Platform(s): PS5 (version reviewed), Xbox Series, PC
Genre: Action Adventure, Crime

The latest Like A Dragon/Yakuza game from Sega holds a world record for shortest game entry in the long-running series, boasting a main quest runtime of 10 hours. Much like its previous iterations, you wander around the streets of a Japan city location as series mainstay Kazuma Kiryu, doing main quest missions involving the yakuza (helping or hindering them), as well as participating in side quests galore and playing a ton of minigames from snooker to mahjong to even old-as-heck Sega arcade and Master System games (emulated really well, I must say). Only with its length cut to a third, as the game is reusing assets and locations from the last few titles and thus costs less in store shelves at launch.

If you think that is grounds for entering the Like A Dragon/Yakuza series fresh, you may want to reconsider. The story is about Kazuma Kiryu who is keeping his identity a secret, working with various yakuza organizations to maintain it while adhering to his “no killing” clause. Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is not only the follow-up to Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life, but also the story bridge between that game and Yakuza: Like A Dragon (part 7). Gaiden’s story takes place while the early events of part 7 take place, so if you’re wondering about who the person resting in the homeless camp at the Isezaki Ijincho district in the earlier portions of the story, you will need to play catch-up.

Then again, you can play it as a straight-up action-adventure title without a lot of context, though you will be missing out.

Spy Hard

Speaking of which, the additions in Gaiden are worth the price point and longevity. Kiryu has two styles to switch between during combat: his Yakuza style which focuses on charged power attacks and Agent style which lets him pull out various gadgets as assists and support tools. From Spider-Man-esque long-ranged rope grapples to jet boost charges that let you tackle multiple foes in a straight line, to even exploding cigarettes, this style just takes things over the top combat-wise. Focusing more on style than substance, the Agent style is good for a few laughs and some uses for crowd control even if you find yourself switching back to Yakuza style to finish the job. The combat is just as fun and familiar as ever; if you missed playing as Kiryu in past Sega action titles of this ilk, Gaiden will make you feel right at home and boy, it’s good to be back.

Two highlights that made me just go beyond the story mode, which itself is gripping with its own twists and revelations, are the Akame Network and Coliseum. The former lets you help out a spunky lass (whom I would totally ship with our main character due to her zest and personality) build her Akame Network via a plethora of sidequests and mini objectives. These include beating up a wandering Gold Samurai, taking down rogue yakuza and street thugs harassing Sotenbori residents, retrieving soccer balls and panties stuck onto trees and high places using your Agent grapple hook, and feeding the homeless with items you buy from convenience stores. They’re quick and net you loads of Akame points and cash which you can use to get gear and special moves for Kiryu, so there’s always an incentive to faff about and do these.

The Coliseum is where it’s at if you want a challenge beyond the story combat-wise. You’ll be fighting not only a plethora of opponents, but also in recreations of past Yakuza series battles with previous bosses and also team up with recruitable fighters in group battles. These can get challenging, so leveling up the Akame Network and powering Kiryu up is key to getting to higher ranks.

Long story short, there’s a lot to do for a supposed truncated Yakuza/Like A Dragon experience, and it’s all fun. My only gripe is that there are quite a few filler quests in-between the story chapters to complete and grind through before getting to the game’s epic conclusion and tie-in to part 7.

He Who Shall Remain Nameless

While Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is not meant for new players wanting to get into the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series (they can dock off 20 points on the final score), you can still enjoy it as a brawler while just ploughing through the story. However, you won’t get the narrative satisfaction this side story has planned. That aspect will reward longtime players who started the series back in the aughts when Sega had a budget to hire Michael Madsen and Mark Hamill for the first English entry of the series in the PlayStation 2 era.

You’ll get the story payoff and feel as you go through this supposed final chapter in Kazuma Kiryu’s life, to make way for Like A Dragon: Infinity Wealth’s brand-new story arc. Most importantly, it’s a Like A Dragon game you can finish on a weekend that happens to be worth the price tag it’s set.

Pros

• Great entry and payoff for longtime Yakuza/Like A Dragon lore fans.
• Fun combat mechanics with two unique styles.
• Akame Network and Coliseum are great distractions.

Cons

• Tedious busywork in-between story missions that breaks pacing.
• New players will get lost story-wise.

Final Score: 80/100

Review copy provided by publisher.