Following Yakuza 6, many followers thought Kazuma Kiryu had completed as a protagonist within the franchise. Oh, however no – through the week of Tokyo Recreation Present final 12 months, RGG Studio unveiled two new video games, each of which allow us to return to taking part in because the legendary Dragon of Dojima. A kind of video games is Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Title, and I skilled a demo of it at Tokyo Recreation Present this 12 months.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Title is a spin-off recreation however one with plot that may intrigue longtime followers. It is going to inform the story of what Kiryu-san has been as much as in time between Yakuza 6 and the following mainline entry Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (or Ryu ga Gotoku 8 in Japan). Gaiden would be the connective tissue to bridge the hole, and doubtlessly maintain particulars that may enrich later Like a Dragon video games.
2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon modified the collection from an journey recreation with real-time fight to turn-based RPG. Gaiden returns to that real-time brawler model that RGG Studio has let stay on within the Judgment video games. On this new story, Kiryu has turn into a undercover agent for the Daidoji faction and dons the title “Joryu.” The way in which he can combat displays his new agent function. His fight prowess is assisted and enhanced by way of using devices straight out of a spy movie.
He can name upon mini drones known as Hornets that may take among the warmth off Kiryu by distracting adversaries and inflicting little injury to them. On his ft, Kiryu has some new kicks: Serpent, that are jet-propulsion footwear permitting him to sprint out of hurt’s means or do a charging assault. It’s a great way to knock again and injury a gaggle of enemies. For some managed explosive energy, he can throw out a small short-timed, cigarette-looking bomb known as Firefly.
Final however not least, the Spider must be my private favourite gadget. When activated, the Spider shoots out wires that connect to shut enemies permitting Kiryu to swing them round earlier than the wire detaches, throwing them. This offers injury and knocks down each enemies that he was swinging round and those who get hit by the tossed enemies. A becoming title for a gadget that permits you to carry out an assault that appears prefer it was plucked straight out of a Spider-Man recreation.
All in all, I discovered the brand new Agent model fight a number of enjoyable. It provides a little bit of a recent spin on Yakuza’s bombastic fights. I hope there will likely be extra new methods to combat. For now, it seems to be like followers ought to have a blast with Kiryu’s new abilities in a brand new journey as the unique franchise protagonist. Past this transient take a look at the sport’s fight, there’s nonetheless a number of different issues to sit up for. How will this espionage-looking story unfold? What amusing characters and mini-games await? I can’t wait to seek out out subsequent month.
You may watch my hands-on gameplay beneath:
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Title arrives on November 9, 2023 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Sequence X and S, Xbox One, and PC.
Thanks to SEGA for having me at their sales space at Tokyo Recreation Present 2023.