At long last, Like a Dragon: Ishin! has arrived in the West – and better yet, it’s in the form of a well-made and slightly tweaked remaster. Featuring an engaging and uniquely presented story, thrilling combat, and the expectedly ridiculous breadth of side-content that the Yakuza series is known for, Ishin is yet another early contender for Game of the Year.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Developer: Ryu ga Gotoku Studios
Price: $70
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed,) PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
The Yakuza series, henceforth referred to by its new-to-the-West title of Like a Dragon, has had a remarkable journey. Going from little-known to a popular, beloved, and memetic franchise in less than a decade is impressive, and now it’s popular enough to warrant the localization of the Bakumatsu era spin-off. It’s been a long time coming, but Ishin is certainly worth the wait.
At times, Ishin feels quite a bit like a play. All of the iconic Like a Dragon characters play historical figures, donning their names and backstories. You know that you’re looking at Kiryu and Majima, but they go by Ryoma Sakamoto and Okita Soji. It’s as though these beloved characters are playing these parts in a stage show or film, which makes for a unique presentation style for Like a Dragon fans.
And the story is quite riveting, regardless of whether you know anything about Like a Dragon or Japanese history. There’s betrayal, passion, violence, and conspiracy – all the facets of the wildest and most engaging stories. It’s filled with twists and turns that will keep you on your toes while keeping you invested in its strong core cast and primary mystery.
Of course, there’s no shortage of sub-stories to fill the gaps between major main narrative beats. Whether you’re feeding a kid vegetables since his mother refuses to or protecting an inquisitive foreigner who loves Japan, the roster of unusual but endearing side characters is as high in Ishin as it is in any other game in the series. There’s plenty of comedy and genuine heart to be found in these stories, despite them being optional.
There are various different gameplay styles to swap between, as you may be accustomed to if you’re a fan of the series. You can use your fists like a Kamurocho veteran, as well as a sword, a gun, or both a gun and a sword in a separate style. Using each style earns you orbs with which you can purchase upgrades to grant you new moves and stat upgrades. There are also masters for each style that teach you new moves and abilities, weaving smaller stories into Ryoma’s progression throughout the story.
“Sure, you can’t play Space Harrier this time around, but the Bakumatsu era-appropriate activities more than pull their weight.“
Combat is wildly fun and never boring. There’s something very satisfying about having a katana in the Like a Dragon system of combat, as slicing and dicing rude ruffians is a quick and slick experience. It’s very comical to absolutely fill random bandits with bullets or repeatedly stab them, only to have them be perfectly fine and apologetic after a fight, but that adds to the wonderfully eclectic tone that Like a Dragon relishes in. That said, battles can be a bit frequent, which can be a bit annoying when you’re rushing to get somewhere. It’s not a major issue since the battles themselves are always enjoyable and rewarding, but that combined with many sub-stories starting unprompted just from running by them does make the pacing just a tad wonky.
The minigames scattered throughout Ishin’s world are wonderful distractions with a surprising amount of depth. Whether you’re fishing, cooking, planning plots for vegetable harvesting, singing karaoke, or partaking in one of the many other diverse activities, you’re in some way adding to the main game. No effort feels wasted, as these games are both fun to participate in and rewarding, often providing you with currency, items, and more. Sure, you can’t play Space Harrier this time around, but the Bakumatsu era-appropriate activities more than pull their weight.
The Final Word
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is an excellent spin-off that manages to please Like a Dragon fans and newcomers alike. Once again, there’s a seemingly endless amount of activities to do and stories to experience. Combat is fast and exciting and the narrative is dramatic and memorable. This is one remake that is entirely worth your time, as it’s everything Like a Dragon.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
