Like a Dragon: Ishin! Reviews
Like a Dragon: Ishin has a little something for everyone. A compelling story, mini games to suit all tastes, an easy to learn but repetitive combat system and plenty of side jobs to keep you busy. At first I found it all a little overwhelming but found myself soon running all over the city knowing I had so much to do. Even after almost a hundred hours in, I still haven’t finished everything. Though I have also heard that if you just want to stick to the story you can get everything done in as fast as four hours. Why you want to do something crazy like that though is beyond me.
No, Like A Dragon: Ishin! can't be considered a remake on par with the Kiwami titles, but as a game we never dreamed of playing in a language other than Japanese, we must thank SEGA for their work. Technically, much more could have been done, but given the excellent original structure, we can overlook the technical aspects that reveal its PS3/PS4 cross-gen nature. Isolating this aspect, we are left with a solid and enjoyable experience that brings Yakuza's mechanics to a unique setting (at least for us), introducing one of the series' most fun and layered combat systems. A thrilling and twist-filled work, recommended for fans of Kiryu and company, but also an ideal starting point for new players due to its spin-off nature. Now, let's hope for Kenzan and the two Black Panther titles: dreaming costs nothing...
Review in Italian | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Ishin! finally arrives in the West nine years after the original and exclusive Japanese release for Sony consoles. A midway operation between remake and remaster that allows us to appreciate a fascinating story in late Edo period Japan, enhanced by the gameplay ideas of the original title that would mark a turning point for the future of the saga. Despite the past years showing on the technical side, Ishin is an excellent title that will enrapture not only Ryu ga Gotoku fans but also anyone looking for an excuse to approach the saga.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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.
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.
Was this title worth the near-decade wait? Absolutely! Like a Dragon: Ishin! delivered on story, gameplay and replayability.
Anyone itching for a game with the samurai aesthetic should consider adding Like a Dragon: Ishin to their shelves.
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
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.
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.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! does the series justice, however it's definitely not one of its best. The story is a bit too convoluted and shot and the newer entries in the series simply have more variety to the content.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
This prequel a suitable start for new players, but is mostly geared to fans of the series, as it shows the favorite characters from Yakuza, with a new historical mold, full of exciting events and surprises, while also preserving the essence that characterize the series while introducing some different elements in the gameplay, but it lacks it The smoothness of dodging and switching between fighting styles and some aspects don't measure up to a re-released game.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Like a Dragon Ishin is a captivating and entertaining video game that combines exciting gameplay with an over the top presentation of Samurai history.
It doesn’t reinvent the formula, but Like a Dragon: Ishin! successfully spins off from mainline Yakuza in the 19th Century yarn.
For all the game’s foibles, that largely stem from a slightly dated version of the series recipe, as well as some ideas that perhaps never really quite worked, Like A Dragon: Ishin! Is still an enjoyable Yakuza game brimming with stories and activities, and it still has a firm grip on the sense of drama and comedy that fuel its enduring soul. That soul is unique, charming, and special, and transcends setting, time, and rough edges alike.
Like a Dragon: Ishin is a historically-rooted drama with enough to explore to keep players busy and there are not many experiences like it. This series is unique and absolutely worth trying. Ishin is also a pretty solid entry point to an extremely unique series but it might be too serious for some.
The story may be a bit derivative of other Yakuza titles, and yes an NPC may get caught on the corner of a wall and just keep running on the spot. This game has a couple of issues. But honestly, they’re so few and far between
While the storytelling is fabulous and the substories are legendary levels of insane, there are definitely parts of Ishin that could have used a bit more refinement, such as the combat and location design.
Like A Dragon: Ishin is everything I expected it to be and more. While it is not exactly a Kiwami version of the original, it is a significant upgrade. Its city of Kyo is brimming with life and is filled with countless highly engaging side activities that will easily get you side-tracked from its great main story. The beat-em-up action of its wild dance of swords and pistols puts up an engaging display of grotesquely gory action that never loses its steam, that shares the same DNA with Yakuza Zero and Kiwami.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! has finally arrived and I am more than happy to report that it brings exactly what all fans of the long-running franchise want to the table: more Yakuza.