Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Once known as the legendary Dragon of Dojima, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name to protect his family and leave his violent past behind. But in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, the former yakuza is pulled back into conflict when a mysterious figure threatens to expose his secret identity. Playing under the codename "Joryu," Kiryu must unleash his formidable skills once again to defend his new life.

Bone-Crunching Combat with Two Fighting Styles

Kiryu has access to two hard-hitting fighting styles that players can dynamically switch between during combat for maximum impact. There's the raw, aggressive Yakuza style that utilizes Kiryu's sheer brute strength and flair to pummel groups of enemies. His crushing punches and kicks paired with grapples and throws make short work of mobs of foes.

Then there's the precise Agent style for taking down enemies quickly with gadgets and targeted blows at lightning speed. Tactical binds and stuns open up opportunities for devastating combos. Mastering both the brawler Yakuza style and technical Agent style is crucial to dominating the game's intense melee showdowns against dozens of foes at once. The ability to adapt tactics on the fly keeps the free-flowing combat fresh and exciting.

Beyond the gripping main conflict, Like a Dragon Gaiden offers no shortage of entertaining diversions across its two bustling city settings. Players can partake in an underground battle arena, sing karaoke, drink at a live cabaret club, race model cars on pocket circuit tracks, play classic Sega arcade games, and much more.

An intriguing informant named Akame also provides engrossing side missions that unravel more of the story while highlighting the density of activities packed into the world. Hours can be lost simply wandering the cities and partaking in the array of absurd side content.

Classic Yakuza Gameplay with a New Chapter

Fans of the long-running Yakuza series will feel right at home with Like a Dragon Gaiden's signature blend of intense combat, absurd side activities, and melodramatic crime storytelling. While effectively a standalone title, Gaiden also ties into the overarching series narrative by further exploring Kiryu's past after the events of Yakuza 6. It's a satisfying new chapter for longtime devotees who will appreciate seeing more of the legendary ex-yakuza's early days in hiding. For newcomers, this provides an accessible entry point into the rich Yakuza universe without needing to know the elaborate backstories from past games.

The central narrative itself offers an engaging crime drama full of conspiracies, intrigue, and larger-than-life characters. The cutscenes play out like an action movie, with plenty of dramatic reveals and over-the-top fight choreography.

Kiryu makes for a stoic and sympathetic protagonist as he's forced to reconcile his peaceful new life with the chaos of his past, all in service of protecting his adopted family. The story manages to deftly juggle humor, camaraderie, and hard-hitting moments. Fans of cinematic Japanese gangster films will feel right at home with the melodrama.

Review: 8/10

With hard-hitting combat, quirky diversions, and an engaging central mystery, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is an action-packed crime drama that's easy to recommend. Kiryu's latest romp offers plenty for longtime devotees and an intriguing entry point for newcomers.

Pros:

• Addictive brawling combat
• Dense open world with fun side activities
• Dramatic crime narrative expands the Yakuza universe

Cons:

• Combat controls take time to master
• Story is complex for series newcomers