What began as a gritty street-level beat-’em-up gangster drama two decades ago has evolved into something gloriously absurd and wonderfully preposterous. In a bold departure from reality, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s latest installment indulges in fantastical mayhem, as pirate protagonist Goro Majima engages in mass naval warfare armed with laser weapons, commands an enormous spirit macaw through his mystical saxophone, and ventures onto the enigmatic magical island of Madlantis.
The naval battles in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, rather than potentially tarnishing the reputation of Ubisoft’s iconic pirate series, skillfully evoke the thrill and intensity of real-life ship-to-ship combat, further immersing players in the world of piracy. Captain Majima leads the charge in intense naval warfare, outfitting his formidable vessel with heavy artillery, including high-caliber cannons, venomous rocket launchers spewing toxic payload, and cryogenic weapons capable of encasing adversaries’ ships in icy restraints. Majima assembles an eclectic team to crew his ship, comprising a diverse group of individuals including ex-yakuza members, charismatic hostesses, advanced robots, stealthy ninjas, and even rambunctious ram males. As Majima’s prowess reaches new heights, his abilities manifest in an uncanny capacity to conjure shadowy duplicates, which engage in a futile yet tantalizing struggle on his behalf. The befuddled buffoon can command a retinue of jellyfish, sharks, and an behemoth monkey to do his every whim.
While previous installments in the Like a Dragon and Yakuza series have been known for their realistic combat mechanics, Ishin’s action sequences are unapologetically over-the-top. Majima has largely adopted the persona of Dante from the Devil May Cry series, capitalizing on his aerial prowess to lift opponents high into the air, where he can then proceed to juggle them with a flurry of flying punches, swift kicks, and precise shots from his flintlock pistol.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios consistently excels at combining elements from various sports genres, seamlessly integrating fresh ideas into the latest installment of their esteemed Like A Dragon series. If last year’s drew inspiration from Animal Crossing, Dragon Quest, and Loopy Taxi, this year’s spin-off will cleverly borrow from Satan May Cry, every role-playing game where you awaken on a beach as an amnesiac, exploring the mysteries of your forgotten past. At the conclusion of the video, a voiceover remarks, “Yes, this game is indeed part of the official canon, and you’ll likely require multiple iterations.”
Consider dedicating 13 minutes to Wednesday’s Like A Dragon Direct for a potentially uninspiring, hastily produced follow-up installment in Sega’s venerable series. Packed with sports details, this year’s Like A Dragon is another absolute must-play experience.
A key differentiator for fans of the Like A Dragon series is that this installment uniquely eschews the typical practice of locking post-launch content behind a paywall, offering a more inclusive experience. Sega has confirmed that the characteristic could be added to the sport at no additional cost through a post-release update.
The sci-fi epic is landing on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on February. 21.
