Like a Dragon: Ishin! Review - A Densely-Packed 1860s Epic

Like a Dragon Ishin! is one of those games tailor-made for the fans - a spin-off completely separate from its mainline series, with all of your favorite Yakuza characters taking on different roles in a story set in 1860s Japan. The original 2014 game was released only in Japan, but with the growing worldwide appreciation of the Yakuza series, Ishin! was finally given its long-overdue western release, and fans of the series will appreciate what it has to offer, as it shares a lot of DNA with its progenitor series, but with slight modifications, from the delivery of its story, the many activities that populate the game world, and the beat 'em up combat that occurs in between it all. This is a spin-off done right. 

Political intrigue, revenge, and everything in between

You play Sakamoto Ryoma, a samurai ronin on a journey to avenge the murder of someone he cared about deeply. He goes to Kyo (Kyoto) in search of answers, with just one clue to go on - that the assassin used a Tennen Rishin sword style unique to a special police force called the Shinsengumi. Once he joins the organization, Ryoma faces a series of mysteries and twists that kept me itching to see what would happen next.

The dramatic story will keep you guessing. Just when you think you’ve fully understood a character’s intentions, new revelations will turn main characters into possible suspects, and keep you on your toes as to whether betrayal awaits around the next corner. It's a serious tale that starts slow but finishes strong, all delivered in typical Ryu Ga Gotoku fashion.

Most of the main cast is portrayed in the likeness of characters found in the mainline series, with Ryoma being the counterpart of Kazuma Kiryu. Everyone's favorite madman Goro Majima is embodied in Captain Okita Soji, and even main antagonists like Ryuji Goda (Yakuza 2) take on different roles in Ishin!. The cast has been updated with familiar faces like Yakuza 0's Daisaku Kuze, and even Koichi Adachi, a character that was introduced in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the latest mainline entry that took a more RPG approach.

Having these characters and their voice actors featured in this game makes Ishin! a celebration of the franchise as a whole; it’s an opportunity to see these characters from a new perspective, with some delivering different performances, while others act in the way you'd expect, such as Goro's counterpart being the same type of crazy we know and love from the main series. 

Is this a remake, or a remaster?

Compared to the 2014 release, this version of Ishin! is indeed a visual upgrade, but a rather inconsistent one, as some character models look more detailed and refined than others. The game looks at its best during major cutscenes, and at its worst when you’re conversing with a minor character out in the open world. When the big set pieces kick in, the game looks great in motion, and the action pairs nicely with a musical score similar to the main games, despite its being set in the 1800s.

Like a Dragon Ishin! is in a weird spot if you compare it to the rest of the mainline series. It looks better than the older games but doesn't leave newer titles like Yakuza 6 or Yakuza: Like a Dragon in the dust. It's not a remake in the sense that I would put it alongside games like Final Fantasy VII Remake, Resident Evil 2, or the recently released Dead Space, as it feels Ishin! can more accurately be called a remaster.

The typical Yakuza beat-'em-up

As for gameplay, Ishin! plays like any other Yakuza game (except Yakuza: Like a Dragon). In just the first few hours, the player will be given access to the game's four fighting styles, which can be switched at any time during combat. Each one is meant to be most effective for certain encounters, but most of the time, I found myself sticking to one style and using the same combo string for efficiency’s sake. Thankfully, the combat is fun, and it stays that way even when you reach the 20th hour. The combat truly shines during the game's version of boss fights, 1-on-1 encounters with a prominent character in the game. Most of the time, you’ll experience entertaining combat choreography that can swing in your favor if you're successful at the game's many quick-time events.

Since this Yakuza game is filled with samurai swords and western firearms, you can also upgrade the efficiency of your weapons through a crafting system. With the right materials, you can enhance/craft weapons and armor to improve damage and defense. I found that upgrading weapons and armor wasn’t essential, as I didn't feel the need to grind and participate in crafting. The gear I earned while going through the main story was more than enough for me to deal with all encounters on Normal difficulty. Halfway through, I completely ignored the need to craft equipment, as it felt like the developers were just testing the waters as to how it would feel to have such a system in an action game like Yakuza.

The biggest change is the inclusion of Trooper cards in the game's combat. Once isolated to dungeon encounters in the original game, the mechanic allows each fighting style to be equipped with up to four Trooper cards that, when activated, can either trigger specific buffs for Ryoma or perform over-the-top abilities like channeling lighting into nearby enemies. This addition makes the combat a tad too easy for my tastes, as healing consumables become irrelevant due to certain cards, and multiple enemies can be managed at once with the press of a button. The good thing is you can simply not use them, as I found this approach more to my liking. The cards do add a bit more flair to the combat, so it all comes down to a player's preference. 

Take a load off, and enjoy the city!

Side activities are everywhere to be seen in Like a Dragon: Ishin!, to the point where it was difficult for me to avoid them. At times, certain parts of the main story had gripped my interest so hard that I couldn’t help but want to forge forward and see what would happen next. But there's always a kid that needs help, a delivery guy that doesn’t know where to go, or a fisherman that can’t fish. It’s hard to avoid these diversions as they will stop you in your tracks with the aim of distracting you from whatever activity you were fixated on doing.

These side stories are comedic 90% of the time and balance the game’s overall tone, as the main story is nothing but serious. There are some gems in these side stories that are worth the effort, but some just didn't hit the mark, as I’ve completed a couple that felt like a waste of time.

On the other hand, mini-games in Ishin! are worth sinking your teeth into. Kyo is filled with them - Karaoke, cooking, managing food stalls, dancing, gambling, fishing, the list goes on. Some are just so well-crafted that I found myself spending hours mastering them. These are the best kind of distractions on offer if you want to take a break from the main story, and are a good reminder of why having this many well-thought-out mini-games has become a series staple.

The only one that felt like a missed opportunity is Another Life, where Ryoma helps a woman pay off her family's debt so she won't lose her house. Players can improve this household, and grow crops for selling and cooking. It serves as a light farming simulator that I kinda wish was fleshed out a bit more. It's basic at best, and the payoff for spending time here isn't worth the effort as compared to other in-game activities. 

Like a Dragon Ishin! is a game that you'll definitely enjoy if you've already fallen in love with Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's tried and tested formula, as everything that made Yakuza such a hit series feels intact. The game is packed with content, as after 28 hours of playing the game, I only reached 15% total completion. It’s crazy to have a game this jam-packed, as the overall map is compact, but loaded. Every corner of the game literally has some activity that begs your attention, and it will undoubtedly keep you busy until the next series entry comes along.

I also recommend Ishin! for new players, as you don’t need to dive head-first in chronological order to fully embrace why this is such a beloved series, as this game has all you need to get a full grasp on the Yakuza experience, plus the strong writing and characters are more than worth the emotional investment. 

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8/10 (BUY)

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PROS

• Entertaining revenge-infused drama that kept me hooked

• As usual, a ton of side stories and activities to do within the city

• The typical Yakuza beat ‘em up that grows on you the longer you play

CONS

• Inconsistent visual detail between character models

• Systems like crafting and Another Life are not fully fleshed out, and easily forgotten

• Trooper Cards gives the game’s combat more flair, but at the expense of blunting the challenge

What I’ve Played

• Finished the game with a total playtime of 28 hours

• Had a completion total of 15%

• Reached level 44

[Reviewer was provided a PC review copy from the game’s publisher.]

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