Is Goro Majima as a swashbuckling pirate captain a wild, entertaining concept? Absolutely. But beneath the funny hat and the peg-leg aesthetics, this spin-off is a bit of a mixed bag.
If you are coming into this expecting the next narrative masterpiece in the series, you might want to temper your expectations.
[b]► WHAT WORKS: The Ground Combat[/b]
The saving grace here is definitely the core gameplay. Moving away from turn-based RPG mechanics back to real-time brawler action feels fantastic. The new Sea Dog style is great, letting you swing cutlasses, shoot flintlocks, and use a wire hook to zip around. Add in the dedicated jump button for some crazy new aerial juggle combos, and the basic combat feels fast, fluid, and genuinely fun.
[b]► WHAT'S JUST OK: The Ship Combat[/b]
While sailing around on the Goromaru is a neat novelty at first, the actual ship combat is average at best. It's a very shallow system that quickly devolves into a repetitive loop: you trade a few cannon shots, board the enemy vessel, and beat up the captain. It lacks the depth of other pirate games and turns into a bit of a chore by the end.
[b]► WHAT FAILS: The Story & Characterization[/b]
Let’s be honest: the narrative is the primary reason many of us day-one buy Like a Dragon games. As fans, we are entirely used to the franchise being wonderfully absurd, and our suspension of disbelief is constantly tested to its absolute limits. But this game pushes it a step too far.
The entire plot relies heavily on the amnesia trope—a narrative device that is already incredibly overdone in media, but here, it's just poorly implemented. Because Majima spends so much time not knowing who he is, he feels completely "off," hollowed out, and stripped of the chaotic brilliance that makes him iconic. It ultimately proves that he struggles to carry a game as a solo main character under these weak writing conditions. If you want to see Majima handled correctly as a co-protagonist, Yakuza Zero remains the absolute gold standard for how to do him right. This spin-off, unfortunately, misses that high-water mark entirely.
[b]► SUMMARY & VALUE[/b]
You get great brawler gameplay wrapped up in a weak plot with mediocre naval mechanics.
[i]Verdict: Recommended ONLY at 50% off. Wait for a heavy discount, skip through the weaker plot points, and just enjoy it as a fun, brain-dead action playground.[/i]
