Yakuza: Like a Dragon Reviews
This one definitely won’t be for all tastes, but players with a penchant for Japanese culture and a love of tactical combat are bound to find a little slice of criminal soap opera heaven in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon has a couple of weak spots, but it overall proves to be a fantastic reinvention of the series. Yakuza fans and RPG fans alike shouldn't hesitate to check this one out.
Dangerous party from Yokohama offers new turn-based combat and so much fun!
Review in Slovak | Read full review
If you are a fan of Yakuza series, you should definitely try Like a Dragon. The new entry in the Yakuza series not only introduces a brand new character, but also tells a great and dramatic story that will carry you until the very end, and stays true to the classic gameplay elements of the series even though there are lots of new added features.
Review in Persian | 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.
With all the new changes to the standard Yakuza formula, has the latest installment still managed to capture the hearts of diehard fans? Like A Dragon is Ryu Ga Gotoku's most ambitious game yet, but how does it stack up with the rest of the series?
Whether you’re a Yakuza veteran or a newcomer to the series, there is a lot to love with Like A Dragon. It takes the series in a fresh new direction, tells an engaging story packed with quirky characters and has a fun and brave combat system. The overall presentation of the game is top notch, taking place in a vibrant and busy representation of Japan with a really solid English dub. The game does have some late game flaws that are certainly noticeable but if you’re wanting a new Yakuza game to check out, I whole heartedly recommend checking out Like A Dragon.
My 40 hours in Yakuza: Like a Dragon were a great experience regardless if I was playing on my original Xbox One or seamlessly transitioning my save onto the Xbox Series X for improved resolution, frame rate, and loading times. I loved its characters, humor, and willingness to balance complete absurdity with utter sincerity. And even though the battle system would occasionally trip over its own feet, I still adored watching my crew beat the hell out of some weirdos, grow a little bit closer, and celebrate their victory with karaoke back at the pub.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is one of the most satisfying JRPGs released this generation and a great example of how to deal with a series while changing its genre to something completely different.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon is a great entry to the series that dares to reinvent itself and make itself very welcoming for those who are still on the fence on the Yakuza series as a whole. The JRPG mechanics are solid, the side content is plentiful, silly, and full of life, the characters are deep, and the story is full of mystery, intrigue, and drama which all make up an incredibly enjoyable ride with all the unique sauce that Yakuza is known for and is definitely something worth checking out for fans of the old Yakuza and new ones who want to get into the series.
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.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon's switch to turn-based RPG combat and team-based tactics may bite off more than it can chew thanks to terrible difficulty spikes and ill-defined character progression, but it's still a breath of fresh air for the series. Ichiban Kasuga and his pals are an entertaining lot, the game has plenty of style, and even though the combat devolves into an ungodly grind, it's a flashy new start to one of Sega's best franchises.
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 wonderful addition to the franchise. It hits the mark with a likeable new protagonist and an engaging new combat system without losing what makes Yakuza great. It suffers from issues like a low difficulty (another Yakuza staple), but it features top-notch humor and charm. If you like Yakuza, then you'll like Like A Dragon. It is everything that makes the series great and is one of the freshest entries since Yakuza 0.
For the new players who don't want to spend tons of hours playing the first seven games, Like a Dragon is a perfect opportunity to introduce themselves to Yakuza. Despite the slow start and some shortcomings, it's still a great game you don't want to miss.
Review in Russian | Read full review
There's fertile ground in this new direction for Yakuza; Kasuga and Co are worthwhile characters and the new RPG mechanics have potential. Still, this entry feels stuffed with forced mediocre side content, and like a rough draft of what's possible in the future.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is worth your time. While you might not like it if you were a fan of the older Yakuza titles, or if you are looking for something dark and serious, anyone who just wants to explore Japan while having some fun and beating some gangster's faces in old school JRPG style will love this title.