Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii combat features explored
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will feature action-based beat-em-up combat as opposed to the turn-based systems witnessed in the last two entries. Besides beating enemies with the Mad Dog of Shimano style, you will also have a plethora of tools in your arsenal to truly feel like a pirate with Goro Majima.
Life at the High Seas can get extremely dangerous, so let's look at some of the tools at your disposal that you can use to make Majima the best pirate in Hawaii. This article will go over the combat of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii combat details
Battle Styles
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii brings back the Mad Dog fighting style of Majima, alongside a brand new one called Sea Dog. Here's how the one-eyed Yakuza will perform in both styles.
Also Read: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Revealed during the RGG Summit
- The Mad Dog style: Similar to the one you unlock in Yakuza 0, you will use your fists and a small knife to beat your enemies. The latest addition to the game is the Madness Gauge which will fill up as you damage your foes. Filling this bar will summon doppelgangers that will attack your enemies, increasing Majima's combat prowess
- The Sea Dog style: The Sea Dog style introduces a pirate-ey touch to Majima's fighting: He will use two cutlasses to execute various combos that will build up deadly finishers. The Sea Dog style will also feature the Madness Gauge that you can use to summon four deadly beings.
Sidearms and Dark Instruments
A pirate is incomplete without a set of unique pieces of equipment and Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii features a few cool gears to spice up combat.
- You will be able to gain access to three unique sidearms: Cutlass Boomerang, Pistol, and Chain Hook. These sidearms will allow you to unleash the Sea Dog style's full potential — the cutlass will increase your attack area-of-effect, the pistol will deal heavy damage and knock back foes, and the chain hook will propel Majima toward the enemy to deal devastating attacks.
- Besides your weapons, you will also gain access to four special treasures called the Dark Instruments. Playing the violin will summon sharks to the battlefield to deal damage to enemies while using the guitar will conjure a massive ape that unleashes immense uppercuts. Playing the saxophone will bring out an avian creature who can use tornadoes to attack enemies, and blowing into the ocarina will summon jellyfish who can stun enemies by applying a shocking effect.
Naval Combat
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will also feature some interesting naval combat that will introduce the pirate life adventure on the high seas of Hawaii.
- Naval Combat will resemble that of Assassin's Creed Black Flag or Rogue. You must engage enemy ships using cannons and disable them. Then it's an all-out brawl where you board enemy ships and capture them.
- You can alter your ship's appearance and use various resources to upgrade its hulls and weapons.
- The Pirates' Coliseum in Madlantis will allow you to engage in all-out Ship vs Ship combat against various other crews.
- Majima's crew members will have various abilities that will determine the outcome of a battle. Some will have offensive skills while others can provide sustenance.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to release on February 20, 2025.