Like a Dragon: Ishin! Critic Reviews

Like A Dragon: Ishin is an almost stunningly intelligent game and in so many ways it is superior to the (already brilliant) series that it has spun off from. The historical setting really does the formula favours, and the development team have done such an exceptional and highly refined job of balancing authenticity and entertainment, serious storytelling and humour. At the same time, they've also maintained the core action and gameplay structures that we all love about the series. It is, simply, impossible to put down, and will be a strong contender for the best thing you’ve played this year.

Like a Dragon: Ishin in my eyes earns the lofty score I’m giving it. The game is the most fun I’ve had with a single player game in years, and getting a review code for it the same day as Hi-Fi Rush left me spoiled, incredibly tired, and astoundingly happy. It’s worth your time and your money.

Like a Dragon: Ishin absolutely revels in the Yakuza series’ weirdo humor, but that’s only one half of the equation. There’s also a genuinely dramatic samurai story sizzling with tension. Ishin has some of the best storytelling the series has ever seen. The only thing holding it back is a convoluted combat system that takes a while to find its groove.

Like a Dragon: Ishin sees the historical adventure spin-off from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio finally released in the West, and the wait has been worth it despite some technical issues. The story, characters, and superlative voice acting make this an easy recommendation if you're a fan of the series.

You can't go wrong with Like A Dragon Ishin. The game includes what makes the Yakuza franchise so special and combines it with samurais and Edo Period politics. A handful of oddities aside, it leans into its strengths and irons out several of the franchise peculiarities. Every gamer, either invested in the franchise or still uninitiated, needs Ishin in their console.

The long-awaited remake of Like a Dragon: Ishin delivers an exciting and frequently gorgeous new setting to explore, a more rewarding combat system, and some of the best side quests and minigames in the series to date. Don't let the katanas fool you, this is the Yakuza you know and love at its very best.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! feels like it delivers on the promise of a well-timed remake for an underappreciated title in RGG's catalog. It's a refreshing adventure that's identity is both intrinsically tied to the usual crime drama RGG is known for and yet distinctly separate from the modern trappings of those concerns. Like a Dragon: Ishin! is another quality game in the Yakuza universe, and it's one well-worth exploring for anyone with even a slight interest in its stylish delivery.

It’s an exemplary Ryu Ga Gotoku title. Fans of the older Yakuza games and Judgement will feel right at home amidst its familiar gameplay mechanics and story beats, and the polish applied to these facets will ensure they’re well rewarded for the time they invest in the game. It’s a welcome return to the series’ past, and a good sign of how well the series will hold up moving forward.

This is a great Yakuza spin-off, with a fantasntic setting, only held back by some aspects that haven’t aged particularly well.

A fascinating game in many aspects, that rewards the patient, curious player. An adventure worthy of the legendary franchise it comes from.

An action-packed and emotionally-charged adventure through a breathtaking period in Japanese history.

It will blow you away by knowing how to combine a serious and solid narrative with completely absurd moments.

After you finish the main story you will find yourself returning to Kyo. Even 65 hours in, it seems that I’m still discovering new things to do; new minigames to play, new missions to find, and more skills to unlock. Despite how long I’ve spent with Ishin! I don’t want to give up, and I’m sure I will continue finding more things to do long after I think I’ve finished. It may not have overhauled the Yakuza formula, but it’s the small things that make Ishin! one of the series’ best.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is the most fun I’ve had playing a Yakuza game since Yakuza 0. Any fan of the series or fans of samurai games, in general, should check it out.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! manages to combine the mechanical familiarity of the Yakuza series with a unique historical setting. The combat is fun, the story is thrilling, the content is rich enough to last dozens of hours. Technically speaking, though, it could’ve been much closer to a true remake instead of getting stuck halfway between there and a remaster.

It’s been nearly a decade since Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! released exclusively in Japan, but RGG Studio has finally brought it over to the West in the form of Like a Dragon: Ishin!, and it does not disappoint. Not only does Ishin! touch upon an important part of Japanese history, it does so by excellently balancing ridiculously fun over-the-top action with engrossing narrative pacing and mature character development. It doesn’t quite meet the bar of a full on remake though, so that’s something worth considering.

With a great story, charismatic characters, fluid and fun combat and a gameplay that is the hallmark of the franchise, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is the remake fans wanted so badly. Even with small bugs, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio shows, once again, that the series' formula is far from boring and makes us anxious about what will come ahead.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! despite being set in the distant past, is unmistakenly bore of the same DNA of the Yakuza series proper and will be a treat for fans of the long-running series.

Like A Dragon: Ishin! is Ye Olde Yakuza, but that's all it needs to be. The setting is fresh for the series, and it provides a fun way to see the same crime drama action in a new historical setting. Even if I prefer the modern setting, Ishin handles the change of setting well. It doesn't break an molds, but it's a delightfully fun experience for fans of the franchise. If you're itching for more Like A Dragon, Ishin! scratches that itch wonderfully, and it's a darn fun game in its own right.

Like A Dragon: Ishin, offers both a familiar Yakuza experience in an entirely unique setting. Some technical issues and arbitrary systems can't hold back a compelling narrative, excellent combat, and a compact open-world packed to the brim with engaging content. Like A Dragon: Ishin shouldn't fly under your radar during this busy period, and is well-worth diving into for both series veterans and newcomers alike.