Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Reviews
Proves that the Yakuza series can still surprise us. The combination of crazy action, an engaging story, diverse gameplay, and characters you can’t help but love makes this entry one of the franchise’s most unique experiences. Naval battles, an extensive customization system, stunning graphics, and flawless voice acting all come together to turn Majima’s adventure into an absolute riot—one of the most unforgettable journeys in the series. If you’re looking for a thrilling, hilarious experience free from sentimentality, this game is exactly what you’re waiting for.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a great game, if one that doesn’t live up to those that came before it. It’s the same as several of its predecessors in many ways and can be incredibly fun at times as a result, but it falls down on certain new or unique elements. If you enjoyed Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for their gameplay or want to see what happens after the events of those stories, then you’ll likely enjoy this.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a bold, must-play experience for fans of the saga. The introduction of pirate mechanics adds freshness to the gameplay, while the compelling narrative and iconic characters ensure a memorable adventure. However, the PC version needs some fixes to address performance issues. Despite these flaws, the game offers hours of fun and once again confirms Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's ability to innovate without betraying the roots of the series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawai is, for me, what an alternative adventure in a major franchise should be like. As well as being linked to the franchise, you're plunged into the story without even questioning what exactly you're doing. The idea of using Goro Majima as the protagonist allows players to quickly become attached to him, but also to assume this zany side. Despite some repetition in terms of gameplay and activities, the title can satisfy old and new players alike. In fact, it's a good opus for those who've never played a Yakuza before. The shorter lifespan is also a good way of attracting another community. However, don't expect a game that reinvents the concept developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio!
Review in French | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii adds to the series' legacy and claims its spot as one of the most entertaining wild fantasies, flaws included.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii doesn't take itself too seriously, the story is light-hearted and some of the characters you come across are ridiculous, but in a good way, you can also find moments throughout the game that can increase the bond between Majima and his crew. In the beginning the game can feel a little repetitive, but the world soon opens up when you get your ship, and with the introduction of subplots to complete, mini-games to play and treasure to find there is always something to do if you want to take a break from the main story.
If you liked the Yakuza series I think you will love Yakuza Like a Dragon: Pirate in Hawaii, especially if you liked the 'Like a Dragon' part with Ichiban and his gang. The atmosphere is very similar to these, contains seriousness but with a good dose of humor and lightness.
Review in French | Read full review
The impression left by Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is that of a pleasant "injection" that the series needed.
Review in Greek | Read full review
This game is a true tribute to Goro Majima and a wonderful gift for fans of this character. It’s also a perfect example of how spin-offs of well-known series should be created. It draws the best elements from the franchise while introducing plenty of innovations and successful experiments that give it its own unique style.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Given how quickly RGG can turn around a game, especially as this is the sixth Yakuza game in five years, you sort of get what RGG has done here if you are aware of their history. Visually, the game is fine enough for what it is doing. It’s not a next-gen masterpiece, but the series faithful know what they are getting here. Similar to previous entries like “The man who erased his name”, this is a small side story that looks to expand upon key moments the series is fleshing out, given the fall of the Yakuza in Like a Dragon. And, with where this story wraps up, I’m interested to see how Majima and those present in the game’s final moments, look to play out their respective futures.
This spin-off serves as the perfect showcase for the series' most charismatic character, whose eccentric antics are always funny, but this time we also get to see the narrative depth of his personality.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii proves to fans and newcomers alike that you can step out of your comfort zone in more ways than one as a player or developer. Not only does a fan favorite finally get the spotlight he righteously deserves, he shines in a way that only Goro Majima can. I had a blast being a right scallywag with the Goro Pirates, and I’m confident that anyone that picks this up will likely feel the same about their high seas shenanigans. If Secret Agent Majima somehow becomes a thing, you better believe I’ll be there enjoying every second of it. Turns out you can teach a Mad Dog new tricks.
Pirate Yakuza is never subtle, boring, or less than ostentatiously campy. Everyone should enjoy this perfect pirate adventure from a studio at the top of their game.
I will be hanging out in Hawaii and Madlantis for a long time, just having fun, which is exactly what Majima would want, especially considering the grim future awaiting his longtime friend, and the series' main protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu.
I've had an exceptional time playing Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and even after 60+ hours I still feel like I could put in an equal amount of hours to tick off every last task within the game. There is no getting away from the fact these games are always packed with content and things to discover and explore. The storyline is rock solid and having Noah by my side throughout genuinely made me want to protect him as if he was my own. Admittedly I was a little anxious of whether they would pull a game that focuses on being a pirate off. Somehow they have managed to strike a fine balance of retaining the serious nature of a great story whilst also having those wacky moments still ever present. Whilst the game bears many similarities to Infinite Wealth, there is more than enough here to warrant your hard earned cash. It is oar-inspiring to see pirate ships in a Yakuza game, and its the greatest pirate title we have seen since Sea Of Thieves gained popularity.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an uncompromising and charming game. It's not perfect, but it's a game that made me genuinely happy after finishing it, it's like watching an adventure movie.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With its great pirate flair, its great main characters, its impressive graphical backdrop and its sometimes very humorous, sometimes really touching story, the title managed to win me over from the very first second. With the exception of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, no other game has managed to pack the pirate theme into a story so well and also hit the mark on an emotional level. Pirate Yakuza may not win any innovation awards for its combat system, but the fast-paced, beat-em-up-style brawls are still a lot of fun and bring the Yakuza feeling to Hawaii.
Review in German | Read full review
Besides having 5 game crashes during cutscenes, I completely enjoyed my time playing as Majima again. Not since Yakuza 0, have players been able to play as him. In fact this is the reason why I designed my ship with the sign of the Grand cabaret! Being able to choose his hairstyle from zero again was another great touch for me. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is honestly a great pirate game in this dry age of pirate games. And having Majima be the centre of focus was the best choice I can ever see. I give Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii a Thumb Culture Platinum Award
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii comes with a tasty mix of the original games in this series and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, bringing an appropriate dose of refreshment to the time-tested brand.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii doesn’t move the franchise forward, in fact it’s a treat for fans who want to see their favorites back in the spotlight. That said the studio didn’t exactly phone it in with a carbon copy iteration and called it the day either.