Like a Dragon series is no stranger to spin-offs, but Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii might be its most interesting side story yet. This spin-off takes place six months after the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and follows Goro Majima in the aftermath of its ending. He is widely regarded as one of the most iconic characters in the series, alongside Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga. Seeing Majima finally take the spotlight in his own story is a welcome change, and it delivers the excitement fans would expect.
As a former member of the Tojo Clan Yakuza, Majima has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. In the opening chapter, he washes ashore on an island called Rich Island with no memory of how he got there. The amnesia plotline may feel overused, especially for fans of JRPGs where it is a common trope, but in this case, it serves as an effective way to reset Majima’s journey. It creates a fresh starting point as he pieces together past events and uncovers the truth behind his memory loss.
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Majima wakes up to find himself rescued by a young boy named Noah, only to be thrown into immediate danger with the arrival of pirates. As he explores the island, he gradually builds friendships with its people, acquires a ship, and gathers a crew to embark on a new adventure. A deeper mystery unfolds as the story progresses, revealing a conflict between local Hawaiian pirates and former Yakuza members. Caught in the middle, Majima must confront both his past and the secrets behind his missing memories.
The most immediate difference from the mainline Yakuza games is that this is a brawler rather than a turn-based RPG. If you have played Like a Dragon: Gaiden, the combat here follows a similar approach. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has stated that spin-offs will likely focus on action gameplay, and that is evident in this game. The combat is stylish, though at its core, it can feel somewhat simple. The main highlight is the ability to dodge and perform heat actions. Majima can chain together low and high attacks to create combos, and a new system allows him to juggle opponents in the air, opening up even more combo opportunities. In some ways, it is reminiscent of the Devil May Cry series, though with a more streamlined combat system. As the game progresses, Majima unlocks additional abilities, starting with basic melee attacks before gaining access to weapons like the classic cutlass, a staple for any pirate.
The upgrade system is straightforward. It uses money as a currency alongside a points system to unlock or enhance moves. While it is not as deep or customizable as one might expect, it serves its purpose. Upgrades are not limited to Majima either, as the game also allows for ship upgrades. Majima can command a ship with a crew of misfits, each of whom gains experience points and levels up over time. There is even a crew bonding system that adds another layer to the progression mechanics. Overall, there are plenty of gameplay systems to manage beyond just Majima’s combat upgrades, ensuring there is always something to work toward.
The story itself is obviously a filler, but it still feels like a classic Like a Dragon adventure. It features plenty of cutscenes, lengthy dialogue exchanges, and a wide cast of side characters. If you enjoy extended conversations that build character depth, the cutscenes and interactions will feel familiar. While it may not set a new benchmark for storytelling, the game delivers a well-written narrative with a mix of humor and drama that keeps things engaging. The cast is full of entertaining personalities, and Majima himself is a character who never fails to bring energy to the experience.
It would not be a Like a Dragon game without its side stories and optional content, and a lot of effort has gone into making these extras feel meaningful. Classic SEGA Arcade games including from the Master System era are available to play, including in co-op. These can be accessed right from the start or later in the story once you unlock your first hideout.
The game also features a simple pet system where you can feed animals to build a bond with them—even a tiger is included. Over time, these pets will reward you with rare items or collectibles. In addition, there is a cooking minigame, treasure hunting across the sea, and fan-favorite activities like karaoke. While the game is not fully open-world, it does offer small segmented maps where you can explore the seas with your ship and crew. However, ship combat and controls are not particularly engaging, and by the end of the story, they can feel repetitive. Fortunately, the game includes warp points, allowing you to fast travel between locations once you have unlocked them. This was incredibly convenient and became my preferred way to travel after I had discovered most of the treasure.
Ship combat itself is not very high-stakes or complex, but it is well executed. You can even leave the mast and roam around the ship while wielding a rocket launcher, which adds some variety. Crew members can get bored or sick and need to be taken care of, and you can give them gifts to strengthen your bond with them. New crew members are recruited throughout the main story, while others can be unlocked by completing side stories.
I played the game on both PC and PS5. The PS5 version runs well overall, but there is an issue with HDR. Scenes often appeared either too washed out or too dark, at least with the default settings. Additionally, the aliasing was quite noticeable and visually distracting on the base PS5.
In comparison, the PC version is much better. I encountered some minor issues with frame generation support, but aside from that, the game performed excellently. It is well-optimized for PC and even runs smoothly on the Steam Deck. The image quality issues present on PS5 were completely absent on PC, making it my preferred platform to play the game. I am unsure if the PS5 Pro offers improved image quality, but on a 4K OLED display, the PS5 version did not look as good as some of the older Like a Dragon titles.
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii Game Information
- Price: $59.99
- Publisher: SEGA
- Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
