Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Reviews
A relatively short side-story it may be, but Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a blistering chapter in Kiryu's journey, a Yakuza 6 epilogue that brilliantly tees up what's next, while delivering on the unadulterated fun and weirdness the series is celebrated for.
While I did warm to new Like A Dragon protagonist Ichiban quickly, you can’t forget the OG. It’s great to see Kiryu take a victory lap in this tightly designed, smaller-scale story before the next big chapter kicks off
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a throwback to older entries of the series, but without any of the intrigue and spark that makes them memorable.
While The Man Who Erased His Name is a very safe Like A Dragon experience, longtime fans are sure to relish its smaller scope and renewed focus on Kiryu. It might lack some of the suspense and unpredictability of prior entries, but more than makes up for it in its more intimate exploration of one of the most legendary characters in gaming.
Despite a nonsensical plot and slightly lower emotional stakes, Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a stunning refinement of the Dragon Engine that's wholly deserving of your time, whether you're a longtime Yakuza fan or new to the franchise.
While not on par with Kiryu or the franchise's finest outings, Like A Dragon Gaiden is still a good enough game that does the job of priming you up for the next big entry in the saga.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The man who erased his name was originally born as a DLC for the eighth chapter in the mainline saga, and it shows in its shorter length and in the reuse of assets, locations and character models. Still, exploring Sotenbori in the shoes of Kazuma Kiryu is a lot of fun like it's always been up to now.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has done it again, Like a Dragon: Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is another notch in their award adorned catalogue. The emotional journey of series favourite Kiryu and the important bridging of the gap between Yakuza 6 and 7 is a joy to behold and experience. This entry presents the best version of the now deprecated action combat design and is one of the most consistently great experiences to be had on the PlayStation 5 console.
Like a Dragon Gaiden is more than just a part of the series in-between. Shorter, but much more intensive storytelling brings back one of the SEGA icons in exhilarating action adventure filling into the events of Ryu ga Gotoku. Lot of great moments, sidestories and new action style makes you play more and get ready for next main dish with Infinite Wealth.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name delivers an entertaining experience that could entertain you for hours. it's nothing revolutionary, but at its heart, element of entertainment is still strong.
Review in Persian | Read full review
A good, but not necessary Yakuza game – a short storyline and an almost complete lack of new ideas make Gaiden a release primarily aimed at diehard fans.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Like a Dragon Gaiden acts as a perfect bridge and connects pretty much all the events between Yakuza 0 and 6, and sets up a great foundation for the upcoming game Infinite Wealth.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a masterful entry in the franchise, and only makes me crave even more from the series.
You're guaranteed a good time with any game in the series, but this entry shines in battle with a breathtaking finale and one of the most emotional endings.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is the quickest Yakuza game ever, and in 2023, that is exactly what is needed. Fans of the series can pick it up and breeze through in a weekend.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a game that arrives more as a luxury than a necessity. Just when it seemed that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and SEGA had completely handed over the baton to Ichiban Kasuga, they pampered us with an installment that pays tribute to everything that made the series great and treats Kazuma Kiryu and the legacy he has within his universe as well as in the real world with immense respect. Yes, we'll see Kiryu again in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, but he may never star in another installment. If so, it would be a phenomenal goodbye for the Dojima Dragon. Thank you for everything, Kiryu.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is another fine slice of Yakuza action from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio thart serves up a little bit of everything over the course of 15 or so hours. This may be a shorter affair than usual by quite some margin, but what's here still manages to deliver lots of exciting action, very silly gadgets, drama and deep cuts for the fans. If the intent was to whet our appetites for Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, then consider that mission well and truly complete. Roll on January 2024.
Thankfully we only have to wait three months for the next “proper” title in the series to land. While Like a Dragon Gaiden might have been disappointing against the astronomically high standards of this series, I have no doubt whatsoever that January 2024 will deliver another bold step forward for SEGA’s gritty urban epic.
Although not suitable for first-time players, Like a Dragon Gaiden is a spin-off made for fans that fulfills its objective: it delivers a narrative wrapped in a roller coaster of emotions with classic beat'em up gameplay and dozens of side activities.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
In closing, I really enjoyed this new chapter in the series. I think it fills in any gaps left by the approach of the 8th installment. The final section of Like a Dragon Gaiden is particularly satisfying and emotionally charged. In short, another excellent action game from Ryū Ga Gotoku Studio that also comes with a demo of the next title that sets the table nicely. What's more, if you've been waiting for the English dub, it's now available. So, if you're a fan of the series, this really is a must-have, and for the rest of us, what are you waiting for to get started?
Review in French | Read full review