Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii Proved It’s The Majima Game We Always Wanted

I used to be hopping off one practice and onto one other in London, dragging a suitcase behind me with one other 4 hours of journey to go, when the RGG Summit started its broadcast final Friday. In fact, I wasn’t going to overlook it. I gripped my telephone in my hand and squealed with delight—garnering an odd look from fellow commuters—because it opened with the acquainted determine of Majima.

It felt too good to be true. Absolutely it was only a tease for followers to have Majima introduce the subsequent sport? However no. In spite of everything these years of ready, of followers asking, dreaming, and hoping, Majima stans are consuming properly. Our boy (learn: grown man of sixty years) is lastly getting his personal sport: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

If you recognize something about me, it’s that I flipping love Majima. I’ve his tattoo inked into my pores and skin, I spend far an excessive amount of cash on Majima merch, and he’s actually not somebody I’d kick off the bed. I used to be stunned by simply how many individuals DMed me to ask for my ideas on the reveal, however realizing I used to be set to preview ‘RGG’s subsequent unaccounted title’ simply days later, I didn’t need to remark till I noticed it correctly. Now that point has come.

Let’s face it. It must be really horrible for me to not totally find it irresistible. Something Majima is sweet in my books, however I’m going to place my bias apart for a second to react as a standard, wholesome, not totally obsessed Like a Dragon fan. In case you weren’t conscious from the Western translation, Pirate Yakuza is the subsequent Gaiden title, and is titled as such in Japan. Instantly consider what we bought with The Man Who Erased His Identify (henceforth often known as TMWEHN as a result of I don’t need to maintain typing all that), and also you’re heading in the right direction. It’s set to be a bit larger than the earlier Gaiden, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a Gaiden title, and a lot smaller in measurement (each in map measurement and gameplay size) than a fully-fledged LaD title.

We solely had a small style of the narrative, and the arms on slice we performed clearly wasn’t from the beginning of the sport. The trailer gave extra perception into what was taking place than the demo, however I bear in mind the TMHEHN demo being a lot the identical. The purpose is to showcase what’s on provide on the planet moderately than a slice of story pie. Given how meaty and in-depth LaD narratives get, I’ve little question RGG desires to maintain its playing cards near its chest this early on as any narrative proven now would doubtless give rather a lot away.

The Honolulu map is re-used from Infinite Wealth in the identical approach that TMWEHN re-used Yokohama. Nonetheless, there are model new maps too, akin to Madlantis, the quirky, pirate hideout. We additionally noticed a little bit of your ship, the Goromaru, upon which you journey to and from places.

We have been instructed different areas will likely be obtainable too, so I reckon one other metropolis will function. If we consider Madlantis because the equal of TMWEHN’s Fort and Honolulu because the condensed model of Yokohama we had in TMWEHN, then we want one thing to rival TMWEHN’s principal metropolis. Until Honolulu is the primary metropolis as a result of it’s bigger than Sotenbori anyway… however both approach, I really feel we want one other locale. I want extra areas for Majima to strut his stuff in.

Honolulu was a lot the identical. You’ve bought your segway, Noah has a mini segway (cute), and you are able to do the hand sign to befriend folks (so sure, the pal system is again). There have been additionally Most Wished boss battles throughout the map, apparently bounties set by Honolulu Metropolis Police, and what higher man to bag the unhealthy guys than the Mad Canine himself? Majima additionally has a grappling hook (known as a wire hook) that he can use to gather gadgets, or seemingly grapple round a bit, although I didn’t see the latter function in motion.

We had a restricted view of Madlantis as not one of the minigames have been open for the demo, however what little we did see supplied a promising style of a neon-lit, completely piratey, suitably bonkers place to roam round as Sea Canine Majima and kick the butt of any scurvy scoundrel daft sufficient to cross you.

Equally, there are some acquainted minigames in Pirate Yakuza, akin to Dragon Kart, karaoke in Revolve Bar, and Loopy Supply, however there are additionally new minigames being added, such because the courting sport that was teased on the summit. Minigames have been restricted within the arms on, we didn’t see any of the brand new ones, nevertheless it was extremely humorous to do each Dragon Kart and Loopy Supply as Majima. Karaoke, as at all times with Majima, was a deal with. As he belted out his screechy Majima tones on the excessive notes, it made the entire press room chuckle.

Let’s get right down to the necessary stuff although: the fight. I like the Like a Dragon collection and don’t begrudge the turn-based battles we get in the primary collection now, however I’ve at all times most well-liked the motion fight. I like button mashing, I like the chaos and swift feeling of spinning, slicing, leaping, and screeching in maniacal pleasure (as Majima does). It felt unbelievably good to be again to motion fight, switching up between the Mad Canine and Sea Canine types, and simply inflicting mayhem wherever I went with my blades.

These totally different preventing types imply that even those that are uninterested in the collection’ motion fight will discover Pirate Yakuza’s return to the previous approach refreshing – particularly given it’s Majima flavoured. Mad Canine fashion is traditional Majima, with a Insanity Gauge as a substitute of a Warmth Gauge, comboing assaults, and his acquainted Doppleganger assault. Sea Canine fashion offers us the luxurious of pirate weapons, and my god are they enjoyable. You’ve gotten a hand cannon to blast folks, a wire hook to tug your self in the direction of enemies, and your cutlasses, the latter of which you’ll be able to even boomerang at enemies in addition to slice and cube them to oblivion with combos.

Sufficient of that critical critic stuff, let’s get my fan-girl hat again on. Sure, it appears similar to a Majima Development helmet. Let’s discuss outfits. Very like Kiryu in TMWEHN, you possibly can gown Majima up Barbie-style from a variety of hats, tops, trousers, sneakers, equipment, make-up, and extra, selecting an outfit for each Seadog Majima and Mad Canine Majima. You possibly can even put an eye fixed patch or pirate hat in your tiger buddy, Goro.

In current LaD video games, I at all times gown the protagonist as Majima. Kiryu was Majima-dressed in TMWEHN. Kasuga was Majima-dressed in Infinite Wealth. However since I had precise Majima, I gave him a little bit makeover with slick-backed hair, earrings, and painted black nails, after which… properly, customary Majima put on as a result of I like him and I hate change.

In reality, we had entry to all Majimas previous and current. From the hair to the outfits, there was a search for each model of Majima (Goromi included), and even an outfit that resembles Hidenari Ugaki’s (Majima’s Japanese VA) go-to outfit. Hitting preview when altering garments offers a cutscene of Majima strutting down a catwalk just like the king he’s, so be sure you don’t miss that. You’re welcome.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii feels prefer it’s set to be such an on-brand sport not just for RGG Studio, however for Majima too. I imply, the sport’s particulars leaked months in the past and it was so bonkers nobody believed it. If that doesn’t let you know it’s suitably chaotic and loopy to be a sport the place Majima is the protagonist, I don’t know what else will. Oh yeah, me. I’m telling you. That is the Majima sport that followers have at all times needed. It’s returning to the previous fight, it feels on-point for Majima’s character, and it’s the collection taking what it’s realized from its successes to create one thing new and passionate for followers.

The one lingering qualm you might need is that it’s not a mainline Majima title. Meaning we’re not getting a 50+ hour story like Infinite Wealth, but when TMWEHN proved something, it’s that RGG Studio can pack an impactful punch even in a smaller bundle. I used to be already hyped simply from the trailer, however after taking part in among the sport first-hand I’m much more satisfied that that is the LaD sport I’ve been ready for. I’m able to set sail with Captain Majima.