Ichiban Kasuga isn't your typical Yakuza protagonist. He’s loud. He’s a bit of a dork. He literally sees the world as a Dragon Quest-style RPG because his brain is wired for retro heroics. If you’re looking for a Like a Dragon walkthrough, you’re probably realizing that this game isn't just about punching guys in suits anymore. It’s about turn-based strategy, job management, and not getting your face kicked in by a giant roomba.
Honestly, the shift from real-time brawling to turn-based combat threw a lot of long-time fans for a loop. But once it clicks? It’s arguably the most rewarding game in the entire series.
The Early Game Grind: Chapter 1 to 4
The first few hours are a slow burn. You’re going to spend a lot of time watching cutscenes and wondering when you actually get to play. That’s just Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s style. They’re setting the stage. Once you hit Isezaki Ijincho in Yokohama, the real game starts. You're broke. You’re literally living in a homeless camp.
Don't ignore the side content early on. I know, you want to see what happens to Arakawa, but if you don't do the "Can Quest" minigame, you’re missing out on easy early-game items. Basically, collect every piece of scrap metal and glass you find on the street. You'll need it for crafting at Romance Workshop later.
The combat in these early chapters is pretty forgiving, but pay attention to positioning. Even though you can't manually move Ichiban, he and his enemies drift around. If an enemy is standing near a bicycle or a traffic cone, and you use a standard attack, Ichiban will automatically pick it up and smash them with it. This does way more damage than a regular punch.
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Why Your Job Choice Actually Matters
Around Chapter 5, you unlock Hello Work. This is the "Job System." Most people make the mistake of sticking to the default jobs like Freelancer or Detective for too long. Switch it up.
Adachi is a tank. Keep him as a Detective early for the high defense, but eventually, consider making him a Foreman just long enough to unlock the "Explosive Smash" ability, which helps with certain environmental obstacles. Saeko is your primary healer. While her Barmaid job is okay, turning her into an Idol is almost mandatory for the mid-to-late game. The "Magical Song" ability heals the entire party, and frankly, you won’t survive the boss fights in Chapter 12 without it.
The secret to a successful Like a Dragon walkthrough isn't just leveling up; it's cross-class skills. Some abilities stay with you even after you change jobs. These are marked with a specific icon in the menu. Focus on grinding those out.
The Infamous Chapter 12 Difficulty Spike
Let’s talk about the wall. You know the one. Every player hits it.
In Chapter 12, the game stops being nice. You’ll go from fighting level 35 grunts to facing two legendary series icons who are level 50. If you aren't prepared, they will one-shot your entire party in two turns. It’s brutal. It’s frustrating. It’s classic Yakuza.
To get past this, you have to use the Sotenbori Battle Arena. Don't skip it. It’s 30 floors of combat, and the rewards include some of the best armor and weapon upgrade materials in the game. You should run through the first 15 floors at least twice. It’s the only way to close the level gap without spending ten hours wandering the streets fighting random thugs.
Sotenbori Arena Survival Tips:
- Bring plenty of Tauriner and Staminan Royale. You can buy these at any drugstore.
- Use "Peerless Resolve" on Ichiban. This skill allows him to survive a fatal blow with 1 HP. Since the game ends if Ichiban dies (even if your teammates are fine), this is the most important skill in your toolkit.
- Poison is weirdly effective. Use Han Joon-gi’s "Poison Shot" or "Divine Shot." It ticks for massive damage against bosses with high HP pools.
Managing Your Millions: The Management Sim
You need money. A lot of it. Upgrading weapons at the Romance Workshop gets incredibly expensive, with some endgame upgrades costing millions of yen.
The Business Management minigame is the fastest way to get rich. It starts with Ichiban Confections, a tiny senbei shop. Your goal is to climb the stock market rankings. If you reach the #1 spot, you get 3 million yen every time you finish a management cycle. Plus, you unlock Eri Kamataki as a playable party member. She is a beast. Her "Shadow Stitch" and "Flash Toss" moves deal incredible damage and can hit multiple enemies.
The Best Gear Isn't Found, It's Made
Stop buying weapons from stores. It's a waste of money.
The best weapons in the game are the "Hero’s Bat," the "Self-Proclaimed Hero’s Bat," and the base weapons for each job that you get early on. You take these to Sumire at the Romance Workshop and keep upgrading them. Eventually, they turn into "Ex" versions with elemental damage.
For example, the Hero’s Bat eventually becomes the Legendary Hero’s Bat EX. It gains lightning damage, which is the weakness of almost every robotic enemy and many high-level bosses. To get the materials like Silver Ingots or Raw Platinum Ore, you’ll need to explore the Yokohama Underground dungeon or trade points in the Dragon Kart minigame.
Combat Strategy: Beyond Just Mashing Attack
By the time you reach the final chapters at Kamurocho, you need to understand status ailments.
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Enemies start using "Fear" and "Charm." If Ichiban gets charmed, he might attack his own teammates, and if he’s the last one standing, it’s game over. Equip accessories that negate these effects. The "Courage Pendant" is a lifesaver.
Also, use your Summons (Poundmates). They cost money, but characters like Gary Buster Holmes or even the Crawfish (Nancy-chan) can change the tide of a battle. Nancy-chan, specifically, has a chance to poison enemies, which is invaluable during long boss encounters where you need to chip away at a massive health bar.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
Don't just rush the story. If you find yourself struggling, follow these specific steps to get back on track:
- Hit Rank 1 in Management: Do this as soon as the minigame unlocks in Chapter 5. It takes about 2-3 hours of focused play but provides infinite money and a top-tier party member.
- Unlock the Foreman Job: Switch Ichiban to Foreman just once to unlock the "Demolish" ability. This lets you break down specific barricades in the overworld to find hidden shops and shortcuts.
- Farm the Infested Vagabonds: In the Yokohama Underground or the Kamurocho Underground, you’ll find enemies called "Invested Vagabonds" (they look like guys in sleeping bags). They only take 1 damage per hit but give massive XP. Use multi-hit moves like Han Joon-gi’s Rapid Shot to kill them quickly.
- Balance Your Elements: Ensure your active party has access to Fire, Ice, and Electricity. If you run a party of four physical attackers, you will get walled by certain late-game enemies with high physical resistance.
- Check Your Gear: Every 5 levels, go back to the Romance Workshop. If your weapon isn't glowing or doesn't have a "+" next to its name by Chapter 10, you are falling behind the power curve.
The world of Yakuza: Like a Dragon is dense and often overwhelming. It’s a game that rewards curiosity and patience. Take your time at the batting cages, eat at every restaurant to complete the "Table Talk" events for bonus XP, and don't be afraid to run away from a fight if you’re low on MP. You've got a long road ahead to becoming the Dragon of Rock Bottom.