Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii Preview: Ridiculously Fun

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is the next (and wildest) entry in the long-running series, and it truly feels like the franchise is now fully unrestrained. Building on two decades of impressive titles, the series has developed a reputation for balancing an almost operatic tale of brotherhood and betrayal amid the backdrop of the Japanese criminal underworld, alongside immersive game worlds where anything is possible. understood that balance, but takes things even further — and fans of the series will be ecstatic with the result.

Set after the events of , finds Majima washed up on a tropical island with no memory of his past. Quickly amassing a number of allies, Majima sets out to become a feared pirate captain off the coast of Hawaii. was invited to attend a hands-on preview of the game and take part in a Q&A with Producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto.

is an expansive sea adventure that feels like the melding of and in the best way possible. The game follows Majima as he explores (and pilages) several tropical locations. Ranging from the idyllic Rich Island and the scenic Honolulu to the expansive criminal paradise of Madlantis, is a bright and colorful title that leans into the sheer inherent bombast of the premise. This includes giving the player the ability to recruit a truly staggering number of oddballs to crew their pirate shift.

An off-the-wall release could actually do a much better job capturing the spirit of Black Flag than Skull and Bones even came close to accomplishing.

The traversal system between islands puts players behind the mast of a classic pirate ship. However, this isn't, where a certain degree of authenticity is expected for the experience. Instead, players can hit the boosters on their ship to catch up to enemy vessels, setting up a boarding combat scene where players and their crew can board and demolish other groups of characters. There's a sense of controlled chaos in , a firm handle on a weird world where anything can happen and all avenues are available to players.

Gameplay in