Nine years after it released on the PlayStation 3 and PS4 exclusively in Japan, Like a Dragon: Ishin! has finally released worldwide, this time as a remake for current and last-gen consoles. We’ve spent some time brawling, slicing and shooting around the Bakumatsu-era version of Japan, and have prepared our Like a Dragon: Ishin! PS5 review much like Kiryu Ryoma prepares for yet another fight.

Good Looks, Could Be Better

The original release launched in between console generations, on both the PS3 and PS4. Here, things are similar in that the remake has launched on the PS4 and PS5. There’s not much difference between the two, as there are no graphics settings on the PS5 version, nor is there extensive use of the DualSense controller other than the LED, which the DualShock 4 also sports. Load times are, of course, extremely quick on the PS5, as is expected of its zippy SSD, and this is clearly one game that doesn’t tax the hardware much.

The Unreal Engine 4 was chosen to render Like a Dragon, and it does an admirable job, even if the source material is a bit dated at this point. Or perhaps, because of it. Main characters and most locations appear to have been updated, but some NPCs are jarringly low in details. This isn’t something you’ll really pay attention to as you hand wannabe gangsters their asses, but occasionally you might find yourself noticing things appear a little…off. Otherwise, though, the striking architecture of the late Edo-period island nation of Japan feels like a whole different world, with gun combat giving a hint of what the world was about to witness.

Ol’ Pistol = OP

Speaking of guns, protagonist Ryoma may have trained as a samurai, but the changes of the day have dictated that he also become adept with a revolver. He does so hilariously without much in the way of training at all. As soon as Ryoma picks up his first Model 2 revolver, he has impeccable aim and unlimited regular ammo. It honestly feels like a built-in easy mode for all but the toughest of enemies, and even most of those can be felled by having a proper special pack of bullets. Also, despite riddling your opponents with multiple bullet wounds, they tend to simply slink away when the fight is over, rather than die as they bleed out had the fight taken place in real life. A bit of suspension of disbelief is needed here because the way you can light up enemies is comically unrealistic.

If Ryoma reminds you of a certain someone in earlier Yakuza games, that’s because he is basically Kiryu in most ways but his name. Ryu Ga Gotoku had the ingenious idea of taking many of the same voice actors and character models and simply plopping them into a different timeline. At its core, the story is still a fight for justice on behalf of an outcast, honorable fighter who believes in justice, no matter the personal cost. Ryoma often goes toe-to-toe with multiple enemies, and is generally a no-frills badass. The overall tone of Ishin! is serious, though there are some randomly comical moments spliced in to help ease some of the tension. Again, it’s basically Yakuza but set in a much earlier timeline.

To that end, expect to see a lot of familiar faces and hear many familiar voices, including but not limited to Majima, Haruka, and others, but with different names, histories, and even behaviors. Well, except for Haruka, who inexplicably remains Haruka. This is a unique twist you won’t really find in many other games, simply because not many other games have as long of a history, and because the concept of transplanting established characters into whole new timelines just isn’t done often.

Battle-Tested Combat

As this is a remake, combat remains more or less the same as before. There are four different fighting styles, all switchable at any time with a tap of the directional pad: Brawler for hand-to-hand combat, Swordsman which is katana-centered, Gunman which utilizes guns, and finally Wild Dancer which sees Ryoma using a pistol in one hand and a katana in the other, giving up the ability to guard in the process. Combat feels fine for the most part, but there is no locking on to opponents, and dodging can occasionally be delayed if Ryoma is in the beginning of an attack animation. It takes a little bit of time to get used to each fighting style, however once things click you can feel like a badass as you string combos together. As in other Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, items strewn about the area can be picked up and used against enemies as well.

Outside of combat, there are plenty of things to do. For starters, there are side quests galore, as Ryoma isn’t one to back down from helping people. As this is set in the mid-1800s, there are no karaoke bars or batting cages. However, there are singing halls, katana practice, and even mahjong as that game had been invented by this point in time. If you opt to stick to the main campaign, expect completion to arrive at around the 35-hour mark, while completing Ishin! in its entirety will likely take perhaps twice that length. The entire game is single-player, and a New Game Plus mode is available once the campaign is cleared. Beyond that, there are also dungeons to clear, and a side activity named Another Life which sees Ryoma helping Haruka clear a large debt in her name by fishing, cooking, and other activities such as selling items in a store. I’m not sure any of these activities beat killing time in an arcade, but they do kill the time nonetheless.

Verdict

Like a Dragon: Ishin! checks all the boxes for fans of the series. Chock-full of things to do, people to fight, food to eat, stuff to collect, and more, it feels so comfortably familiar that you can’t help but to enjoy your stay in 1860’s Tosa and Kyo regions. Some aspects of the game’s design may feel lifted from two generations ago, and the combat tweaking feels conservative, but otherwise this will be a fine entry for veterans and newcomers alike to take a stab/shot/dance at.

Score: 8/10

Pros:

• A solid remake
• Lots to see and do in late-Edo Japan
• Varied combat

Cons:

• Inconsistent asset quality
• Pistol quickly feels like a crutch

Like a Dragon: Ishin! review code provided by publisher. You can read MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.