Unleash Your Inner Dragon: A Wild Adventure Best Shared Away from Prying Eyes

Despite facing several challenges, such as justifying Kiryu's return as a protagonist and the popularity of the new lead Ichiban, Like A Dragon Gaiden remains determined. However, after playing for around 20 minutes, it is uncertain if this determination is enough. Although the gameplay was limited to one area and avoided the main story elements, it was still enjoyable and, at times, embarrassing.

After the events of Yakuza 6, where Kiryu faked his own death to escape the criminal underworld he had longed to leave behind, Like A Dragon Gaiden takes off. However, Kiryu's plans seldom go as expected, and he is quickly drawn back into a life of crime. This time, he assumes a new identity: Joryu.

In the demo I played, Joryu is transported to The Castle, a cargo ship located off the coast of Japan. Despite its unassuming exterior, The Castle houses a massive adult playground filled with gambling, cabaret girls, a fighting arena, and more. All of this sprawls around a replica of Osaka Castle, earning the area its name. It pulsates with the same vibrant atmosphere as Osaka's Dotonbori district. As someone who spent extensive time at The Golden Saucer in Final Fantasy VII, I found this captivating and evocative.

Shortly after Kiryu, or rather Joryu, arrives, a gang of shady men confronts him, leading to an inevitable street brawl. Like A Dragon Gaiden retains the beat-'em-up combat from the Kiryu-based titles, but it introduces a fresh fighting style known as Agent style. In Agent style, Joryu employs four special gadgets that enhance combat with flair and fluidity. The Spider gadget enables Joryu to immobilize foes, while the Hornet releases a swarm of drones. Additionally, the Firefly gadget deploys a time bomb, and the Serpent gadget grants Joryu a speed boost. Players have the freedom to switch between the game's traditional fighting style and the Agent style, both of which provide an enjoyable experience.

Joryu effectively binds enemies with his Spider gadget. However, even more captivating than these mechanics is the opportunity to play as various other characters in The Castle's Colosseum. Although I had limited time before the demo expired, I thoroughly enjoyed battling as Majima and his fast-paced, frenzied fighting style. The expansive roster of fighters in the Colosseum ensures that fans can be entertained for hours.

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However, combating is not the sole activity available at The Castle. Similar to the Yakuza/Like A Dragon games that came before it, Gaiden offers a wide range of engaging minigames. Regrettably, due to time limitations and the constraints of the demo, I was unable to fully explore most of them. There were numerous casino-style games to place bets on, as well as karaoke and other activities in specific areas that I was unable to access during my time with the game. Luckily, I did discover that the cabaret club was open for business.

I eagerly made my way to the club, fully anticipating the usual awkwardness that accompanies the game's more provocative elements. However, I was unprepared for the live-action dating simulation that awaited me, with my industry colleagues as witnesses. Gone were the high-quality character models, replaced instead with FMV clips of real individuals (similar to the Live Chat minigame from Yakuza 6). Only one woman, Kaname, was available for a date, and for the next few minutes, I sat beside her on a couch, gradually building our relationship and offering her gifts, while she leaned in closely to me, wearing a revealing top. The key takeaway here is that this may not be a section of the game that you would want to play in the presence of individuals who might judge you for engaging with a voluptuous woman speaking softly to you on your television.

The Castle also houses a boutique where Joryu can try on various outfits, ranging from cat ears to a crocodile-skin suit. Once he's ready, you can have him strut down a runway to showcase his new look, which is highly recommended.

The overall demo left me convinced that Like A Dragon Gaiden will offer plenty of fan service and exciting gameplay options. However, many key questions still remain unanswered. Despite the game's setting in Osaka and Yokohama, I didn't get to explore these cities or learn about Joryu's activities there. Additionally, there were no plot elements explaining why he was back in action. While the preview was enjoyable and the combat felt smoother compared to previous Like A Dragon titles, it's uncertain how Like A Dragon Gaiden will ultimately unfold. We can expect to learn more when Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name releases on November 9 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.