April 9, 2024
By Esteban Ramirez
Staff Writer
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is an action turn-based role-playing game. The game, which was released on Jan. 25, brings together series protagonists Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu to Hawaii on a search for Ichiban’s potential birth mother. Uncovering the underworld’s hidden plans connecting Hawaii and Japan along the way, the game’s side content allows the player to take breaks from the heavier story content and engage in less serious antics, blending the great comedy the game has with excellent storytelling and world-building.
The game’s combat follows the turn-based format set in Like A Dragon. Battles have a maximum of four party members on the field at once, and players can swap in reserve members. During each turn, players can choose between guarding against enemy attacks, attacking themselves, using skills and using items. Party members can select jobs, the game’s version of the class system. These jobs influence their damage, defense, health, skills and speed. Although players with a high enough bond can inherit skills, they first need to be unlocked by increasing the job’s level.
The characters that players can include in their parties consist of the two main characters–Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu–as well as some familiar and new faces. The returning faces bring a sense of familiarity, while the new ones highlight new bonds between the characters. In total, there are 10 party members, but they are not all introduced in the beginning. Instead, they are introduced gradually and swapped as the plot progresses to not overwhelm the player.
As players make their way through the story, players can seek or stumble upon certain events to increase their bond with the party. Increasing the bond unlocks tag team skills, introduces follow-up attacks and lets the character inherit skills from other jobs they used.
The game’s subplots are fascinating and include more voice acting than in previous games. As both protagonists have returning substory characters, there are many fun callbacks to earlier games.
The game brings players through an engaging plot with two incredibly interesting and well-developed main characters who gain complexity as the world around them expands.
During Kiryu’s sections of the game, players can reminisce on past events from the other games. For instance, players can take a trip down memory lane as Kiryu’s life becomes more about doing the activities he enjoys following the party’s discovery that he has cancer. Detective Makoto Date, Kiryu’s friend, drags him to connect with familiar faces from his life. These moments are so precious and show a side of Kiryu he tries to hide.
The game is a treat for both long-time fans and new players, as it is interesting to get snippets of the weird situations that are sometimes depicted. At this point, these games have a lot of prior history, which helps the audience recognize their legacy.
Near the midpoint of the game, Ichiban gets access to Dondoko Island. Here, the player can work tirelessly to clear the pollution and rebuild the resort to its former glory. With the player breaking rocks, collecting money, crafting furniture, cutting trees and inviting guests, it is a little jarring how different the scene is from the rest. As in-depth as it is, I did not visit the island again after it was first introduced. Although the island can be wholly ignored after its tutorial, it can provide a nice change of pace from the rest of the game.
Another bit of side content in which Ichiban can participate is Sujimon battles, where players take a backseat and use troops to engage in battle. Three Sujimon can be on the field at a time and three are in reserve, which allows players to swap one Sujimon per turn. Players can make use of the different typings to strategize and make quick decisions. The battles are never that difficult, but they offer a nice change of pace and complement the storyline. There is also the choice of ignoring the battles altogether if the player finds them unengaging.
The graphics are gorgeous, and there are many times when the scenery of Hawaii portrays that. I did, unfortunately, hit some frame drops on Xbox Series X during certain cinematic scenes, particularly when swimming. These were few and far between, though, and did not painfully ruin any important moments, but they were noticeable.
Overall, the game is incredibly addicting. It gives players almost complete freedom to play or choose not to play, the abundance of side content. The game brings players through an engaging plot with two incredibly interesting and well-developed main characters who gain complexity as the world around them expands.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is easily a 10/10. Details in design and cool mechanics only add to the masterpiece. The turn-based combat is well-executed, and the traditional combat shines through more than ever. This game is a treat to experience, so anyone interested in role-playing games or the series should give it a chance.
