Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has become the series' most successful launch on Steam over its launch weekend.
12.01.2024 - 08:45 / pcgamer.com / Ryu Ga
What is it? A Yakuza side-story, set during the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Release date November 8, 2023
Expect to pay $50/£45
Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher Sega
Reviewed on Ryzen 7 3700X, 32GB RAM, RTX 3080Ti
Steam Deck TBA
Link Official site
The Like a Dragon series—Yakuza, as it was previously known—has always been economical with its reuse of assets and features. Even major new releases recycle old locations and minigames alongside whatever new features they also add. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, though, is not a 'major' release. It's a sidestory—one that bridges the gap in protagonist Kiryu's story between Yakuza 6 and the upcoming Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
As a result, it's shorter and less ambitious than a main series entry. There's very little here that feels new. The action is predominantly in Sotenbori—the series' take on Osaka's Dōtonbori district, used frequently in previous games. The minigames are a tried and true collection of Yakuza classics, from mahjong to karaoke to the return of pocket circuit racing. There is one new location, The Castle—an absurd offshore getaway for rich hedonistic assholes. In practice, though, it's just a hub for the battle arena and a returning handful of gambling minigames.
Damn it, though, it still works. The nature of the series—its focus on story and character; on dramatic plot and absurd substories—makes every game something more than the sum of its distractions. A returning location is a chance to see how the world has changed since your last visit. A reused minigame proves a welcome break as the story's tension continues to build. It all feels very comfortable, especially now that the mainline series has moved onto a new lead protagonist and a new turn-based combat system.
Kiryu's return means we're back to the classic brawling that was once a staple of the series. And here, at least, there are some new toys to play with. Kiryu can switch between two combat styles: Yakuza and Agent. The former is your traditional powerhouse moveset—Tiger Drop and all—using the series standard combos of punches, kicks, and street props turned weapons. The latter is more nimble, but also loaded with gadgets. Hold the grapple button, for instance, and you'll fire out Spider, a wrist-mounted rope that can lasso enemies to be flung around or reeled in for a follow-up attack.
Not all of the gadgets are particularly useful. Firefly—a cigarette that is also a bomb—just isn't very effective. Deploying it leaves you vulnerable to attack, and the explosion itself is weak, even upgraded. The best of the bunch is Serpent, aka the rocket shoes. By holding the run button, you can glide across a street fight knocking down enemies in your path. It
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has become the series' most successful launch on Steam over its launch weekend.
In the lead-up to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s launch, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio made it abundantly clear that the RPG was going to be its biggest, most ambitious game to date, and in the immediate aftermath of its release, it looks like the game is enjoying the sort of success the developer would have hoped for. In addition to receiving widespread acclaim from critics, Infinite Wealth also broke the series’ peak concurrent user count record on Steam upon launch, and as per Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, was generating similar interest in leading up to its release as well.
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Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth received widespread critical acclaim from critics in the lead-up to its release, becoming the highest-rated game in the series to date, and it seems that’s being reflected in how the game is performing. Having launched earlier today, the game has got off to a solid start, if its Steam numbers are any indication.
Dondoko Island is a significant part of 's appeal, but how and when the experience can be accessed in-game isn't immediately obvious. The series, formerly published as in the west, has long been known for featuring memorable and unique side content and mini-games to accompany its more dramatic main stories. promises an even longer and more robust experience than any of the past games have ever delivered, and Dondoko Island might be the selling point that jumps out the most.
continues the saga of Ichiban Kasuga, heading up his second installment in the series formerly known as. Following up on Ichiban's introduction in and original series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu's brilliant reintroduction in , focuses on the dual heroes as they travel to Honolulu separately, but on the same mission: to find Ichiban's long-lost mother, Akane. The two eventually meet up and combine their efforts, discovering much more than they bargained for as they near the center of a seedy plot.
Unlocking jobs in is a vital part of the gameplay experience, as it allows players to focus their abilities and specialize in how they engage with the various situations presented in the title – be they humorous or simply tragic. is another installment in the series formerly known as, developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. The game is a direct sequel to the events of and follows both Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu in a joint adventure.
The goofiest boss in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is totally optional — but if you want to level up and prepare for the game’s biggest ultimate endgame boss, you’ll need to conquer the Robo Michio Rangers first. Instead of fighting just one Robo Michio, you’ll take on an entire team of color-coded rangers. Each one of these warriors has a different ability, and they’re incredibly annoying if you don’t defeat them in a very specific order. Grab your best Hero Bat because you’ll need everything you’ve got to defeat these killer mascots.
The Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth countdown is on as the release time is only a day away, though the unlock schedule isn't as straightforward as you may be used to.
Few phrases in video games send chills down one’s spine like, “It gets good after eight hours.” With that much time, you could beat Bowser in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, watch most of The Bear, or read The Great Gatsby — twice. It should be no surprise, then, that those six cruel words hang like an albatross around the necks of countless role-playing games collecting dust in my backlog.
In Chapter 9 of Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the Tattoo Parlor lady will demand $10,000 USD before she gives you any information you need about your missing person. That’s a lot of cash, but it isn’t impossible. Returning to Hawaii in Chapter 9, the enemies are much tougher and cash is easier to come by. There are multiple ways to earn the money you need, but there are a few ways that are extremely easy.
Like a Dragin: Infinite Wealth MSRP $70.00 Score Details DT Recommended Product Pros