Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is finally here, putting Goro Majima in the lead for the first time in the series and introducing a handful of innovations on top of that. Those who had the chance to play through Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth should mostly feel at home with Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, but there is still enough new that they may be thrown for a bit of a loop.
There are several unwritten rules players should know about before embarking on the journey of a lifetime in the shoes of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii‘s Goro Majima. While Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a spin-off and therefore isn’t as massive as Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, it is still host to a multitude of content and a sizable world that can intimidate even the most seasoned Like a Dragon veterans. As such, knowing a thing or two about Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii‘s exploration and combat can be extremely helpful.
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Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will be released on February 21, which puts the game in very good company among its peers.
The Unwritten Rules of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s Exploration
Focusing on the Story Will Grant One of the Best Tools for Exploration
If there were only room for one unwritten rule for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, it would be “focus on the story.” Playing through the story in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, especially through Chapter 2, can net players huge bonuses, but one of the main reasons to prioritize the story is the Hook. There are a lot of things to do in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, to the point that it’s very easy to become distracted. However, not getting the Hook first can result in a lot of backtracking to areas players have already been to, so they should play through the story until at least Chapter 3 before they do any extensive exploration.
Sicko Snap in Honolulu Offers One of the Game’s Best Rings for Exploration
The Sicko Snap mini-game is back in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, offering Pokemon Snap-level fun but with a crude and hilarious twist. While playing Sicko Snap in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth was rewarding enough, it might be even more so in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, as it rewards one of the game’s best rings for exploration — the Scope Ring. The Scope Ring shows the location of treasure chests and paper fortunes on Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii‘s mini-map when they are nearby, so it’s also one of those items players should get before they spend hours exploring the world.
Everything in the Game Is Worth Doing
Something about Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth that is still very much true in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is that everything in the game is worth doing. In fact, players shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss any side activity in the game, as completing them comes with some major benefits that can help players during their time in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. From cooking to bounties to treasure hunting to silly mini-games, there are not only plenty of things to do in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, but it is all worth the time it takes to do it.
Again, however, players should acquire the Hook and the Scope Ring before they attempt any thorough exploration if they want to optimize their game time.
Keep an Eye Out for Merchant Vessels While Exploring the Seas
While players are out roaming the seas in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii‘s Goromaru, they may occasionally come across Merchant Vessels — trading ships that shouldn’t be ignored. Sometimes, they can be hard to spot, but once players are near one, a crew member will generally say something to let them know. These ships often carry valuable items, including cooking ingredients and gifts, and they’re usually fairly cheap. As such, buying everything in a Merchant Vessel’s stock is almost always recommended if players are able to.
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Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii successfully gives classic Like a Dragon beat ’em up action a pirate-themed makeover.
The Unwritten Rules of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s Combat
Max Health Boost and Attack Boost Are the Best Upgrades
While a lot of Majima’s strength comes down to his equipment and the player’s skill in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, his Max Health Boost and Attack Boost ability upgrades are the best and most important in the game. So long as players have the coin and the points to spend on them, they should max both of them out as soon as possible. This will ensure they both hit harder and are harder to kill, which is often the difference between victory and failure.
Once Again, Focusing on the Story Can Help Out With Combat
Focusing on the game’s story isn’t just beneficial for exploration, as it can also help out with combat in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Specifically, playing through the story in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will eventually lead to players unlocking Dark Instruments, which can be extremely helpful in combat. Dark Instruments are mystical musical tools that Goro Majima acquires by defeating rival pirate crews, with the first one, Dark God of the Waves, unlocking at the end of Chapter 2. When played, these instruments summon powerful deities to assist in combat, each with unique abilities:
- Dark God of the Waves (Violin): Playing Majima’s cursed violin summons man-eating sharks to the battlefield. These beasts will emerge from the ground, dealing heavy damage to enemies within range of their jaws. Furthermore, the more enemies there are, the greater the number of sharks that will appear.
- Dark God of the Skies (Saxophone): Playing a tune on Majima’s cursed sax conjures an avian ally capable of conjuring up powerful winds. Enemies caught within its tornadoes will be blown into the air and suffer continuous damage.
- Dark God of the Earth (Guitar): Playing Majima’s cursed guitar calls upon a ferocious ape that inflicts massive damage on enemies. The deity makes up for its limited range with its sheer destructive force.
- Dark God of the Deep (Ocarina): Blowing into Majima’s cursed ocarina summons a terrifying jellyfish from the briny deep. This creature will heal Majima and his allies, as well as shock and immobilize nearby enemies.
Majima Has Ten Fingers for Ten Rings
One thing that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii hardly emphasizes is its Ring system, which is interesting, considering it is one of the best ways players can maximize their efficiency in combat. What makes this whole system so engaging to use is the fact that players can equip a total of ten rings, each of which can be equipped on one of Goro Majima‘s fingers. Ultimately, this allows for diverse setups, so players can experiment with different rings to see which combinations they like best. There are also Ring sets in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, so players should keep an eye out for those to take advantage of their unique perks. Finally, in addition to purchasing Rings in stores, players can acquire them by helping NPCs or finding them in treasure chests.
- Released
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February 21, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol