ICHIBAN GETS LEI'D
'Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth' Reviews: Beloved 'Yakuza' Series Hits A New High
The last mainline game in this series, 2020's "Yakuza: Like A Dragon," waved good-bye to the "Yakuza" branding, and Kazuma Kiryu as a lead protagonist, while introducing us to the more light-hearted Ichiban Kasuga. Since then, we've been through a pandemic and the creator of the series, Toshihiro Nagoshi, left Sega for greener pastures. It's safe to say that this latest installment could have been a disaster, but early reviews seem to think it's their best game yet.
More than 60 reviews have been collected on OpenCritic, and "Infinite Wealth" has earned a "Mighty" 90/100 average. The last mainline game had an 86/100 while the two "Like A Dragon" side games released in 2023 earned an 80/100 and 81/100, respectively. But regardless of the nitty-gritty scores, it's clear we have an early GOTY candidate.
The turn-based combat has been much improved this time
As a longtime fan of the series, 2020's "Yakuza: Like a Dragon" came as a bit of a shock to my system. Fun as it was, the sudden switch to stop-start, turn-based JRPG attacks was a lot to get my head around after more than a decade of enjoying the series' signature combo-based beat 'em up action — a bit like spending over 10 years getting really good at thumb wrestling and then being asked to play chess. Thankfully its follow-up, "Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth," substantially retools the combat system: it's still turn-based, but the tactical decision-making introduced by its predecessor is enhanced with more flexible movement and proximity-based attacks that better reflect the rough-and-tumble tactility of the traditional "Yakuza" street fights. As a result, "Infinite Wealth's" brawling feels more like the best of both worlds, and its stunning new Hawaiian setting provides the perfect playground in which to unleash its superior style of smackdown.
When it comes to combat, "Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth" shows that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio must have been listening and taking feedback on "Yakuza: Like a Dragon's" systems. Broadly, it feels like an upgrade in almost every way, while keeping much of the same spirit alive.
Characters can now move within a set range on their turn, eliminating some of the awkwardness around lining up attacks and AoEs. In fact, more movement — combined with the potency of knockbacks, back attacks, and other environmental enhancers — really makes the battles of "Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth" feel more alive and active. I still had one or two moments where I was awkwardly trying to angle something just right, or would perform a knockback only for my teammate to watch the enemy fall down instead of adding a follow-up hit. But controlling the arena feels like a much more doable task in "Infinite Wealth."
The Hawaiian setting is undeniably a huge upgrade over the same ol' Tokyo streets
What's wonderful about Hawaii is how it perfectly compliments Ichiban's personality and, to some extent, "Yakuza" as a whole. It bursts with [color] — perhaps too much, as the contrast might blind you during the day — and has various districts with shiny malls, surf shacks, sleaze and an azure sea you can actually swim about in. It easily sits as one of my [favorite] "Yakuza" locales ever, because it also embraces the slow life (a bit like "Y6's" Onomichi, my all time fave), as you stroll along its coastal paths or hop in a tram with nothing in mind besides basking in the orange glow of the sun set. Just as Ichiban radiates positivity, so does Honolulu.
The irony in "Infinite Wealth," though, is that the sheer whiplash of Kazuga's life is the thing that players will cling onto for stability as "Like a Dragon" takes its antics overseas to Hawaii. While folks of a certain age know a trip to Hawaii is usually what happens when a beloved series is out of ideas, the tropical setting makes for a pretty perfect fit with "Like a Dragon," being a Japanese-friendly place that's nonetheless distinctly American, with all that implies.
And what exactly that implies is pretty important to the story. The expected ooh's and ahh's about how pretty Hawaii can be gives way to a surprisingly straight-faced look at how the effects of colonization, tourism, inflation and xenophobia simmer on. And not only is "Infinite Wealth" the first video game to directly address the COVID-19 pandemic, it's one of the few pieces of media altogether to give a nuanced look at Hawaii's unique political landscape, with a plot that ultimately indicts every foreigner — especially the organized criminals — to sully native lands. That makes for a game with a markedly different feel than anything else in the series.
The 'Animal Crossing-'inspired mini-game is better than it has any right being
And if all of that weren't enough, RGG also included a shockingly deep "Animal Crossing" homage, that doesn't even open up until you've played nearly 20 hours. Not satisfied with the "Pokemon"" homage from the first game where you'd document and battle with the oddities of Japan, Dondoko Island is exactly what you think it would be.
The big swing "Infinite Wealth" takes is in Dondoko Island, the "Animal Crossing-"style crafting and management activity that kind of exists in its own realm. I'm hesitant to call it a minigame given how involved its mechanics are. From clearing trash in order to expand into new zones to farming materials across the island, a certain level of effort is required to start building out your resort. A worthwhile side story is also attached to advancing your ranking in Dondoko Island, and this involves fending off hostile pirates, inviting visitors to make money off of, and crafting increasingly sophisticated structures. Part of me misses the simplicity of Ichiban Confections from the previous game, where building a business and appeasing stakeholders were wrapped in a briskly paced management-sim minigame. However, I don't mind the trade-off for having more to chew on with Dondoko Island, and thankfully I had the appetite for engaging with these sorts of systems.
TL;DR
It's a poignant tale of two middle-aged men fighting to reclaim their identities from a world that marries our self-worth to our jobs.
Kiryu and Ichiban's intertwining stories make for a compelling tale, even if they are unnaturally stretched out over 100-odd hours.
"Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth" releases on January 26, 2024 for PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
Need something more grounded to play? The PS5 remaster of "The Last of Us Part II" is really good.
[Image: Sega]
