Majima as the Mad Dog is as agile as ever in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, but his Sea Dog fighting style has got legs of its own, too. He is perhaps the only sixty-year-old man flexible enough to pull off the sheer range of flip kicks, aerial combos, grappling maneuvers, and quicksteps in his dual movesets, though players need not question his ability to summon shadow doppelgängers or animal gods to his side either. Following suit in LAD Gaiden's flashier approach to real-time combat, Pirate Yakuza lets players take out hordes of enemies as Majima zips around the battlefield, considering both his speed and verticality to make his two stances a truly frenetic combat experience.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii quickly reminds players of Majima's skills as a fighter, considering both his past movesets and the RPG influences of LAD7 and Infinite Wealth. Whereas the beat 'em up origins of the series generally opted for less inertia in its combat (going for a more realistic approach where combos could be performed without moving as drastically), Pirate Yakuza instead blends its real-time combat with impossible flexibility; Majima can jump and dodge gunshots from an incredible range, juggle enemies midair in a barrage of punches and kicks, and perform whole parkour flips around the battlefield. When he takes on the call of the pirate, he's wielding dual cutlasses, sending enemies reeling with his grappling hook, and firing shots with his flintlock pistol.
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii - Every Dynamic Intro, Ranked
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's flashy dynamic intro cinematics give players an idea of what kind of boss enemy they're about to fight.
How Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Lets its Fighting Styles Shine
Considering The Time to Strike
When it comes down to it, Pirate Yakuza's combat is at its most rewarding when players consider timing, working in favor of both its fighting styles. Like Gaiden, Pirate Yakuza puts emphasis on its counters; both audio and visual cues let the player know when Majima should dodge and retaliate, giving even the most frenetic of its battles a dance-like sense. The Mad Dog and Sea Dog styles share in this agility and reaction, and Pirate Yakuza takes care to give them equal merit. Though Majima defaults to the Mad Dog style on Hawaii's land and the Sea Dog style when off pirating his ship, the stances can be changed on a whim, letting players experiment with both to their heart's content.
The Mad Dog and The Sea Dog
Majima's Mad Dog moveset will be most familiar to fans of the series. The style brings back Heat Actions with aplomb, letting Majima work to the advantage of his environment by using items to pummel enemies. Quickstepping also makes a return, allowing him to dodge in succession, a feat that isn't afforded to the Sea Dog's moveset, where he instead opts for a slower twirl. There is a tradeoff in Majima's Mad Dog guard, which allows him to block only forward-facing attacks, while the Sea Dog lets him wield his dual cutlasses to cover strikes from other angles. Both styles consider Heat Actions from the point of situational triggers, tying into enemy proximity and recovery efforts, though only the Mad Dog lets Majima pick up items on the field.
Crowd Control, Ranged Attacks
The Mad Dog style considers a few charge-up attacks that are especially useful for crowd control. Majima's iconic spin lets him slice at enemies like a tornado through the battlefield, while utilizing his dagger has him slash forward, closing the distance between himself and his enemies while sending them reeling backwards. The Sea Dog's grappling hook works to similar effect, as do its aerial combos; jumping affords Majima some reprieve against enemies, though he must also take care not to get hit by ranged attacks while midair in both fighting styles. The Sea Dog's primary weapons, being its dual cutlasses and pistol, work up close and from afar, the former being utilized both as swords and as boomerangs while the latter sends out a barrage of bullets once charged.
Attacks can be chained together in both fighting styles, while defensive measures, like their shared skill Perfect Guard, can be incredibly satisfying to pull off. For players who want to feel especially overpowered, the Mad Dog's doppelgängers are the way to go, considering that they have a mind of their own and will attack enemies on their own accord, even joining in on Majima's spin attack. The Sea Dog relishes its own situational Heat Actions, and progressing far enough into Pirate Yakuza will also see Majima gain the ability to summon animal gods to his side. Both stances are flashy, fun, and ultimately forgiving in Pirate Yakuza's combat, though they each hold merit in the sheer scope of their movements, indulging in their range.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
- Released
- February 21, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
WHERE TO PLAY
A new legend begins as you step into the steel toe boots of Goro Majima, a man who has lost his memory and reinvents himself as a pirate on the open sea.
Embark on an over-the-top, modern-day pirate adventure with an ex-yakuza, now pirate captain and his crew as they engage in exhilarating combat on land and sea in the hunt for lost memories and a legendary treasure.
PIRATE YAKUZA ADVENTURE AHOY!
Goro Majima, a notorious ex-yakuza suddenly finds himself shipwrecked on a remote island in the Pacific. Unable to remember even his own name, he sets sail in search of clues to his lost memories, accompanied by a boy named Noah who saved his life. Before long, they’re caught up in a conflict between cutthroat criminals, modern-day pirates, and other scoundrels over a legendary treasure.
GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER
Assemble a one-of-a-kind crew while upgrading your ship as you explore the open sea and forge your legend in the cannon fire of foes, unexpected friendships, and immense riches made along the way.
When an enemy pirate ship catches you in their sights, an exhilarating real-time cannon battle breaks out. Quickly maneuver into position while avoiding fire, then deliver devastating damage to board the enemy ship and take down the captain in all-out crew vs. Crew brawls. Conquer the seas, discover hidden islands and acquire loads of loot like a true yakuza pirate!
KICK ARRRSS WITH CREATIVE COMBAT
Dynamically switch between the “Mad Dog” and “Sea Dog” fighting styles to mix-up attacks and deliver explosive combos, juggles, and aerial takedowns that reward your creativity with over-the-top action.
With “Mad Dog” style, utilize speed, agility, and flair to deliver precise yet powerful blows that stun your enemies into submission. Or make enemies walk the plank with the “Sea Dog” style that has you dual-wielding short swords and deploying tricky pirate tools to kick some serious booty.
