Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – Prologue, Characters, and Locations Revealed!
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Sega has unveiled new details for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, the latest installment in the Like a Dragon series, coming to PlayStation and Xbox consoles, as well as PC via Steam. They detailed the game's prologue, key characters, and the tropical islands that will serve as the backdrop to this swashbuckling adventure.
The Story So Far: Majima's High Seas Adventure
Set six months after the events at Millenium Tower, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii follows fan-favorite Goro Majima, as he washes up on the shores of Rich Island. Stranded and suffering from amnesia, Majima is rescued by a young islander named Noah, who helps him regain his strength. With no memory of his past, Majima only has two clues: the dagger by his side and the tattoo on his back.
In a bid to recover his memories, Majima hijacks a pirate ship and sets off on a high-seas adventure, aiming to repay Noah by fulfilling the boy’s dream of seeing the world. However, rumors of a legendary treasure begin to circulate, drawing Majima and his crew into the dangerous waters surrounding the pirate haven of Madlantis.
Meet the Key Cast of Characters
Players will encounter a colorful roster of characters along Majima’s journey. Sega has provided quick descriptions of some of the characters:
Noah Rich（VA: First Summer Uika）: A boy from Rich Island who is brimming with curiosity. He saved Majima's life by giving him some water. Even though his father forbids him from leaving the island due to a chronic illness, Noah yearns to see the outside world.
Jason Rich (VA: Kenji Matsuda): Noah's father and the owner of the sole bar on Rich Island. As a former treasure hunter, he once sailed a ship around the world in search of riches. Now, he's rarely even sober during the day.
Masaru Fujita (VA: Ryuji Akiyama (Robert)) A bodyguard and chef who runs the kitchen of a pirate ship anchored at Rich Island. His wits and humor make him the life of the party. Due to his incredible brawn and fighting prowess, some joke that he's a better bodyguard than a chef.
Teruhiko Shigaki（VA: Munetaka Aoki): An ex-Tojo Clan patriarch. He is caring and excels as a negotiator. After the Great Dissolution, he came to Hawaii as a volunteer to clean up the nuclear waste on Nele Island.
Rodriguez（VA: Ayumi Tanida): One of the Palekana elite disciples, also known as the Haku. Although many Haku have begun migrating from Nele Island due to the arrest of Bryce, Palekana's previous Sage, he stays to deal with the nuclear waste cleanup.
Mortimer（VA: Shunsuke Daitoh): The champion of Madlantis's Pirates' Coliseum. His abilities live up to the name he's made for himself. There seems to be a bitter history between him, Jason, and Masaru.
Noah's Little Friend: An adorable little cat (?) that escaped from some ship and made his way to Rich Island, where Noah found him. Since they met, the two have been inseparable. For some reason, Majima and Masaru insist that Goro is a tiger.
Moana Rich（VA: Reina Ueda): Moana works diligently at the bar every day, her cheerful demeanor always livening up the establishment. Thanks to her, the bar manages to stay afloat despite its lack of customers. Although, there is a distinct age gap between her and Noah, the two get along well.
Naomi Rich（VA: Yoko Hikasa): Daughter to Jason and older sister to Noah and Moana. After attending university in Honolulu, Jason has lost track of her whereabouts.
Queen Michele（VA: Romi Park): One of the leaders of Madlantis. When she was young, she gained notoriety as the belle of Hawaii's criminal underworld. Her aristocratic taste led her to create the Pirates' Coliseum. A swarm of subordinates accompany her wherever she goes.
Raymond Law（VA: Miou Tanaka): A magnate who earned the moniker "Pirate King". Together with Queen Michele, he rules over Madlantis. After the Queen came up with the idea for the Pirates' Coliseum, he signed on as manager and turned it into a profitable business.
These aren’t the only characters but are definitely the key pieces of the game’s overall story.
Explore the Islands of Hawaii
Players will sail across the ocean, exploring islands like Rich Island, Nele Island, and Madlantis, each teeming with adventure and danger:
Rich Island: A remote and quiet island where Noah’s family lives. Pirates often dock here for rest and relaxation at Jason's bar.
Nele Island: A holy site and home to the Palekana, a religious faction devoted to cleaning up nuclear waste. Ex-yakuza members like Shigaki have volunteered to help with the island's recovery.
Madlantis: A lawless paradise, hidden within a cave and filled with pirates, criminals, and the notorious Pirates' Coliseum. Here, pirate battles are a regular occurrence, with aspiring champions vying for fame and fortune under Queen Michele’s watchful eye.
Pirate Battles: Conquer the High Seas
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is obviously pirate themed and despite it being set in the modern age players will find themselves in various pirate battles where players can command Majima’s crew and engage in naval warfare. You can expect to upgrade your ship, recruit over 100 seafarers, and customize your vessel with cannons and unique designs. You can maneuver around the seas, board ships, and brawl against rival crew members.
The Like a Dragon saga made a major shift when Yakuza: Like a Dragon was released with Ichiban Kasuga taking the leading role, introducing a turn-based RPG combat system that surprisingly works well for the series moving forward. But one thing remains constant in this series — the crazy and over-the-top nonsense the series is known for, as a modern-day pirate game within the Yakuza world isn’t so surprising if you’re a player familiar with the series. Just a reminder, they did release a zombie apocalypse spin-off title.
It’s also good that the developers are not entirely giving up on the franchise’s original combat system and are willing to return to it like here and in 2023’s Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s release date was updated recently as Sega is moving the game up as it’s now releasing on February 21, 2025. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC through Steam and the Microsoft Store.
While it’s a worthy entry into the hallowed series, for Zelda fans who love action and playing with Link’s many toys, Echoes of Wisdom will be an overpriced slog.