Goro Majima has finally lost it. Well, more than usual.
If you told a fan a decade ago that the legendary Mad Dog of Shimano would end up shipwrecked on a tropical island, suffering from amnesia, and commanding a crew of pirates, they’d probably assume you were writing bad fan fiction. Yet, here we are. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is real. It’s coming from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (RGG), and honestly, it’s exactly the kind of chaotic energy the series needs right now.
The game isn't just a DLC or a small expansion. It’s a full-scale standalone adventure that marks a massive departure from the turn-based combat we’ve seen in the last two mainline entries. We're going back to the brawling. But with a cutlass. And a jump button.
The Amnesia Hook and Rich Island Life
The story kicks off on Rich Island, a secluded spot near Hawaii. Majima washes up on the shore with no memory of who he is. He’s found by a young boy named Noah and a small tiger cub. Yes, a tiger cub.
Usually, amnesia is a lazy writing trope. Here? It works because Goro Majima is already such a volatile character that seeing him try to reconstruct his identity while accidentally becoming a pirate captain is hilarious. He’s not searching for his past in a library; he’s punching his way through it on the high seas.
The game takes place after the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. While Ichiban Kasuga was busy cleaning up the shores of Honolulu, Majima was apparently getting caught in the literal wake of those events. RGG Studio has a knack for reusing assets in a way that feels fresh, and while we see familiar Hawaiian locales, the focus on "Madlantis"—a massive ship graveyard turned pirate hub—changes the vibe entirely. It’s gritty, neon-soaked, and feels like a fever dream.
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Real-Time Combat Returns with a Twist
One of the biggest talking points is the return to real-time action. While Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Infinite Wealth won over fans with their JRPG systems, there was always a segment of the fanbase screaming for the old-school beat-'em-up style.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii brings back the heat, but it’s faster. You’ve got two main styles:
- Mad Dog Style: This is the classic Majima. It’s all about speed, doppelgängers, and that iconic knife. If you’ve played Yakuza 0, you know the drill. It’s chaotic and rewards players who like to keep the combo meter screaming.
- Sea Dog Style: This is the new stuff. Majima wields a cutlass and uses pirate tools like grappling hooks. You can literally swing across the battlefield. Oh, and you can jump. It sounds small, but for a series where your feet were traditionally glued to the pavement, being able to launch into the air changes the geometry of every fight.
It’s not just about mashing buttons. The "Dark Instruments" allow Majima to summon literal supernatural entities to aid him in battle. You can call upon a giant jellyfish or an electric crow. It sounds stupid. It feels amazing. That’s the RGG magic: balancing absolute sincerity with total absurdity.
Ship Combat and the Goro Pirates
You can’t have a pirate game without a ship. Majima takes command of the "Goromaru."
The ship combat isn't some tacked-on minigame. It’s a core pillar of the experience. You’ll engage in broadside cannon battles, but the real "Yakuza" flair comes when you board the enemy vessel. Once the ships are tethered, the game transitions into a massive brawl on the deck. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s exactly what happens when you mix Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag with a Japanese crime drama.
You also have to manage your crew. You’ll find "recruits" all over the world, much like the Sujimon system or the Clan Creator in previous games. Some of these recruits are eccentric weirdos you meet in substories; others are formidable fighters who will stand by your side during the boarding sequences.
Why Madlantis Matters
Madlantis is the secret star of the show. It’s a massive hidden city built inside a fleet of tankers.
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Think of it as the pirate version of Kamurocho’s Purgatory, but on steroids. This is where the game’s "Pirate Coliseum" is located. If you want to test your combat skills against the toughest enemies in the game, this is where you’ll spend fifty hours. It’s also where the game leans into its more mature themes. Beneath the pirate hats and the talking tigers, there’s a story about outcasts and people who have been discarded by society.
RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama has mentioned in interviews that they wanted to explore what happens to "old-school" yakuza in a world that no longer has a place for them. Pirates are the ultimate outcasts. It’s a metaphor that hits harder than you’d expect.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Tone
There’s a misconception that this is a "joke game."
Sure, Majima wears a tricorn hat. Yes, there are silly minigames. But the Like a Dragon series has always been a melodrama first. The stakes for Majima are high. He’s a man who has lost everything—his memories, his clan, and his purpose. Seeing him find a new "family" among a group of misfit pirates is actually quite moving.
The developers aren't just making a parody of pirate movies. They’re using the pirate setting to tell a story about freedom and redemption. It’s why the game is attracting both longtime fans and newcomers. You don't necessarily need to know twenty years of Yakuza lore to enjoy a man regaining his memory by sinking galleons.
Minigames and the "Dragon Kart" Evolution
It wouldn't be a Like a Dragon game without stuff that distracts you from the main quest for days.
- Dragon Kart: It's back. But it's tweaked for the Hawaiian setting.
- Delivery Minigames: Similar to the Crazy Eats from Infinite Wealth, Majima has his own ways of making "dubloons."
- Outfit Customization: You can dress Majima in a variety of outfits, from classic shirtless yakuza to full-blown 17th-century buccaneer. And yes, the outfits show up in the cutscenes.
The level of detail in the side content is what separates this from a standard action game. Every shop has a unique menu. Every NPC has a weird quirk. It makes the world feel lived-in, even when that world is a nonsensical pirate hideout in the middle of the Pacific.
The Technical Leap
Running on the latest version of the Dragon Engine, the water physics in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii are genuinely impressive. For a studio that usually focuses on cramped city streets, the transition to wide-open ocean required a lot of technical heavy lifting. The lighting in Madlantis, with its neon reflections hitting the dark ocean water, is a highlight.
The game runs at a smooth 60fps on current-gen consoles, which is vital for the fast-paced "Sea Dog" combat style. The transitions between sailing and land exploration are seamless, making the islands feel like one cohesive world rather than a series of loading screens.
Actionable Insights for Players
If you’re planning to dive into the Caribbean (or rather, the Pacific) with Majima, keep these things in mind:
- Don't Rush the Main Story: The beauty of this series is in the "Substories." These side quests often provide the best gear and the funniest writing. In this game, they also help you find better crew members for your ship.
- Master the Jump: Since this is the first real-time Majima game with a dedicated jump button, use it. Aerial combos are the fastest way to deal with crowd control, especially when you’re being swarmed on a ship’s deck.
- Invest in Your Ship Early: Upgrading the Goromaru’s cannons and armor will save you a lot of frustration during the mid-game naval encounters. You don't want to get caught in a storm with a wooden hull.
- Explore the Outskirts: Don't just follow the quest markers. There are hidden coves and small islands that contain "Aura" items which permanently boost Majima’s stats.
This isn't just a spin-off. It’s a bold experiment. By taking their most popular character and throwing him into a completely alien environment, RGG Studio is proving that the Like a Dragon formula is more flexible than anyone thought. Whether you're here for the emotional character arc of Goro Majima or you just want to shoot a cannon at a shark, there is something here that works. It’s weird, it’s loud, and it’s unapologetically itself.
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Get ready to set sail. The Mad Dog is finally off the leash.
Next Steps for Your Journey:
- Check the Official Release Date: Make sure you have your pre-order sorted to get the "Legendary Pirate Crew Pack," which often includes cameos from characters like Kiryu.
- Brush Up on Infinite Wealth: While not strictly necessary, knowing the state of Hawaii in the "Yakuza-verse" makes the environmental storytelling much richer.
- Watch the Gameplay Trailers: Specifically look for the "Sea Dog" combat breakdowns to see how the grappling hook integrates with traditional combos.
The game launches globally in early 2025. It’s time to find out if the pirate life really is for Goro Majima. Hint: It probably is.