Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Like a Dragon: Ishin in my eyes earns the lofty score I’m giving it. The game is the most fun I’ve had with a single player game in years, and getting a review code for it the same day as Hi-Fi Rush left me spoiled, incredibly tired, and astoundingly happy. It’s worth your time and your money.

Like a Dragon: Ishin sees the historical adventure spin-off from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio finally released in the West, and the wait has been worth it despite some technical issues. The story, characters, and superlative voice acting make this an easy recommendation if you're a fan of the series.

Like a Dragon: Ishin is an awesome spin-off to an already-great series, and one I'm glad finally came to the States. Even if it tripped on the landing, the story kept me gripped, and I hope some of the new combat styles and special moves make their way to other RGG games. I also hope we'll get the other spin-offs that never made their way over. Time will tell, but for now, it's nice to be back with my favorite criminals.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a lost classic that has finally made its way to a global market. Fans of the franchise will be ecstatic to experience an Edo-period drama that features icons of the Yakuza series. Even though it is set in the 1860s, the foundation of the series is evident with each step. It’s a familiar experience that feels similar to its PS3 counterparts rather than the modern releases. The world lacks the hustle and bustle of Kamurocho and the mini-games are not as diverse. However, the card-based combat system and four fighting styles make battles a thrill. While the game may not do enough to alter the perception of those who don’t enjoy titles from the franchise, fans of the series are in for a treat with this samurai-focused epic.

At its best when its focus is divided, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a fun Bakumatsu sandbox. It doesn’t have the engrossing standout minigame like the cabaret or business management challenges of previous titles, and its time period means it also doesn’t pack a fun arcade. But its jack-of-all-trades approach still resonates.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a game that both delights and frustrates me for a lot of reasons. I don’t feel like the shift to Unreal Engine 4 added anything substantial, and it seems to have come at a steep cost compared to the framework the studio normally uses. The drawbacks make this fully-remade title feel like it would have been at home two generations ago, rather than belonging next to Lost Judgment and Yakuza 7.

The recreation of the fall of the Bakumatsu Era at the tip of your sword is as exciting and entertaining as expected, but it seems that apart from a fresh coat of (glitchy) paint, Sega didn’t do even the basic refurbishment to bring properly this game to 2023. Unlike the wonderful job they did with the Kiwami remakes, here it feels more like Sega used the game as a training exercise for its studio to learn the Unreal Engine and simply didn’t bother to invest in anything else.

What an excellent game this has been! If you like the Yakuza games then you will love this. I’ve put about 120 hours in now as there is just so much to do and it’s all super fun. The combat is excellent, with 4 different styles to choose from and the side stories are as great as always from this studio. I wont give anything away as it’s an exciting story so give it a go!

Didn't click initially, came to this from Like A Dragon but after playing through Yakuza 0, this was much easier to get into. Good RGG game. Not their best but worth a playthrough if you can get it on a sale.

Buen remaster y se agradece que finalmente llegue a Europa con traducción. Para su época seguramente sería un juego de 8 fácilmente pero los años le pesan y bastante, mapa muy pequeño, escaso contenido comparado con los modernos Like A Dragon/Yakuza. Un buen juego pero que se queda escaso de contenido y al que se le notan los años.

After 8 hours I had to throw in the towel. This game is an absolute slog. The combat system is fun and interesting, but it's not enough to prop up the stretched out storytelling with awful pacing, the really cramped and cheap "open world" that doesn't have much to offer in that genre, and coming from someone who isn't familiar with the Yakuza series, these characters are really bland and boring. I'm sure this is a critical darling for the Yakuza series, but for someone coming in cold, this was an absolute bore fest, and that's a problem that can't be overlooked.

This game is the literal example of what not to play on a next gen console. It's definitely not running in 4k at all and you can't change that. Therefore, it looks like a ps3 games with no character. It's awful. Even the environments aren't intriguing. Just utterly boring and disoriented.