Few modern AAA franchises put out games quicker than theLike a Dragon / Yakuzaseries does, which, even in spite of that kind of output, manages to maintain a remarkable level of quality and consistency. Unsurprisingly, many are excited to get their hands on the series next outing, upcoming spinoffLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. As the series has often been known to do in the past, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will be taking many of assets and foundational elements of last yearsLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthand remixing them and blending them with new ideas of its own, hopefully to create something fresh, unique, and equally enjoyable. As youd expect, thatll mean plenty of familiar elements inPirate Yakuza in Hawaiifor those whove playedInfinite Wealth but at the same time, theres also plenty thats going to be different. The latter is what were going to focus on now- and theres quite a bit to talk about.PROTAGONISTLets start off with the basics- theLike a Dragonseries has cultivated a rich and diverse cast of beloved characters by now, but whore we playing as this time? Primetime good guys Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu took centerstage inInfinite Wealth, but this time, another beloved fan favourite is stepping forward into the limelight in the form of Goro Majima. The Mad Dog of of Shimano did have a role to play in last years game, yes, but its been a while since he has grabbed the spotlight in more prominent fashion, so for series fans, getting a game where hes the sole protagonist should be nothing short of a treat.COMBATLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthfollowed inYakuza 7sfootsteps with its turn-based RPG systems, though just like the series last spinoff Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name the upcoming Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiwill be returning toYakuzasroots. That means the game will feature real-time brawler combat, and yes, as was usually the case in pastYakuzaandJudgmentgames, players will also have access to multiple combat styles. Between the agile and aggressive Mad Dog style and the fantastical Sea Dog style which will turn Majima into a full-fledged gun-toting, cutlass-wielding pirate combat promises to be a colourful affair.NAVAL SECTIONSYes, piracy is the big central throughline inLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,as its name so subtly alludes to. Former Yakuza Majima has turned up in Hawaii with his memory mysteriously wiped, following which he sets off on a swashbuckling pirate adventure on the high seas, in search of a fabled treasure. Ridiculous? Yes. But a) ridiculous is kind of this series bread and butter, and b) this ridiculous setup will allow players to command their ship on the high sees in naval combat and traversal sections, complete with crew building and ship customization mechanics, on top of other bells and whistles. A little bit of Assassins Creed: Black Flagin ourYakuzawasnt something we ever thought to ask for, but now that were getting it, we cant wait to dive in.LENGTHLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthwas an absolutely monstrous game as far as its size is concerned. Depending on how much you engage with its substantial optional offerings, it can be anywhere between 80 and 120 hours long. Hell, even a rushed playthrough of the game is probably going to take you 50-60 hours.Pirate Yakuzain Hawaiiis promising to be a much more brief experience, however. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has said its going to be about 1.5 times as long asLike a Dragon Gaiden, which would mean were looking at a 15-20 hour game. Thats not exactly a short game, obviously, but by mainline Yakuzastandards, itispretty short- then again, likeGaiden, this isnt a mainline entry, so theres that.SIDE ACTIVITIESLike a Dragongames are built on the backs of their side activities, and obviously,Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiwill have plenty on offer. You can, of course, expect plenty of its roster to overlap withInfinite Wealth, with the likes of Crazy Delivery and karaoke confirmed to be returning, among others. Others, however, will be different. For instance, Dragon Kart, theMario Kart-like activity introduced inYakuza 7, sat outInfinite Wealthbut is now returning. Theres also a whole suite of naval activities, such as upgrading and customizing Majimas ship, the Goromaru, and expanding and leveling up his crew.MAJOR SIDE ACTIVITIES NOT RETURNINGLets stick withPirate Yakuza in Hawaiisroster of side activities a little longer, because it will differ fromInfinite Wealthin a few more key ways in this department. Some of the latters most significant side activities arent coming back, including the likes of Dondoko Island and Sujimon, as well as activities and mechanics that were related toInfinite WealthsRPG mechanics (such as the Ounabara Vocational School, Alo Happy Tours, and what have you).NEW CHARACTERSA bajillion games into a franchise, it can be hard to make truly standalone stories, which meansPirate Yakuza in Hawaiiwill obviously feature its fair share of familiar characters from pastYakuzagames, in addition to protagonist Majima himself. Additionally, however, the game will also introduce a vast and varied roster of entirely new faces. Throughout his adventure in Hawaii, Majima will meet a number of new personalities, including treasure hunters, pirates, former yakuza, and more.NEW LOCATIONSLike a Dragongames are better than most at reusing locations, which is something thatPirate Yakuza in Hawaiiwill also be doing, with the entirety ofInfinite WealthsHonolulu map returning as the main setting. On top of that, however, players can also expect plenty of new locations, including a secret island haven for pirates and criminals known as Madlantis, a secluded location known as Rich Island, and of course, the open seas themselves, where you can sail your ship around and get up to all sorts of trouble.NEW GAME PLUSLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthmade the mistake of locking its New Game Plus mode behind a post-launch paywall, and rightly enough, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio were called out for it. Thankfully, it looks like lessons have been learned. The publisher and developer have confirmed thatLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiisNew Game Plus mode which is still arriving as a post-launch update will be free for all players this time.PRICINGSega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have been explicit in their messaging thatLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiis very muchnota mainlineentry, having been developed as a spinoff in the space of less than a year. As such, the shorter games pricing is going to reflect the same. WhereLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthwas the first game that Sega chose to sell at $70,Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiis instead going to be sold for a cheaper price of $60. In comparison, 2023sLike a Dragon Gaidenwas $50 at launch.