Summary
- Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will include The Ocean Hunter, a game stuck in arcades since 1998.
- The game features various side activities like Dragon Kart and playable classic Sega games.
- Players can engage in real-time cannon battles at sea and switch between different fighting styles.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will feature The Ocean Hunter, a game that has been stuck in arcades since 1998. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a brand-new spin-off of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's long-running series, featuring the fan favorite Goro Majima in the leading role. Playing the part of captain, Majima embarks on a modern-day pirate adventure, exploring Hawaii and facing off against various pirate lords.
Just like other entries in the Like a Dragon series, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii features several side activities to participate in. Some of the activities that will be making a return include Dragon Kart, Crazy Eats, and karaoke, among others. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii also includes playable arcade cabinets. Many arcade cabinets in past Like a Dragon games allowed fans to play many classic arcade games, such as Virtua Fighter, Sonic the Fighters, and Outrun. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to feature The Ocean Hunter, a game that has never been ported to home consoles since its original release.
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Ryu Ga Gotoku has detailed some of the side activities in the game, including playable classic Sega games. The Game Center includes playable versions of arcade and Sega Master System classics, such as Space Harrier 3D and Poseidon Wars 3D. The studio also boasts the addition of The Ocean Hunter, a unique underwater shooting game that has been stuck in arcades since 1998, fitting for the swashbuckling, sea faring adventure that Majima is on in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
The Ocean Hunter's History and Recreation Process for Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
The Ocean Hunter is an arcade exclusive Sega game that was first launched in 1998, released for the Sega Model 3 hardware. It's a shooting gallery game that takes place in a steampunk world, where players are searching for monsters that live under the sea, such as the Kraken, Leviathan, and many more. The player is granted bounties for each beast they manage to defeat, with seven bosses in total.
Despite being one of Sega's best games on the hardware, it was a technical nightmare to reproduce. While arcade games being playable in Like a Dragon is nothing new, it's still quite a tall order to translate its old code and mechanics to be playable in-game. According to technical lead Yutaka Ito in a recent tweet, it was a "difficult task," requiring a lot of trial and error to adjust its aiming mechanics. Despite the hurdles, the developers were able to recreate The Ocean Hunter's cabinet in great detail for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
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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.
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- Franchise
- Yakuza
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
