Jumping into a new Like a Dragon title is always an enjoyable experience. That initial excitement of imagining where the plot will take you this time, and the prospect of inevitably spending more hours completing the side content than you did on the actual included storyline are practically euphoric for fans like myself. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name continues this proud tradition of giving the fans more of what they want, even if the overall quality and quantity of what’s on offer doesn’t quite reach the heights of some of the other mainline titles.



Taking place almost immediately after the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, our beloved Uncle Kaz has reached an agreement with the Daidoji faction that would see his entire identity and existence removed, as well as ensuring the security of the children at the Morning Glory orphanage, after the successful faking of his own death. For all intents and purposes, Kazuma Kiryu is a dead man. Assuming the new name, Joryu, and donning a stylish pair of shades alongside a snazzy new suit, the ex-Dragon of Dojima now spends his days and nights engaging in decidedly more low-profile missions. Naturally, the new outfit and title never really was going to fool anyone, and it’s only a matter of time before the stuff truly hits the fan and Kir-uh, Joryu is drawn back into the life he so desperately wishes to leave behind. And what an emotional rollercoaster ride it is.



It all kicks off with one of the most high-octane and action-packed opening chapters I’ve ever seen in my many years of playing these games. I was almost taken aback at how much was happening within the first few hours. The pacing, in retrospect, now makes a lot more sense when taking into account the story is only five chapters in length – as opposed to the typical 12-21 we’ve seen in other entries. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio really tried to cram as much storytelling and boss encounters into these five sections as possible, at times coming across as slightly more linear than in the past – especially in the first two chapters, when you really just want to get a chance to stretch your legs and wander the map a bit before being thrust into the next cutscene.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio really tried to cram as much storytelling and boss encounters into these five sections as possible, at times coming across as slightly more linear than in the past.

Sticking to the combat roots of the series, instead of the more recent foray into turn-based territory, there are two main fighting styles or stances available from the get-go - with more abilities and upgrades unlocked for purchase through story progression, using up your cash and acquired Akame Network points (more on that bit later). The Yakuza techniques focus on what we all know a man like Joryu is capable of – brutal, hard-hitting fisticuffs and physical attacks – while the Agent style leans heavily into the usage of various espionage-influenced gadgets, like exploding cigarettes, airborne drones for distraction, and a long-range wire for ensnaring and throwing enemies around.



I personally chose to heavily invest in the more traditional Yakuza abilities for that classic Like a Dragon combat feel. That’s not to say going full Agent isn’t immensely fun, because it absolutely is. It can feel a tad overpowered, to be honest – especially with a decent number of abilities unlocked.

When you do eventually catch a breather, and Sotenbori properly opens up, you’ll find yourself mainly scurrying about doing odd jobs, yanking collectibles out from hard-to-reach places using your wire gadget (locker keys and plates, for example) and completing favours on behalf of the Akame Network. Named after the newly introduced and insanely likeable character herself, Akame, and serving as an intelligence acquisition system powered by the local homeless population’s uncanny ability to see and hear everything going on within the area, Joryu has two primary ways of helping the organisation grow - completing requests (renamed substories) or dealing with bite-sized tasks for the dozens of citizens in need of assistance dotted around the district. These range from fetching a bento from a convenience store to snapping a pic of a local tourist attraction with your smartphone camera, or even rounding up several lost chickens from an apartment building.



This is where those Akame Network points I mentioned come into play, as every little good deed performed nets you a tidy sum and, more often than not, some cash. There are only around three or four really entertaining requests, sadly, with the rest sorely lacking substance or requiring an ungodly amount of running back and forth from map marker to map marker. But if you want to properly power up Joryu’s combat techniques and skillset, these requests are probably the most efficient way of doing so.

Keep rising up the ranks and you’ll even be treated to a handful of cutscenes with Joryu and Akame bonding over drinks, revealing more of her backstory and the Network’s humble origins.

Amassing points also increases your Akame Network ranking. At certain levels, new investment opportunities are unlocked, providing optional additional gameplay bonuses like increased drop rates from random street fights or stocking Akame’s store with new items. The investments need to be bought with cash, while the goodies from the store are only obtainable with, you guessed it, Akame Network points. Keep rising up the ranks and you’ll even be treated to a handful of cutscenes with Joryu and Akame bonding over drinks, revealing more of her backstory and the Network’s humble origins.



Thankfully, Sotenbori isn’t the only explorable area in Like a Dragon Gaiden. Not too far into the story, you’ll be allowed the privilege of accessing the Castle. This place is like Disneyland, if every wholesome aspect and attraction were replaced with a fighting ring, gambling opportunities as far as the eye can see, and a handful of other unsavoury shenanigans. It’s the ultimate criminal paradise for the elite, and it all takes place atop a massive ship floating in an unspecified location, reached only by knowing the right people (mainly Akame).

Some areas are totally blocked off until you improve your reputation or raise your Crew Rank through coliseum bouts and sponsorship matches involving showcasing a range of increasingly over-the-top weaponry at the behest of a few prominent Castle patrons. I was quite thrilled by this system, initially, and the allure of gaining unrestricted access to the entirety of available minigames and side rooms seriously motivated me to reach Platinum rank as soon as possible. And what would a Like a Dragon title be without the minigames? The usual suspects are all here again: karaoke, indoor golfing, Pocket Circuit, the Club Sega arcade, among a few other staples.



The cabaret club minigame, in particular, stands out thanks to the usage of real-world footage during conversation segments, all of which were apparently filmed in one long take for authenticity purposes. Seeing the streamer, Kson, make an appearance in one of her favourite video game franchises of all time, as a hostess no less, was an additional surreal shock to the system. If you’re one of those hardcore completionist types, and are even remotely familiar with this series, you’re no doubt more than aware of the amount of time one can spend clearing every optional challenge tied to these entertainment venues. Unfortunately, circling back to my ascent to Platinum rank, reaching the top of the Castle’s food chain mostly just allows you to take part in more high-stakes gambling, as opposed to unlocking anything new or genuinely exciting. There’s a beautiful VIP Pool and Fighter’s Lounge, though.

And what would a Like a Dragon title be without the minigames? The usual suspects are all here again: karaoke, indoor golfing, Pocket Circuit, the Club Sega arcade, among a few other staples.

The Fighter’s Lounge is where all your coliseum teammates spend their time hanging out. Whether they joined after completing one of Akame’s requests or were pulled from one of the many recruitment NPCs available, all require levelling up and maintenance if you want them to stand a chance fighting beside you in the arena. If they’re beaten to a bloody pulp, you’ll have to re-energise them through encouragement or, the far more amusing alternative, showering them with a ludicrously expensive bottle of champagne from the poolside bar.



Once the madness quietens down, it becomes evident just how well Like a Dragon Gaiden manages to balance the tonal whiplash felt from hopping between side and main content better than most of the other entries ever have. This likely stems from how interwoven the two sides of gameplay feel. Spending time at the Castle doesn’t feel pointless because it directly ties into plot elements that arise from the central narrative, and the whole Akame Network concept is a superb implementation of throwing Joryu into zany situations with a legitimate premise attached to every substory. It’s such a shame that there’s not more of it to enjoy, with both gameplay and storyline aspects feeling slightly neutered or rushed at times as a result of the short length. I also noticed a considerable amount of subtitle errors, something that has never really been a big issue before.

If you’re, like myself, just happy to sink your teeth into another Like a Dragon title, regardless of the length and inconsistent substory quality, you’re going to have a splendid time here. With a few direct references to the events of Ichiban’s quest (from Yakuza: Like a Dragon) and plenty of wistful post-side activity reminiscence on Joryu’s part, The Man Who Erased His Name does a fine enough job of connecting the dots leading us into the events of the upcoming and highly anticipated Infinite Wealth.

*PS5 Review code provided by Sega | Reviewed by Ryan Pretorius