Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Review

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is the latest entry in the popular Like a Dragon series, which follows the adventures of Ichiban Kasuga, a former yakuza who becomes a hero. The game is a turn-based RPG that features a rich and engaging story, a diverse cast of characters, and a variety of side activities. The game also introduces a new location, Honolulu City, Hawaii, where Ichiban and his allies have to face a new threat.

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is a direct sequel to Yakuza Like a Dragon, which was released in 2020. The story picks up a few years after the events of the previous game and sees Ichiban helping former yakuza members reintegrate into society by offering them unique jobs. However, his peaceful life is disrupted when he is framed for a fraud scheme and has to flee to Hawaii. There, he meets Kazuma Kiryu, the legendary Dragon of Dojima and the protagonist of the previous Yakuza games. Together, they embark on a quest to find Ichiban’s mother, Akane, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious organization.

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is a treat for fans of the series, as it features many references and callbacks to the previous games, as well as cameo appearances from familiar faces. The game also explores the past and the future of the series, as it shows Kiryu’s reflections on his life and Ichiban’s growth as a hero. Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth balances the serious and the humorous tones of the series and delivers a compelling narrative that can make the player laugh, cry, and cheer.

The gameplay is similar to Yakuza Like a Dragon, but with some improvements and additions. The Game uses a turn-based combat system, where the player can control up to four characters in a party. Each character has a unique class and skills and can switch between different classes during battle. Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth features environmental interactions, team attacks, and summons, which add more variety and strategy to the combat. The game also has a dynamic brawling system, which adjusts the challenge level according to the player’s performance.

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth offers up a lot of content outside of the main story, such as mini-games, side quests, and exploration. The game has three large and detailed cities to explore: Kamurocho, Ijincho, and Honolulu City. Each city has its own culture, atmosphere, and secrets.

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth has over 50 mini-games, ranging from karaoke, golf, and mahjong, to UFO catcher, drone racing, and VR games, over 100 side quests, called substories, which provide more insight into the characters and the world and finally a new feature called interactive memories, which allows the player to revisit scenes from the previous games and learn more about Kiryu’s past.

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth features a diverse and catchy soundtrack that matches the mood and tone of each scene, from the upbeat and energetic battles, to the melancholic and nostalgic songs that play during the interactive memories. The Game has superb voice acting that brings the characters to life, with both Japanese and English options available, while also providing us with realistic and dynamic sound effects that react to the environment and the actions of the player, such as the waves crashing on the beach, the cars honking on the streets, and the weapons clashing in combat.

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is stunning and showcases what the PS5 can do, graphically impressive. The game has a stunning and vibrant visual style that captures the contrast between the gritty and colourful cities of Japan and the tropical and serene island of Hawaii. The character models in the game are also detailed, and expressive with animations that convey the personality and emotions of each character. The best thing about Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is its smooth and stable performance that runs at 60 frames per second, with minimal loading times and glitches.

There are some balance issues, such as some classes being overpowered or underpowered, and some boss fights being too easy or too hard, finally, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth has some plot holes and inconsistencies, which may confuse or frustrate some players.

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth also supports the PS5’s features, such as the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback of the DualSense controller, and the 3D audio of the Pulse 3D headset and Pulse earbuds.

Overall, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is a great game that offers a satisfying and enjoyable experience for both fans and newcomers to the series. The game has a captivating story, a charming cast of characters, and a ton of content to explore. Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth also has a refined and fun combat system and a beautiful and immersive world. Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is not perfect, but it is a worthy addition to the Like a Dragon legacy and the best so far.

P.S. I would recommend playing Yakuza Like a Dragon before delving into this Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, otherwise you might be a little lost.