Heading into Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, I was reminiscing about the series as a whole. The Yakuza games are a work of over-the-top situations, hilarious outcomes, and incredibly written and well-defined characters, all while being able to tow a super serious main narrative involving some form of corruption, morality, and togetherness. For the past twenty years, these stories have, in one way or another, involved Kiryu and his ever-evolving relationships. It was only recently, in 2020, that the story started to focus on a new generation of heroes in Ichiban, but still, Kiryu had a big impact on those games.
This is the first game in the series (that I can think of) that has absolutely zero trace of Kiryu. Instead, taking up the mantle is his longtime nemesis/frenemy/best friend—some might even say—Goro Majima. He is the unapologetic anti-hero, and this is also the first game in which he gets so much screen time. Majima has always been a fan-favourite, known for his chaotic energy, unpredictable behaviour, and surprisingly deep emotional layers. Giving him the spotlight in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, a full-fledged story, was an exciting change, but did it deliver on expectations? Well, kind of.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii follows Majima as he wakes up on a beach with amnesia. After being pointed in the right direction, taking out a pirate, and taking over his ship, Majima heads off to uncover the truth about his past, all while helping his new friend Noah accomplish one of his lifelong dreams of sailing the world and going on adventures.
Noah, who serves as Majima’s companion throughout much of the game, is a bit of an odd choice—his character feels a little too generic compared to the usual Yakuza supporting cast. But his dynamic with Majima is at least entertaining, even if it doesn’t quite reach the level of Kiryu and Majima’s legendary interactions from past games.
The story in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is decently told but ultimately forgettable. This is a shame because normally, the Yakuza games have such an intriguing story that grips you and pulls you through with twists, turns, and surprises that really hit home, especially when it comes to emotional impact. There are moments when the game feels like it’s about to deliver something truly gripping, but then it just doesn’t follow through.
There are emotional beats that feel undercooked, and a lot of character motivations seem a little too surface-level. It’s still fun, don’t get me wrong, but for a franchise known for delivering some of the most intense narrative moments in gaming, this one felt like it was missing something.
This is kind of the same for the side stories—usually a big highlight for the Yakuza games—but here, they feel less fresh. If you chase the side stories down, it often involves helping and dealing with a lot of the same people Ichiban did in Infinite Wealth, but almost as if there was less thought put into their hilarity and oddball situations. Some of the side stories in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza are still entertaining, but they don’t quite hit the same highs that we’ve come to expect. Usually, Yakuza side stories walk this fine line between absurdity and heartfelt storytelling, but this time around, they feel a bit like filler.
“Some of the side stories in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza are still entertaining, but they don’t quite hit the same highs that we’ve come to expect.”
There is one side story that, in my opinion, is better than the main story and should be played by everyone. It is the “Pirate Legends” story, centring around four ancient artifacts that you can collect and, in turn, use in battle. They kind of work like Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s summons. The story was not only well told, but it also pushed so much money and pirate rankings onto me that I was able to max out everything except two stats about a third of the way through the game. It’s genuinely one of the most rewarding experiences in the game, and I kind of wish the main story had that same level of engagement.
My overall opinion on Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is that it was decent but without really furthering the Yakuza formula. That being said, the hand-to-hand combat is still fluid and brutal, and the Heat Attacks still managed to get a giggle out of me every time I used them. The combat feels just as satisfying as ever, with Majima’s signature chaotic energy making every fight feel like a spectacle. He’s an absolute beast in battle, and the new pirate-themed moves give the combat a fresh coat of paint, even if they don’t reinvent the wheel.
“Naval combat gives the game a unique angle that helps set Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii apart from previous titles, and at its best, it really delivers some exciting battles.
The big change in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is its naval combat. The ship-to-ship combat, along with the boarding combat, is honestly great. Being able to upgrade and change out your cannons and boarding team adds a great layer of strategy to the whole process. Especially when they start including status effects like freeze and poison, there is a lot of room to play here.
Naval combat gives the game a unique angle that helps set Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii apart from previous titles, and at its best, it really delivers some exciting battles. The way you can customize your ship and build your own ideal pirate crew is a fun touch, even if it’s not quite as deep as I would have liked.
It’s the actual movement of the ship that doesn’t feel good. Granted, it’s a ship, so it’s not supposed to be amazing, but there is a certain slowness to steering that takes a lot of fun out of exploring islands for pirate treasure. You can feel the weight of the ship in every turn and maneuver, but sometimes, it just feels sluggish in a way that doesn’t serve the gameplay well. When a game leans into exploration, the movement needs to feel good, and here, it kind of just gets in the way.
Overall, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an okay spin-off of the Yakuza series. The story is fine, but my biggest issue is that it doesn’t really feel inventive, which is usually what Yakuza and Like a Dragon games have in spades. That, along with the slow movement of the ship, can really grind things to a halt.
That being said, I still had a great time with the combat. The side stories are goofy but not as out there as mainline installments. I still sat down and played it from start to finish over a weekend, so even a decent game by RGG Studios’ standards is still pretty damn good. At the end of the day, even a weaker Yakuza game is still better than a lot of other games out there, and I’d still recommend it to long-time fans—just with some tempered expectations.
- PIRATE YAKUZA ADVENTURE AHOY – Goro Majima, a notorious ex-yakuza suddenly finds himself shipwrecked on a remote island in the Pacific. Unable to remember even his own name, he sets sail in search of clues to his lost memories, accompanied by a boy named Noah who saved his life.
- GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER – Assemble a one-of-a-kind crew while upgrading your ship as you explore the open sea and forge your legend in the cannon fire of foes, unexpected friendships, and immense riches made along the way.
