Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Reviews
The concept of putting Goro Majima in a pirate adventure is pretty much everything I thought it would be. This is a silly game with an enjoyable gameplay loop and adventure.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an amusing, if underwhelming way to kill time before Yakuza 9, but considering the speed at which RGG is releasing new games in the series, you probably don't have to wait that long for the next traditional entry.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is fun, but flawed.
They’ve absolutely done enough to warrant your swift return to Honolulu. Naval combat is a blast; hand-to-hand encounters are still satisfying in that old-school beat-em-up sort of way, and the setting is a pleasure to explore. If there was ever a game I didn’t know I needed, this is it.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii takes its admittedly unexpected theme and absolutely dials it up to the max.
A Like a Dragon a little bit different from the usual. A fun adventure starring the mad Goro Majima. All the elements of the previous chapters return in a Caribbean version, but the rate of madness reaches unprecedented levels.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While the pacing did pull the momentum to a halt on occasion, Pirate Yakuza is a fantastic action-adventure game and a worthy addition to this iconic franchise. The bond between Majima and Noah gives it a surprising amount of heart, and the time you spend with the Goro Pirates is utterly joyous. Whether you’ve played every Yakuza entry or are just looking for something a little different, this over-the-top adventure is certainly a success.
A thoroughly enjoyable side game that looks to offer familiar Like a Dragon action with a swashbuckling twist, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a flamboyant distraction between mainline entries. The story doesn't compare favourably to the mainline entries and the new island areas quickly become repetitive, but the novelty of Goro Majima at the helm of a pirate ship never quite wears off. Stay for its frenzied action and jolly pirate ship battles and you'll have a good time.
Giving Goro Majima his own game to do whatever the hell he wants and it turning into a pirate adventure on the high seas might sound like an amazing combination, but this is one boat ride that's trapped in the conventions of the Like a Dragon series and doesn't take enough risks to be a must-play standalone title.
This was a really genuinely touching story and there is a ton of payoff for players who are caught up with the series; especially the ending, while I have not played all the latest games, I am aware of the things that occurred in the last two games. I honestly can’t recommend this game enough for newcomers and longtime fans alike.
If you're a fan of the newer, more lighthearted Like A Dragon titles and enjoy quirky pirate adventures, then Pirate Yakuza is worth your time. However, if you’re looking for the grittier crime drama of previous Yakuza titles, you might find Pirate Yakuza is too wacky of a departure for the franchise.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii isn't a perfect game, and I'd even say it falls short of Gaiden as a spin-off. Still, this is an experience that will delight all fans, especially those who have been waiting for a Majima-led adventure for a long time. However, if you're hoping for the next big chapter in the series, and a resolution to Kiryu's and Ichiban's problems with the yakuza in Japan, you won't find that here. Instead, you'll find an adventure that reminds us that dreaming is the greatest treasure in this chest we call life.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
After all, every single task in the game carries on the series tradition of having patently ridiculous scenarios play out with absolute sincerity. Indeed, just about the only thing the game doesn’t make room for is cynicism.
Goro Majima's swashbuckling adventure is a ton of fun to play with some of the series' most thrilling beat 'em up combat and compelling side distractions, despite its messy main narrative.
It features one of the series’ best protagonists, tells a pretty compelling story, and fills in many of the blanks left over from Infinite Wealth. I certainly enjoyed it more than The Man Who Erased His Name. Pirate Yakuza might not be the treasure we were hunting, but with its solid plot and a delightful cast of characters, maybe the real treasure was the friends (and enemies) we made along the way!
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii brings Goro Majima's unique brand of loony brutality to a treasure-hunting adventure. The levity of the overall adventure makes it easy to sink into this game, and despite repetitive ship combat, the hand-to-hand action makes it a blast to play. And with a conclusion worth seeing, the overall narrative makes this another success in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's repertoire.
Anyone with the most rudimentary of passing fancies for the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series will know that it's something that often tends to err on...
As a longtime Yakuza fan, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the Goro Majima game I've always dreamed of and somehow more unhinged than ever before. Ryu Ga Gotoku has outdone themselves once again and I'm so excited for players to get their hands on the helm to take Yakuza's version of a naval RPG for a spin.
I really enjoyed my time with Like A Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii as a way to get to know the character of Goro Majima better. While he’s always a fun time when he shows up, Pirate Yakuza lets RGG Studio examine what this legendary figure in the franchise would be like with his same instincts, but none of his backstory.