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Review: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth 

10/10

Summary

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a game that will appeal to both fans and newcomers of the Like a Dragon series, as it provides a satisfying and accessible adventure that can be enjoyed by anyone. The game is a testament to the quality and creativity of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, and a celebration of the bonds we share.

Developer – Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio

Publisher – Sega

Platforms –  PS4/5, Xbox One , Xbox Series X|S, PC (Reviewed)

Review copy given by Publisher

Note:

If you haven’t already We highly recommend you read our Previous Like A Dragon Review, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, before jumping into this one to help provide some context.

This Game may contain content not appropriate for all ages, or may not be appropriate for viewing at work: Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, and Use of Tobacco and Alcohol.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the latest entry in the acclaimed Yakuza series, and it delivers on all fronts. It is a sprawling RPG epic that combines a gripping story, a dynamic combat system, and a vibrant open world. Whether you are a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer, you will find plenty to love in this game.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a game that tells the stories of two former yakuza members who have to face their past and their future in a world that has changed drastically. Ichiban Kasuga, the Dragon of Rock Bottom, and Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, are two larger-than-life heroes brought together by the hand of fate, or perhaps something more sinister.

Ichiban Kasuga, a former yakuza who travels to Hawaii in search of his biological mother, whom he never met. He soon discovers that his mother is the leader of a powerful crime syndicate, and he gets involved in a complex web of intrigue and betrayal. Meanwhile, Kazuma Kiryu, the legendary dragon of Dojima, faces his own mortality as he tries to protect his adopted daughter from a mysterious assassin. Along the way, they encounter a host of memorable characters, such as Goro Majima, the mad dog of Shimano, Kaoru Sayama, the detective of the Osaka police, and Ryo Aoki, the charismatic governor of Tokyo. They also face thrilling battles against formidable foes, such as the Omi Alliance, the Snake Flower Triad, and the Tojo Clan.

Ichiban Kasuga was once a loyal member of the Arakawa Family, a subsidiary of the Tojo Clan. However, he was betrayed by his patriarch, Masumi Arakawa, who shot him and left him for dead. After recovering from his wounds, Ichiban learned that Arakawa had joined forces with the Omi Alliance, the Tojo Clan’s rival, and that he was the father of Ryo Aoki, the governor of Tokyo and the leader of the Bleach Japan movement, a political organization that aimed to eradicate the yakuza and the gray zones of society. Ichiban decided to confront Arakawa and Aoki, and along the way, he met new friends and allies who joined his party. He also discovered that he had a biological mother, Akane, who was the boss of the Snake Flower Triad, a powerful crime syndicate based in Hawaii.

Kazuma Kiryu was once the legendary Dragon of Dojima, the most feared and respected yakuza in Japan. He had retired from the underworld and lived a peaceful life as the owner of an orphanage in Okinawa. However, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only a few months to live. He decided to spend his remaining time with his adopted daughter, Haruka Sawamura, and her son, Haruto. However, he was targeted by a mysterious assassin, who turned out to be Goro Majima, the Mad Dog of Shimano and Kiryu’s old friend and rival. Majima revealed that he was hired by Daigo Dojima, the former chairman of the Tojo Clan, who wanted Kiryu to return to Kamurocho and help him stop the war between the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan. Kiryu agreed to help, but he also had to deal with his own mortality and his legacy.

The paths of Ichiban and Kiryu crossed when they both arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Akane was holding a summit meeting with the leaders of the major crime organizations in Japan, including the Omi Alliance, the Tojo Clan, the Snake Flower Triad, and the Jingweon Mafia. Ichiban wanted to meet his mother and learn the truth about his origins, while Kiryu wanted to prevent a bloodbath and broker a peace deal. However, they soon realized that they were both being manipulated by a hidden mastermind, who had a personal vendetta against them and wanted to destroy them and everything they cared about.

The game features a best-in-class RPG action system, where the players can experience dynamic, fast-paced battles where the battlefield becomes their weapon, and anything goes. The players can adapt their party’s skills to the situation with outlandish jobs and customizations to strategically subdue enemies with over-the-top moves. The game also offers a variety of mini-games, such as fishing, golfing, karaoke, and more, that add to the fun and immersion.

The game also offers an infinite adventure, where the players can live it up in Japan and explore all that Hawaii has to offer in an adventure so big it spans the Pacific. Unforgettable moments await at every step of the journey with a unique mix of quests and activities to enjoy at their leisure. The game also features a rich and emotional story, with memorable characters, intriguing mysteries, and thrilling battles, that will keep the players hooked until the end.

One of the most distinctive features of the game is the job system, which allows the players to change the roles and abilities of their party members. There are over 20 jobs to choose from, each with its own unique skills, weapons, and outfits. Some of the jobs are based on traditional RPG classes, such as Warrior, Mage, and Healer, while others are more unconventional, such as Idol, Chef, and Detective. The players can mix and match the jobs to suit their playstyle and strategy, and unlock new skills and perks as they level up.

Another aspect of the game that adds to the variety and challenge is the difficulty mode, which can be adjusted at any time. The game offers four difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Legend. The difficulty affects the enemy’s strength, health, and AI, as well as the amount of money and experience the players earn. The higher the difficulty, the more rewarding the game becomes, but also the more demanding. The players can switch the difficulty according to their preference and skill level, and even unlock some exclusive rewards and achievements for completing the game on Legend mode.

The game also features a number of mini-games and side activities that enhance the fun and immersion of the game. Some of the mini-games are based on the series’ staples, such as fishing, golfing, karaoke, and mahjong, while others are new additions, such as surfing, diving, and racing. The mini-games are not only entertaining, but also rewarding, as they can grant the players money, items, and skill points. The side activities include exploring the cities, interacting with NPCs, completing side quests, and joining clubs and factions. The side activities can provide the players with more insight into the game’s world, characters, and lore, as well as unlock new features and options.

The game also boasts a rich and engaging story, with multiple endings and branching paths. The game’s story is divided into 16 chapters, each with its own main objectives, cutscenes, and boss battles. The players can influence the outcome of the story by making choices and decisions throughout the game, such as choosing dialogue options, aligning with different factions, and completing optional missions. The choices and decisions can affect the relationships with the party members, the reputation with the NPCs, and the events of the story. The game has four different endings, depending on the choices and decisions the players make, and each ending has its own epilogue and credits.

The game also supports online multiplayer and co-op modes, where the players can team up with other players from around the world and enjoy the game together. The multiplayer and co-op modes allow the players to join or create online sessions, where they can chat, trade, and cooperate with each other. The multiplayer and co-op modes also offer some exclusive content and features, such as online quests, raids, and tournaments, where the players can compete or collaborate with each other and earn special rewards and rankings.

The game’s graphics are stunning, especially in the new Hawaiian setting. The city of Honolulu is vibrant and colorful, with detailed environments and lively NPCs. The character models are realistic and expressive, and the cutscenes are cinematic and well-directed. The game also features some impressive visual effects, such as the dynamic weather system, the destructible objects, and the flashy special attacks.

The game’s sound design is equally impressive, with a diverse and immersive soundtrack that ranges from upbeat pop songs to dramatic orchestral pieces. The game also features a lot of voice acting, both in English and Japanese, with excellent performances from the cast. The sound effects are realistic and satisfying, especially during the combat sequences, where you can hear the punches, kicks, and weapon impacts.

The game’s performance is mostly smooth and stable, with a few minor issues. The game runs at 60 frames per second on most modern PCs, with high-resolution textures and anti-aliasing. However, the game also suffers from some long loading times, especially when transitioning between areas or entering battles. The game also has some occasional bugs and glitches, such as clipping issues, animation errors, and crashes.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a game that aims to be accessible and inclusive for a wide range of players, regardless of their abilities or preferences. The game offers a variety of settings and options that can be customized to suit different needs and play styles. Some of these features are:

  • Language options: The game supports 13 languages, both in text and voice, and allows players to switch between them at any time. The game also features subtitles and captions for all dialogue and sound effects, with adjustable size, color, and background.
  • Difficulty options: The game has four difficulty levels, from Easy to Legend, that affect the enemy strength, damage, and AI. The game also allows players to change the difficulty at any time, and to skip certain battles or minigames if they are too challenging or frustrating.
  • Gameplay options: The game has a number of gameplay options that can be toggled on or off, such as auto-save, auto-battle, auto-run, vibration, camera inversion, and more. The game also has a fast travel system that lets players move between locations quickly and easily.
  • Controller options: The game supports both keyboard and mouse, and gamepad inputs, and allows players to remap the buttons and keys to their liking. The game also has a controller vibration option, and a lock-on feature that helps with aiming and targeting.
  • Visual options: The game has a range of visual options that can be adjusted to improve the performance and comfort of the game, such as resolution, frame rate, brightness, contrast, motion blur, and more. The game also has a colorblind mode that changes the colors of certain UI elements and indicators to make them more visible.
  • Audio options: The game has a comprehensive audio menu that lets players adjust the volume and balance of the music, sound effects, and voice. The game also has a dynamic range option that reduces the difference between loud and quiet sounds, and a mute option that silences all audio output.

These are some of the accessibility features that Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth offers to its players. The game strives to be as accessible and enjoyable as possible, and to cater to different needs and preferences. The game is a great example of how accessibility can enhance the gaming experience for everyone

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a worthy and fantastic addition to the Like a Dragon series. The game delivers a thrilling and emotional story that spans two countries and two generations of heroes. Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu are both compelling and charismatic protagonists, who share a strong bond of friendship and respect. The game also features a rich cast of supporting characters, each with their own backstory and personality.

The game’s gameplay is fun and varied, offering a mix of turn-based combat, exploration, and minigames. The game’s graphics and sound are superb, creating a vivid and immersive world that is full of life and detail. The game’s performance is generally smooth, with only a few minor issues that do not detract from the overall experience.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a game that will appeal to both fans and newcomers of the Like a Dragon series, as it provides a satisfying and accessible adventure that can be enjoyed by anyone. The game is a testament to the quality and creativity of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, and a celebration of the bonds we share.

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