Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – A Deep Dive into the Adventures of Ichiban Kasuga In the gripping saga of “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,” I find myself fervently declaring an everlasting desire to protect the pixelated existence of Ichiban Kasuga with my very life. Much like the game’s protagonist, Infinite Wealth, with its awkward and stilted charm, has the potential to grate on one’s nerves with its occasional tediousness. However, beneath this lies a captivating charm that forgives every flaw.
As the eighth entry in the Yakuza series and the second featuring Ichiban Kasuga, a 40-year-old former felon with a heart of gold, Infinite Wealth takes players on a journey through the bustling streets of Yokohama. Despite being well-versed in the Yakuza series, having dabbled in “Yakuza 0” and “Yakuza Kiwami,” I initially missed out on Ichiban’s debut in “Yakuza: Like a Dragon.” Fortunately, Infinite Wealth catches players up to speed, making it accessible even to those unfamiliar with the series or those who may have forgotten the events of the previous game.
Our narrative unfolds as we catch up with Ichiban after his heroic exploits in Yokohama, where he now works tirelessly at the local employment center. His noble goal is to help ex-Yakuza members reintegrate into society, a challenging feat given the strict laws prohibiting their participation. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Trouble ensues as Ichiban, driven by a quest to find his long-lost mother, embarks on a journey to Hawaii, accompanied by newfound friends who seamlessly transition into party members along the way.
For newcomers to the Yakuza franchise, a word of caution: Infinite Wealth will test your patience to the limit. The game’s pacing is undeniably criminal, subjecting players to extended periods of unskippable, story-critical cutscenes. The imbalance between exploration and narrative is evident, with every brief moment of richly constructed world exploration requiring a substantial investment of time in cutscenes.
Yet, despite the pacing issues, Sega’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio demonstrates an uncanny ability to reignite players’ interest. When the frustration with the game’s pacing reaches its peak, Infinite Wealth introduces elements so absurdly entertaining that it pulls players back in. The game unfolds gradually, allowing players to acclimate to new systems without feeling overwhelmed.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth From the social media-driven “making-friends” minigame to the unconventional “dating app” minigame and the Crazy Taxi-inspired “Uber-Eats” minigame, the variety keeps players engaged.
The developers strategically unfold the game’s offerings over time, allowing players to explore the intricacies of the world before delving into the Yakuza-infused version of Pokémon, known as Sujimon. This monster-battling game comes complete with raids and adds another layer to the already diverse gameplay experience. Notably, it took a substantial 14 hours before reaching one of the most heavily advertised features of Infinite Wealth: the Animal Crossing-like Dodonko Island minigame.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth And the surprises keep coming, with a dungeon-crawling segment featuring successive levels of increasingly challenging combat introduced around the same time as Dondonko Island.
In essence, “Infinite Wealth” unfolds as a collection of nine distinct retail games, all bundled together in a yakuza-tattooed trench coat made of social commentary. While I have yet to complete the game after investing 25 hours to reach chapter six out of 14, the sheer abundance of content ensures that my journey is far from over. With so much to see and do, it’s doubtful that I’ll wrap up Ichiban Kasuga’s story within this fiscal year.
A Diverse and Engaging Journey
“Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” may test the patience of players with its pacing, but beneath the surface lies a game that unfolds with a unique charm and an abundance of diverse gameplay experiences. Ichiban Kasuga’s adventures, infused with social commentary surprises, offer a gaming experience that transcends the traditional Yakuza narrative, making it a journey well worth undertaking.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – The Thrilling Surf and Turf Wars
Embarking on the journey of “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,” it quickly becomes evident that while you can transplant a Like a Dragon game from Japan, the eclectic array of peculiar enemy types remains an integral part of the experience. Despite the majority of Infinite Wealth unfolding on US soil, players are once again thrust into battles against a plethora of humorously off-kilter adversaries, boasting pun-based names such as Hungry Hungry Homeless and Impatient.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth It feels akin to waging a war against a gang of grown-up Garbage Pail Kids. However, this time around, each encounter is more dynamic and intuitive, offering a refreshing departure from the comparatively rigid battles of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
A clever change in mechanics introduces the ability to reposition each of your four team members within a set movement arc at the start of each turn. This shift adds a layer of strategy, allowing players to inflict bonus damage by maneuvering characters for close-ups or rear attacks.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Moreover, the freedom to grab objects like bicycles and explosive barrels to crash into crowds enhances the chaos. Unlike Yakuza: Like a Dragon, where makeshift weapons were occasionally grabbed automatically, Infinite Wealth empowers players to choose the exact object to wield, ranging from explosive gas canisters to rocket launchers.
As the bonds between party members strengthen, additional supporting moves unlock, creating powerful chain reactions. Players can intentionally forward another team member for creative and devastating combos, reminiscent of XCOM-inspired team moves. The combat system in Infinite Wealth exudes a riotous level of chaos and carnage, overshadowing the more modest turn-taking of its predecessor.
Controlling Kiryu, a fan-favorite character, harks back to the series’ street fighting roots. Kiryu can switch between three stances—Brawler for balanced attacks, Rush for two consecutive attacks per turn, and Beast for devastating grapple moves. The trademark Heat gauge allows Kiryu to unleash satisfying button-based combos in the offering, offering a kinetic and thrilling combat experience. Even when Kiryu is absent, the combat in Infinite Wealth remains dynamic, surpassing the politeness of Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s turn-taking approach.
Infinite Wealth consistently introduces unique elements to each fighting arena, compelling players to adapt their strategies. From battling in a flaming forest, where smoldering logs become weapons, to confronting foes in a room filled with poisonous gas, adding urgency to each turn, the game keeps players on their toes. Memorable encounters, such as intentionally knocking enemies into the jaws of a great white shark during a tugboat battle, showcase the game’s inventive and immersive combat scenarios. While some repetitive random encounters exist in the streets, the majority of Infinite Wealth’s story mission battles are gripping and leave a lasting impression.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – Mastering the Tricks of the Trade
In the expansive world of “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,” the versatile job system from its predecessor, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, makes a triumphant return. This system allows players to customize each character’s class to complement their party composition. While maintaining a strategy of having an Idol on the team for invaluable support abilities, Infinite Wealth introduces new jobs that prove to be more captivating than its predecessor.
The appeal of the jobs extends beyond practicality, with entertaining choices such as Kasuga as an Aquanaut, wielding a surfboard for unique attacks, Adachi as a Samurai with a katana, and newcomer Tomizawa, a Desperado dual-wielding pistols. The introduction of various job classes transforms Infinite Wealth’s battles into vibrant clashes that resemble fights breaking out at a cosplay competition.
The expanded list of jobs caters to both practicality and entertainment value. Jobs like Heiress allow players to unleash different grenade types, inflicting status effects on groups of enemies. Some choices, like Kiryu impersonating Bruce Lee in a Game of Death jumpsuit, add both damage and entertainment to the combat experience. Special attacks associated with each job, evolving as they are leveled up, contribute to the dynamic and dazzling nature of the battles.
Unlike the frustrating difficulty spikes in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which necessitated extensive grinding for experience points, Infinite Wealth provides a smoother progression. The absence of stonewalling in the campaign ensures a more enjoyable experience, eliminating the need for prolonged grinding sessions. The designers behind Infinite Wealth have successfully navigated away from the traditional JRPG difficulty spikes, creating a more player-friendly progression system.
The absence of an overt difficulty setting for the first playthrough may strike some as odd. Unlike other modern JRPGs, such as Final Fantasy VII: Remake, Infinite Wealth lacks the option to adjust difficulty until completing the story and unlocking Hard and Legend modes. This choice raises questions about accessibility in an era where varied difficulty options are increasingly prioritized.
While the more gradual difficulty curve in Infinite Wealth is appreciated, the lack of initial difficulty settings might seem outdated. Players are left without the flexibility to tailor their experience to their preferred challenge level on the first playthrough. However, it’s worth noting that Sega doesn’t follow the trend of charging extra for an easy mode, a practice observed in some other games with New Game+. As players navigate the intricate balance between challenge and accessibility, “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” offers an engaging journey filled with diverse job classes and thrilling combat scenarios.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – Abundant Adventures in Kawaii Hawaii
In the world of “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,” the tradition of overflowing supplemental content synonymous with the Like a Dragon series continues to captivate players. Building upon Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s Sujimon system, which allowed players to capture and catalog peculiar insteaddals instead of pocket monsters, Infinite Wealth takes it a step further. The system now encompasses numerous limited-time raids, training sessions, and stadium battles, expanding the realm of side activities.
The Super Crazy Delivery arcade time attack minigame combines the addictive nature of Crazy Taxi with the speed of a DoorDash bike. Meanwhile, the Sicko Mode challenges players to photograph Speedo-clad musclemen hidden in bushes, creating a humorous and entertaining diversion. These activities contribute to the vibrant and dynamic nature of the game, adding layers to the already rich gaming experience.
Dondoko Island emerges as one of the extensive new side activities, offering players a unique crafting and resource-gathering experience. Resembling Animal Crossing in its essence, players can cut down trees, smash rocks, and clear trash bags to collect resources for crafting furniture and structures to beautify their island resort. Fishing, bug-catching, and defending against occasional pirate attacks further enrich the island experience, providing a refreshing break from the main story.
The substories in Infinite Wealth stand out, offering unexpected and delightful surprises as players explore the streets. Serving as a stuntman on an action movie set, navigating high-speed traffic and explosions, or participating in a quirky escape room TV show adds a stimulating change of pace. These substories not only entertain but also contribute to the accumulation of experience points, unlocking new combat moves and features even outside of battle scenarios.
Infinite Wealth excels in incorporating minor design decisions that enhance the overall gaming experience. Features like fast trarank from rank from any point on the map, an overview of available weapons at stores without the need to visit them, and color-coded symbols for enemy groups in the world showcase the thoughtful approach of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Additionally, the ability to instantly defeat lower-level enemies, gaining cash and XP without engaging in a time-consuming fight, demonstrates the game’s commitment to player convenience.
While the game doesn’t boast an “Infinite Wealth” of innovative ideas, it certainly presents a surplus of intelligent and enjoyable features. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s meticulous attention to detail and commitment to a seamless player experience make “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” a truly engaging and content-rich adventure in the picturesque setting of Kawaii Hawaii.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth gameplay
“Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” delivers a captivating and dynamic gameplay experience that builds upon the strengths of its predecessor. The overhauled combat system introduces flexibility and excitement to every turn, offering players a refreshing and engaging approach to battles. The removal of difficulty spikes ensures a smoother progression, eliminating the need for repetitive grinding that was present in the previous turn-based installment.
Set against the spectacular backdrop of Hawaii, the game’s setting is not just aesthetically pleasing but also filled with a myriad of enjoyable activities. From Super Crazy Delivery, an addictive arcade time attack minigame reminiscent of Crazy Taxi, to the island resort escapades of Dondoko Island, players have a plethora of options to immerse themselves in beyond the main storyline.
The compelling narrative takes players on a country-hopping crime story, keeping them hooked for approximately 50 hours of gameplay. The addition of vibrant new job classes and unique combat arenas contributes to the overall freshness of the fighting experience.
“Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” emerges not only as the best turn-based game in the Like a Dragon series but also stands out as one of the most remarkable entries in the entire Yakuza franchise. With sprawling landscapes, an enthralling storyline, and dynamic brawling, the game showcases the pinnacle of Yakuza’s gaming prowess, offering players an unforgettable and immersive journey.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Character
“Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” features a diverse and compelling cast of characters that contribute to the richness of the game’s narrative and gameplay experience. At the center of the story is Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist, whose charismatic and determined personality drives the country-hopping crime narrative forward. Kasuga, a 40-year-old former felon with a heart of gold, leads players through the vibrant and dynamic world of the game.
The game introduces a revamped job system that allows players to alter the class of each character, enhancing the flexibility and strategic depth of the gameplay. From the wetsuited Aquanaut Kasuga to the katana-swinging Samurai Adachi and the dual-pistol-wielding Desperado Tomizawa, each character brings a unique flair to the combat experience.
The supporting cast adds depth and charm to the storyline, strengthening bonds between party members over time, unlocking additional supporting moves, and creating powerful chain reactions in battles. The game’s dynamic brawling, enriched by the diverse set of characters and their respective job classes, ensures that the gameplay remains fresh and engaging throughout the entire experience.
“Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” not only excels in its gameplay mechaninnctctcterercharactercter design, offering players a memorable and immersive journey with a cast that contributes significantly to the overall excellence of the game.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – A Masterpiece in the Yakuza Series
“Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” elevates the Yakuza series to new heights with its revamped combat system, offering flexibility and flair at every turn. The game skillfully addresses the pitfalls of its predecessor, eliminating difficulty spikes and the need for tedious grinding, resulting in a more enjoyable turn-based experience. The breathtaking Hawaiian setting provides a vibrant backdrop, brimming with a plethora of engaging activities that can overwhelm even the most ambitious holiday itineraries.
The gripping narrative, spanning multiple countries, captivated me throughout the 50-hour journey, akin to being hooked like a freshly lured barracuda. The introduction of vibrant job classes and unique combat arenas keeps the fighting experience consistently fresh. “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” stands as not only the best turn-based game in the Like a Dragon series but also one of the finest entries in the entire Yakuza franchise.
With its sprawling landscapes, enthralling storyline, and dynamic brawling, “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” emerges as a masterpiece that showcases the pinnacle of the Yakuza gaming experience.
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