Not so perfect disguise

Like a Dragon Gaiden can be considered a true epilogue to the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, in which Kiryu fakes his own death to protect his friends and family, but ends up being discovered by the feared Daidoji gang. As nothing is easy for our protagonist and the discovery could lead to the worst, he must leave his old life aside, live in a facade temple and perform the type of service that only he knows how to do: working security for eastern stars, in addition to of taking over a port while secret negotiations take place.

Using the name “Joryu” and wearing glasses to hide his identity (after all, what protects more than a frame?), after falling into a trap by a rival gang that has ties to the Yakuza, the disguise of the main character of the plot Not only is he at risk, but he must discover those responsible for such an attack before it is too late, especially for his loved ones.

Funcionando muito bem para quem não tem nenhuma familiaridade com a franquia, pois tudo é muito bem explicado ao longo do game e com legendas em PT-BR, ao mesmo tempo que faz com que os veteranos matem a saudade de Kiryu, Like a Dragon Gaiden consegue entregar uma trama altamente concisa, impactante e ainda faz a ligação com a nova fase da saga, liderada por Ichiban Kasuga (Yakuza: Like a Dragon), e Takayuki Yagami (Judgment). Não só isso, mas a base central do jogo também apresenta personagens muito carismáticos e revela um lado mais sentimental e adormecido de Kazuma Kiryu.



Joryu doesn't have much time

If you are used to the series, you will certainly find one aspect of the game quite strange, but if you are thinking that I am referring to the gameplay (which I will talk about later) or some new feature implemented, you are completely mistaken.

Despite having an excellent plot, families linked to the mafia, the return of some figures established in the franchise (no spoilers), in addition to the story being very well told and divided between main and secondary missions, Like a Dragon Gaiden takes time to complete is considerably short by the series' standards. While other titles in the franchise take around 40 to 60 hours, here the central journey can be completed in around 15 to 20 hours. Of course, if all activities are carried out, the campaign will last longer.

That being said, I consider it a very wise change from the Japanese studio, especially considering that it can be attractive to audiences who, for the most part, don't have as much time to immerse themselves in an epic journey, a redemption arc for one of the most underrated characters. of gaming history. At the same time, I can't help but mention that the game could do without just one Yakuza 6 DLC.

Discover Sotembori

Set in the Sotembori district, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man who Erased his Name offers a relatively small map compared to previous games, but presents a series of activities that are so fun for Joryu, that one of them will certainly be to his personal taste.

From karaokes, game rooms, casinos, among many other ways to have fun or just take a break from the game's main story, it shows that Sotembori never sleeps. Not only that, but even the NPCs have mini challenges to be completed, such as catching a ball that got stuck in a tree.

I can't help but emphasize that Like a Dragon Gaiden has incredible visuals and Sotembori benefits from lots of lights, shine and cinematics that are impressive even on old generation consoles.



As the highlight of the magnificent district, it is impossible not to be enchanted by the renowned Coliseum, a place of clandestine fights known since Yakuza 0. Called the Castle in Like a Dragon Gaiden, it now offers more modifiers and even more complicated challenges for Joryu to consecrate himself like the king of the streets. It is interesting to be able to recruit NPCs and participate in team fights.

Kazuma Joryu's new powers

Unlike all titles in the series, the biggest change in Like a Dragon Gaiden concerns the abilities of the Dragon of Dojima. As he is another type of secret agent for another organization, Joryu does not have the four known fighting stances, but only two, in addition to several modern devices worthy of the James Bond agent.

It is worth mentioning that all gadgets can only be used in the agent stance and they are all noble animals from Eastern culture, such as the spider (rope for pulling and tying enemies), snake (boots that provide great speed), and the incredible fireflies ( explosive cigarettes), among others.

Of course, it is also possible to improve some attributes included in the skill tree, which is very easy to manage, unlike other titles that almost require a manual. Not only that, but Joryu can also earn points to distribute towards skills by completing side missions and other activities.



Despite the more rhythmic rhythm, this does not mean that the combat is monotonous. Joryu still has a lot of strength in his strikes and the gameplay has been improved to make combos easier to execute, especially using the rope to leave enemies unable to fight back for a certain time. If you're a veteran of the series you'll notice that despite the new features, everything still looks pretty much the same as the other games in the series.

An expansion?

As mentioned previously, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man who Erased his Name can even be seen as a DLC, even though it is not officially one. Not only for starting exactly where Yakuza 6 ended, but for giving older players the joy of playing with Kiryu again, showing that the character still had more wood to burn.

I'm not saying this will be the last time we see the Dragon of Dojima, but there comes a time when even the great protagonists must pass on their teachings to new pupils and thus keep the flame burning and attract a new audience to this memorable and unique series. .

For veterans of the series, it is very easy to visualize all that the franchise has to offer over the years, condensed in Like a Dragon Gaiden. Not only the story and its characters, but the setting is something traditional for the series, as is the soundtrack, which once again is phenomenal and manages to clearly translate everything that the cinematics want to convey, whether in moments of emotion (and there are many), whether in moments of greater tension. It's impressive how the Ryu Ga Gotoku studio manages to translate everything involving the Yakuza and its conflicts into unforgettable songs that will stay in your head for a long time.



I commented on a series of news and changes, but I can't help but mention that Joryu's journey, despite the period, sounds more like something separate from Yakuza 6 than anything else. It's great to see this iconic character again, but even the greatest deserve to rest.

The analysis of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man who Erased his Name was carried out on an Xbox Series S, with the game being kindly provided by the publisher.