Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC

Yes, that is the title. Yes, it is as ridiculous as it sounds. And yes, it makes for absolutely gloriously unhinged fun in the way that only Like A Dragon can deliver.

A spin-off to the main series, Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is set after the events of 2024's Infinite Wealth, switching focus from well-meaning idiot Ichiban Kasuga to series mainstay Goro Majima, a fierce yakuza known as the "Mad Dog of Shimano". Known to returning players, at least – here, he's washed up on a beach as a blank slate amnesiac, not even knowing his name, let alone his reputation. It's rare that an amnesia plot device lands, but thanks to some smart and genuinely comedic chapter bookends narrated by a future-Goro with memory intact, it works well here, serving to introduce the anti-hero to newcomers even as he rediscovers his own history.

That journey makes for one of the zaniest tales yet in a franchise already known for its penchant for the surreal. Majima goes from a nobody on isolated Rich Island, to reluctant protector of asthmatic 10-year-old Noah and his pet cat (who is also called Goro and is definitely not a tiger), to beating up pirate role-players and seizing command of their 18th century galleon, all before setting sail on the seas around Hawaii decked out in a gaudy costume from the Pirates Of The Caribbean wardrobe department. That's just the first chapter too, which is (naturally) capped by a musical number that's equal parts Disney and Gilbert & Sullivan. Yet as it progresses into ever-wilder territory – not least of which involves a pirate enclave known as Madlantis – developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is never far from delivering a narrative twist capable of tearing at the heartstrings.

On land, Pirate Yakuza returns to the action-focused battles of the earlier Yakuza instalments, before they adopted a turn-based combat system with 2020's Yakuza: Like A Dragon. Majima benefits from two distinct fighting styles, his classic "Mad Dog" approach and the new "Sea Dog", where he brandishes a pair of cutlasses and a pistol, each style having their own upgrade paths to unlock powerful abilities. Both are great fits for Majima as a character, allowing him to briskly beat down wandering trouble-makers with a blend of fast-paced melee strikes and ridiculously over-the-top special moves or counters, and for the pacing of the game as a whole.

It's at sea where Pirate Yakuza finds its legs, though. Sailing around, engaging in ship-to-ship battles, and hunting down treasure as you aim to become the most renowned pirate crew on the ocean is unlike anything else in the series, but still somehow fits perfectly with the madcap vibe. The stakes can be high, but rarely serious – think Tokyo Drift-ing your galleon through the waves before bearing down on rivals with both machine guns and old-timey cannons, or boarding enemy vessels for a brawl with a crew that might include a ninja, a surfer, and a businessman. Along with treasure hunts on scattered islands – essentially taking the place of the dungeons in Infinite Wealth but throwing in a dash of Dynasty Warriors' horde battles, with rare items like rings that upgrade Majima's abilities your reward for a successful excursion – this carves out its own identity.

The franchise faithful may find other aspects of Pirate Yakuza too familiar, though – the main Honolulu urban map is essentially unchanged from Infinite Wealth, and some minigames are exactly the same, for example. However, comparative brevity – expect 30-odd hours, more if you want to hunt down every possible extra – means even these elements don't outstay their welcome. More One Piece than Black Sails, Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii may be a side story, but is a breath of fresh sea air for die-hards of the sprawling saga, and a surprisingly accessible boarding ramp for newcomers. Consider our timbers shivered.