Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Reviews
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is one of the best Like a Dragon spin-offs to date, eagerly having us looking forward to Majima’s next adventure.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was a game designed to appeal to new fans. Previous experiments have come out differently, but this time Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has taken a successful side-step. It may attract a fresh audience, because in this case you really don't need to know much about the series and its past to be entertained. This production is meant to give the satisfaction of being a pirate, and it fully accomplishes this task.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Majima's return as the protagonist has never been so good and at the same time unusual. Once again, RGG Studio maintains its seal of quality and goes further with the addition of naval combats along with gameplay that is a true delight, providing hours of fun. Even though it has a simple, unpretentious story on the surface and some moments that could be dispensed with, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii carries in its depths an ode to friendship, dreams and, above all, life.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii gives players exactly what they expect from the title. It's a rollicking, funny, and enjoyable side story that lets fan favorite Goro Majima shine in a way he hasn't since Yakuza 0. The main plot is a little thin, and the pirate mechanics are bare bones, but beneath that, it's a darn fun Yakuza adventure, and it contains perhaps the best iteration of the game's brawler mechanics to date. Any complaints boil down to, "It's more of Like a Dragon," and that's always good.
Like A Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an excellent return to old form for long-running players and Majima fans.
The overly boisterous tone of the narration might unsettle purists, but overall, the "Yakuza formula" of this spin-off works quite well.
Review in Italian | Read full review
All in all, if you want absurdity, you’re getting absurdity. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii sees the franchise in its most ridiculous, over-the-top, and self-aware. At the same time, it’s still a phenomenal pirate simulator, an engaging story to unravel, a fantastic sandbox to explore. It’s not a simple pirate mod plastered on top of the usual Yakuza formula: RGG Studio took its time to make what’s possibly the best pirate game I’ve ever played.
Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii sees Goro Majima in a splendid role, with an incredible acting from his VA Hidenari Ugaki. While the story starts a bit late and the new cast is not so interesting, the game give us a funny experience, with some intriguing plot. The gameplay is so shaped and frenetic, an hybrid between the iconic brawler system and stylish action that looks so fine. All the elements related to the ship - Goromaru - done very well and the navigation is smooth. This is another goal for SEGA.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Whether you're interested in building your perfect pirate crew for hours on end, or just want to see the story through, there's a ton of things to do and with Majima around, it's a riot. It trades in some of its sentimentality for the bizarre and the brash, but finally having Majima playable again after so long feels like a breath of fresh sea air.
I really enjoyed Pirate Yakuza. I’m still fairly new to the franchise but playing this has actually made me want to go back and play the rest. I currently have a play time of over 55 hours and you know what? I’m not even finished! I still have so much to play, explore and enjoy. While I don’t get all the references to the previous games, I was still able to pick up a few. I think if you’re someone who’s been on the fence about starting the franchise, this is a perfect jumping in point if you don’t care about playing them in chronological order.
As a spin-off that leaves us wanting more for the next mainline entry, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii definitely checks a few boxes. Character development is once again stellar, with Majima deservedly being spotlighted, and the various nautical elements infused into combat, exploration, and the world help to breathe new life into Hawaii and its surroundings. Yet, there are still rough edges to this adventure, such is the pirate life, but the crests of the waves most certainly outshine the troughs.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the definition of a spinoff game, but it's also the gold standard for games like it. Majima's Hawaiian adventures are a little shallower than I wanted, but when compared to the likes of the last two mainline games, anything would seem shallow. But being a pirate captain for a "short" 40 hours in the Like a Dragon universe is a dream I never knew I had, and RGG Studio showed me why it was a worthy fantasy.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii brings a lighthearted twist to the saga, favoring freedom and humor over deep storytelling, and thrives on agile combat and open exploration.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is everything I thought this game was going to be and I enjoyed the ride immensely. It’s possible purists may not like the tone of the game too much but as a fan I can always get behind Majima being the main protagonist. His attitude and antics from previous games suit the farfetched nature here and you don’t even need to have played any of the previous game to dive in and enjoy this title.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii pushes the boundaries of the term "quirky", even for its own standards. It's just a shame it doesn't make better use of the entire pirate setting for an unforgettable sea experience.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
If you love Like a Dragon games and want a little more Majima in your life, this game is worth playing. If you're new to the series, it might not be the best entry point, but it's not the worst either. And if you've always wanted to watch Majima sing karaoke on a pirate ship while firing an RPG – this is the game for you.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a fantastic spin-off that successfully blends the Yakuza series’ brawler roots with fresh pirate-themed mechanics. Majima’s larger-than-life personality carries the story, while naval combat, varied environments, and deep side content keep the experience engaging. The game isn’t fully open-world, and the occasional lip-syncing issues can take you out of the moment, but these are minor complaints in an otherwise stellar package.
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii isn’t without its issues, especially with how it handles performance transitioning from a key battle back to the campaign, but it’s a B-level game that totally embraces that role with the love and care obviously put into it. The industry needs more B games, and I absolutely loved this one.
'Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii' doesn't go all the way with its nautical ambitions, but its infectious energy and oddball premise are big swings that I wish every big-budget game series would take with their spin-off titles.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an additional provocative and bold move from the series. Its purpose is to bring together the Yakuza and the pirates in a manner that is as farcically absurd as possible.