Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a confident and rich sequel that’ll have you hooked
For a game that boasts more content than your average RPG and then some, Infinite Wealth is a fitting title for the next instalment of the Like a Dragon series (a moniker that took over from simply Yakuza in the West).
After taking a bold step into turn-based combat in 2020's outing, Infinite Wealth is a confident and jam-packed sequel, full of heart that will give you so much to sink your teeth into and make you fall in love with Ichiban Kasuga all over again, not to mention the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio series as a whole.
This time on the sunny shores of Hawai'i, Ichiban is on the search for his biological mother. It’s never that easy though, and after waking up naked on the beach, he quickly comes to learn that he’s not the only one looking for his long lost mother.
In fact, multiple factions are on the hunt, leading to a deep spider's web of twists and turns, with corrupt police, gangsters, cults and more — not to mention an out-of-earshot phone call or two that’ll leave you scratching your coconut about what’s really going on and just who is actually on your side.
Related: The best Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth deals on PS5, PS4, Xbox and PC
Kazuma Kiryu, the ‘Dragon of Dojima’, has your back early on this time, and with Ichiban still the same loveable and ultra-positive goofball as always, it’s great to see him play off against the stoic stature of Kiryu.
Hawai'i, which makes for a nice change of pace in the world of Like a Dragon, is easily one of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's biggest maps and a proud achievement. Whether exploring on foot or in a Segway gang (yes, you can whip out a Segway-like electric scooter on demand), there’s a lot of detail to see and secrets to uncover in the streets and back corners.
Doubling down on turn-based combat, there’s no sweeping changes that’ll suddenly make you fall in love with the system, but there’s some really nice tweaks that make the whole thing much more enjoyable and easy to read at a quick glance.
Firstly, you can now move around in a more clearly defined area, which helps when lining up group healing or status effects as well as if you want to bring a nearby object into the fray. You never know when a well-timed chair or barrel could really turn the tide of a fight.
Tag Team attacks are now highlighted next to your characters icon and activated with a shoulder button, which speeds everything up now they’re not hidden within your attack menu — and honestly, some of the moves are great fun.
Who doesn’t want to tango with a friend straight into some street thugs, or have the two dragons of this series go old-school action and tackle some Sujimon, side by side?
Speaking of Sujimon, you’ll once again have the chance to collect them all (it’s not a Pokémon riff, we promise) but with the added bonus of a brand new Sujimon League. Yep, exactly as it sounds, you’ll be able to collect and build a power team of Sujimon and battle other trainers around town until you’re strong enough to take on the elite.
There are raids dotted around town, offering the chance to collect unique Sujimon, and you’ll even have the opportunity to convince some to join your ranks after normal battles through the town and story.
When it comes to fighting, your job title makes a big difference in style and power. Not employed by Hello Work anymore, you’ll need to visit an Alo-Happy travel agency and take in some of the sights and sounds of this new paradise to get some much-needed inspiration.
Going shopping could mean you bump into an over-enthusiastic cleaner and unlock the power of a good mop, or having a rough time paragliding could be just what you need to harness the skills of an action star. It’s all as wild as ever, with some hilarious animations to bring the idea home and gives you a lot to experiment with.
Obviously you’ll need to upgrade your gear as you move through the dubious underbelly of Hawai'i, meaning earning some serious money will be crucial. Thanks to the US gig economy, there’s actually no shortage of ways to earn a living in the sun.
Sure, you’ll earn some money from fights with street thugs and goons, as well as via the story itself, but if you’re saving for an all-important large socket wrench or some more powerful maracas for the Hula Dancer in your group, you’ll need more.
Crazy Eats sees you doing your best Uber Eats impression and delivering food around town but you’ve got to do it crazy. Doing flips and tricks while carrying some promo munch is a great way to gain some points that you can convert into money or spend in their shop. (It’s also nice to scratch that Crazy Taxi itch we’ve all got.)
You can also play Sicko Snap and ride around town trying to grab some decent photos of some indecent characters waiting to jump out of bushes and hang from rooftops — think Pokémon Snap with Sujimon and you’re there.
But the best way to earn money by far is Dondoko Island. A cosy park simulator that’s almost as deep as Animal Crossing, it sees you working to restore this once-beautiful island, now a trash heap, into a functioning park again.
With the usual off-the-wall colourings you’d expect, including some creepy mascots that wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, you’ll clear trash and mine supplies with Ichiban's trusty baseball bat and build some great furniture with your self-taught DIY skills such as tables, street lamps, and, well, public toilets.
The Swashbucklers, a team of villains as if straight from a Saints Row character creator, are here to put a stop to those plans, so expect to fight them in order to continue and stop them undoing all your hard work.
This mode alone could be a cosy time sink, but if you can pull yourself away, you’ll realise how quickly you can grow your bank balance converting Dondoko Bucks into dollars.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is another rich entry in this long-running series, which clearly still has more to offer before it runs out of steam. There’s a great cast of characters, both new and old, that’ll have you feeling all the feels and learning to love them, as well as an engaging story right to the end. With so much to do and experiment with, it’s a vacation to remember and one we can’t wait to dive straight back into.
Platform reviewed on: Xbox Series X
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is out on January 26 on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
You Might Also Like
