Like a Dragon: Ishin! is an action-adventure game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. Released in February 2023, it is a remake of the 2014 Japan-exclusive Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin! and reimagines the Like a Dragon series in a historical setting. Set in the Bakumatsu period of Japan (mid-1800s), the game follows Sakamoto Ryoma, modelled after Kazuma Kiryu, as he navigates political intrigue, conspiracies, and samurai combat while seeking revenge for his mentor's murder.
The gameplay combines swordplay, gunfighting, and hand-to-hand combat, with a mix of main story missions and side activities, including minigames and historical recreations of series staples.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is an essential entry in the franchise, and it's finally available for us to play.
Like A Dragon: Ishin! doesn't reach the same heights as previous titles, but the new mechanics bring a different feel to the series.
Like a Dragon: Ishin is worth the wait, and fans of the series are in for a real treat. However, it is a niche entry in the series and not one I’d recommend for beginners. In fact, the more of the main games you’ve played before tackling Ishin, the more you’ll get out of it. Nevertheless, it’s a great spin on the Yakuza formula, and I’m glad Sega took...
Like A Dragon: Ishin! it's like all Yakuza in a sense: it will blow you away for knowing how to combine a serious and solid narrative with completely absurd moments. On the other hand, it differs a LOT from other installments of the franchise, to the point that it becomes a video game that can be a great wink for the most familiar, or a very curious...
You know what happens as a direct result of the Meiji Restoration and Japan’s rise to international power? The colonization of Taiwan and Korea. The horrific genocide against Chinese civilians. Empires demand resources, and modern Japanese history is inextricably tied to wider Asian suffering and bloodshed. It was the reason why I had hoped that Hajime...
