14 DAY TRIAL // 
Making head or tail about how the Yakuza franchise is evolving is no small feat, taking into account all different directions the developers are pursuing, seemingly at the same time. Kiryu, the former protagonist of the series is being thrown around in various offshoots that seem like secondary quests, and after taking a trip back in time to the feudal era of Japan in a zesty remake, we now get a completely new iteration before the next proper sequel, Infinite Wealth.
I don’t even know what is more mindboggling: the length of the title of the new game or the fact that we get no less than three Like a Dragon games in a year? Originally debuted as the Yakuza franchise back in 2005, the developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio renamed the series into Like a Dragon, changed the main protagonist, without discarding the original hero, Kiryu, rather throwing him into various anachronic episode, while also creating the Lost Judgement spinoff. Surely, the developers must be stretched too thin, juggling so many projects all at once, right?
Well, if we go by the Ishin! remake things are as good as ever on the Yakuza porch. And now Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His is here to serve once again as proof, bringing back the fan favorite Kiryu Kazuma, before releasing in February the next fully fledged episode, named Infinite Wealth.
Fans couldn’t be more ecstatic, and not just because of the sheer quantity, but also the solid quality. Because although the improvements are just incremental, the developers always manage to find a way to avoid making players feel like they are rehashing the same content.
Some may accuse the series of setting fatigue but having played all seven episodes released so far together with the Lost Judgement series, I can attest to the fact that the developers do not lack creativity and it is always a pleasure to come back to the series. This of course created some high expectations when it comes to Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
From a narrative perspective, we pick things up after the last episode still named Yakuza, seeing Kiryu retiring from the life of crime and joining the ranks of Daidoji. If anything, this organization is even shadier than the criminal gangs of Japan being specialized in any task that falls under the purview of a fixer, assignments that do not sit well with the Omi Alliance, that managed to absorb what remained of the Tojo Clan.
Our hero soon finds himself in the crosshairs of everyone, and while je is acutely aware of the cruel irony, he also has to think about the orphanage he founded. As such he will take to the streets of Sotenbori, a location much less used in video games than Kamurocho, and will even get aboard the Castle, a wonderous Las Vegas inspired gambling den, disguised as a cargo ship – trying to figure out who is gunning for him and why.
Gameplay wise Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a love letter to the original formula, a return to the roots of the series if you wish. It is not a new episode with new gameplay mechanics, rather a collection of fan favorites paired with a new story.
We have randomly placed items, randomly spawned enemies, tons of side activities from playing Soji to exploring gaming arcades filled to the brim with Sega classics, but also claw machines. The classic real time fight system made a comeback as well, the only new element being the appearance of various gadgets.
Kiryu now can use drones in combat to attack his opponents and throw around explosive devices disguised as cigarette packs or you can even equip your shoes with some jetpack goodness. Of course, just as in previous titles all the abilities and gizmos can be upgraded by having the necessary money, and currency can be earned by doing various side quests and activities. The formula returns to the original recipe which you either enjoy or find boorishly repetitive.
Next to having enough Yens in your wallet it will be wise to stock up also on Akame points. These can be used in the Akame Network, an underground intelligence organization formed by the young Akame, employing homeless people. You will need to develop this network in order to have access to side missions, since you can no longer stumble upon them on the streets of Sotenbori.
Another attraction is the Coliseum hidden in the Castle, the freestyle cage fights not being a true novelty, but here we find the best implementation in the series so far. There are several game modes and challenges present in this virtual arena, and usually the fight scenes are really spectacular, akin to blockbuster martial arts movies. Of course, you have plenty of cosmetic options, in contrast with the moderate tone of the rest of the game.
The graphical engine starts to show its age a bit, and while the visual style is pretty impressive, do not expect any revolutionary eye candy. The framerates are solid, as are the loading times. The actors once again bring their usual performance, for most western audience all the dialogues sounding a bit overdramatic.
The Good
- Great story with plenty of cameos
- A ton of activities and side content
- Fast and engaging combat
The Bad
- The pace can feel like drawn out
- Aging graphics
- Lack of original ideas and mechanics
Conclusion
It is a great game, but does not manage to stand out, and it feels like a great effort to have a proper send-off to the old formula before reconcentrating on the main games and the next Lost Judgement. It is the weakest episode of a very strong series, making it a good game.
Review key provided by CD Media.
