Summary
- November 9 marks the release of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, a spin-off game in the popular Like a Dragon series, known for its unique portrayal of Japanese society.
- The Like a Dragon series gained international popularity with the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon in 2020, expanding its player base and continuing to build on the foundations of previous games.
- Tales of Arise's Beyond the Dawn DLC offers additional content and expands on the emotional storyline of the standalone JRPG title, with a likely focus on Japanese-inspired mythos and a mysterious silver-haired girl named Nazamil.
For those searching for upcoming Japanese video games to invest their time into, early November needs to be on the radar. Since so many games are coming out in 2023, it can be easy to lose track of quality titles. This is especially true after October saw the release of several long-anticipated games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Regardless, fans of well-made Japanese games should be excited to hear that November 9 offers a lot for them. Following the launch date, it wouldn't be surprising if Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name and Tales of Arise's Beyond the Dawn DLC became the headliners for Japanese gaming this month. Of course, while these two titles may not bear the same immediate recognition that Spider-Man does, both franchises have seen an impressive amount of success over the years.
November 9 Will See the Return of Two Well-Known Franchises
Like a Dragon Gaiden Continues the Franchise's Recent Growth
The early titles in the Like a Dragon series were originally only popular in Japan, but the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon in 2020 gained so much traction in the West that it led to an explosion of international popularity. It's clear that Like a Dragon games have been highly influential in the growing admiration for Japanese media around the globe. Remarkably, the commercial success of the 2020 title ushered in a fresh era of players while also expanding on the foundations of the previous games.
The unique setting and portrayal of Japanese culture in the Like a Dragon series are unparalleled. It focuses heavily on the nature of traditional Japanese crime syndicates while maintaining a diverse roster of characters. As such, for those who enjoy riveting storylines, distinct visuals, and smooth fighting mechanics, the Like a Dragon games are a must.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a direct spin-off of the franchise that's being targeted for a November 9 release date. Excitingly, previews for Like a Dragon Gaiden appear to be enthusiastic about the game taking place four years after the events of Yakuza 6. Investigating a kidnapping as Kiryu while trying to protect the people he loves should make for a harrowing adventure. Additionally, even though new elements such as varying fighting styles between the Agent and the Yakuza are going to be introduced, the 2023 title has been heralded as a faithful love-letter letter to the older games.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 81%
- Released
- November 9, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- Franchise
- Yakuza
WHERE TO PLAY
ERASE YOUR PAST TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE: Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding. Under the codename “Joryu,” Kiryu embarks on a gripping action narrative with bone-shattering combat in vibrant locations filled with exciting characters and activities.
ULTIMATE COMBAT WITH TWO HIGH-IMPACT FIGHTING STYLES: Dynamically switch between the Yakuza and Agent fighting styles in visceral melee combat. With the Yakuza style, strike fear into enemies by unleashing wildly aggressive moves powered by Kiryu’s unparalleled strength and flair. Or up the ante with the Agent style by delivering blows with absolute speed and precision, while using an array of high-tech gadgets like electrified bind wires to stun enemies then send them flying. Strategically adapt to the situation and leverage both styles to dominate and destroy hordes of enemies.
ENDLESS ENTERTAINMENT
Whether you're brawling in the secret Battle arena, singing a new karaoke song, enjoying a drink at the live-action cabaret club, or racing in the pocket circuit, the world offers a variety of immersive experiences. An intriguing informant named Akame also provides thrilling sub-missions, drawing you into an epic showdown that unfolds the more you explore and enjoy Sotenbori and Yokohama.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Tales of Arise Returns in the Beyond the Dawn DLC
Alternatively, for those enjoy a more vibrant or fantatical aesthetic, the story within the Tales of Arise Beyond the Dawn DLC could be perfect. Tales of Arise is a standalone title from previous games in the Tales series which means newcomers can jump into the JRPG without an issue. To further this point, Bandai Namco stated that when the game was originally released in 2021, it was meant to be a departure from the conventions of the other games while still having an emotional storyline.
The DLC for Tales of Arise is expected to come with 20 hours of additional content pertaining to Nazamil, a mystifying silver-haired girl attempting to evade "the curse of the mask." At the moment it's known that Nazamil is a citizen of Dahna and the daughter of an unknown Renan Lord, but other than this, and the fact that it take s place a year after the main game, a good portion of the storyline has yet to be revealed. However, true to the heart of other Tales games, the Beyond the Dawn DLC will almost certainly be influenced by Japanese mythos.
Tales of Arise
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- September 10, 2021
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Tales of
WHERE TO PLAY
A world of nature drawn with the “Atmospheric Shader”
We are introducing a new graphics shader, inspired by anime and watercolor painting. Characters with attractive designs travel among backgrounds filled with beautiful and delicate visuals.
Explore a world that feels alive
Explore the world of Dahna, where a mix of unique, natural environments change in appearance based on the time of day. Climb over the rocky terrain, swim in rivers, gather around the campfire, cook food, head to the next town, defeat the master of an alien planet, and liberate the people!
Stylish action and battles
Through the new system “Boost Strike”, you can now chain combos of powerful attacks together with your party members. Chain Artes, Boost Attacks, and Boost Strike combos to take down your enemies!
Experience the story of the divided Renan and Dahnan people
The protagonists who will determine the fate of these two worlds are Alphen and Shionne. They will overcome hardships and grow together with their unique group of friends. Gorgeous animation by ufotable is inserted at key points in the story, adding more color to our protagonists’ journey.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 40 Hours
- Metascore
- 87