Like a Dragon: Ishin! Reviews
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a bloody battle feast. You can not only appreciate the historical heaviness of the backlash movement from its plot, but also meet many classic characters of the "Dragon" era.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Overall, Like a Dragon: Ishin is an excellent remake of an older unappreciated RPG with an impeccable historical story to tell. While the remake isn't in the best condition it could've been, especially on PS5, it is still a game that will provide players, especially Yakuza fans, lots to enjoy.
Yes, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio could have redone this with the Dragon Engine and yes, it plays exactly like the original, which is a game from nine years ago, but Like a Dragon Ishin! is still a delight for both newcomers and old time fans alike.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Fans won't want to miss this recontextualised yet authentic Yakuza brawler. Hopefully, newcomers attracted to the theme can forgive some poorly aged systems and jank.
Was it really necessary to remake Like a Dragon: Ishin!? It’s questionable, but we’re glad it’s finally available in the west in some form. It’s not the best Like a Dragon game – in fact, it might come quite low in the pile – but a good time can be had with it nonetheless. Its world might not be all that attractive, and its story a slow-burner, but it has the usual charm and a bucketload of interesting activities to carry it.
A ballet of blades and bullets.
Incorporating most of the highs from the mainline games, Like a Dragon: Ishin! delivers a compelling “Yakuza with samurai” standalone experience.
It's essentially a classic Yakuza game, but the samurai theme added a completely different flavor. Arguably one of the best games in the series.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Ishin fulfills the promise: better later than never. It would be pity to miss such different part of series drawing lot of freshness from 19th century and different drama. The familiar faces and combat system is put into the new perspective in attractive environment.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
A great addition to any fan's game collection, and sure to turn the heads of newcomers looking for some samurai action.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is the most fun I’ve had playing a Yakuza game since Yakuza 0. Any fan of the series or fans of samurai games, in general, should check it out.
Whether you are a fan of the Yakuza series or you are really into Samurais, Like a Dragon: Ishin! won't disappoint you. It might not be a perfect remake and some gameplay mechanisms, especially the gunplay could have been better, but it offers enough action to satisfy anyone obsessed with the far east.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Like A Dragon: Ishin is an almost stunningly intelligent game and in so many ways it is superior to the (already brilliant) series that it has spun off from. The historical setting really does the formula favours, and the development team have done such an exceptional and highly refined job of balancing authenticity and entertainment, serious storytelling and humour. At the same time, they’ve also maintained the core action and gameplay structures that we all love about the series. It is, simply, impossible to put down, and will be a strong contender for the best thing you’ve played this year.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! starts slowly and then suddenly bursts into many details and opportunities to expand your abilities and activities in everyway possible. The story is intriguing, combat is fun, and the content is varied.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
All the strengths of the main series, strong main plot and characters, brutal fighting system and a rich world brimming with activity, albeit in a smaller, simpler package, offset by a historical setting during a pivotal time in Japanese history.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
With a great story, charismatic characters, fluid and fun combat and a gameplay that is the hallmark of the franchise, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is the remake fans wanted so badly. Even with small bugs, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio shows, once again, that the series' formula is far from boring and makes us anxious about what will come ahead.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Like A Dragon: Ishin! is Ye Olde Yakuza, but that's all it needs to be. The setting is fresh for the series, and it provides a fun way to see the same crime drama action in a new historical setting. Even if I prefer the modern setting, Ishin handles the change of setting well. It doesn't break an molds, but it's a delightfully fun experience for fans of the franchise. If you're itching for more Like A Dragon, Ishin! scratches that itch wonderfully, and it's a darn fun game in its own right.
If I were to sum up the game’s pros and cons, Like A dragon Ishin is good. I personally recommend this game to all action RPG fans and especially to the Like A Dragon community to play this game if they want to see how different it is from its original version. Plus, if new players are interested in trying this out, I also recommend that they should try out the demo version of the game on their consoles as well.
Even though Ishin is a remake and I was playing on the PlayStation 5, some of the systems still feel clunky and dated. I feel it's probably my bias towards the franchise, but it weirdly adds to its charm. The story is gripping and the use of familiar faces / characters draw you in like a historical soap-opera. The use of silly to absurd side stories gives you a well earned break from the seriousness of the plot. I honestly don't think that even after nearly 40hours of playtime, I have begun to scratch the surface of all that Like a Dragon: Ishin has to offer and I suspect that if you were new to the franchise that this would be an excellent starting point. There are a few places it falls down on though. Even with the use of the in game map; certain areas are a bit of a nightmare to navigate and I did encounter a few minor bugs, one of which had me falling through the map in a loop. Like a Dragon: Ishin will captivate players from start to finish. Whether you're a fan of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series or are new to it, Like a Dragon: Ishin is sure to provide a challenge and an unforgettable gaming experience by combining it's immersive storyline with Incredible voice-acting, beautifully remastered and period appropriate visuals, familiar faces, excellent combat system.