Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name – A Beautiful Swan Song for the Dragon of Dojima
If there’s anyone who deserves a break, it’s Kazuma Kiryu. Over the course of the seven core Like a Dragon games (previously known as Yakuza in the West), Kiryu has battled his way through every major city in Japan, establishing himself as a legend of the underworld through countless intricate plots that always seem to end in a shirtless fistfight over ideals and yet more suffering piled atop him. Through it all, his samurai-esque stoicism has never wavered, but now, in middle age, the weight of his lifelong legend is finally beginning to catch up to him.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is the game that divorces Kiryu from both his home of Kamurocho, Tokyo, and his iconic grey suit, but it also gives players the most genuine, human Kiryu yet. The focus of the game is on casting off the legend of the Dragon of Dojima and letting the man underneath shine through—and it’s one hell of a sight.
An Ending, a Beginning
Like a Dragon Gaiden picks up right where Yakuza 6 left off, with Kiryu having faked his death to protect his adoptive family and enlisted by the shadowy semi-governmental Daidoji Faction—but the underworld isn’t done with him yet. Following an ordinary job gone wrong, an aging Kiryu is pulled right back into a yakuza conspiracy that spans the neon-soaked streets of Sotenbori, Osaka.
The story takes a while to get going, but things pick up considerably with the introduction of the central villain Homare Nishitani III. Nishitani steals the show with his preening, hair-trigger hedonism. The game also intersects with 2019’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon, creating a bombastic high point that justifies the plot’s slower start.
While shorter than previous games in the series, with just five chapters, Like a Dragon Gaiden delivers a constant stream of action and a satisfying conclusion. The ending, in particular, is tear-inducing for fans invested in Kiryu’s decades-spanning arc. New players may find the story confusing, but the thrill of combat and the emotional journey make it worth playing.
Sting Like a Dragon
In Like a Dragon Gaiden, Kiryu has access to two distinct combat styles: Agent, a fast and nimble crowd-control style powered by Daidoji gadgets, and Yakuza, a refined version of Kiryu’s classic moveset. The combat is viscerally satisfying, with elements borrowed from the slick combat of Judgment. The game also implements a money-based upgrade system, making it accessible and enjoyable for players.
New players to the series will find the side content in Like a Dragon Gaiden to be as engaging as the main plot. From live-action cabaret clubs to slot car racing and karaoke, Osaka offers a myriad of distractions. The Coliseum, in particular, allows players to assemble teams and play as iconic characters from across the series, adding to the celebration of Kiryu’s legacy.
While the game’s side quests are now chosen from a list, rather than being organically discovered, they still offer numerous and varied experiences. The side content adds depth to the game, although its reduced length and smaller scale hold it back from reaching the heights of the series. However, for players invested in Kiryu’s journey, Like a Dragon Gaiden is a perfect sendoff, delivering a satisfying conclusion and allowing Kiryu to finally get the rest he deserves.
Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
A beautiful swansong for the Dragon of Dojima, but clearly not intended for newcomers to the series.
Pros
- Series-best combat
- Satisfying conclusion to Kiryu’s arc
- Lower price
Cons
- Impenetrable story for new players
- Shorter length
A copy of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name was provided by SEGA for review. Reviewed on PS5.