Summary
Based on a recent leak,Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiicould be one of many smaller “Gaiden” titles for the series, with these games being intermediaries for the mainline entries. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio surprised fans earlier this September with the reveal ofLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, a brand-new spin-off that stars Goro Majima as its protagonist. Finding himself with amnesia and in the middle of a pirate feud, in true Majima fashion, he becomes a pirate lord himself and recruits his own crew.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s premiseis similar toLike a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, where it returns to the series' roots with traditional arcade action beat-em-up gameplay rather than the turn-based JRPG style used sinceYakuza: Like a Dragon. The game’s title in Japanese even denotes it as a gaiden game, where it is calledRyū Ga Gotoku 8 Gaiden - Pairētsu in Hawai, orLike a Dragon 8 Side Story: Pirates in Hawaii. If rumors are to be believed,Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiwon’t be the onlyGaidentitle in the future.
These details were provided ina leak posted by Jawmuncheron Twitter, which covered a number of details about the game and was posted before its official reveal. While a number of details in thisPirate Yakuza in Hawaiileakwere correct, one particular point stands out near the end. The leak states that the management at Sega were debating on giving the game the subtitle of “Gaiden” to more clearly highlight it as a subseries entry.
Smaller Titles Like Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Will Reportedly Tie Into Mainline Like a Dragon Games
The other big thing about this leak is howPirate Yakuza in Hawaiiwill reportedly be one of other smaller titles that will be released in between games, being used to flesh out the characters. This release strategy is similar to howLike a Dragon GaidenandInfinite Wealthwere interconnected stories, with the former being an interquel that fleshed out Kiryu’s character before his major role inInfinite Wealth. It’s likely thatPirate Yakuza in Hawaiiwill do the same for Majima before his next major appearance in a mainlineLike a Dragongame, though this is speculation and this rumor should be taken with a grain of salt for now.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiis also looking to have a longer story campaign thanGaiden, with Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio stating it will be roughly 1.3-1.5 times longer than the latter. While its spin-offs are typically a shorter affair,Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiseems like it’s going to be comparable to titles likeYakuza 2and6in terms of length.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
WHERE TO PLAY
A new legend begins as you step into the steel toe boots of Goro Majima, a man who has lost his memory and reinvents himself as a pirate on the open sea.Embark on an over-the-top, modern-day pirate adventure with an ex-yakuza, now pirate captain and his crew as they engage in exhilarating combat on land and sea in the hunt for lost memories and a legendary treasure.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. Before long, they’re caught up in a conflict between cutthroat criminals, modern-day pirates, and other scoundrels over a legendary treasure.GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHERAssemble 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.When an enemy pirate ship catches you in their sights, an exhilarating real-time cannon battle breaks out. Quickly maneuver into position while avoiding fire, then deliver devastating damage to board the enemy ship and take down the captain in all-out crew vs. crew brawls. Conquer the seas, discover hidden islands and acquire loads of loot like a true yakuza pirate!KICK ARRRSS WITH CREATIVE COMBATDynamically switch between the “Mad Dog” and “Sea Dog” fighting styles to mix-up attacks and deliver explosive combos, juggles, and aerial takedowns that reward your creativity with over-the-top action.With “Mad Dog” style, utilize speed, agility, and flair to deliver precise yet powerful blows that stun your enemies into submission. Or make enemies walk the plank with the “Sea Dog” style that has you dual-wielding short swords and deploying tricky pirate tools to kick some serious booty.
