The Hawaiian pirate yakuza has proven that it can teach old seal dogs new tricks.

When I played the short but sweet Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii last September, it was just a taste of everything the game had to offer. This time we had two hours to explore two different parts of the game, and more importantly, we finally got to handle the ship.

Despite this, I still felt like I had barely scratched the surface. Like The Man Who Erased His Name, Pirate Yakuza may be smaller in scale than the Like a Dragon games, but there's still plenty of meat left in this skull and crossbones.

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If you've played either of the two recently released Ryu Ga Gotoku (The Man Who Cleared His Name or Infinite Wealth), Pirate Yakuza will be a familiar sight. There are several different maps available, the largest of which is Honolulu, and is filled with minigames, side stories, and tons of bad guys to take down.

Despite this familiarity, RGG is pushing the envelope with this game. If putting a fan favorite on a giant ship as a pirate captain and releasing him into the waters around Hawaii isn't enough, let me give you a hint.

RGG Studio is no stranger to innovation

Looking back at the release of Yakuza and comparing it to the most recent release of Infinite Wealth, the series has come a long way. As well as the general improvements that come from adapting to more modern technology over the years, there are also big changes that raise the bar for series releases post-launch.

RGG makes bold choices. Switch from one protagonist to multiple protagonists, switch from action to turn-based combat, replace a fan-favorite protagonist with an entirely new protagonist, or switch a popular protagonist somewhere overseas. They even changed the title of the (western) game from Yakuza to Like a Dragon. RGG isn't afraid to try something new and is pushing the Black Pearl for Pirate Yakuza.

RGG never does anything half-hearted, so adding naval combat is a lofty goal to set for yourself. Not only will it have to meet the already high standards of the series, but it will also hold up against any game that has come before that includes naval combat. Pirate Yakuza shouldn't struggle to beat Skull and Bones, but it still has to contend with Assassin's Creed Black Flag and Sea of ​​Thieves.

When I got my hands on the Pirate Yakuza this time, one of the first things I did was place Majima's hand on the ship's wheel and make Goromaru turn with that hand.

It all looks pear-shaped.

Goromaru can be customized to suit your tastes, like dressing it up in pink or slapping it all over Taiga Saejima's face, but it's more than just cosmetics. There are cannons on both port and starboard sides that can be changed and upgraded, and it's not just about damage as many weapons have additional effects like cold or heat.

It's up to you whether you want a shark cannon or a flamethrower. At the same time, you can also use a machine gun that can fire straight ahead, or you can return to the deck and take a rocket launcher from Majima's pocket and fire. It's a good idea to determine what weapons you want where and based on how you plan to attack other ships in the water. You've got boosts and breaks (as ships famously have them), and if you use them effectively, you can quickly get out of the path of enemy fire, or even drift and change direction sharply.

“The distance between you and other ships and where all your equipment is is key to winning these battles, and you need to fire big broadsides to get in close and take them out,” says Hiroyuki Sakamoto, senior producer at RGG Studio.

It's not just about weapons, as the crew plays an important role. You'll naturally unlock crew members as you progress, and you can also recruit others by finding them on various maps, defeating them in the Pirate Colosseum, or completing certain sub-stories. Each crew member has different skills and strengths, so where you assign them on your ship is important. Maybe it's better to fight than to repair, so you'll need to come up with a strategy.

Some battles may lead to boarding battles, where the entire crew engages in close combat with the enemy. This felt very similar to TMWEHN's Colosseum battles, where you had great freedom in choosing your team and allowing the fighters you chose to utilize specific skills. It was great to see these chaotic large-scale battles return, especially with the added benefit of Majima's wacky Sea Dog and Mad Dog skills.

When a ship's HP reaches 0, it sinks. So the goal is to crush your opponents before they do any serious damage to your ships. You can switch to deck view to repair your ship, put out fires, and assist your crew, and this is where strategic crew planning is definitely tested the most.

There are a total of 4 Madlantis Pirate Coliseum modes. Quick Clash, quick and easy ship-to-ship combat; Swashbucker Showdown, a large-scale ground battle; Madlantis Mania is a series of battles played in succession. There's also the Tournament of Captains, which increases your Colosseum rankings.

X marks the spot

Pirate Yakuza has several islands you can visit, and you can take a boat to explore both the land itself and the surrounding sea. Rich Island, Honolulu, and Nele Island are associated with the religious organization Palekana, led by Infinite. Asset players will already be somewhat familiar with it. Finally, there is Madlantis, the underbelly of all things crime syndicates and pirates.

But that's not all. What pirate game would this be without a few treasure islands? Explore the sea at will, scavenging floating debris for materials, targeting circular air currents for a slight speed boost, battling other ships, and dropping anchor on various islands to find buried treasure.

This treasure island is a dungeon area where you explore set areas with various branching paths, defeating enemies, and dealing with other potential hazards, such as poisoned areas, while gaining as much loot as possible. This part particularly reminded me of Ishin's Battle Dungeons, where you have to select a team before entering. Each team provides different skills or buffs and must explore dungeon areas.

But don't worry. There is also a safe area at sea near the lighthouse, so you can always set sail and relax for a while. Once aboard Goromaru, you can customize your ship or outfit, chat with the crew, participate in karaoke, and host a celebratory feast to boost staff morale. You can also use a telescope to observe distant islands and find out their difficulty levels, and you can even climb up to the crow's nest for a better view.

I'm ready to sail

By providing a new chapter in the lives of our favorite people in the same realm through the same minigames, RGG can rest on its laurels and still profit by appeasing the fandom without taking a step back from the boundaries already established. . But that was never the studio's way.

Pirate Yakuza is boldly breaking new ground. Being a non-mainline game gives RGG more license to experiment with new ideas and mechanics, and while it's ready for some silly romp with Majima on the high seas, it's also ready for the typical emotional roller coaster we've come to expect. We are preparing. RGG. After so many years and fans begging for a Majima game for so long, I think there might be a treasure trove of stories buried deep along with some old-school pirate fun, and I can't wait to dig into them.

system

developer

Ryugagotoku Studio

ESRB

Ages 17+ // Blood, intense violence, partial nudity, sexual themes, strong language, alcohol