Hong Kong has a popular snack chain called Aji Ichiban. Despite the name, it’s not actually Japanese, but I do recall going to these stores a lot whenever my family and I visited, where we’d fill our suitcases with its giant pack range of Chinese pork jerky and dried mangos.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s Ichiban Confections is also a snack shop, albeit one that specialises in Japanese rice crackers. It’s also unfortunately on its last legs – unless someone with the right business acumen can turn it around.

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Yakuza: Like A Dragon’s

turn-based fights are a turning point for the bat-swinging, crime caper that is the Yakuza series. I thought the game still retained its messy brawls even after the added tactical punch, but according to the latest patch, the game has been missing a key battle feature this whole time: “WEAK”.

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After a pretty rough run-in with someone that Kasuga thought was his pal, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like A Dragon has ended up homeless in Ijincho. But, that’s not much to worry about, because he’s got the power of positivity and the realistic Nanba by his side.

And these two lads are ready to do some recycling and get some jobs!

This is LollaYakuza #03: The Town At Rock Bottom.

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It may come as a surprise, but in Yakuza: Like A Dragon there are opportunities to build romantic relationships with several characters. I say this as it’s hinted at but never really explained in depth at all. Below I’ll break down how romance works in the game and who you’re able to romance.

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Those Japanese mobsters with hearts of gold return today for a new adventure in Yakuza: Like A Dragon. Sega’s RPG series takes a slightly different turn with this new entry, switching out the beat ’em up combat for some turn-based action.

Set in the city of Yokohama, Like A Dragon is moving on from good old Kiryu to introduce newbie Ichiban Kasuga. In an unsurprising turn for these Yakuza lads, Kasuga’s story is set up by a spot of betrayal.

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Yakuza: Like A Dragon

is a big stretch. Not in a “you’ve taken it too far, buddy” sort of way, I mean I can quite literally feel the click of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s bones as they extend their arms to the sky and heave their collective sighs of satisfaction – finally, a fresh start.

They’ve taken this opportunity to strip all the best bits from Yakuza’s creaking action adventure foundations, and build something with renewed focus. If, before, the series had flirted with committing to the role-playing genre, Like A Dragon is down on one knee proposing to the JRPG with happy tears in its eyes. And this relationship works, alright. Oh yes it does.

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I’m playing bombastic action RPG Yakuza: Like A Dragon for review, and I’ve not spent quite as much time as I’d like with it to give you the full lowdown. But I wanted to give you some of my first impressions – a little rib in the chest before the big sucker punch.

One thing I’m absolutely certain of already is that Like A Dragon is the most expressive Yakuza of the lot. Not that the previous bunch weren’t comfortable in their own skin, it’s more like they were a little too> comfortable. They stuck so rigidly to what they knew, it felt like they were afraid to shake things up. And that they featured a main protagonist who, as much as I adore him, approached all problems in one of only three ways (frown, punch, or deliver life lesson) held them back a bit too.

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I’ve been looking forward to Yakuza: Like A Dragon ever since the RPG combat was first shown off. Sure, I thought it was an April Fool’s at first, too, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. There needed to be a clean break between the old protagonist and coolest dad in the world, Kazuma Kiryu, and the new boy in town, with the coolest hair in the world, Ichican Kasuga. And what better way to do that then with a couple of absolutely massive changes.

If you’re unfamiliar with Yakuza, all you need to know is it’s the perfect mix of melodrama and karaoke. And it makes me a very happy boy. And, for that reason alone, I thought it would be nice – given the hell year that refuses to end – to share that joy with you.

So, welcome to LollaYakuza. Obviously the name was the first thing I thought of.

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It was when I drank baby milk with a bunch of half-naked yakuza in diapers that I really knew I was back in a Yakuza game. I noted an edge of disbelief in my voice as my laughter echoed across the room. But mixed in with my cackle was genuine warmth, too. It was good to be back.

As a long time fan of Sega’s action adventure beat ‘em up series, I was lucky enough to give Yakuza: Like A Dragon a whirl for a few hours of preview, and it made me grin like a happy baby throughout – like those diaper-wearing yakuza, I suppose. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the series it’ll likely elicit a similar reaction, because you don’t need to be clued in on any previous happenings to enjoy it. Like A Dragon does retain all the best quirks from its past, and builds on them, too. But make no mistake: it isn’t afraid to tear the foundations down and start anew.

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As much as I enjoy Yakuza games for crime drama, beating up punks, macho poses, and being a great dad to everyone I meet, I cannot deny the action and drama which excited me most in a new trailer for Yakuza: Like A Dragon was a shareholder meeting. Running a cabaret club was my favourite minigame in Yakuza 0, see, and I hope running a confectionary company in Yakuza Lad has that same weird pull. I am well up for having outraged shareholders shout “Hold on!” and tell me “I won’t stand for a business that doesn’t understand the importance of a proper facilities.” That’s the crimelife I crave.

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