REVIEW: LIKE A DRAGON: Infinite Wealth — Staying Golden

The Yakuza game has a total of 24 titles in  the franchise comprising of the mainline and spin-off games with Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth as the latest addition to this growing list. Infinite Wealth follows last year’s release of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.  To those unfamiliar with the franchise, Yakuza games are a mixture of action-adventure, beat ‘em up and role playing games. My introduction to the franchise was with the 2017’s Yakuza 0 (read our review here) and I was never the same since.  Today, years after my first experience, does Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth live up to the franchise or is it just another numbered game?

STORY

We see Ichiban Kasuga at the beginning of the game as a consultant for a head hunter company. Known as the “Hero of Yokohama”, Kasuga helps out former Yakuza members integrate themselves into society by finding and giving them honest work. However, as is with any other crime story, the past catches up to him eventually costing him his job and setting up the game in motion. Kasuga finds himself back with the Yakuza and learned about his past. He then goes on a mission to find his biological mother in Hawaii.

Upon setting foot in Hawaii he crossed path with the Yakuza franchise’s main protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu.  Both leads found out that albeit different reasons, they are both after the same reason. Knowing this, they decided to team-up and find the answers together.

Hiroyuki Sakamoto, who was recently in the Philippines, mentioned that it is recommended to play previous Yakuza games for better gaming experience. Though Infinite Wealth incorporates back stories to the dialogues for new players not to feel lost. However, this couldn’t include the feeling of seeing a familiar character appearing in-game such as my first interaction with Kiryu.

GAMEPLAY

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a turn-based rpgs, a difference from the mainline games that employs a combo based fighting system. Similar to other rpgs like Final Fantasy VII, all the characters can roam around the screen as they attack or cast skills. Infinite Wealth has different jobs (classes) that have their own unique playstyles such as Kiryu retaining his “Dragon of Dojima” that allows him to switch fighting styles during battles. There’s also timed button mechanics that when hit appropriately deals more damage to your attack.

One thing I love about Yakuza games is that there tons of mini-games within the game.  For Infinite Wealth I was surprised to learn that not only is this an rpg, it’s also a dating sim! “Miss Match” is a mini-game that is based on dating apps that lets Kasuga match with other people and with every “correct” response their relationship levels up and rewards you with “gifts” and once successfully matched, the app rewards you with a date with the other person.  I only wish that dating was this easy in real life. lol.

Remember SEGA’s Crazy Taxi back in the day? There’s also a mini-game inspired by the game in Infinite Wealth. Kasuga turns into a delivery bike rider in Crazy Delivery that sees him picking up food icons on the road and delivering it to waiting customers while doing tricks. Completed deliveries earns money that converts into points, which you can then use to redeem items.

Just like the Japanese, we Filipinos, also love Karaoke! Another staple in Yakuza games is the rhythm mini-game karaoke. During this review, I played the entire songbook available that includes hit Yakuza soundtracks , all of which I’m not familiar with but are now on my Spotify playlist. My favorite track would have to be “Hands” that Kiryu sang.

There are other mini-games available throughout the game such as fishing and Game Centers that offers SEGA’s classic arcade games.  You can even play Virtua Fighter in Infinite Wealth!

VISUALS & PERFORMANCE

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth looks great on the Playstation 5.  The game looks the same but is an upscaled and polished edition of previous reiterations. The game also runs well even with a number of moving and interacting NPCs in the map. Character models are more detailed with the hair life-like flowing through the game.

Though the game’s not graphic intensive, it has a stable framerate even during action packed fight scenes. It depends on you but you can play Infinite Wealth hours to end with no strain on your console. But as always, play responsibly.

VERDICT

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth  is still golden. It has everything that made it into a successful franchise that both long-time and new fans could appreciate. Ichiban Kasuga may be the lead but Infinite Wealth is also as much as Kazuma Kiryu. Both characters makes the game diverse, compelling and highly entertaining! I had difficulty progressing through the story because I was having a lot of fun with the multitude of mini-games available. If there’s ever one thing you need in this game, it’s TIME. It’s hard to put down the dual sense controller once you start.

It’s that GOOD.

[This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.]