Yakuza: Like a Dragon Reviews
Everyone wants to be the hero of their own story. Whether it’s taking care of loved ones, overcoming hardship, or grasping for a dream, I can think of no one who isn’t seeking some sort of place in this world. To say 2020 has been a bit rough for a whole lot of people would be an understatement, and Ichiban Kasuga was definitely the hero I needed this year. His strong heart, unwavering resolve, and unconditional love for those most important to him were the sort of positivity I craved. He would have been my favorite protagonist of all the games I played this year regardless, but he shone extra brightly in the darkness, and I adore him all the more for it. Ichiban’s struggles and triumphs were relatable and heartbreaking and beautiful, all at once, and helped propel his game not only to Game of the Year status, but also ousted Yakuza 5 from its pedestal as favorite game in the series. Ichiban is the hero everyone deserves, and I think his absolute banger of an anthem puts it best: “You may have nothing, yet you’ve got the bravery to go forth and lead a wonderful life.”
In summary, Yakuza Like a Dragon is an excellent JRPG, with a complete package of activities outside of the basic gameplay routine that will "suck in" whoever goes along with it.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Yakuza: Like a Dragon isn’t just a new entry into the Yakuza franchise, it’s the shot of adrenaline it needed to wake up the Dragon. A fantastic adventure, and a must play.
While beat ‘em up fans may disagree with this change in direction, there are many who are welcoming the change, and it’s bringing in new fans of the series.
Veteran fans of the Yakuza series have nothing to worry about – despite the drastic changes in gameplay, Yakuza: Like a Dragon remains the Yakuza we know and love.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Yakuza: Like a Dragon lives up to the monumental legacy of its predecessors but isn't afraid to strike out and carve a bold new identity of its own.
What they have here is an amazing foundation for the future of the franchise.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a rich RPG full of interesting content. It may not be the top in its genre, however, it certainly does things well enough to fully deserve your attention. Great story and diverse playability make it a title which will keep your eyes on the screen for an impressive amount of time.
Review in Czech | Read full review
By the end, I was fully onboard with our new protagonist and I truly hope Like A Dragon is just the beginning for its unique cast. I want to see more from them, I want the series to continue to evolve this new RPG style combat and progression, and I love looking at this world through a more current and modern day lens. Between this and Judgement, we’re seeing the series evolve to some exciting and interesting places and I feel like somehow, the best is still yet to come.
Yakuza Like A Dragon once again demonstrates the incredible quality of Ryū Ga Gotoku Studio's productions. A huge game, animated by a wonderful story and surrounded by a huge amount of fun side activities. Don't miss it.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Overall, I loved my time with Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and while there are imperfections in the game, they are equally a part of its charm.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is almost a soft reboot of an aging franchise. It takes the long-running series in a new direction that works really well as a first outing.
Forget about Kiryu. There’s a new Dragon in town! “Yakuza: Like a Dragon” proves that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has still a lot to offer. Fresh mechanics, interesting characters, new town and Mario…I mean – Dragon Kart.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio succeeds in the challenging task of renewing a historical series, creating an ideal starting point for newcomers but at the same time fully satisfying old-time fans too. It won't please anyone and the new turn-based combat system can use some improvements, but this is definitely a game to not overlook.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you’re a die-hard fan of the Yakuza series, then there’s plenty to love here. Even if you’re not, this is a great place to become one, especially given the standalone nature of this title. With that in mind, joining Ichiban’s heroic journey is an easy choice here.
Just like past games, Yakuza: Like A Dragon still retains the magic of balancing the serious and the absurd side-by-side with deft precision and skill. You won't regret this trip down Isezaki Ijincho and getting enamoured by its 40-hours plus journey.
Daring to get out of their comfort zone, Ichiban Kasuga came to claim Kazuma Kiryu's throne and he took it, with a thrilling white knuckle ride of a JRPG. Do not miss out on Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio's best adventure to date.
Give it up to Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio for actually making the impossible work like a charm. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is more than just a great transition to a brand new JRPG environment. It might as well be one of the best Yakuza games ever made, and one of the best JRPGs I’ve played in years. Once you get rid of an admittedly slow start, you’ll be greeted a fantastic story, great combat system, relatable characters, and a ludicrous, borderline insane amount of content.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a great chapter in the Yakuza saga, and Ichiban is a good heir to Kiryu. Perhaps the change of gameplay to JRPG will put back some veterans of the saga, but Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has tried to develop dynamic combats not leave a break for the player. Being a reboot of the series, it's a good entry point for new players, too.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ichiban Kasuga is a worthy successor to the legacy Kiryu created, and his journey makes the story just as enthralling as any entry in the series. I entered this experience with an anxiousness never experienced before. What ensued was one of the best JRPGs from this console generation and one of the best Yakuza games of all-time. I implore fans, or anyone curious about the series, to play this game as soon as possible. Yakuza: Like A Dragon is truly is number one.