Like a Dragon: Ishin!
stands in a somewhat odd position.
It’s the first release in the series to drop the Yakuza title.
Like A Dragon: Ishin!
preview
The familiar open-world full of side-activities remains.
The sub-stories are what make the world of Kyo truly feel lived in.
Through these, the player is submerged in the politics and attitudes of 1860s Japan.
1860s Kyo was bloodier and more brutal, as it was a time of political and social instability.
Whilst sub-stories offer humanisation and context to Kyo, mini-games are where the delightful nonsense can be found.
Swordsman offers what you’d typically think of when imagining samurai.
Using a katana, it’s best when you need a solid block paired with precision strikes.
Gunman proved to be my least favourite, although it’s a good choice for long-range combat.
Wild Dancer, which uses both a katana and a gun, was certainly my favourite to use.
What keeps Ishin from feeling too dark and heavy is its fanservice.
Ryoma is based on Kiryu, and he is equally as stoic and driven by his modern counterpart.
My time with the preview felt too short.
