It’s a bit silly thatAssassin’s Creeddeveloper Ubisoft has never managed a proper follow-up toAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, but the perfect successor might actually lie inLike A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.LikeBlack Flag,Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiadds a piratical twist to a series that isn’t usually focused on swashbuckling. TheLike a Dragon/Yakuzaseries typically deals with the affairs of Japanese organized crime, but it’s also known for its wacky side content and surprising helping of heart, both of which look to be present in the upcoming entry.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiifocuses on franchise veterancharacter Goro Majima, who wakes up on a tropical island with amnesia and finds himself embroiled in a criminal kingdom of modern pirates. Although that might not sound like a formula for something matchingBlack Flag’s early 18th-century charms,these pirates are sticking to the old-school methods, with wooden sailing ships and tricorne hats galore. The similarities go beyond the surface level, and there’s good reason forBlack Flagfans to be paying more significant attention toPirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii’s Naval Combat Looks Like Black Flag’s
Boarding Enemy Ships Is Back
The core ofAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag’s gameplay is arguably the naval combat, and the equivalentgameplay inLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiilooks surprisingly close to that experience. A naval combat reveal trailer available on the officialSEGAYouTube channel offers a look at some full-fledged ship-based warfare, an overview that proves the game isn’t just tossing standardLike a Dragongameplay into a new environment.
Around the middle of the trailer, a quick highlight reel showcases essentially every feature that madeBlack Flagcombat tick.Majima can fire broadsides at enemy ships, ram them, and board them with his crewto start an all-out brawl on the deck. There’s also a fairly spectacular shot of Majima swinging from a rope to fire a flintlock pistol at opponents.
Like A Dragon Might Succeed Where Skull & Bones Failed
A Bespoke Single-Player Experience
The fact thatLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiallows the boarding of enemy ships is a huge selling point for the game, especially when compared toSkull and Bones, Ubisoft’s ultimate follow-up toAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag.WhileSkull and Bonesis clearly built onBlack Flagin some regards, it drops the ballon most of what made that game special. The lack of a single-player campaign and the removal of options like boarding enemy ships results in an experience that feels more hollow, especially after a wait that lasted over a decade.
Skull and Bones Review: “This Boat Is Visibly Sinking”
Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones has numerous design problems, but there’s also a solid multiplayer ship combat game amidst the wreckage.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, on the other hand, looks bespoke in the way thatBlack Flagfans are likely searching for. There aren’t any empty promises of a “AAAA” experience here, just snippets of what could be a fun pirate extravaganza. With an interesting character to follow and a story to get lost in,Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiistands a better chance at providing the right kind of escapism.
Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii Is A Surprisingly Perfect Successor To Black Flag
The Like A Dragon Series Never Stops Innovating
The developer behindLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, has spent years building up an increasingly passionate fanbases with consistently strong releases. The games really took off in the west with the release ofYakuza 0, but the series has never rested on the laurels of that success.Yakuza: Like a Dragonand its successorInfinite Wealthachieved fantastic resultsby trading brawling for turn-based combat, and spin-offs likeLike A Dragon: Gaidenand theLike a Dragon: Ishin!remake proved the diverse possibilities.
For those looking to get into the series ahead ofPirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s release,Yakuza 0andYakuza: Like a Dragonare both great starting points.
With any luck,Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiishould showcase the same adaptability and consistently high energy, and if any company can make the switch to a pirate game nimbly, it’s RGG Studio. The game also seems disconnected enough from the franchise’s main story for new players to hop on board without a problem, making it a potentially great starting point.Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagfans haven’t been treated well for a long time now, butLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiimight turn things around.
Source:SEGA/YouTube
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Goro Majima takes center stage in this pirate-themed spin-off, finding himself stranded on a Hawaiian island with no memory. Now leading a ragtag crew of pirates, Majima embarks on a chaotic journey to uncover lost treasures and regain his identity. Combining Yakuza-style combat with naval exploration, this adventure promises wild, swashbuckling action.
