Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Reviews
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an extremely unexpected outing for the series, but the developers have largely stuck the landing, and delivered a fun pirate adventure that I am sure will remain a fan favourite for many years to come.
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is a great addition to this legendary franchise, that looks to set itself apart in some meaningful ways. That said, the game does get held back by some issues that have plagued the franchise for years. Thankfully, these issues don’t stop this pirate-themed adventure from being a boatload of fun.
Despite feeling somewhat inconsequential for a majority of its runtime, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a whacky and welcome romp with Majima and his motley crew of buddies. Between RGG's signature action combat, a plethora of worthwhile side content, and surprisingly robust ship systems, this swashbuckling adventure is one worth undertaking.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an okay spin-off of the Yakuza series. The story is fine, but the biggest issue is that it doesn't really feel inventive.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a thoroughly enjoyable sea-faring adventure filled with delightful ship combat and hectic brawling and swordplay encounters. Though it might rank somewhat lower in the series thanks to its weaker story and somewhat disappointing substories, it won't bother players all that long when they merely engage in some of the open-world chaos that comes with living out a pirate's life. Yo-ho, Yo-ho, a Mad Dog's life for me.
There’s quite a lot of things that are not perfect in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – a short and unevenly paced story is one of them. Fortunately, there’s so much good stuff that it balances out. Combat, naval battles, absurdly funny side quests and a unique atmosphere of „contemporary piracy” are fun enough to make Like a Dragon fans feel like home.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The combat is thrilling, the side content is endless, and the naval battles? Absolutely addictive. I can (and have) lost hours to every fetch quest and minigame Honolulu has to offer, only to turn around and demolish enemy ships in a storm of cannon fire. The sheer variety of activities means I'm never left looking for something fun to do. The characters are fantastic, the story—while as ridiculous as ever—is a blast, and the signature Yakuza madness is cranked up to eleven. Focusing an entire game on Majima is a bit like having just cake for dinner... but honestly? It’s the best damn cake I’ve ever had.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a carefree and spirited island adventure. Whether you're navigating your pirate ship between islands in search of treasure, recruiting eccentric crew members from the streets of Honolulu, or battling enemy ships in the perilous pirate arenas, the game keeps you engaged at every turn.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
The decision to put Majima in the captain’s chair is inspired and has allowed the team at Ryu Ga Gotoku to create one of the most unique and off-the-will games in the long-running series. Much like its beloved lead, Pirate Yakuxa in Hawaii is a little crazy, a little random, but incredibly charming.
Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the exact image of its protagonist: funny, out of its mind and light on serious content and story beats. Long-time fans of the franchise will remember this as a Majima extravaganza, while newcomers as the perfect entry point in this long-running series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Yakuza Pirates in Hawaii is as irreverent and over-the-top as the title might imply, putting its leading man to good use to tell a piratical tale that does just enough to stand on its own. Ship combat never quite reaches the highs it aspires to, and the series still has some growing to do, but it's hard not to be charmed by this mix of classical Like a Dragon and sea-faring action.
It's Goro Majima's time to shine, and shine he does in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. This ridiculous adventure has the typical Like a Dragon gameplay you've come to expect, as well as fast-paced real-time combat that's more electrifying than ever. Add in being able to sail across numerous maps, engaging in naval battles and disembarking to plunder legendary treasures, and you have the most varied entry in the series yet.
Another great entry to Like a Dragon, just don't rely on it for hard-hitting canon lore (just hard-hitting cannon balls)!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
Lots of content and fun gameplay are weighed down by an almost non-existent story and lots of recycled filler material. Still an enjoyable game but by no means a memorable one.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Treasures, even simple ship battles, slicing through pirates with a sword... It has everything fun about piracy... And on top of that, there's Goro Majima! All it's missing is my Guybrush.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
A unique and fun spin-off that allows us to visit the beloved city from Infinite Wealth and feel like a real pirate – such an opportunity is very rare in modern video games.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a fun adventure with new ideas that presents a deep, fun and flexible gameplay that will easily keep you entertained for hours.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii takes the series to the high seas while staying true to its signature formula. Packed with side quests and mini-games, it delivers everything fans expect from a Like a Dragon game. The core gameplay remains as content-rich as ever, and with smooth, fast-paced combat both on land and water, the final package is a must-buy for longtime fans.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii proves that the previous Like a Dragon Ishin was no fluke. Ryu Ga Gotoku is clearly comfortable bringing these iconic characters to any creative setting and location, and going forward the sky’s the limit. Perhaps literally. I wouldn’t put it past them to have Goro Majima waking up on a moon base next.