As announced at last month’s RGG Summit, fan-favorite character Goro Majima is set to star in his standalone title, “Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.” We had the opportunity to experience a preview of the game at Tokyo Game Show 2024.

For those familiar with Majima’s antics, this new adventure may seem fittingly unpredictable. Known for his eccentric disguises in “Yakuza Kiwami,” Majima now embarks on a pirate-themed journey, fulfilling a long-held dream.

During our 30-minute gameplay session at the SEGA booth, we explored the introductory storyline, engaged in mini-games, and got a glimpse of Madatlantis, one of the islands Majima will navigate in the full game.

In our interview with the game’s producers, it was revealed that “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii” is part of the “Like A Dragon” canon, following Majima’s exploits in a Gaiden-style adventure, similar to Kiryu’s standalone title “The Man Who Erased His Name” released last year. Fans can expect the same blend of hijinks and heartfelt storytelling that characterizes Majima’s journey.

Majima’s backstory, as explored in “Yakuza 0” and “Yakuza 2 Kiwami,” highlights his complex character, marked by pain and resilience, possibly being a good guy instead of the anti-hero that he is today. This new chapter allows him to embrace the pirate life, a fitting reward for his enduring spirit.

The Pirate Yakuza of Shimano Returns!

One of the key aspects we were eager to explore was how “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii” plays, and I am pleased to report that it aligns perfectly with Majima’s dynamic playstyle. Both the Mad Dog and Sea Dog fighting styles incorporate a jump feature, enabling Majima to execute air combos or evade being surrounded by enemies.

In the interview, Ryosuke Horii explained that Majima is a “speedy, agile character… it made the most sense to implement this feature with him.” The Sea Dog style, in particular, allows Majima to fully embrace his swashbuckling persona. Equipped with twin sabers and the ability to finish moves with a powerful pistol shot, this style truly captures the essence of a pirate.

For purists, the Mad Dog style retains the beloved elements of Majima’s fast-paced combat. Drawing from his Breaker and Slugger moves in “Yakuza 0,” this style enables Majima to perform spin attacks for crowd control and throw knives for ranged attacks. The jump feature enhances these moves, providing greater mobility and adding a vertical dimension to his combat techniques.

I thought the Dragon Engine would’ve ended with The Man Who Erased His Name, but it’s definitely alive and well in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. The speedy style really makes the combat feel frenetic and enjoyable, and whether you use either style, the messaging is clear: you can either be a roguish gangster or a swashbuckling pirate. The thugs of Hawaii thought they can deal with Majima, well they really don’t know how they’re messing with!

Hawaii is the Pirate Yakuza’s Playground

One convenient feature in this playthrough is the ability to fast travel to the nearest area with mini-games after Majima speaks to Noah. This was particularly helpful given our limited time with the demo. Several mini-games were available, including Crazy Delivery and Dragon Kart.

Having already played Crazy Delivery in “Infinite Wealth,” I decided to try Dragon Kart in “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii” for a change. This mini-game offers a delightful twist on the Mario Kart franchise, featuring bazookas instead of blue shells, which provided plenty of laughs. If time had permitted, I would have spent more time enjoying this game.

I also explored Majima’s Karaoke selections, which included some of his greatest hits like “24 Hour Cinderella.” While this upbeat pop song differs from Kiryu’s iconic “Baka Mitai (Dame da ne),” it brought back fond memories of “Yakuza 0.” Given more time, I would have tried all the songs!

The highlight of our demo was exploring the Madatlantis island area, where Majima fully embraces his Pirate Yakuza persona while tracking down Keith at a nearby bar. After some trash-talking, the boss fight commenced, which I completed with enough time to spare for some additional exploration.

Madatlantis features various shops and casino games, but sadly, after sampling a few areas and avoiding time-consuming battles, our demo concluded. We eagerly await February to fully explore everything “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii” has to offer!

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches on February 28, 2024 on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.