Like a Dragon Gaiden review

pcgamer.com:

What is it? A Yakuza side-story, set during the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Release date November 8, 2023
Expect to pay $50/£45
Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher Sega
Reviewed on Ryzen 7 3700X, 32GB RAM, RTX 3080Ti
Steam Deck TBA
Link Official site

The Like a Dragon series—Yakuza, as it was previously known—has always been economical with its reuse of assets and features. Even major new releases recycle old locations and minigames alongside whatever new features they also add. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, though, is not a 'major' release. It's a sidestory—one that bridges the gap in protagonist Kiryu's story between Yakuza 6 and the upcoming Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

As a result, it's shorter and less ambitious than a main series entry. There's very little here that feels new. The action is predominantly in Sotenbori—the series' take on Osaka's Dōtonbori district, used frequently in previous games. The minigames are a tried and true collection of Yakuza classics, from mahjong to karaoke to the return of pocket circuit racing. There is one new location, The Castle—an absurd offshore getaway for rich hedonistic assholes. In practice, though, it's just a hub for the battle arena and a returning handful of gambling minigames.

Damn it, though, it still works. The nature of the series—its focus on story and character; on dramatic plot and absurd substories—makes every game something more than the sum of its distractions. A returning location is a chance to see how the world has changed since your last visit. A reused minigame proves a welcome break as the story's tension continues to build. It all feels very comfortable, especially now that the mainline series has moved onto a new lead