Like a Dragon: Ishin! Reviews
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a terrific Yakuza game, and a wonderful jumping-on point for new fans of the series!
Like a Dragon: Ishin is a near-perfect package for fans of the series. It weaves an intriguing tale founded in historical events that has you hooked from the very start and eager to learn more at the very end. There’s a wealth of lighthearted substories, minigames, and slice-of-life gameplay, which offer a nice change of pace from the dark storyline. The weapon-based combat is a much-needed reinvigoration for the series that offers fast-paced, bloody carnage in style. The only real letdown was the few graphical issues I experienced, which hopefully a patch will soon resolve.
Like a Dragon: Ishin is an awesome spin-off to an already-great series, and one I'm glad finally came to the States. Even if it tripped on the landing, the story kept me gripped, and I hope some of the new combat styles and special moves make their way to other RGG games. I also hope we'll get the other spin-offs that never made their way over. Time will tell, but for now, it's nice to be back with my favorite criminals.
Like a Dragon: Ishin turns back the clock to the Bakumatsu period in Japan and its new remake is an excellent revitalization of an already solid entry in the Like a Dragon / Yakuza series as it finally launches in the west for the first time at last.
Like a Dragon: Ishin in my eyes earns the lofty score I’m giving it. The game is the most fun I’ve had with a single player game in years, and getting a review code for it the same day as Hi-Fi Rush left me spoiled, incredibly tired, and astoundingly happy. It’s worth your time and your money.
The long-awaited remake of Like a Dragon: Ishin delivers an exciting and frequently gorgeous new setting to explore, a more rewarding combat system, and some of the best side quests and minigames in the series to date. Don't let the katanas fool you, this is the Yakuza you know and love at its very best.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Like a Dragon: Ishin is a Yakuza franchise spin-off set in 19th-century Japan with a lively open-world experience, four unique combat styles, and plenty of substories to complete. The addition of Trooper Cards might not be appealing to everyone, and the game's visual presentation is dated with some minor bugs, but it's still a decent remake of a 9-year-old game.
Exactly what fans of the series have come to expect, whilst still providing one or two interesting deviations in gameplay along the way, Like A Dragon: Ishin! fuses familiar traits with a delightfully-versatile combat system to great effect.
Buoyed by a fantastic setting, Like A Dragon: Ishin! is bound to be a treat for all fans of the series.
While It finds itself in the company of phenomenal ground-up remakes like Dead Space and Metroid Prime: Remastered, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio should feel good about what they’ve done here. Not only does it bring a previously inaccessible entry of the franchise to a captive audience, but it also shows that they can breathe new life into them as well. That part alone is worth celebrating. There are times when this remake does walk. But when it sprints, it really turns on the jets.
Recovering from the mists of time an old game like a Dragon: Ishin! may be a risky choice, but the restoration operation can be considered perfectly successful. Perhaps the overall variety doesn't quite reach the heights of insanity of the very latest chapters, but the fun offered by the classic arcade combat system is still very much up to date, classifying Ishin! as a successful exponent of the celebrated series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While it definitely departs from the usual formula for the series, Like A Dragon Ishin is undoubtedly worth your time. While this isn’t a story of true history, the game is happy to educate you on Japanese culture of the time – a helpful Glossary option will pop up for many terms unfamiliar to an English-speaking audience, so you’ll be able to tell your joshi from your goshi and shishi – and suddenly, Final Fantasy XIII’s naming conventions make a lot more sense. Becoming a badass, unstoppable samurai seems only right for someone who looks like Kiryu, and the story will keep you guessing to the end. Also those cucumbers are almost ready to harvest, so don’t forget to stop by the villa soon.
Like A Dragon: Ishin! is not a new title in the well-known series, and yet it feels so fresh. That's because familiar faces in new roles, a new setting in feudal Japan, and the first time acting with sword and gun instead of fists make the game special. It may feel a bit stale in parts, but it plays wonderfully and should be tried by anyone who can relate to the setting or is looking to get into the franchise.
Review in German | Read full review
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
A new setting is not enough to disguise Like a Dragon: Ishin!'s unbalanced combat and middling story.
Did Like a Dragon Isshin, therefore, have the charisma needed to put itself forward in a new market? The process of rejuvenation and restructuring conducted by SEGA was directed at tailoring a product to the level of expectations.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Although Like A Dragon: Ishin presents a compelling story and fun gameplay mechanics but it fails to present a proper remake on the visual side that truly commemorates the original game
Review in Arabic | Read full review
While not the best game in the series, Like a Dragon: Ishin! offers great fun to long-time fans while also delivering an excellent opportunity for those interested in these games to jump in and see what all the fuss is about. While it’s a different take on the classic formula, there’s enough here that still feels like a Like A Dragon game to provide an idea of whether this series is for you.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is another strong Yakuza game that fans won't want to miss, finally localized for English speakers. The improved visuals often put the package in line with more recent fare, but the uneven results prevent it from finding the true greatness that was nearly within its grasp.