Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Meanwhile, the change in format (bringing it closer to the mainstream success Persona enjoys) and addition of English voice acting, means that this is the most accessible Yakuza release we have seen in years, if not ever. The flaws that exist don’t take much away from how compelling it is overall – and for the first time in years, I am actually interested to see what they do with the next Yakuza game. Bring it on, Sega.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon is a wonderful addition to the franchise. It hits the mark with a likeable new protagonist and an engaging new combat system without losing what makes Yakuza great. It suffers from issues like a low difficulty (another Yakuza staple), but it features top-notch humor and charm. If you like Yakuza, then you'll like Like A Dragon. It is everything that makes the series great and is one of the freshest entries since Yakuza 0.

At its core, this is still the Yakuza that we know and love, with shocking story beats and fantastic characters, but in embracing the structure of an old school RPG, it successfully branches the series off in a whole new direction. Equal parts refreshing and familiar, it's a crazy and creative game that knows how to have fun, as Ichiban Kasuga proves himself a worthy successor to the one and only uncle Kaz.