Like a Dragon: Ishin! review: new 1860s Japan, same series problems

As recently as four years ago, localization prospects in North America and Europe were Like a Dragon: Restoration! It may have seemed like a pipe dream. But then in 2019, series producer Daisuke Sato said that such a project was “under consideration”.

It’s 2023 and that localization has paid off.The period drama marks a return to the traditional roots of the yakuza series since the 2020s Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Yes, the name can be confusing) implements turn-based combat and is somewhat lacking in the core cast.And while the 2014 remaster Like a Dragon: Restoration! A charming epitome of 1860s Japan, it delivers much of the franchise’s pretentiousness and doesn’t avoid the narrative pitfalls that yakuza games have long fallen into.

Isin It doesn’t stray too far from what the Yakuza series has established as its core gameplay loop: exploration of a semi-open world where you brawl through encounters with unruly thugs en route to various story quests. As with previous entries, plot points are laden with lengthy cutscenes with plenty of exposition of individual characters’ goals and motivations, often betraying their obsession with shocking reveals. , the same kind of game that Yakuza Studio has been making for over a decade, but with a different paint job.

It’s similar to Yakuza 0 and Yakuza extremity, players have access to four different fighting styles in combat, one of which is the reliance on fists by protagonist Ryoma Sakamoto. On other occasions he uses a katana. Third; he uses a gun. Finally, a gun and a sword at the same time. Each style has its own advantages. For example, swords can block enemy attacks and deliver more purposeful blows, while gun-katana crossover styles are more focused on dodging and attacking enemies in quick succession. .You can do it in brawler style Unlock Legendary Tiger Drop I spent most of my time staying away from my enemies, delivering quick sword strokes that were often interrupted by quick shots from my revolver. It reminded me of how I really missed defeating a mob of mundane thugs in a real-time battle.

Leveling up is a fairly simple matter. In this he gains most of his experience from random encounters with wandering thugs who roam Kyoto, a designated location in the 19th century spin-off. As you improve your performance according to Isin’s rating system, which evaluates your overall attack and defense, you gain more experience and circles. You can also unlock spheres to use in each fighting style’s respective tree, unlocking more hits for his points, new abilities, and flashier finishing his moves. It’s a fairly straightforward progression system for those who’ve played action RPGs before, requiring less time spent in menus and more. Isinvivid world.

Image: Yakuza Studio/Sega

Like most of the Yakuza series, Isin Enjoying the concept of virtual tourism. But instead of a fictional riff on Kabukicho, players are sent back to experience an interpretation of late-Edo-era Kyoto, the map split into his three segments. A major commercial center (with shops like Don Quixote, almost non-existent at the time, but representative of the Yakuza series). A red-light district where you can play mini-games with prostitutes. and the Player Hub, which happens to be the headquarters of the Shinsengumi. The environment is gorgeously rendered, with dirt roads punctuated by maple trees and a stream running through the city. Interacting with locals, chopping wood, racing chickens instead of toy cars, and engaging in the timeless activity of Mahjong are famous historical playgrounds for players.

The soundtrack is a delightful blend of earlier Yakuza jarring electronic tracks. Games and Japanese musical instruments. Like a dragon: Restoration‘s arrangements of “For Your Sake” and “Receive You” are arguably some of the strongest songs in the series, incorporating taiko and shamisen to elevate an already incredible track. They straddle the line between familiarity and novelty beautifully. IsinA unique spot in franchise history.

Ryuji Goda, Goro Majima, Yoshitake Mine, Tenyu Cho, and other familiar faces appear in various roles, large and small. Additionally, despite being famous for the Yakuza series (now called “Like a Dragon” in Japan as well as in the West), they act as stand-ins for real historical figures. Souji Okita, Toshizo Hijikataand Shinpachi Nagakurato name a few. Isin Basically, through the lens of historical fiction, it’s the series’ character’s biggest hit. The localization does a great job of balancing their bluntness, seriousness, and reticence.

Image: Yakuza Studio/Sega

Kazuma Kiryu is the protagonist of the period drama. Rather, his face and voice are used as a stand-in for protagonist Ryoma Sakamoto, a prominent historical figure who was a samurai, Japanese nationalist, and advocate of industrialization. It begins with Ryoma returning to his hometown of Tosa, but he finds himself embroiled in a conflict when his surrogate father figure is murdered by a mysterious, unnamed culprit. Having effectively obtained a murder scheme, Ryoma flees to Kyoto under the new name Hajime Saito, another historical figure and samurai, where he joins the Shinsengumi police, believing himself to be among their ranks. Try to find out who the culprit is.

Like past entries in the Yakuza series, the game is full of narrative twists and turns, many of which can confuse even the most die-hard fans.This is mainly Isin The tendency of characters to never be who they say they are. And while it’s a genuinely compelling narrative for most of the game, the ending goes straight from a very loose interpretation of historical events and figures to Japanese nationalist propaganda. It never agrees with any claims about doctrine. An increasingly rich interpretation of Ryoma Sakamoto as a political and historical figure, or the role played by the Shinsengumi. It just double-checks everything with a very weird footnote, and I can only say it’s scratching my head. For the sake of the review, there are no story spoilers, but the ending is worth considering on its own terms in the future.

Image: Yakuza Studio/Sega

Underlying it all is that signature level of absurdity that the series has become more or less known in the West. come across a cult that has blocked off parts of the street with their strange and erratic dances.Instead of playing baseball, you can play a dance-style rhythm game, or you can basically plant vegetables and cook meals in a private home after adoption. IsinA feudal version of Haruka — Kiryu, a young orphan girl recruited in the first Yakuza game. It’s practical and sometimes a welcome break from the story.

For all its strengths, Like a dragon: Restoration Still weighed down by its cartoony undercurrent and abrasive ending. On a mechanical and systematic level, it’s a fun excursion through a vivid historical world, with familiar faces and more fan service than anyone could ask for. But narratively, it’s a reminder of how quickly these games’ stories go south. And by the time the credits rolled, I remembered why the past few entries had made it hard to keep up with the series. Isin It may be a remake of the 2014 title, but these issues have persisted all that time, taking a step forward and two steps back whenever it tries to address current or historical social issues. In the world of , the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Like a Dragon: Restoration! will release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on February 21st. This game was reviewed on PC using a pre-release download code provided by Sega. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not affect editorial content, but Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased via affiliate links.discoverable Additional information on Polygon’s Ethics Policy can be found here.