Like a Dragon: Ishin! Reviews
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.
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.
Yakuza has always been a giant seen as an ant, and that has allowed it to be big with ease. Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a marvel in aesthetics, gameplay and presence. A must now that arrives in perfect Spanish and with a generous facelift.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With Like a Dragon: Ishin seemingly in my rearview, I’ve completed every Yakuza game released in the West. This isn’t me bragging about being better than you. In fact, I would bet you would give me a good, old-fashioned Mr. Shakedown beating if we met in the Kamurocho streets. Instead, I want to set the table for what I’m about to say. Even with a story that ends with a bit of whimper and substories that feel stuck in 2014, Like a Dragon: Ishin is now my third favorite game in the series behind Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Judgment.
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.
A fascinating game in many aspects, which rewards the patient player and eager to explore. It does justice to the legendary franchise it comes from.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Like A Dragon: Ishin! it's like all Yakuza in a sense: it will blow you away for knowing how to combine a serious and solid narrative with completely absurd moments. On the other hand, it differs a LOT from other installments of the franchise, to the point that it becomes a video game that can be a great wink for the most familiar, or a very curious entry point for those who dive for the first time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
You can't go wrong with Like A Dragon Ishin. The game includes what makes the Yakuza franchise so special and combines it with samurais and Edo Period politics. A handful of oddities aside, it leans into its strengths and irons out several of the franchise peculiarities. Every gamer, either invested in the franchise or still uninitiated, needs Ishin in their console.
There’s not much else that can be said of Like a Dragon: Ishin! other than that it’s an exemplary Ryu Ga Gotoku title. Fans of the older Yakuza games and Judgement will feel right at home amidst its familiar gameplay mechanics and story beats, and the polish applied to these facets will ensure they’re well rewarded for the time they invest in the game. It’s a welcome return to the series’ past, and a good sign of how well the series will hold up moving forward.
A missing gem from the Yakuza/Like a Dragon saga. Ishin! has the same ingredients that made the franchise great in a story that is set in completely different era. A must play for fans of the saga and a great introductory title for newcomers.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
An action-packed and emotionally-charged adventure through a breathtaking period in Japanese history.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! blends the real-world history with the franchise's signature charm in a way that shouldn't work but just does. Resulting in one of the most memorable Like a Dragon experiences so far, this is a must-play game for long-time fans.
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.
I had a fantastic time with Like a Dragon: Ishin, and it’s a worthy addition to the Yakuza series lineup. Like other modern Yakuza titles, this release is filled to the brim with enjoyable content, memorable characters, and an addictive combat system with tons of variety. The character work is fantastic, and the series’ invaluable skill to switch between serious and hilarious tones is present here as well, with some of the best moments in the franchise.
For fans and newcomers alike, this game is a triumph and needs to be experienced. PLAY THIS GAME.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is another incredible action game produced by SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Sakamoto Ryoma's journey is emotional and action-packed, hitting all of the right chords for an excellent Yakuza / Like a Dragon title. This game is welcoming to newcomers while rewarding longtime fans for their continued support of the long-running series.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is an excellent spin-off that manages to please Like a Dragon fans and newcomers alike. Once again, there’s a seemingly endless amount of activities to do and stories to experience. Combat is fast and exciting and the narrative is dramatic and memorable. This is one remake that is entirely worth your time, as it’s everything Like a Dragon.
Ultimately, Like a Dragon: Ishin! feels like it delivers on the promise of a well-timed remake for an underappreciated title in RGG's catalog. It's a refreshing adventure that's identity is both intrinsically tied to the usual crime drama RGG is known for and yet distinctly separate from the modern trappings of those concerns. Like a Dragon: Ishin! is another quality game in the Yakuza universe, and it's one well-worth exploring for anyone with even a slight interest in its stylish delivery.
It's been nearly a decade since Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! released exclusively in Japan, but RGG Studio has finally brought it over to the West in the form of Like a Dragon: Ishin!, and it does not disappoint. Not only does Ishin! touch upon an important part of Japanese history, it does so by excellently balancing ridiculously fun over-the-top action with engrossing narrative pacing and mature character development. It doesn't quite meet the bar of a full on remake though, so that's something worth considering.
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