Player feedback confirm - Pirate Yakuza is a hit! Even with all its absurdity and shenanigans
Ryu Ga Gotoku has done it again! From Yakuza 0 to his pirate days, Goro Majima can definitely hold his own as the main protagonist.
It’s finally here! Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is out, and as a big fan of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, I couldn’t be more excited. Just a little more work to finish before I can set sail into this wacky adventure. But first, let’s check out the early reviews on Steam – is it a bit too over-the-top for non-Yakuza players? I mean, our beloved, unhinged Majima as a pirate… what could possibly go wrong?
Watashi wa Pirate desu!
For some, Yakuza/Like a Dragon games seem to be releasing too fast – especially compared to Rockstar’s pace. But even though they reuse assets from previous entries (since most games take place in the same cities), we still love them because storytelling has always been Ryu Ga Gotoku’s top priority.
My colleague rated it 8.5/10 (check out the full review), and OpenCritic scores seem to be in line with that. Player feedback on Steam echoes the same opinion. Within the first hour of release, Pirate Yakuza had over 15,000 concurrent players, and right now, 99% of the reviews are positive. That’s a huge relief for me, especially after hearing some slightly less enthusiastic opinions.
Too much rum Majima-san?Source: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
The whole game can be finished in under 30 hours, even with all side quests, making it more Like a Dragon Gaiden in length – yet it’s still priced like a full Yakuza game with 100+ hours of content. On top of that, some people feel the main story is slow-paced, filled with unnecessary fillers, and bogged down by excessive hand-holding.
A lot of characters feel underdeveloped and don’t reach their full potential, while the story only truly becomes emotionally engaging near the very end. Combat can also be chaotic, with frustratingly annoying ranged enemies.
I just hope I won’t be let down like I was with the Yakuza TV series. On the bright side, as always, Ryu Ga Gotoku kept the system requirements reasonable, so even those with weaker PCs can still run the game.
So, just a few more Baka Mitai, and then we’re all done. Oh, and for anyone saying Pirate Yakuza is a disgrace to longtime fans because it’s too silly – yeah, they clearly haven’t played Yakuza/Like a Dragon like we have, right? Even when these games tackle difficult subjects, they’ve never been too serious.
Fingers crossed that the next spin-off is another Judgment, but with Kaito-san as the star of the show!
