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Happening earlier than, throughout, and simply after the occasions of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the intriguingly titled Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Identify tells us all about what Kazuma Kiryu was as much as in that point — and it is honest to say he was busy. However earlier than we dig into the main points, it is vital to notice that in its latter half, Gaiden goes all-in on including context to the story of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. As such, data of that sport is a necessity if you wish to get essentially the most out of this Sotenbori-based journey.
Anyway, following on from Yakuza 6, Kiryu is indentured to the Daidoji faction — an organisation that helps manipulate Japan’s political construction from the shadows. Benefiting from Kiryu’s quite distinctive expertise — that’s, his capability to pummel principally anybody or something — the Daidoji have our hero carry out varied duties for them behind the scenes, below the codename ‘Joryu’.
Setting Kiryu up as a undercover agent sounds extremely cool on paper, and we’re happy to report that it is fairly rattling cool in observe. Geared up with a pair of sun shades and a pointy go well with so as to cover his id (that is all it takes, apparently), Joryu hits the streets of the aforementioned Sotenbori. His mission? To uncover the motives of a harmful yakuza clan — however issues are by no means easy within the Like a Dragon universe.
As we have come to anticipate, Gaiden’s plot is full of twists and implausible characters. It is a barely smaller sport by way of scope; the story itself will run you roughly 15 hours, and the considerably cramped Sotenbori is the one explorable map. The latter turns into a little bit of a difficulty in direction of the top — there are solely so many occasions you may run from one facet of the identical district to the opposite earlier than it grows drained — however the largely wonderful narrative carries the expertise general.
In some ways, Gaiden comes throughout as a Kiryu character research. We did not assume it was potential for developer RGG Studio to infuse the veteran protagonist with but extra persona, however he is obtained some completely killer scenes right here, to the purpose the place Kiryu feels extra fleshed out as a lead than ever earlier than. One cinematic particularly nearly moved us to tears — a rarity, we guarantee you — and that is testomony to the sequence’ constantly very good storytelling.
And naturally, away from the principle story, Sotenbori is stacked with minigames and comical facet quests, all of that are virtually begging in your consideration. From classics like karaoke and darts to way more in-depth pursuits like pocket racing, there is a stunning quantity of stuff to see, must you veer from the trail of the core plot. For reference, it took us round 40 hours to have an honest crack at the whole lot Gaiden has to supply — and that is not dangerous for a ‘smaller’ Like a Dragon title.
That stated, there’s one headline factor that does not fairly reside as much as the billing. The return of a correct colosseum — wherein Kiryu faces off in opposition to all method of murderous opponents — must be trigger for celebration, however its implementation in the end disappoints. As a substitute of being constructed round randomised tournaments — as was the case in earlier video games, like Yakuza Kiwami 2 — you are primarily tasked with finishing fight challenges, a few of that are time-limited.
What’s extra, there is a vital grind behind assembling and levelling up your personal staff of fighters. Group battles are an all-new idea, however once more, the implementation is missing. You and your allies all the time face off in opposition to the identical masked goons in each brawl, with later fights merely jacking up enemy well being values (to an usually absurd extent). The colosseum simply does not really feel just like the celebration that Gaiden’s crunchy motion fight deserves.
Certainly, stated fight system shines elsewhere — largely because of the sheer variety of battles and tense boss fights peppered all through the story. Kiryu comes with two kinds of arse-kicking: agent and yakuza. Agent is a brand new strategy that sees Kiryu make use of quick strikes and loopy devices — together with a ‘spider’ wire that may lasso foes and fling them throughout the battlefield in hilarious style. In distinction, yakuza encapsulates our hero’s common combating model, comprising brutal cost assaults and deadly ending strikes.
The 2 kinds complement one another rather well, and mastering each is suitably rewarding. Gaiden’s fight feels refined, in the identical manner that the brawling in Misplaced Judgment did, and so we’re tempted to say that it is one among sequence’ finest excursions in relation to the all-important motion.
Conclusion
Like a Dragon Gaiden teeters on the sting of feeling drained and a bit predictable, however ultimately, that is one other memorable chapter in Kiryu’s seemingly infinite story. It provides welcome weight to the occasions of Yakuza: Like a Dragon whereas additionally telling an ideal particular person story, which is filled with usually participating characters. Refined fight carries this ‘smaller’ title even additional, and though its elective excursions can really feel a little bit too grindy for their very own good, Gaiden stands as a rock strong instalment, and a potent reminder of why Kiryu’s such a beloved protagonist.
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