Goro Majima has worn many hats: yakuza enforcer, construction company owner, host club manager, rival, ally, and more. Now, he dons yet another - that of a pirate captain. In Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, the Mad Dog of Shimano boards the good ship Goromaru and assembles a top-notch crew, explores the open sea and the islands of Hawaii, engages in deadly battles both on land and on the water, and, of course, takes some time to sing a few tunes at the karaoke bar. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an upcoming entry in the beloved, long-running series and gives fan-favorite Majima his turn in the spotlight on a hilarious nautical adventure.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii has everything fans love - fast-paced combat, enormous maps to explore, and quirky side content and mini-games. All of this is delivered with a signature madcap Majima flair in a title that promises to be one of the series' funniest. The Best War Games recently played a brief demo of the game, and while its main plot largely remains a mystery, it confirmed that Goro Majima's solo adventure will be one to keep an eye out for.
The Mad Dog And The Sea Dog
Unlike Yakuza: Like a Dragon and its sequel Infinite Wealth, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii ditches turn-based RPG combat to return to the series' real-time action roots, similar to Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Majima has access to both his signature Mad Dog style, wielding daggers and dashing around the battlefield, and the new, pirate-themed Sea Dog style. Despite the "back to the classics" approach, combat feels fresh thanks to Majima's speed and constant chaotic energy, while the Sea Dog style also takes things in a new direction.
The Mad Dog style will likely be somewhat familiar to those who played Goro Majima's sections in Yakuza 0. It focuses on speed, letting Majima get up close and personal with his daggers and execute aerial combo attacks. He can sprint to move nimbly between fights or hold a fighting stance to take on a more defensive role. As Majima attacks, he will charge up a Madness Gauge; using Heat Actions provides extra charge. Once the Madness Gauge is full, the Mad Dog can unleash doppelgangers capable of performing a variety of attacks in true Majima style. Facing one Majima in combat is frightening enough, but now foes can be confronted with five at once.
Sea Dog combat, on the other hand, lets Majima step away from the melee and use a mix of traditional and modern pirate weapons. He has a pistol, twin cutlasses that can be thrown like boomerangs, and a wire grappling hook that can snag even the quickest enemies. Like a Dragon's Heat Actions in Sea Dog style are a particular standout - one sees the Goromaru's captain wrap his legs around his opponent's neck and choke them while said legs are somehow on fire. Switching between the two styles in combat is smooth and effortless, encouraging players to experiment with both the Mad Dog and the Sea Dog rather than just sticking to one.
Exploring Land and Sea In Signature Yakuza Style
As is tradition for the series, there is much more to do than simply follow the main story and engage in fights. A plethora of iconic Like a Dragon side activities and mini-games are available both in Hawaii and in locations like Madlantis, the secret pirate hideout made from long-destroyed ships. The demo offered just a small selection of what will be available in the final product.
Like a Dragon's Dragon Kart Racin g returns following its absence in Infinite Wealth, with players able to challenge Hawaii's best racers on a series of new courses. Majima can collect power-ups such as firearms and rocket launchers to disrupt his opponents. Returning from Infinite Wealth is Crazy Delivery, a fast-paced mini-game in which Majima delivers a variety of meals to hungry customers. Of course, the classic staple of karoake returns as well, with tunes both old and new for Majima to sing his heart out to. Perhaps he'll even get to croon a few sea shanties this time around?
While not every side activity was included in the demo, many were hinted at. These included gambling in Madlantis, crew vs. Crew battles in the Pirate Coliseum, and the return of the Aloha Links social app from Infinite Wealth. Plus, players can customize Majima's outfit as well as that of his new pet, Goro the tiger cub. One particular note is that the developers have done a wonderful job allowing players to experiment with gender expression in a thoughtful, non-joking way. Majima can don makeup, acrylic nails, heels, and the wig from his previous hostess disguise, and it is not mocked or commented on negatively.
The Mystery Of Captain Goro Majima
The preview of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii deliberately kept the game's main plot a mystery - it confirmed only that Goro Majima is suffering from amnesia, genuinely believes himself to be a pirate captain, and comes into conflict with other Honolulu- and Madlantis-based crews. It left us asking many questions. How did Majima lose his memory? (More to the point - how could he possibly forget his epic rivalry and friendship with "Kiryu-chan"?) Why did he turn to piracy? Who is the mysterious kingpin ruling Madlantis? And, perhaps most importantly - what is the story behind the adorable tiger cub, nicknamed Goro, who accompanies Majima on his latest adventure?
Whatever story Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii ends up telling, it will without a doubt be a compelling and hilarious one. From the demo alone, it's clear that every moment will be infused with Majima's signature chaotic charm. The game is brimming with Goro Majima energy, from his excited shouts of "Yaaaay!" As he speeds up in Dragon Kart to his unique method of harvesting crafting ingredients by shooting them with his grappling hook.
Said hook can also be used to swing from buildings at certain locations around Hawaii, adding a fun layer of verticality to the game. Watch out, Spider-Man, there's a new challenger in town and his name is Goro Majima.
From naming his ship, crew, and tiger cub after himself to donning an eye-catching black snakeskin pirate's longcoat, Goro Majima has truly made this game his own. It is the delightful Majima-centric outing that his fans have been waiting for after years of being on the backburner, but it could also serve as a fun introduction to the character for those recently discovering the series.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Hawaii releases on February 28 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The Best War Games was provided travel and lodging for the purposes of this preview.
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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
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- Franchise
- Yakuza
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
