During today’s Sony’s State of Play Livestream, Sega and Ryu ga Gotoku Studio revealed that the Yakuza series spinoff title Like a Dragon: Ishin is getting a remake for Playstation 4 and 5. The title is known to be one of the very few titles to never have been released outside of Japan. The game is aiming for a release early next year on February 21, 2023.
Like a Dragon: Ishin is to be a direct remake of the original PS3 title Ryu go Gotoku Ishin! that sets itself apart from the other Yakuza titles in its setting based in the Bakumatsu period of Japan. The game features the samurai Sakamoto Ryoma as he sets off on a quest for revenge before bringing about the “greatest revolution in Japanese history”. Though the protagonist may have the same name as the actual historical figure, Sega did also mention that the game is set in the city of Kyo, a fictional version of Kyoto.
▍Like a Dragon: Ishin Announcement Trailer
▍Like a Dragon: Ishin! Gameplay
In a separate PlayStation Blog post; David Hinds, Sega of America’s Global Community Manager would explain: “In Ishin, you can slash through foes with a lethal blade using the Swordsman style or sharpshoot your enemies with a revolver using the Gunman style. Better yet, wield both a gun and sword and enter a fury with the Wild Dancer style.
And when you’re feeling extra brutal, smash some skulls with your bare fists using the Brawler style.” Much akin to the systems present in games like Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami, Ishin seems to focus on quick situation-based style-switching action that allows the player to smoothly change up their approach to the various foes the game shows off.
In the same blog post, Hinds would also mention that the game is being developed on Unreal Engine 4 instead of their in-house alternative the Dragon Engine. This would be the first time RGG Studio employs the engine and its tried and true background may be a contributor to the sharper graphics present in the trailer.
Some users have shown some divisive opinions towards some of the latest games in the Yakuza series that employed the Dragon Engine, detractors mainly criticized the sluggish combat speeds and weaker fighting mechanics in comparison to preceding games that did not employ RGG’s in-house alternative. Whether they took these opinions to heart, the new engine is definitely a contributor to the overall new aesthetics and fidelity shown in the trailer for the new Ishin.
The end of the trailer shown off at the State of Play also refers to the upcoming RGG Summit Live Stream that airs at 19:00 JST/10:00 UTC on September 14 on Twitch as well as Youtube, where the titular game will be further elaborated on. Taking place a day before the imminent Tokyo Game Show, this summit showcase is expected to be revealing the next mainline title for the Yakuza series as well. Don’t miss this chance to catch what could possibly be the next anticipated Yakuza 8 reveal at the summit as well as more info on this Like a Dragon: Ishin!
