Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio reset its flagship collection with Yakuza: Like a Dragon, an aptly named title that noticed newcomer Ichiban Kasuga take the lead in RPG hero trend. With Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, RGG returns to the role-playing formulation, with one foot sooner or later and the opposite up to now.

Whereas Ichiban is again to guide, his predecessor Kazuma Kiryu returns, too. At first, the duo type a celebration collectively after which, finally, cut up into two events with every protagonist as their very own chief. And whereas I dig loads about what this does for the story, and the methods by which RGG Studio has clearly upgraded its blueprint from Y:LAD, it’s laborious to not discover the stumbles it makes alongside the best way.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is completely huge. It’s a transition interval for the collection, transferring all its characters round and constructing on their tales, whereas additionally creating the most important world I’ve but to see in certainly one of Ryu Ga Gotoku’s video games. Infinite Wealth nails so many excessive factors, however huge extra can come at a price.

The introduction sequence for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is, fairly actually, incredible. Beginning out, straight after the occasions of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, we see Ichiban and the crew attempting to take pleasure in a standard life after the Nice Dissolution and ensuing drama. Ichiban does his finest to assist the rudderless yakuza struggling to earn a residing as civilians, whereas additionally endearingly struggling in his personal manner, particularly within the romance division.

It’s not lengthy, although, till some ghosts of the previous resurface. After dangerous actors rope Ichiban and co. right into a sea of on-line controversy, our hero departs for Hawaii, the place his long-lost mom, Akane, is regarded as hiding. Alongside the best way, you’ll largely hang around with acquainted faces. Each solid member from Yakuza: Like a Dragon returns in some type, and the Geomijul’s Seonhee makes her playable debut in Infinite Wealth, alongside two newcomers: the compromised cabbie Eric Tomizawa and Chitose Fujinomiya, a maid Akane contracted for assist.

The story takes many, many twists and turns, and it wouldn’t actually make sense to dig too deep into the specifics. Suffice to say, it doesn’t take lengthy for a seemingly easy journey to Hawaii to escalate into the sort of antics you’d count on from Like a Dragon. Secret underground areas, sudden betrayals and double-crosses, and naturally, shirtless fist fights with again tattoos bared are all a part of the Yakuza attraction, and none of that’s lacking right here.

A few of Infinite Wealth’s highest highs are in these story moments, particularly for the person characters. Yakuza: Like a Dragon roped me in quick with its solid of older characters, going via extraordinarily relatable life struggles amid all of the chaos, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth nonetheless captures that. Each Tomizawa and Chitose make glorious additions to the crew, whereas now-veterans Nanba, Saeko, and Adachi get loads to work with, too. Heck, Joongi Han and Zhou – who arrive pretty late in Y:LAD – get loads of character constructing in Infinite Wealth.

Let me purchase you drink

Personalities and relationships actually shine because of the Bond system, an overarching mechanic the place occasion members can spend time with the protagonist to speak about their lives. Drink Hyperlinks and rising Bonds are again, with really nice moments tucked away in these aspect tales. Characters like Seonhee and Tomizawa have particularly efficient moments of their Drink Hyperlinks, including intimate narrative particulars on the aspect whereas chipping away on the massive image. 

The addition of Bond Bingo additionally does loads, dropping a bevy of spots round city the place you can begin up little skits. They’re framed as one of many occasion members being attentive to one thing, like their favourite meals or a spot that reminds them of a selected reminiscence, which will get marked off on an enormous bingo board. The aim is to type bingos and earn a ton of Bond progress, however you’ll make plenty of Bond progress simply by enjoying the sport; the actual draw is the dialogue, which is fairly nice.

All these methods of attending to know characters, with such a big solid, can really feel a tad overwhelming. Actually, splitting the occasion helps loads in managing the sheer breadth of narrative content material Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has. After some chapters collectively, Ichiban and Kiryu finally cut up up and lead their very own crews. The scope of the story ratchets up even additional, as Kiryu begins to retrace his many, many steps via Ijincho and Kamurocho as a part of his personal journey, too.

As was revealed within the story trailer for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Kiryu has been identified with most cancers, and a serious aspect of his personal journey sees him revisiting the previous. A few of this implies merely interacting with explicit places, the place Kiryu can replicate on memorable occasions from earlier Yakuza video games, whereas others are rather more concerned quests.

Limitless greed

Substories additionally return, rising fairly prolonged in some circumstances, making for much more methods to lose monitor of the hours in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. My map was continually stuffed with icons noting actions I might tackle, all of them increase the varied numbers I had, whether or not it was my occasion’s degree and stats, the cash in my pockets, or all of the completely different persona traits that Ichiban builds up over time.

I haven’t even broached the topic of a number of the bigger minigames. The monster-catching Sujimon minigame is again, with on-the-map raids much like latest Pokemon titles. Trainers are throughout Hawaii ready for a problem, and there’s even a narrative quest involving preventing the aptly named “Discreet 4.” Build up a potent Sujimon occasion and taking down the most effective trainers round is its personal journey.

After which there’s Dondoko Island, Ryu Ga Gotoku’s model of Animal Crossing that has Ichiban cleansing up a trashed island and restoring it to resort standing. It’s, merely put, a very easy solution to lose hours and hours of your time. I believe I spent about three to 4 days of my evaluate time with this sport simply on Dondoko Island, clearing out trash and constructing the island of my goals. What was as soon as a subject with a single bathroom in the midst of it quickly grew to become a bustling city, replete with meals stalls and karaoke… and nonetheless, the bathroom in the midst of it. It’s a landmark!

That mentioned, it’s not all roses on Dondoko Island. The motion fight doesn’t really feel notably nice, and there’s plenty of it. And actually, it’s a mode that feels prefer it’ll be finest to revisit all through the journey, relatively than breeze via in a single go. Finally, guests can begin going to the island, and also you’ll have to handle their desires and wishes in an virtually tycoon-style trend. Getting a number of the higher, and extra enjoyable, guests means discovering them again within the open world of the primary sport, and progressing each the primary story and varied substories.

Plus, have I discussed but how massive this world is? Not simply with issues to do, however in precise measurement. RGG added a segway for Ichiban and crew to journey round on, and actually, it’s a useful software. Exploring the open world is extremely inspired; it’s the place you grind battles for EXP and money, it’s the place you’ll be able to hit the Sq. button (or your platform equal) to throw up the shaka and achieve new buddies so as to add extra Aloha Hyperlinks, and it’s the place you discover objects, substories, and extra.

Even simply Honolulu itself is massive, and there’s nonetheless the addition of Ijincho and Kamurocho, too. It’s a hefty sport, in all senses. You possibly can throw darts, attempt your luck on a relationship app, play shogi or blackjack or koi koi, and even play a motorcycle supply sport with a bunch of nods to its Loopy Taxi inspirations. Heck, simply go to an arcade and play Sega Bass Fishing or Spike Out, or play on-line matches of Virtua Fighter 3tb.

Large world, small individuals

I stress the expanse of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth as a result of this collection has, in its personal manner, all the time been massive and stuffed with unusual aspect sights. Yakuza isn’t any stranger to odd aspect video games that eat up tons of time, from taxi driving to cabaret administration, and that knob is turned all the best way to 11. Often, the enchantment of Yakuza is that it has all this ridiculousness, however beneath each the explosive motion and extreme aspect actions, there’s a beating coronary heart of characters and story. Infinite Wealth nonetheless has that coronary heart, nevertheless it misses in some tangible locations.

As I mentioned earlier than, every character will get their time within the highlight. Ichiban felt a bit second-fiddle to Kiryu, whose historical past and legacy are felt all through his sections, however even nonetheless, Kasuga is each bit the lovable Dragon Quest-obsessed man that he was in his debut sport. Moments of this sport the place we get to see characters from via its historical past, previous and current, interacting are immediate highlights.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has a little bit of a villain downside, although. Principally in that its antagonists are each quite a few, and aren’t fairly as compelling or charismatic as the primary solid. A couple of are your common aggressors, the fellows you combat a couple of occasions over the course of the sport, and others are those ready within the wings. However actually, it felt like a couple of of the antagonistic forces simply fall flat in the long run.

This extends to the primary plot, which might stifle a dramatic second or two with some lackluster plot beats. Some characters and plot traces really feel like they seem and disappear only for the advantage of transferring the occasion from one location to a different. I just like the broad strokes of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s story, nevertheless it didn’t have that targeted ramp-up I loved in a number of the collection’ finest narratives, like say, Yakuza 0 or Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

In the end, the most effective plot moments outdoors the chapter-ending climaxes are these Drink Hyperlinks and aspect tales, the place particular person characters and tales can shine. The world of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is big, nevertheless it’s the moments that slender right down to a pinpoint that caught with me most.

A second flip

With regards to fight, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth exhibits that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will need to have been listening and taking suggestions on Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s methods. Broadly, it appears like an improve in virtually each manner, whereas maintaining a lot of the identical spirit alive.

Characters can now transfer inside a set vary on their flip, eliminating a number of the awkwardness round lining up assaults and AoEs. In truth, extra motion – mixed with the efficiency of knockbacks, again assaults, and different environmental enhancers – actually makes the battles of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth really feel extra alive and energetic. I nonetheless had one or two moments the place I used to be awkwardly attempting to angle one thing excellent, or would carry out a knockback just for my teammate to look at the enemy fall down as a substitute of including a follow-up hit. However controlling the sector appears like a way more doable job in Infinite Wealth.

Moreover, the breadth of Tag Staff and particular strikes, in addition to the brand new jobs and Ability Inheritance system that lets job expertise carry over, all type an exquisite playground for constructing a celebration. It’s nonetheless a ache to need to return to the job retailer – Alo-Pleased, a tour firm, on this sport – to swap out roles. And it’s an actual bummer that jobs are nonetheless gender-locked. Whereas the fellows have some assist choices, and the gals get certainly one of my favourite new jobs within the Agility-focused Kunoichi, it nonetheless appears odd there aren’t some overlapping jobs between them. I don’t actually see why Chitose can’t surf or shoot weapons, or why Tomizawa can’t decide up the bucket and mop for a cleansing gig.

Nonetheless, battles in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth are extraordinarily good, with loads of wild characters to combat and difficult bosses to take down. Whereas there’s a small little bit of counting on the hits in a while, even the methods by which Infinite Wealth remixes expectations from Yakuza: Like a Dragon is absolutely enjoyable.

Top-of-the-line methods is Kiryu’s final transfer, which lets him unleash the beast and lash out in beat ‘em up type, turning the turn-based RPG right into a Yakuza brawler for a brief span of time. It’s one of many cleverest mechanics on this sport, that basically exhibits how assured RGG feels with their RPG methods, and it’s used to unbelievable impact.

It’s an actual testomony that, even after rolling credit, I’m nonetheless desirous to unlock extra roles and grind out extra challenges within the battle system. The place Yakuza: Like a Dragon actually felt like a sport that rewarded good play and good planning, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth appears like RGG taking a system constructed on inspirations and confidently making it their very own. There are nonetheless some wrinkles to iron out – please, add a manner of opting out of weapon assaults in favor of primary strikes – however largely, RGG has the fight down on the second time round.

Materials extra

I might go on for ages concerning the trivialities of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. It’s a large sport, brimming with issues to do, in a manner that’s actually intimidating to correctly assess. I’ve spent slightly over 50 hours simply seeing Infinite Wealth via to credit, and I’ve little doubt I might double or triple that point, digging into every thing right here.

Relying on who you might be, that quantity will be interesting or daunting. Whereas I actually suppose you’ll be able to see a great deal of Like a Dragon inside an analogous playtime, there are nonetheless facets I needed to put by the wayside for deadline; and including that onto the rely, it’s a complete lot of sport to dig into. There are little contrivances which may develop or fade in that point, too; the Smackdown possibility for immediately successful battles towards lower-level enemies is a superb addition. However it additionally tries to masks that the world of Like a Dragon has plenty of wandering encounters which may interrupt no matter you’re attempting to do, like a Bond Bingo chat or substory.

Should you’re coming to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for an enormous RPG that packs in all that RGG Studio has ever supplied into one bundle, that is that sport. It’s titanic, but it’s nonetheless bought some character coronary heart down beneath. And simply the draw-in alone of seeing these characters snigger, study, and combat alongside one another can be well worth the ticket worth for longtime RGG followers. I’d fear newcomers would really feel fairly misplaced at some factors, even when they’ll broadly comply with the story beats.

But I do nonetheless have some nitpicks and disadvantages, across the broad plot, the villains, and even how effectively a number of the minigames stack as much as others. (I discovered the Tinder-like relationship app to be a extremely unusual, opaque sport in comparison with the comparatively easy FMV relationship in Like a Dragon Gaiden.) I actually like broad items of this sport, however with a lot right here, some parts really feel far more fleshed out, and others really feel like they drag the median down. Even the sport’s conclusion ends relatively abruptly, and with a bow-tie that feels a bit swiftly wrapped.

Among the many wealth of Like a Dragon video games we’ve had during the last 12 months or so, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is definitely the stand-out for me. It’s nonetheless bought plenty of what I like from this collection, and I believe anybody on the lookout for a superb follow-up to Yakuza: Like a Dragon will discover it right here. The second time round doesn’t really feel fairly as revolutionary, however that is nonetheless an island trip I wouldn’t flip down. A while spent within the solar with Ichiban and crew is all the time time effectively spent.