Unveiling the Dragon's Tale: A Sneak Peek into Like A Dragon Gaiden's Launch

Article Key Points

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a spin-off game that focuses on Kazuma Kiryu's actions after Yakuza 6: The Song of Life.

Unlike the shift in the main entries towards turn-based combat, Like a Dragon Gaiden reverts back to the classic beat 'em up style of combat that the franchise is known for.

Serving as a bridge between Yakuza 6 and the upcoming mainline sequel, the game offers essential backstory and clarifies Kiryu's whereabouts and actions.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a nostalgic return to the roots of the beloved Like a Dragon franchise. This game brings back the intense combat and features the experienced protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, much to the delight of fans who never expected to see him again. Additionally, this installment, unlike its predecessor Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, dives deeper into Kiryu's journey and provides much-needed insight into his actions after the previous game. With Like a Dragon's intricate plot and characters, a recap of the events leading up to this point will surely be beneficial. Although Yakuza: Like a Dragon was a significant departure from the series, introducing a new protagonist and a shift in gameplay mechanics, it is evident that developer Ryu Ga Gotoku is not yet ready to bid farewell to Kiryu, who has been the face of the franchise for over a decade.

Like a Dragon Gaiden Should Provide Some Much-Needed Backstory for Kiryu

Yakuza 6's climax showcased Kiryu succumbing to a bribe offered by a corrupt politician. In exchange for his silence concerning the crimes committed by the now-deceased politician Minoru Daidoji, Kiryu arranged a plan to feign his death. This calculated move aimed to ensure the safety of his foster children, granting them a tranquil existence. Surprisingly, Kiryu resurfaced in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, revealing his continued existence as he served as the bodyguard to one of the Omi Alliance captains. Devoted fans striving to uncover the missing pieces between Yakuza 6 and its predecessor have remained bereft of substantial information thus far.

The news of Like a Dragon Gaiden, a game aimed at filling the gap between the sixth and seventh mainline installments by delving into Kiryu's whereabouts and actions, unsurprisingly sparked interest. Although Yakuza: Like a Dragon only briefly mentions Kiryu's absence, he does provide valuable intel, courtesy of The Fixer's associates (The Fixer being a moniker for Minoru Daidoji), which aids Ichiban Kasuga in his mission. However, Kiryu makes it clear that their assistance will only be earned through a test of combat skills.

What follows is one of the game's most challenging battles, as Kiryu effortlessly fends off the entire party without breaking a sweat. Once satisfied with their efforts, he agrees to share the information and bids farewell to the group. The specifics of how Kiryu became the bodyguard for Omi Captain Masaru Watase are never fully disclosed, but Like a Dragon Gaiden is poised to unveil the story behind Kiryu's alliance with the Daidoji faction and his covert operations as one of their secret agents. To maintain his anonymity, he adopts the alias Joryu.

Fans already know by now that the upcoming mainline installment in the Like a Dragon series will feature two main characters, Ichiban and Kiryu, who will coexist in the spotlight. A recently released story trailer has disclosed that Kiryu is grappling with a battle against cancer, casting uncertainty over his future. Considering these circumstances, Like a Dragon Gaiden serves as the perfect interlude bridging the gap between Like a Dragon 7 and its official sequel, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, set to launch on January 26th.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio presents a spin-off game titled Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, which delves into Kazuma Kiryu's journey following the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. In contrast to the main entries' transition to turn-based combat, Like a Dragon Gaiden brings back the classic beat 'em up combat that the franchise is known for.

Yakuza franchise is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. The game was released on November 9, 2023. Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega, it falls under the action-adventure genre.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I am thrilled about the upcoming release of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. This spin-off game promises to provide essential backstory and clarify Kiryu's whereabouts and actions, which have been left largely unexplained since Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. I am particularly excited to see the return of the classic beat 'em up combat style that the franchise is known for, as I feel it is a better fit for the character of Kiryu than the turn-based combat introduced in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

Additionally, I appreciate that Ryu Ga Gotoku is not ready to bid farewell to Kiryu, who has been the face of the franchise for over a decade. While I enjoyed Yakuza: Like a Dragon and its new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, I still feel a strong attachment to Kiryu and am eager to learn more about his story. Like a Dragon Gaiden seems like the perfect opportunity to do just that, and I can't wait to get my hands on it when it launches on March 28th.