Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii has received high critical acclaim: 83/100 on OpenCritic and slightly less by Metacritic — 79. The press noted «the adventurous spirit» the games, the absurdity of the events, and the mediocre naval battles.
The pirate saga is a direct sequel to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, developed by RGG. Goro Majima has lost his memories and doesn’t remember his past as a yakuza, and now he has to survive as a pirate. The game will combine crew search, ship modernization, sea battles, and mini-games like karaoke, Crazy Delivery, and Dragon Kart, etc. The story of the yakuza pirate has been mostly praised as funny and absurd, which is more exciting than disappointing.
«After waking up on a tropical island with no memory of who he is, Goro Majima does the only sensible thing. He becomes a pirate captain», — writes Hardcore Gamer with a 4/5 rating.
In Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, the seas are filled with enemy ships that prevent the player from exploring locations. You have to fight for the territory, and the treasure hunt resembles a game of «cat and mouse» (DualShockers). The player will discover various locations, such as an island with a nuclear waste treatment plant, which is home to a mysterious religious group.
Preparing for exciting naval battles at the end of the game will become more difficult than the confrontation itself. The artificial intelligence of enemy ships leaves much to be desired, and it was not possible to surpass Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag 2014.
«Despite looking a bit small for most of its time, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii — is a quirky and welcome diversion with Majima and his motley crew of friends», — rated by Press Start (7.5/10)
The «Endless Carnival of Crooks» takes place around the «pirate Las Vegas», which is filled to the brim with missions and activities that can be done outside the main story (Shacknews). Pirate Yakuza is back with classic mini-games like mahjong, golf, and more, though VGC criticized them for being repetitive in a series of games. Many of the side quests do not strain the player, and usually help to find a new crew member.
«Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii — is a fun, albeit underwhelming, way to kill time until Yakuza 9. But given the speed at which RGG releases new games in the series, you probably won’t have to wait that long for the next traditional release», — wrote VGC with a 3/5 rating.
The plot does not explore Majima’s personality and past, although it does, as GameSpot, develop the stories of the supporting characters In the end, the gameplay may seem monotonous, but the last chapter is described as exciting.
General assessment of the publications:
- GameSpot: 7/10
- DualShockers: 8.5/10
- Shacknews: 8/10
- VGC: 3/5
- ZTGD: 9.5/10
- ACG: recommended to buy
- TechRaptor: 8.5/10
- Xbox Achievements: 81%
For the most part, like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii has been rated as is a great spin-off that seamlessly changes street robberies and sea adventures. Fun pirate adventures and intense battles have been called primarily a «love letter» to the loyal fans of Majima The game is scheduled for release on February 20, 2025, on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
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