Like a Dragon

Sega In the recently released Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio tells a story of rehabilitation and proves that everyone has the chance to be better. No matter your past, there’s the human element of wanting to leave the world a better place than you found it, and that often rings true throughout the lengthy main story. However, many of its villains never see the fruits Infinite Wealth’s story tries to bear because they are discarded for grander plot beats. It constantly swaps out the…

They say that Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is the best representation of mental illness in gaming. But I beg to differ as the Yakuza series seems to be doing a fine job in portraying schizophrenia. Anyone who has played any game in the series will tell you tales of the tonal pacing that goes up and down like a roller coaster. And it’s beloved for that very reason. That’s been a hallmark of the series and I’m happy to say that Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth offers more of the same. Well, that’s pretty much the review, but…

While you technically could get through a game like Lords of the Fallen bare-handed and wearing no armor, most people will have a far better experience using real weapons and armor. Weapons in particular are key to soulslikes since the weapon you want, or at least the type, is key to how you will want to build your character and distribute your stats. Just like a FromSoftware game, every weapon has different stat requirements and scaling grades that make some objectively better than others. While it isn't terribly…

Who wouldn’t want to be friends with a guy like Ichiban? The guy is a bundle of optimistic joy and positivity. Sure, you’ll likely get into more than a couple of brawls with him, but that only strengthens your bond, right? That’s how it works in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, anyway. There are many ways you can increase Ichiban’s bond level with his various party members, and even other people on the street you bump into, but one of the easiest (although expensive) ways is to give them the perfect gift. Instead of…

Sega On January 4, I received an email I had both been anticipating and dreading for months. My copy of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, one of my most anticipated games of 2024, had dropped into my inbox. Usually, that moment would give me a jolt of energy. I love critiquing games that have real substance, and I was still chewing on 2020’s unforgettable Yakuza: Like a Dragon several years later. That RPG tells a thematically rich story about an unlikely hero finding his confidence amid a quest to take on Japan’s…

The game may be called Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, but Ichiban will have an empty wallet more often than not during his adventure. Being an ex-yakuza, work isn't exactly easy for him to come by, and things only get more complicated after he travels overseas to Hawaii. This new location isn't cheap, especially if you want to pick up some top-tier gear and weapons or just enjoy the more luxurious restaurants. All your Yen will be converted to dollars when you transition, making it easier to see just how poor you…

Sega A good deal of RPG protagonists tend to be on the dark and broody side, if they’re not altogether silent. That’s usually justified — they tend to go through circumstances that uproot their lives at best and, at worst, irrevocably ruin them. It would only be natural for that to have an impact on their overall demeanor. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth‘s Ichiban Kasuga has also gone through plenty of tragedy, loss, and hardships himself. And yet, his unbreaking optimism somehow only shines brighter through that…

Ichiban may be in a tropical paradise in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, but there’s more need than ever for his trusty bat. Trouble is waiting around every corner, and only the strongest weapons will get you through the toughest encounters and bosses that Hawaii has in store. There are some great weapons you can buy for all the different party members and jobs, plus you’ll find plenty as well, but you can’t draw out a weapon’s full potential without upgrading it. Early upgrades only require basic materials, but the…

The game may be called Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, but Ichiban will have an empty wallet more often than not during his adventure. Being an ex-yakuza, work isn’t exactly easy for him to come by, and things only get more complicated after he travels overseas to Hawaii. This new location isn’t cheap, especially if you want to pick up some top-tier gear and weapons or just enjoy the more luxurious restaurants. All your Yen will be converted to dollars when you transition, making it easier to see just how poor you…

There’s no real explanation for it in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, but in the time between it and the preceding title, Ichiban has lost almost all of his skills, levels, and jobs. Even his personality stats are back to zero! That’s to be expected coming into a new game and just means we get to earn all those levels all over again in the tropical paradise of Hawaii. The core systems of this sequel are mostly the same as in the last game, but there are some new methods and tricks to add to the returning ones to most…