing a PlayStation 5 copy of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii for this review.