Review: Like a Dragon: Ishin!

destructoid.com:

Like a Dragon has seen its main series’ star continually rise in the west, and now we’re getting a remake of one that never managed to make it over. Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a remake of the 2014 game, tackling historical fiction through the lens of its characters, humor, and action.

While the anachronistic premise can and does lead to some outlandish moments, the good news is that for the most part, Ishin comes together well. Aside from technical hitches and some tedium in the main story, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is an enjoyable romp through history with all the bizarre slice-of-life moments and dramatic fights you could want.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! (PS4, PS5 [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC) Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Publisher: Sega Released: February 21, 2023 MSRP: $59.99

Ishin follows the story of Sakamoto Ryoma, a swordsman returning home to Tosa from his training in Edo. Ryoma is quickly reunited with adoptive father Yoshida Toyo and sworn brother Takechi Hanpeita, as the three collaborate to overthrow the class system of the land. A masked assassin interrupts the events, however. Framed for murder, Ryoma flees Tosa and heads to Kyo under the guise of Saito Hajime, seeking the attacker and their unique fighting style.

For those who aren’t keenly familiar with the history of Japan, Ishin does take place in and portray the events surrounding the end of the Edo period. But it does so by obviously dramatizing events, intertwining and supposing characters in the ways historical fiction does, and using Like a Dragon (née Yakuza) characters as stand-ins for the figures of the era. It’s The Muppets Christmas Carol take on history, but instead of Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, it’s Kazuma Kiryu’s likeness