The Best Substories In Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii

Summary

• Like A Dragon series offers engaging substories that flesh out the game world, such as litter picking and comedy routines.
• Substories like Stay Crazy introduce fun minigames like Crazy Delivery, adding depth to Majima’s adventures.
• Heartwarming tales, like Goro’s Heart, show unexpected character development and add charm to the game’s narrative.

While the Yakuza and Like A Dragon series always have interesting and engaging main stories, part of what makes their worlds feel so fleshed-out and enjoyable is the strong emphasis placed on their substories.

In each game in this long-running series, you’ll find a plethora of substories to pick and choose from, and Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is no different. So in Majima’s first solo adventure, what are the best substories to keep an eye out for?

8

The Captain’s Return

Substory 22

Throughout Majima’s Hawaiian exploration, you’ll likely be tempted (especially in the earlier hours) to pick up everything you come across, and this often goes as far as dumpster diving. As it turns out, Majima isn’t the only person who’s interested in the litter of Honolulu, with him running into a former villain from a previous Like A Dragon game.

After seeing the error in his ways, he’s taken to litter picking to atone for his prior illegal waste disposal. To earn his respect, Majima will join in litter picking with him, and, by the end, you’ll see that he’s even inspired younger locals to follow his example. By the end of the substory you’ll be rewarded with Dread Pirate Hook himself joining your crew.

7

Stay Crazy

Substory 5

In typical Like A Dragon fashion, Pirate Yakuza features a wide selection of minigames that Majima can take part in, and the more detailed and involved minigames have substories to introduce you to them.

One of the more interesting is Stay Crazy, to introduce Majima to the Crazy Delivery minigame. The speedy cycling challenge feels like an even more intense modern reimagining of Crazy Taxi, and it’s made even more extra with the eccentric Charlie teaching Majima how the side hustle works.

6

Coffee & Comedy

Substory 21

Part of the beauty of the Like A Dragon substories is how they can get you attached to the most unlikely of side characters, and Coffee & Comedy is the perfect example of this. The first time you enter the unassuming coffee shop you’ll immediately be thrown off by the goofy comedy routine of the two owners, but they end up having more depth than you’d initially expect.

Through an easy miscommunication, one of the owners becomes convinced that the other is going to abandon him to return to stand-up comedy as a solo act. Through this, Majima learns about the pair’s strained history, but in the end, it’s truly just a miscommunication and the pair of coffee shop owners end up closer thanks to it.

5

Goro’s Heart

Substory 14

Majima is quite an unnerving (while still likable) figure, so it’s no wonder that he’s paired with the charming Noah and his baby pet tiger Goro to perhaps soften his image. While the trio are walking around Honolulu, they run into a scientist who offers Majima the chance to speak to Goro with his freshly invented animal translation headset.

In a strange turn of events, upon communication it seems like Goro is romantically interested in Majima, and our strange protagonist wants to hear Goro out. Because of this, he ends up spending thousands on extra batteries for the headset so he can keep talking to Goro. It turns out the device didn’t work and the supposed dialogue from Goro was just the scientist talking over a radio.

After a thorough telling off by Majima, as well as a full refund, you’ll at least be rewarded with a new crew member.

4

Dragon Kart In Paradise

Substory 7

Another minigame introduction substory is Dragon Kart In Paradise, which introduces Majima to the interesting kart racing scene in Honolulu. After being bullied by the passive-aggressive business owner, Majima will be encouraged to try out the kart racing track.

As far as racing minigames go, it’s surprisingly smooth to control, with a fun selection of items to keep it fresh. After winning his first race (if you’re good enough, that is), Majima will be introduced to the wacky cast of NPCs he races against, and is told to come back soon.

3

Hironobu Shigeta, 65 Years Old

Substory 20

One of the more heartwarming substories in Pirate Yakuza is Hironobu Shigeta, 65 Years Old, which follows the ambitions of the eponymous older businessman. After begging Majima to let him join the crew to follow up on his childhood dream, Majima begrudgingly accepts, but not before Shigeta’s wife and adult son catch up to try and dissuade him, eventually giving in and just asking Majima to keep him safe.

While Shigeta initially seems to love life on the sea, after a near-death encounter he is scared straight. He expresses how he realized at that moment just how much his family life means to him. In contrast to most other substories, you end this one by losing your brand-new crew member, but it’s definitely for the best.

2

If I Weren’t An Idol

Substory 15

While wandering around Honolulu, Majima can run into idol fan Gu-San, who recently won a chance to go on a tour of the city with his favourite idol. Even though Gu-san has cold feet, Majima encourages him by offering to join him on what ends up being a far from perfect tour.

Even though Gu-san enjoys the chance to meet other fans of his adored idol, it seems like plenty of corners were cut with a lunch of only rice cakes, and having to race onto the bus to ensure the idol and her manager don’t leave without the participants.

In a shock twist at the end, it’s revealed that the idol isn’t as sweet as she seems, and Gu-san ends up learning a valuable lesson about his self-worth. While it’s one of the longer substories, it’s entertaining to play through and rewards you with three new crew members.

1

Hello, World!

Substory 27

In the latter half of Pirate Yakuza, Majima will be given the task of gathering girls sent to him by a matchmaker for a mixer with Masaru. Through this quest chain he’ll get the chance to meet these interesting characters, one of which is a streamer.

What makes this quest so entertaining to watch is just how old Majima feels in comparison to the much younger streamer. At the beginning of the mission, Majima doesn’t even have a concept of streaming, but by the end (and after joining the stream as his pirate alter ego) Majima manages to overcome the generational divide and makes an interesting new friend.