While theLike a Dragonseries (formerlyYakuzaoutside of Japan) entered a golden age after the release ofYakuza 0in 2015, that upward momentum appears to be continuing on the gameplay reveal ofLike A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Not only does it bring the original star of the series back into the modern age, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku is also settling back intofast-paced action inLike a Dragon Gaiden.
With theLike a Dragonseries now seemingly split into three separate major storylines, between protagonists Kiryu, Ichiban, and Yagami, there is more room than ever to experiment with the long-running franchise. Moreover, having the new turn-based systems in the Ichiban storyline developed alongside the more classic action ofLike a Dragon Gaidencould help to keep fans invested, regardless of their preferred combat style for the franchise.
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The Return of a Modern Kiryu
Nailing down the last time Kiryu took the starring role in the mainlineLike a Dragonseries can be difficult to track, given the nature of the prequels and remakes that have thrived since 2015. The last point in his ongoing storyline was inYakuza 6: The Song of Life, which originally released in 2016, although the character did return forYakuza Kiwami 1and2. Since then, Ichiban took over as the new series protagonist for the incredibleYakuza: Like a Dragon. The most recent look atKiryu was throughLike a Dragon: Ishin!, where the character’s face was used to portray the historical figure Sakamoto Ryoma.
So, having the protagonist returning inLike a Dragon Gaiden, even if he appears to no longer answer to the name Kiryu, is a solid move to keep the series close to its original roots. With the tonal shift that came with transitioning from Kiryu as the playable character toIchiban inYakuza: Like a Dragon, keeping the spin-off titles closer to the original series could be a step in the right direction to keep fans of the older games around. Additionally, the return of Kiryu appears to have also reestablished the character’s iconic brand of combat back into the spin-off titles for the series.
Kiryu’s Combat Allows Like a Dragon to Grow in Every Direction
Similar to how the remake ofLike a Dragon: Ishin!brought a similar return to the action of the early series, but with its own twist on more weapon-centered combat that still helps it stand out from other titles. However, from what has been shown ofLike a DragonGaiden’s gameplay so far, it appears that Kiryu will be returning with his trademark hand-to-hand combat, with a combination of improvised and stored weapons. It allows for a level of the same high-octane, impulse-driven action that makes controlling Kiryu such an expert power fantasy, as he punches his way through waves of enemies.
At the same time, theaction combat appearing inLike a DragonGaidenmeans thatLike a Dragon 8is free to continue experimenting with the turn-based party system that the Ichiban storyline developed in the last major title. Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku doesn’t have to choose between the two combat systems, instead being able to allow both to evolve over time alongside each other. This means that the series could expand its reach to accommodate players that prefer either system, without leaving any fans behind in the process.
So, fans ofYakuza: Like a Dragonshould be excited to see that the series appears to be keeping both styles of design moving forward. Similarly, a reveal forLike a Dragon Gaidenlikely means that moreinfo onLike a Dragon 8could be around the corner, offering turn-based fans a look at that side of the series.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Nameis set to release November 9th for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
