Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth made its playable debut this week at Tokyo Game Show, where we were able to go hands-on and see what’s new. Intriguingly, however, amongst everything that’s different, this all-new entry also feels committed to paying tribute to the series’ past - including its original leading man, Kazuma Kiryu, and Sega as a company.
There’s even a deliberate comparison made here at TGS between the series’ past and present - as Sega’s showfloor demos have been set up so visitors have to play Like A Dragon: Gaiden - The Man Who Erased His Name before Infinite Wealth back to back. The former casts its former yakuza protagonist as a spy with fresh gadgets, but is still ultimately a brawler where you beat crowds of thugs into submission, alongside smoking, gambling, and flirting with cabaret hostesses. The latter, meanwhile, continues as a turn-based party-based RPG but with a lighter and more irreverent-feeling touch. Infinite Wealth may have a heavy story - where one man is searching for a connection to his past, while another is coming to the end of his life with still much to do - but it’s also about giving fans what they want. And, in this case, that’s some much needed fun in the sun.
Not a fan of turn based combat in the Yakuza series. I guess I would just watch gameplay for the story. Wish an option to change combat style be implemented.