Like a Dragon: Ishin! Reviews

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.5 / 10.0
Apr 6, 2023

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

8.5 / 10.0
Mar 17, 2023

A great addition to any fan's game collection, and sure to turn the heads of newcomers looking for some samurai action.

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90 / 100
Mar 17, 2023

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.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 17, 2023

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.

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gameranx
Top Critic
Unscored
Feb 18, 2023
Like a Dragon: Ishin! - Before You Buy - YouTube video thumbnail
7.5 / 10.0
Feb 27, 2023

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

Feb 21, 2023

A ballet of blades and bullets.

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Feb 18, 2023

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.

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TrueGaming
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Feb 17, 2023

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

Saudi Gamer
Top Critic
8 / 10
Feb 17, 2023

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.

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85 / 100
Feb 17, 2023

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

8.5 / 10.0
Feb 17, 2023

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.

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8.5 / 10.0
Mar 22, 2023

Like A Dragon: Ishin at it’s core is still very much Yakuza/ Like a Dragon title despite being completely separated from the mainline series. It has a grand story and characters that will captivate you from beginning to end, incredible action, great over the top moments that will make you laugh out loud, some that will make you question why they’re so weird and of course plenty of mini games and systems implemented that will keep you entertained aplenty when not completing the main missions.

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3.5 / 5.0
Feb 18, 2023

Like A Dragon: Ishin! is trying not to fix what isn’t broken, but it does not try anything new. Although the game’s fundamentals may feel dated, and the first half of the game may be slow, the story’s pivotal moments and characters’ dynamics offer thrilling battles and hype moments. Despite the game’s shortcomings, Like A Dragon: Ishin! provides hours of fun and entertainment with its mix of gameplay and side activities. If you like the Yakuza series or samurai games, Like A Dragon: Ishin! is worth playing.

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A-
Feb 24, 2023

Was this title worth the near-decade wait? Absolutely! Like a Dragon: Ishin! delivered on story, gameplay and replayability.

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Mar 3, 2023

Anyone itching for a game with the samurai aesthetic should consider adding Like a Dragon: Ishin to their shelves.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 16, 2023

This is a special story, away from modern Yakuza gangs, instead focusing on a period drama with a strong samurai "flavor".

Review in Greek | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Apr 23, 2023

While Like a Dragon: Ishin! definitely feel at times like a PS4 launch game with odd animations and extensive load times, the gameplay and story still hold up today.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 20, 2023

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a great adventure through samurai-era Japan and one that I’m glad I took. It feels like an almost compelling story, and I got to take it alongside my best friends, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima.

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7.5 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2023

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.

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