The impressive frequency of Ryu Ga Gotoku releases is set to continue with the upcoming launch ofLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiion February 20, with many fans looking forward to finally stepping back into the shoes of Goro Majima in a protagonist role. While the project is technically a spin-off title, the premise and gameplay of the release is already shaping up to make it one of the most unique entries that the longstandingLaDfranchise has ever seen.
As the name suggests, the story and core experience ofLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiis entirely centered around the same Hawaiian map that was introduced with 2024’sInfinite Wealth, with RGG being renowned for the long-term use the studio can glean from its major locations. While this has worked well for the iconic Japanese locations of the franchise, it is a difficult ask for futureLaDtitles to narratively justify also being set in Hawaii, and the franchise should not rely on the location anymore as a primary setting for other projects going forward.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Can Say Farewell to the Location in Style
The upcomingLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiputs beloved franchise character Goro Majima back in the hot-seatof the franchise, with the iconic figure washing up on the shores of Hawaii with a bout of amnesia. In classicLike a Dragonfashion, Majima quickly finds himself in the middle of nefarious factions operating around the islands, with Majima becoming the captain of his very own pirate ship and taking to the seas.
At the recent RGGLike a DragonDirect event on January 9, the studio outlinedthe exciting naval combat ofPirate Yakuza, with players having full control of their ship’s cosmetics and arsenal, with the title even featuring ship-boarding combat to create a surprisingly complete pirate experience. While the wacky premise ofPirate Yakuzaadds a fresh spin to the gameplay ofLike a Dragontitles, the game’s Hawaiian setting is largely a way to get more value out of the expansive major location ofInfinite Wealth, and this can only go so far.
Ryu Ga Gotoku is only able to release high quality games so consistently thanks to the smart way in which the studio re-uses assets, be it fighting animations or entire locations. Major Japan-set franchise locations like Kamurocho, Sotenbori, and Isezaki Ijincho have appeared extensively throughout manyLaDtitles over the years,including spin-offs like theJudgmentseries, yet it would be much more difficult to consistently use Hawaii in the same way.
Like a Dragon’s Narrative Ties to Japanese Settings Are Too Strong to Ignore
Of course, Hawaii was an exciting and logical setting for the international story ofInfinite Wealth, and the number of major characters that visited Hawaii during the game’s plot can logically extend to Majima washing up on its shores in the upcomingPirate Yakuza, but it would be quite far-fetched to continue the franchise’s story in the location beyond this. The major stories behind theLaDfranchise are inexorably tied to Japan, with the series using Japanese-inspired locations to great success over the years, and this should not end just to squeeze more value out ofthe Hawaiian assets that were created forInfinite Wealth.
Upcoming RGG titles likeProject Centuryshow how the studio is still finding new ways to make Japanese settings engaging and fresh, proving even further that the studio should not rely on Hawaii as a major setting for any more games going forward. The upcomingPirate Yakuza in Hawaiistill seems like an excellent addition to the franchise that smartly leans intoInfinite Wealth’s locational assets well, yet it would be for the best for the title to act as an explosive swansong for the location instead of the beginning of a reliance on this particular map for future entries to the series.
