Review of “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii”

Since its debut on the PS2 back in 2005, Sega’s Like a Dragon series has etched its place as a staple in the gaming world. Over the years, fans have been treated to nine main series games, several remakes, and numerous spin-offs. These spin-offs venture into diverse territory, with some exploring alternate universes and others weaving directly into the main storyline. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is one of those that ties back to the central narrative, seeing fan-favorite Goro Majima in an unexpected new role. Following the events of Infinite Wealth, our amnesiac hero finds himself commanding a pirate crew along the Hawaiian coastline. For Majima, this is his first lead role since Yakuza 0, and his eccentric personality makes him an ideal protagonist for this whimsical pirate escapade.

For those familiar with Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii offers a similar experience. It shifts away from turn-based combat, returning to the classic beat ’em up style and delivers a compact story that reuses elements from the latest main installment. While it repurposes some side content and locales from Infinite Wealth, which is par for the course, it slightly takes away from the pirate theme the game is aiming for.

A significant portion of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s action unfolds in settings almost indistinguishable from Infinite Wealth’s open world. Personally, I’d have enjoyed more time in fresh and intriguing locales such as the pirate haven Madlantis and the lesser-known islands players can explore.

Jumping into pirate life is where Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii truly finds its sea legs. While it doesn’t claim the title of most intricate pirate game out there, its straightforwardness actually plays to its advantage. Once you gain full control of your ship, you’re free to navigate different maritime zones, hunting for treasure, dueling legendary pirates, and engaging in naval skirmishes. Some pirate games promise realism but end up making navigation tedious—thankfully, that’s not the case here. The ship’s controls are smooth, allowing for fun battles as you fire machine guns at enemies, launch cannon fire, and boost to dodge incoming shots.

As you progress, your ship evolves. You can boost its speed and strength or equip it with special cannons that have unique effects. Certain story characters naturally join Majima’s crew, but you’ll also have the chance to recruit numerous NPCs you come across, provided they meet specific criteria. Building this crew is a rewarding pursuit, granting you advantages both in naval warfare and the inevitable pirate skirmishes.

Exploring Hawaii’s seas leads to many naval encounters and chances to find loot and islands to explore. These islands serve as ‘dungeons’ similar to those in other Yakuza titles, challenging players to fight through waves of enemies, break through obstacles, and face off against tough bosses. The rewards for exploring these islands—a treasure trove of cash and loot—prove invaluable for purchasing healing items, enhancing the ship, and powering up Majima himself.

Combat-wise, players can choose between two primary fighting styles for Majima. His iconic Mad Dog style returns, complete with his challenging shadow clone technique, while the new Sea Dog style introduces swords and a variety of other weapons into the fray. As you progress, Majima acquires new tools, such as a pistol and grappling hook, which ensure the combat in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii remains distinct, albeit maintaining the beloved beat ’em up formula that defines the series.

While the combat will undoubtedly please longtime series fans, the story might not quite meet their expectations. It offers thrilling moments and some emotional high points, especially focusing on Majima’s relationship with the young crewmate Noah. However, by the finale, parts of it feel somewhat incidental. The bar set by Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is sky-high, and this narrative does not quite reach those heights, with characters who fail to leave a lasting impression and villains who lack sufficient depth to make their defeat satisfying.

It took me roughly 10 hours to complete the main storyline across its five chapters, while indulging in some side quests along the way. I’d say aiming for all the achievements or trophies would likely stretch this to 20-25 hours.

The brief runtime is part of the reason the story might not resonate as deeply. With the core story wrapping up in around 8-10 hours, it often feels sidetracked by tutorials and introductions to side activities, impacting the pacing and preventing it from building the momentum seen in some of the bigger titles in the Yakuza series.

Although the narrative doesn’t pack the punch that fans might be used to, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii remains an entertaining ride through pirate-themed adventure. It would be exciting to see Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio take this concept further in a full-fledged game, as Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii beautifully showcases the potential of fully embracing the pirate life within the Like a Dragon universe.

As a note, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set for release on February 21 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Game Rant was kind enough to provide us with a PS5 code for this review.