One Year Later, Like a Dragon Gaiden is the Series’ Emotional High

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 9, 2024 15 Views 8 Min Read
One Year Later, Like a Dragon Gaiden is the Series’ Emotional High



This article contains spoilers for
Like a Dragon Gaiden
and
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
.



The Like a Dragon series has always balanced serious, character-driven crime drama with wacky side adventures—it’s a big reason why the series is so charming. For fans who have followed Kiryu’s journey since the beginning, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a bittersweet entry due to it leaning more into the heavier side of the series while paying homage to the adventures Kiryu had experienced up to that point. Now, one year after its release, Like a Dragon Gaiden remains a standout in the franchise as it showcases the breaking point for a man who sacrificed everything for the ones he loves.



Like a Dragon Gaiden serves as a kind of “B-Side” for Yakuza: Like a Dragon, given that it takes place parallel to the events of that game and shows what Kiryu was doing while Ichiban and the gang were fighting for the fate of Yokohama. Coming off of the heels of Yakuza: Like a Dragon‘s transition to Ichiban Kasuga as the series’ new protagonist and turn-based combat system, Gaiden felt like a return to form with the classic action-brawler combat with Kiryu as the star. While the game served to bridge the gap between Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, it stands tall in its own right due to its portrayal of Kiryu’s struggles with having to shed his identity to protect his loved ones.

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Like a Dragon Gaiden Captures the Best of Kiryu at the Character’s Lowest Point


Like a Dragon Gaiden’s Emotional Depth Served as the Perfect Prelude to Infinite Wealth

Originally conceived as DLC for Infinite Wealth, Like a Dragon Gaiden more than earns the standalone release it received, and may have even benefited more from it. Kiryu’s life as an agent of the Daidoji Faction after faking his death at the end of Yakuza 6 already set the game up for a unique story, but it does more than serve as a bridge between entries as it introduces some fantastic new characters who each have their own well-rounded arcs for a game that is far shorter than the average entry in the series. Characters like Kiryu’s Daidoji handler Kihei Hanawa, Akame, and even villains like Homare Nishitani III and Kosei Shishido have become fan favorites.

So far, the majority of these characters, with the exception of Kihei Hanawa, have only appeared in Like a Dragon Gaiden. Yet they have solidified themselves as some of the best in the series, highlighting just how compelling characters can be within a condensed game. Although Hanawa’s death in Infinite Wealth isn’t nearly as impactful as it should have been given the growth of his relationship with Kiryu over the course of Gaiden, it doesn’t detract from the strides The Man Who Erased His Name makes in fleshing out a swath of well-rounded, compelling characters.


The Game’s Ending Showcases the Turmoil of Erasing One’s Name

While each of the game’s characters is impactful, the real depth of Like a Dragon Gaiden comes from its showcase of Kiryu’s life under the codename Joryu and the emotional challenges he faces having cut off all contact with his past life. The pinnacle of this showcase happens during one of the final scenes of the game, where, after successfully ushering in the Great Dissolution of the Tojo Clan and Omi Alliance, Hanawa expresses his sympathy for Kiryu’s struggle by showing him a video captured by a hidden camera of two of Morning Glory Orphanage’s residents. The scene that follows has become infamous within the community as one of the most heartbreaking in the franchise.


As Kiryu is shown the footage of Ayako and Taichi, now grown up, visiting his grave, he breaks down sobbing in an emotional release that shows just how difficult it has been to let go of the children he had dedicated his post-yakuza life to raising. For a character that is usually portrayed as the strong, stoic type, this display of emotion catches the player off guard and shows a deeper level of Kiryu rarely seen in the franchise. While this ending is bittersweet, it is incredibly memorable and is a testament to Like a Dragon Gaiden‘s staying power one year on, even after the release of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

The final scene of
Gaiden
is also quite touching as Kiryu is shown setting off on a new mission to Hawaii, where he takes time to honor his lost love, Yumi, by placing her ring on the altar of a church. This scene not only sets up Kiryu’s justification for being in
Hawaii for
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

, but delivers an emotional one-two punch to end the game.

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