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The Like a Dragon series–formerly Yakuza–is set to make a grand return in 2024 with a new mainline entry, one that sees lovable knucklehead Ichiban Kasuga team up with the legendary Dragon of Dojima for a new adventure. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the name of the game and a direct follow-up to Yakuza: Like a Dragon. We know, this naming convention is starting to get weird.
This new chapter comes hot on the heels of the recent Like a Dragon: Ishin remaster and November’s Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. While Sega and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku (RGG) have been keeping most of the details on the eighth mainline entry under wraps, the recent RGG Summit lifted the lid on the game and saw plenty of new details surface. From its release to it returning cast, plot details and new minigames, here’s a closer look at everything that we know so far about Infinite Wealth, from its returning cast to its tease of a new tropical location.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth platforms and release date
You won’t have to wait too long for the return of Ichiban Kasuga and his motley group of friends, as the game will be released on January 26, 2024, for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth gameplay
RGG has shared plenty of new gameplay footage since its last dedicated livestream, and as expected, Infinite Wealth continues to use the turn-based RPG gameplay that was introduced in the last game. This was a massive departure from previous Yakuza games that were 3D beat-’em-ups, as Like a Dragon swapped real-time action for a system that was heavily inspired by classic RPGs like Dragon Quest.
This system has been further fine-tuned in Infinite Wealth, as players can take advantage of the gap between attacks and use it to advantageously position their characters. Interestingly, Kiryu has a unique gameplay mechanic in which he breaks free from the established turn-based gameplay and starts clobbering away at nearby enemies while using one of his signature fighting styles.
Players can once again summon Poundmates to help them out when they’re in a bind, as several familiar faces will be returning to demolish any enemies around you if you can afford their services.
Between street brawls, you can probably expect the trademark minigames of the Yakuza series to return, an episodic structure to its main campaign, and several other activities that play out in an open-world environment. So far, we’ve seen the return of the karaoke minigame, a new activity that looks like Crazy Taxi meets the gig economy, online dating that can potentially end with a romantic rendezvous for Ichiban.
Another interesting minigame making a return is Sujimon, which can best be described as pro wrestling meets Pokemon. Once again, you’ll be able to raise a colorful cast of brawlers, fine-tune their skills, and unleash them in Sujimon battles as you aim to be the best, like no one ever was.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth story
After the events of Yakuza 7, Ichiban has settled into a new steady life in Ijincho. After he receives a mysterious phone call, the hero of Yokohama sets off to Hawaii to find his long-lost mother Akane, but as you’d expect, that plan falls apart and he quickly finds himself penniless, naked, and clueless on a Hawaiian beach. Alongside the return of Kiryu, a malevolent VTuber who reveals to the world that the Dragon of Dojima faked his death, and gangs out for Ichiban’s head, Infinite Wealth has plenty of stories to tell in its new US setting.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth classes
There’ll be several new classes to master in Infinite Wealth, ranging from domestic destroyers to cowboy combatants. Samurai, Desperado, Geodancer, Pyrodancer, Action Star, and Housekeeper are some of the new classes that’ll be available.
Can you fight a giant shark?
Yes.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth location
Yakuza games have primarily been set in Yokohama and Tokyo, but the recent Xbox Showcase trailer teased a change of scenery. Infinite Wealth is primarily set in Hawaii, a first for the series as it ventures beyond its traditional borders. While Yakuza games in the past have had a few US and English characters pop up in Japan, this marks the first time that the series has been set in an international location.
Get ready to fight Danny Trejo
The Hollywood legend voices Dwight in Infinite Wealth: the head of a local gang known as the Barracudas. And yes, he does wield machetes when you fight him. Another big name in Infinite Wealth is Lost actor Daniel Dae Kim, who voices Masataka Ebina, the captain of a local Yakuza gang in Hawaii.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth characters
You can’t have a Yakuza/Like a Dragon game without the Dragon of Dojima, and after a memorable cameo in the previous game, Kazuma Kiryu is sharing the spotlight with Ichiban in this outing. RGG initially kept the reasons behind Kiryu’s return a secret, but executive producer Masayoshi Yokoyama did tease during the game’s cinematic reveal in 2022 that he’ll have to deal with “all the weight of the past on his back, and the man with all the weight of the future on his back”.
A few months later, the devastating truth behind Kiryu’s return has been explained, as the Yakuza legend reveals that he has been battling cancer for some time. With only a limited amount of time left, Kiryu is using his final days to right wrongs and help people in need. In what could be his final adventure, Kiryu joins Ichiban as he searches for his mother in Hawaii.
Other returning characters include former nurse Yu Nanba and retired police officer Koichi Adachi, who’ll be back to lend Ichiban some muscle when he finds himself in trouble. It’s not known yet if other characters like Goro Majima, Saeko Mukoda, or Joon-gi Han will be back, but with the Yakuza series regularly pulling in characters from previous games while introducing new allies and enemies, there’s a good chance that a few familiar faces will pop up.
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