Like a Dragon Gaiden is a perfect entry point, for better and worse

Dragon GaidenNo chill in this new Sega entry, which was formerly known by the name Yakuza.

Kazuma Kiryu’s Spider-Man powers are revealed in the very first battle, which allows him to hurl villains through the busy streets of Osaka. In just a few hours, Kazuma Kiryu will be able to summon drone swarms to his aid and throw explosive cigarettes with the same power as IEDs. Before the first act wraps, Kiryu will have joined an underground network of criminal informants, visited a floating pleasure-palace-slash-coliseum, and tried to charm at least one hostess — experienced by the player in first person via full-motion video starring a real actress.

The zaniness (and light perviness) of this video game won’t sound unusual to Yakuza fans, but that pace will. 2020’s Yakuza: like a dragon Fans typically pitch their pitches in front of the fans. This can take up to 45 hours. Completionists may even double that time. The fans typically pitch. Yakuza ZeroIt is widely considered to be the most welcome entry in the franchise, but there’s a catch: you have to go through hours and hours of cutscenes, tutorials, etc. before things get good.

And so, paradoxically, despite feeling like the end of an era (the series’ action combat has been replaced by turn-based encounters in new mainline entries), Dragon Gaiden may be the new “best starting point” for one of gaming’s longest, densest, and most underappreciated franchises.

What about the history? GaidenThe game bridges the gap that has existed between Kiryu focused games for years and The Dragon’s WealthThe release of the film is scheduled for January 2024. But to enjoy the story, you’ll need, at most, a quick YouTube recap. Kiryu faked his own death and is now doing the right thing by the people of Sotenbori, while unraveling another bureaucratic puzzle involving handsome dudes with great tattoos.

Because Kiryu now goes by Joryu (the game’s official title is As a dragon gaiden, the man who erased his name), you’ll often be engaging with people who know nothing about his bloodspattered backstory. And when a character does know Kiryu’s drama, our guy prefers to chat with his fists.

Image: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega

The main Yakuza series has a lot of fully voiced cutscenes. GaidenHas far less. Instead, it’s filled with distractions, novelties and fetchquests. Now, if you’re a Yakuza fan, take a few deep breaths — that last sentence could cause hyperventilation. But honestly, I’ve enjoyed this “Ubisoft open world” approach to Yakuza. Gaiden is the equivalent of eating your child’s entire bucket of Halloween candy because you got a little too stoned watching Charlie Brown. It isn’t good for you, let alone nourishing, and it is, at times, deeply embarrassing. Sometimes, however, it’s nice to binge on unhealthy food.

Dragon GaidenIt’s video game junkfood at its best. A generous critic might even be able to read the original creation. GaidenAs a parody on Western video game development. Masayoshi Yokoyama, director at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, recently said that the game started as DLC. The development took just six months. They repurposed a large part of the world and cut down on the cost (new voice actors, cinematic cuts, etc.). You can see the entire map when you click on it. Gaiden, it’s filled with busywork, countless little exclamation points and collectible items. This world, unlike many other open-world AAA titles today is refreshingly smaller and has a fun to-do-list. Kiryu’s appearance has been transformed into something between a British super agent and super soldier.

Image: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega

Could this be the best joke in the Yakuza franchise? In its creation itself, a video game is an observation on today’s state of gaming development. Nah, I won’t go that far. Though I wouldn’t label this a cash-in either.

Gaiden The new reality of video games is reflected in the fact that developers are wise to get as much out of their huge investments made in mainstream titles. It is important to note that the mainline entries cost a lot of money. Developers will be wise to maximize their investment. GaidenI see a world where each core Like a Dragon entry will be released. gets an action-heavy spinoff, set in the same world and with the same characters, made for a fraction of the price but no less appealing to fans — in some ways, perhaps, appealing even more to those without time for a bottomless RPG.

If it’s not obvious: I’m describing myself. The game was addictive and I lost a full week’s sleep. Instead of wishing for more complex Yakuza titles, I spent my time helping Osakans fight off debt collectors and getting underwear from trees.

Fans, Gaiden may feel like a speedrun of the full series, the journey of Kiryu condensed into one decadent hurrah — now with drones and superpowers. However, for those who are new to the series, it may be a bit confusing. Gaiden Spotify’s Greatest Hits will make you feel like you are listening to a band for the first.

As a dragon gaiden, the man who erased his name The game will be released on Nov. 8, for PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X. Sega supplied a PC download code to be used for the review. Vox Media partners with affiliates. Vox Media earns commissions from affiliate products, although this doesn’t influence the editorial content. This is where you can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.