Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii comes out on February 21, but it’s far from the first big gaming release on that date. The Like a Dragon series has seen a lot of high points lately, managing to become one of Sega’s bigger franchises. Considering that company includes Persona and Sonic the Hedgehog, that’s good company indeed. The release of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will also put that game in another rather exclusive club of past releases.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a spin-off that looks to embrace the wilder, wackier aspects that the series is beloved for. Starring Like a Dragon fan favorite Goro Majima, the game sees the Mad Dog of Shimano trading the streets of Sotenbori for the high seas as he sets sail with his own pirate crew, complete with a new pirate-themes fighting style. The quirky concept is perfect for Majima’s first solo starring role, and should lead to one of the series’ most unique games to date.
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Hitting shelves on February 21, 2013, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was a major departure from the series’ norm. It starred Metal Gear Solid 2 protagonist Raiden, who had gone through a serious transformation since his past appearance. Now a cyborg ninja, his unbelievable speed and strength perfectly fit Metal Gear Rising‘s action-focused gameplay. It was a major shift compared to what Metal Gear Solid is generally known for, but the game’s remarkably positive reception showed that the risk was worth it.
Raiden’s first turn as a protagonist followed many of the same beats that Snake hit in the first game. However, his reinvention led to a gameplay shift that Metal Gear Rising made look as bombastic as possible. With a lot of exciting encounters backed by an excellent rock-heavy soundtrack, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was like playing through an action movie. It helps that many aspects of the game ended up becoming overnight phenomenons on the internet.
Although Metal Gear Solid‘s iconic stealth titles are still what the series is best known for, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is more than deserving of its flowers. Raiden proved to be an exciting fighter on par with Devil May Cry‘s Dante, and the game featured many of the most impressive gaming spectacles to come out of that year. Raiden is a character worth seeing again, and Metal Gear Rising made a very strong argument for him to make another comeback.
Star Fox Showed Impressive Innovation in 1993
Just over two decades ago on February 21, 1993, Star Fox made its debut on the Super Nintendo. While Fox and his crew may not be as famous as the iconic cast of Super Mario‘s universe, they still hold a place in the hearts of longtime Nintendo fans. This is especially true for Fox himself, who has been a mainstay of the Super Smash Bros. games (and often a high-tier character at that). However, he would never have achieved that spot without an excellent performance in his debut game.
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Star Fox was an ambitious game, being the first Super Nintendo title to use polygon graphics. This stylistic choice combined with solid controls led to one of the best shooters on the SNES. The game is plenty of fun, and benefits from having multiple paths available to give players more to experience. While players have gotten to fly Star Fox‘s signature Arwing in several games since, its first flight on the SNES still holds up despite the game’s age.
It has been a while since Star Fox has had a new entry, but there’s no mistaking the quality of the first game. Thanks to Nintendo Switch Online, modern players can go back and experience it for themselves, either for the first time or to revisit a fond memory. Star Fox deserves its reputation as a gem in the Super Nintendo’s library. With any luck, fans will see the Star Fox team take flight for another mission once the Switch 2 comes out.
Despite the Star Fox franchise spanning several games and franchises, Star Fox 2, originally planned for the SNES, would not be officially released until 2017.
The Legend of Zelda Started a Legacy in 1986
Long before The Legend of Zelda‘s extensive timeline had been established, it all started with one game that was released on February 21, 1986. At this point, The Legend of Zelda needs no introduction, easily being one of Nintendo’s biggest IPs alongside Mario and Pokemon. All of that started with a single game released on the NES. Its release in North America with a golden cartridge may have been an omen of things to come, because The Legend of Zelda would live up to its name and become truly legendary.
The original Legend of Zelda created the basic formula that most of the series would follow. From getting Link’s first sword in The Legend of Zelda to the first of his climactic clashes with Ganon, the adventure would take players to all corners of Hyrule. This was the first time players would delve into the dungeons of Hyrule and gather items that give Link new abilities and strengthen him in his quest. The Legend of Zelda also innovated by being one of the first games to let players save their progress and return later, a custom that is now industry standard.
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It should be no surprise that The Legend of Zelda would ultimately become one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises. Even without any gimmicks aside from some of Link’s trusty items from The Legend of Zelda making their first appearance, the game is one of the best adventures available on the NES. Similar to Star Fox, The Legend of Zelda is available on Nintendo Switch online, and it would be a glaring hole in that service’s library if it wasn’t. It feels safe to say that The Legend of Zelda has had the biggest impact of any game released on February 21.
- 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