{"id":41272,"date":"2024-01-04T15:00:11","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T15:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/like-a-dragon-infinite-wealth-hands-on-report-a-vacation-worth-taking\/"},"modified":"2024-01-04T15:00:11","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T15:00:11","slug":"like-a-dragon-infinite-wealth-hands-on-report-a-vacation-worth-taking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/like-a-dragon-infinite-wealth-hands-on-report-a-vacation-worth-taking\/","title":{"rendered":"Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth hands-on report: a vacation worth taking"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Yakuza is a storied franchise that keeps on giving. Each installment in the series leading to 2020\u2019s Yakuza: Like a Dragon has offered something new and innovative, along with consistently satisfying expansions to the evergrowing story of main characters Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m glad to say that after a hands-on preview of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the trend continues. There is almost too much here for Yakuza fans, both new and old, to sink their teeth in and enjoy. This latest entry features a fusion of the series\u2019 original beat-em-up and current turn-based roleplaying style, an island-building mode, and even more charm than ever.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With all this present and more, I\u2019ve found that the title Infinite Wealth might just describe everything the game offers and how long it may last. Read on for a few highlights revealed during my gameplay session.<\/p>\n

Get your walking shoes (and segways) ready<\/h2>\n

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the first title in the Yakuza series to take our favorite motley crew out of Japan and into new territory. Kasuga and Kiryu\u2019s missions lead them to this new location: Honolulu, Hawaii, where they decide to team up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Not only is this locale full of many new sights, sounds, allies, and enemies, but it is the most extensive map ever featured in the Yakuza series. It was so large that during my hours of playing, I wasn\u2019t even able to explore even half the map. There\u2019s no dead air to be found here. Enemies, missions, activities, and lively characters surround each corner. The only decision you have to make is what to tackle first.<\/p>\n

Your friendly neighborhood ex-Yakuza<\/h2>\n

Personality points are nothing new to Like a Dragon, but Infinite Wealth gives a new way to allow Kasuga to move up the ranks. By being a friendly and outgoing tourist, you can constantly grow friendships with Honolulu\u2019s population and boost your personality levels each time.<\/p>\n

All it takes is a simple hello. By pressing square when walking by certain marked NPCs, Kasuga will release a welcoming, Helloooo! and get a good response back. Sometimes, these greetings will even unlock a small task like buying a kid a hot dog, which grants Kasuga a more significant personality increase. These increases unlock extra abilities like more skill slots, enhanced resistance to status ailments, better healing, and more guts. Plus, it\u2019s just charming to make Kasuga into an even nicer guy than he already is.<\/p>\n

Tourism buffs\u00a0<\/h2>\n

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Being a good tourist isn\u2019t limited to just greeting bystanders. Kasuga and the gang eventually find a tourism company called Alo Happy Tours. Specified for Japanese visitors touring Hawaii, Alo Happy Tours is a place where you can pay to jump into activities like surfing, yoga, and fire dancing. But these vacation sessions aren\u2019t just for fun.<\/p>\n

Each new skill learned through Happy Tours leads the party to unlock a new job and fighting style. For example, learning to fire dance unlocks an attacking mage style, learning to host gives access to a buffing support job, and learning to be a pop idol lets characters heal and cure allies. And there are so many activities and styles to learn that it felt nearly endless. Not to mention the amount of party combos you can come up with.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Past wishes fulfilled<\/h2>\n

Kasuga isn\u2019t the only one with a new way to unlock abilities through means other than fighting or the usual activities. Kiryu\u2019s new ailment and decision to not get treatment have put his life on a clock. With his new friends Seong-Hui and Yu Nanba, he\u2019s decided not to let it go to waste and tackle a bucket list before he checks out.<\/p>\n

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This bucket list isn\u2019t just a plot element, but a gameplay mechanic. Kiryu can awaken his soul (Brawler fighting style), tech (Rush fighting style), and body (Beast fighting style) by completing items from this bucket list. Whether it\u2019s a simple fishing trip or tasting some food he\u2019s always wanted to taste like candy, Kiryu\u2019s strength grows by living life to the fullest. I nearly shed a tear when he talked about everything he wanted to do without the fear and need of trying to look cool for people around him.<\/p>\n

A game within a game<\/h2>\n
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