For nearly two decades, the Yakuza series has been a rollercoaster of success, especially outside Japan. However, a game-changing moment arrived with the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, a turn-based JRPG that took inspiration from iconic titles like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.
The success was so monumental that the series underwent a transformation, adopting the name “Like a Dragon” to align with its Japanese counterpart and capitalise on its newfound popularity. Now, the much-anticipated addition to the series, “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,” is set to launch on PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC via Steam this week, and we’ve had the pleasure of delving into it for a few weeks.
While Yakuza: Like a Dragon faced balance issues and initial struggles with turn-based JRPG combat, Infinite Wealth has mastered the art, establishing itself as the pinnacle of the series.
Infinite Wealth unravels the tale of two former yakuza, committed to making the world a better place. Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist from Yakuza: Like a Dragon, emerges from a 20-year prison stint to find the yakuza fading away. Betrayed by his yakuza family’s leader, Kasuga embarks on a quest to restore his honour and become Yokohama’s hero.
The second protagonist is Kazuma Kiryu, the central figure in the first six Yakuza games and various prequels and spinoffs. In Infinite Wealth, Kiryu, diagnosed with a terminal illness, joins forces with Kasuga to investigate the disappearance of Kasuga’s mother.
The narrative strength of Infinite Wealth lies in its profound exploration of life, death, and family. Developer RGG Studio excels in portraying nuanced villains, delving deep into their motives and life experiences that led them down their paths.
The game strikes a balance between serious storytelling and moments of levity, showcasing characters like Kiryu goofing off amid the challenges. This blend of emotions makes Infinite Wealth a poignant and effective storytelling experience.
From a gameplay perspective, significant improvements over the last game are evident. Small refinements contribute to a more coherent experience, where battle positioning adds strategy and dynamism to combat. The game offers an array of side quests and minigames, including a Pokémon-like minigame and a life sim game reminiscent of Animal Crossing.
With excellent visuals, stunning animations, and impeccable voice acting and music, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth stands out as a near-perfect Yakuza game. Whether completing it in 50 hours or delving into the extensive content for 100 hours, the game caters to diverse player preferences and interests. For Yakuza enthusiasts, Infinite Wealth is undoubtedly a game-changer.
