Yakuza, I am deeply in love with you and will always be so.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Platform:Â PC
Developer:Â Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher:Â SEGA
Release date:Â January 25th, 2024
Price:Â $69.99, Deluxe ($84.99) and Ultimate ($109.99) editions also available
Availability:Â Steam
There have always been opposing forces at the core of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon storyline. The mobster-driven melodrama has poignant moments, such as when Kiryu Kazuma sacrifices himself and displays stoicism, or when Ichiban Kasuga’s poor upbringing is shown through flashbacks. However, the tone can be skillfully changed to sheer ridiculousness very quickly. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio can transition to silliness faster than Kiryu switches fighting postures, offering everything from puking on pacifiers and beating up grown men wearing diapers to directing your urine vapor in a ToyLets mini-game.
After Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s much too brief debut of The Dragon of Dojima, RGG Studio does the obvious and brings its two main protagonists back together, unleashing them wild in Waikiki. However, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth offers one of the most exquisitely emotional setups around before you get there.
Clickbait YouTubers and Fundamentalist Religion
Granted, it doesn’t seem like a satisfying way to start things off to get fired from your job, put in a friend zone, and have your reputation as the Hero of Yokohama ruined. However, Infinite Wealth delves deeply into Ichiban’s suffering, giving you a painful emotional kick when your colleagues reject you as you bid them farewell.
Consequently, it is understandable why gaming has such a fascination in Hollywood. Writing-wise, Infinite Wealth is more incisive than most contemporary screenplays. The writing is intelligent and surprisingly current, whether it is about the effects of cancel culture or a group of ex-yakuza reevaluating a woman’s place in society. And those are just two instances from the first two hours in an effort to avoid giving away the primary plot.
What follows is an in-depth analysis of modern culture that is incredibly insightful without ever being overly didactic. Wealth deftly navigates a broad range of emotions, showing, via a compassionate perspective, everything from the joy of being reunited with a long-lost parent to a character facing a fatal disease with calm dignity. If Infinite Wealth had been a movie, it would have been a front-runner for the Oscar. (But Hollywood, please refrain from attempting a live-action adaptation; you will undoubtedly make a complete mess.)
Of Food Delivery, Dying, and Dissolution
Of course, though, meaningful storytelling is only one aspect of RGG Studio’s philosophy. Similar to its erratic ensemble, Wealth seldom holds onto one feeling for an extended period of time, upholding the jazzy tradition of the franchise. Even though Like a Dragon’s turn-based combat system still forms the basis of combat, a number of enhancements guarantee that fighting is still enjoyable. Turn order is more predictable this time out, which presents tactical advantages when you stun an opponent who is ready to act.
Combatants can direct strikes that propel attackers toward other foes or even allies who are prepared for an attack, taking a hint from Death End Re:Quest’s Knockback mechanism. However, there is also some interaction akin to Paper Mario, where pressing buttons at the right moment can amplify an attack or fortify a defensive posture. Ichiban might not have been a devoted Dragon Quest player.
Probably the most satisfying addition to battle is the ability to pick up nearby objects and use them as temporary weapons. You can wear down opponent troops with an explosive drum or bicycle in your mobility ring, which is a very useful defensive aid. The fact that challenge level is shown by icons and opponent awareness has been mellowed is another feature I liked. It makes it less tedious to take on low-level enemies and be caught off guard by street leaders.
An Actual Shaka
One of the best instances of virtual travel over the past eighteen years has been the Yakuza series, which guides players through stylized but accurate recreations of Shinjuku, Fukuoka City, Osaka, Okinawa, Hiroshima, Sapporo, and Yokohama. Infinite Wealth builds upon this legacy, which is pleasing. A large portion of Kiryu’s storyline and the first chapter are set in Yokohama, featuring numerous beach scenes that include the neon-colored Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel and a meticulous reconstruction of the city’s Chinatown.
Honolulu, however, is unquestionably the star of the show—having brought the series to the United States for the first time. This is by far the largest biome to appear in a Yakuza game in terms of sheer size, as shown by Ichiban’s ability to maneuver around on the Segway. After living on Oahu for a few years, I can attest that it’s far superior to any previous game adaption, perfectly emulating the vibe of Waikiki’s Kalakaua Avenue—minus the swarms of inconvenient, sunscreen-covered visitors.
An intricate criminal underworld that isn’t as civilized or well-mannered as its trans-Pacific counterparts is what RGG Studio envisions for the island. It’s a little unbelievable, given their storytelling style, but an adventure focused on price manipulation at ABC Stores wouldn’t have been compelling. Instead, there are new, stereotypical employment classifications like the surfer-dude Aquanaut, the grass skirt-wearing Geodancer, the Action Star, and the Housekeeper toy. All I ask is that some of the classes be open to students of any gender.
A Tribute to SEGA’s Past (with a hint of Nintendo Envy)
It should come as no surprise that Infinite Wealth includes the customary assortment of mini-games, including SEGA games like Sega Bass Fishing, SpikeOut, and Virtua Fighter 3 Team Battle, in addition to a Crazy Taxi-themed food delivery side activity. Classic side activities like karaoke, mahjong, koi-koi, fighting cages, and dating app antics are all back, of course, and they feel more like a heartfelt “thank you” to series fans than a sloppy retread.
Furthermore, the Sujimon and Dondoko Island battles might be a seductive diversion from the main plot. In the former, you can transform a run-down island into an upscale vacation destination, much like in Animal Crossing. The surprising thing about Dondoko is how much depth it has—it rivals the substance and sense of growth of a stand-alone game. Sujimon, on the other hand, is an additional adaptation of Game Freak’s legendary Pocket Monster trainer. It is somewhat too obedient to Pokémon convention, even with its plot centered around a conspiracy and the typical gym leader rock-paper-scissors battle format. We could use a little more lunacy, or at least lust.
When it comes to scale, complexity, and range, Infinite Wealth is the greatest addition to the popular genre. However, there are a few characteristics that may irritate. While the stories of Kiryu and Ichiban occasionally overlap, the heroes spend the most of the game on their own. Some people might have preferred that Ichiban’s more humorous antics hadn’t forced the story of redemption and acceptance of the inevitable, but I was relieved that it wasn’t. Yazuka’s antagonists ranged from simple fist fodder to incredibly complicated ones. This pattern isn’t broken in Infinite Wealth, and it’s difficult not to wish that characters like Danny Trejo’s crime boss Dwight had been given a little more nuance in their writing.
The choice by SEGA to hide the usually free New Game+ component behind a fifteen-dollar barrier is the other major issue. Considering that Infinite Wealth has an MSRP of seventy dollars, this seems exorbitant at first. I didn’t get access to the post-game information, so I’m afraid I can’t comment on the value. However, I would say that Wealth has consistently kept me interested, entertained, and craving more, so I’ll be pulling out my dollars without a second thought.
In summary
There have been several teases about Kiryu Kazuma’s final moments. The viewers and RGG Studio have both shown a difficulty to part with the endearing protagonist in each case. If Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the Dragon of Dojima’s last appearance, then it’s a suitable send-off, offering a sense of finality and a quest for atonement that’s probably unmatched. Furthermore, it’s a perfect example of Ichiban receiving the metaphorical torch. His follow-ups should be plentiful if they are as fantastic as this.
On a PC, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth was played using a review code that the publisher sent.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 90%
Storytelling – 100%
Aesthetics – 100%
Content – 100%
Accessibility – 90%
Value – 80%
93%
EXCELLENT
Summary :A seventy-dollar game with a fifteen-dollar New Game+ option ought to be a satisfactory experience in 2024. Whether you’re playing Baka Mitai like it’s your last, bouncing opponents like bowling pins, or taking on Animal Crossing and Pokémon-inspired side projects that are too big to be termed mini-games, Infinite Wealth is all about determination. Then there is Ichiban and Kiryu’s duality, which is fully developed over the course of a lengthy playtime.