Recently releasing a combat sneak peek trailer alongside a release date, Like a Dragon: Ishin is eager to bring the 19th-century Bakumatsu-era adventures of Ryoma Sakamoto to current and past-gen consoles.
Previously locked on the PS3 and PS4 in its Japanese title Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin, the spin-off title has been long sought by its overseas fans for a translation/re-release outside of Japan. In a recent announcement, the Like a Dragon: Ishin remake is getting an array of new features for players to sink their teeth into!
▍Like a Dragon: Ishin New Sub-Stories
Two separate sub-stories will be newly added in the remake, seeing the return of characters seen in the previous titles. Named “The Captain and the Curious”, the sidequest sees the return of the Brawler Style trainer Bacchus as a stand-in for Ernest Satow, a British Diplomat. Inviting trouble wherever he shows up, Ryoma will have to assist in his quest of archiving accounts of Japan’s history and its people.
On the other hand, “The Spitfire Town Protector” sub-story centers around a woman named Yae Yamamoto who wears a haori jacket decorated with a dragon on its back. Players of Yakuza 0 will recognize her as “Miss Tatsu the debt collector” where she acted as a mentor for Kiryu Kazuma for the Beast-style. Asked by Yae to assist in her investigations against the town’s ne’er-do-wells Ryoma joins forces to solve the case.
▍Sing your Heart Out in Karaoke Mini-Games
Like any other titles in the series, the game is full of mini-games to try out, though this time with a Bakumatsu-era twists to them. Take part in recreational pass times like Buyo Dancing or even courtesan games at the bar.
Karaoke makes a return as well, featuring two new tunes for Ryoma to sing to including “Ichizu Samurai” (Truehearted Samurai) and the return of fan-favorite “Baka Mitai” (I’ve Been a Fool)!
▍Capture Moments on a whim with the New Photo Mode
Want to capture the perfect frame from that perfect beat-down? Look no further, because in Like a Dragon: Ishin you can take advantage of a brand-new Photo Mode to take that perfect shot. The game features options from camera positioning, poses, and expressions all the way to stamps and color filters for customization!
▍Lay-back in the Countryside with Haruka in Another Life Mode
Haruka Sawamura makes a return in Like a Dragon: Ishin where through circumstances, Ryoma begins to live with Haruka in his second home, where players can relax in “Another Life”. While at his villa, Ryoma can partake in activities ranging from gathering vegetables to fishing in the ocean for trading, and even cooking with the ingredients he collects.
Interacting with Haruka at the villa allows players to gradually gain her trust, where some snippets of parent-child-like interactions occur, showing how the two form a bond.
Like a Dragon: Ishin is slated to release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam on February 22, 2023.