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There are few franchises that stability tone in addition to Like a Dragon. Each sport within the collection is a fragile balancing act between melodramatic cutscenes and playful minigames, a mix that’s very simple to get fallacious. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the eighth mainline sport within the collection, is the poster little one of that balancing act. Every part about it, from its themes to its mechanics, is about stability.
Infinite Wealth is a direct sequel to Yakuza: Like a Dragon in each sense of the phrase. Whereas earlier Yakuza/Like a Dragon video games have been pretty standalone outdoors of some callbacks right here and there, Infinite Wealth not solely references previous occasions in each single chapter but additionally expects the participant to be accustomed to each Ichiban and Kiryu’s adventures. This even applies to the substories, lots of which function acquainted faces from Ichiban’s earlier journey in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
![Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Ichiban-Kiryu](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Ichiban-Kiryu.jpg?w=1280)
You may nonetheless observe alongside completely nice if that is your first Like a Dragon sport (and there’s a useful recap for newcomers), however a lot of the story’s impression shall be misplaced on you in the event you aren’t a longtime fan. From main story beats like fists flying between outdated buddies to small callbacks just like the Kamurocho battle theme being a remix of the unique Yakuza’s battle theme, there are such a lot of emotional intestine punches in Infinite Wealth that simply gained’t land in the event you aren’t a collection veteran.
For instance, longtime face of the franchise Kazuma Kiryu has had a number of sendoffs at this level — with Yakuza 6 supposedly being the top of Kiryu’s story although he confirmed as much as move the torch to Ichiban in Yakuza 7 after which received yet one more final hurrah in Like a Dragon Gaiden — however Infinite Wealth feels just like the true finish of an period in additional methods than one. The Dragon of Dojima’s battle with most cancers sends him down a street of remembrance paved with nostalgia and acquainted faces.
Kiryu wrestles with the legacy he’s abandoning all through the primary story of Infinite Wealth, however it’s the aspect content material that actually shines for his half of the sport. The streets of Isezaki Ijincho and Kamurocho are dotted with Memoirs of a Dragon that vary from minor flashbacks to full-on substories. Each constructing, each nook, and each darkish alley holds particular reminiscences for Kiryu. It’s a testomony to the endurance of the collection, and followers will admire each one in every of Kiryu’s reminiscences. Whether or not he’s preventing waves of goons or sitting down for a quiet chat with an outdated buddy, Kiryu’s story is about remembering what it means to be a Dragon.
![Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Karaoke-Kiryu](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Karaoke-Kiryu.jpg?w=1280)
Studying the true which means of being a Dragon is central to Ichiban’s story as properly, as Infinite Wealth marks the true passing of the torch between the 2 characters. The sport’s twin protagonist system is rather more than a gimmick. Kiryu’s aspect of the story is concerning the outdated technology righting their wrongs and realizing that there’s a higher path for everybody, whereas Ichiban’s aspect of the story is concerning the new technology seeking to the longer term and balancing custom and progress. It’s an all too acquainted story on this age of gaming, however Infinite Wealth delivers its message in a means that solely a Like a Dragon sport might, full with melodramatic shirtless duels and overly passionate karaoke classes.
The collection additionally appears to the longer term with its first-ever location outdoors of Japan. The story sends Ichiban and co. to Hawaii, and this tropical paradise is rather more than only a backdrop. Hawaiian tradition and historical past are intrinsically linked to the story of Infinite Wealth. Amid the backstreet brawls and crime drama, the sport takes the time to discover the intricacies of Hawaii, the exploitation of its tradition and native inhabitants, and the realities of a tourism-dominated financial system. In fact, that is Like a Dragon so most of those issues find yourself mounted with a fistfight, however the way in which Ichiban and the occasion navigate the cultural panorama of Hawaii goes an extended solution to develop their characters.
The streets of Hawaii are additionally filled with a ton of actions to get pleasure from outdoors of the primary story. The principle aspect video games in Infinite Wealth are Sujimon and Dondoko Island. Sujimon is a team-based battler that attracts heavy inspiration from Pokemon, letting you receive the enemies that you simply battle in regular battles via a gacha system or raids scattered all through the open world. Dondoko Island is an Animal Crossing-inspired island builder the place Ichiban can craft buildings and decorations to assist restore a struggling resort that’s below siege by a polluting gang known as the Washbucklers.
![Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Sujimon](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Sujimon.jpg?w=1280)
It’s also possible to participate within the standard pastimes like karaoke along with new minigames like Loopy Supply and Miss Match, however Sujimon and Dondoko Island are the primary points of interest. They’re so expansive that calling them “aspect content material” feels disrespectful. The actual spotlight of those actions, nonetheless, is how properly they’re built-in into the primary sport. For instance, Sujimon raids are throughout Hawaii and it’s laborious to stroll a number of blocks with out working right into a Sujimon gacha machine. On high of that, substory characters and buddies that you simply make throughout Hawaii may be invited to Dondoko Island as visitors.
![Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Dondoko-Island](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Dondoko-Island.jpg?w=1280)
As a matter of truth, Infinite Wealth’s biggest power is how properly all of its techniques feed again into one another. Sujimon that you simply seize can be utilized in regular battles through Ichiban’s Sujimancer Job. Conversations and minigames together with your occasion members enhance your bond ranges, unlocking new tag group assaults and combo talents for fight. You would possibly discover Dondoko Island recipes when purchasing for therapeutic gadgets. Even one thing so simple as greeting NPCs all through the town will enhance Ichiban’s persona ranges, granting him new talents in fight and unlocking new Jobs.
This isn’t something new for Like a Dragon video games or RPGs normally, however the actual victory is how little friction there may be between all the techniques. Elevating bond ranges is easy since conversations occur naturally when you’re strolling across the metropolis and you’ll even rating some bond factors from actions like karaoke. Plus, the sport incentivizes constructing bonds with an addictive friendship bingo system. Sujimon stations provide you with free gadgets simply by strolling close to them, attractive you to make a number of pulls and construct out your group. Leveling Jobs is simple since all characters get expertise, even ones not in your energetic occasion.
![Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Giant-Shark](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Giant-Shark.jpg?w=1280)
Even substories and aspect missions have been redesigned to concentrate on shorter encounters with multi-stage tales. They’ll by no means take up various minutes of your time and so they’re so nice that you simply’ll wish to head straight to the subsequent half as quickly as you’ll be able to. You’ll very hardly ever end up considering “I don’t have time for this” when enjoying Infinite Wealth, and that’s an immense achievement.
It helps that the core mechanics are a blast, too. Whereas Yakuza: Like a Dragon caught the touchdown when the collection transitioned from motion to turn-based fight, Infinite Wealth refines that system into among the finest turn-based battle techniques in any RPG. It locations an enormous emphasis on positioning and environmental assaults. Occasion members can now freely transfer across the battlefield throughout their flip, which provides a number of layers of technique to fights. Enemies take additional injury when attacked from behind, some assaults knock enemies again which damages every other enemies that they hit, allies can carry out combo assaults in the event that they stand close to one another, gadgets may be picked up and used as weapons, and extra.
![Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Combat-System](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Combat-System.jpg?w=1280)
It’s simply an distinctive battle system in all regards, particularly with the customization of the Job system, which has been expanded with a brand new Talent Inheritance system. With this mechanic, you’ll be able to carry over expertise from any Job for each character. In order for you the therapeutic talents of an Idol however the injury output of a Kunoichi, that’s potential. You may inherit much more expertise as you stage up your occasion bonds, and you’ll create some really distinctive builds due to this.
Implementing so many new techniques and inserting such an enormous concentrate on its aspect content material was a danger, however Infinite Wealth so confidently asserts itself that it’s laborious to not fall in love with every little thing that it has to supply. Like its protagonist, it’s a sport that overtly wears its coronary heart on its sleeve. Even while you’re on the last word Hawaiian trip, there’s nonetheless time to reunite feuding buddies or assist a crawfish discover love.
![Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Hero-Job](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Like-a-Dragon-Infinite-Wealth-Hero-Job.jpg?w=1280)
Verdict
Sequels are inclined to iterate upon their predecessors, however Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio crammed so many enhancements into Infinite Wealth that it simply enters the sequel corridor of fame. For the studio’s second crack on the turn-based RPG format, Infinite Wealth knocks it out of the park. With a refined battle system, a stellar supporting forged, and one of the best aspect content material the collection has ever seen, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is without doubt one of the greatest RPGs of the fashionable period.
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