Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Multi)
By: Sega
FOREVER labelled a 'cult hit' on Western shores, that moniker does Yakuza a disservice these days. No stops were left unpulled for the 2005 original, which boasted the likes of Mark Hamill and Michael Madsen on vocal duties. But only a concerted fan campaign persuaded Sega to continue localising a flagging series for English tongues after its PS3 sales slump.
It was a wise move – Yakuza now ranks as the company's s best-selling franchise after Sonic, with books, radio dramas and a Hollywood film in the works. In 14 years, the developers have churned out eight main games and countless spin-offs – yet Like a Dragon doesn't coast on fumes.
Tasked by his crime boss to take the fall for a murder, Ichiban Kasuga emerges from the big house persona non grata. A few hours in and you've gone from shaking down Kamurocho as a street tough to rooting for tin cans in Yokohama, assembling a ragtag band of hobos to investigate crimes and grub for coin under vending machines.
Our goofy, nerdish hero couldn't be further from the stoic machismo of series mainstay Kiryu Kazama, giving the long-running saga a new lease of life. You've walked these streets before – but the faces are all new.
Flip-flopping between melodrama and madness, long-timers will feel right at home in a game bloated with Asian pop-culture, myriad side quests and knowing winks. Like a Dragon knows it's a game: our hero's love of classic role-playing explains its biggest change, lifted straight from Dragon Quest.
Swapping street brawls for stat-juggling could have robbed Yakuza of its bruising essence, yet somehow it works, with a huge variety of ways to dish out pain. A parody of RPG tropes, you'll manage a growing band of warriors, ranging from tramps and brothel madams to breakdancers and bartenders – each with their unique set of politically incorrect skills. Watching a bum take out enemies with an army of filthy pigeons or healing by having a power nap on the street never grows old.
The bulk of your time is spent in the port city of Yokohama, which – in true Yakuza fashion – piles on the activities. You can play classic Sega arcade games, fling some darts or – best of all – take to the track in Dragon Kart, which gives Mario a run for his money on the virtual asphalt.
A clean break for the series, newcomers can jump right in for a goofy joy that'll rob your life of 60-odd hours. Like a Dragon may take its sweet time – but that's a commodity we all have a lot more of these days.
