Summary
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthlooks like it is doing even better thanits predecessor,Yakuza: Like a Dragon.It is definitely a bigger and bolder RPG as it brings the series to the shores of Hawaii for the first time. It’s a perfect location, as Japanese and various other Asian cultures are alive and well there.
It’s going to take most players sixty to eighty hours to beat the game, but after that, they may be looking for more fun in the sun. The following game recommendations revolve around general RPGs, job-based battle systems, and Hawaii. There is plenty more to see beyondLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, so let’s get to it.
Animal Crossing: New Horizonsis a great starting recommendation for several reasons. One, the game takes place on an island too, wherein players can build a town and cultivate a community. Between solo-play and multiplayer, this game helped players get through the pandemic years thanks to Nintendo’s constant updates.
Two, there is a mini-game withinLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthcalled Dondoko Island that is similar toAnimal Crossing,where Ichiban can customize his own island. It’s a bit more violent thanAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsbut there is certainly a shared vibe between the two games.
Ichiban is a big fan of this series, so it only makes sense to recommend one of them. Of the eleven main entries so far,Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skiesmakes the most sense as a comparison. It was a DS game that let players run through a loose story connected by angels, demons, and a flying train.
The greatest part about it was the Vocation system, which is likeLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’sjob system. Players could swap classes on the fly, making the strongest hero possible by to switching stats around. The multiplayer aspect was also well-implemented for a handheld release, allowing up to four friends to participate.
Now is a good time to get aboard theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrain because the second chapter is pulling into the station. The original game was a seminal hit on the PS1, and it continues to be a big deal through various ports and this newRemaketrilogy. Also, if fans have already played through the game once, it’s not a bad idea to play it again.
Who knows how much story stuff could have been missed, including all of those wispy cloaked monsters that looked like Dementors fromHarry Potter.Final Fantasy 7 Remakeis the best recommendation for the series because of how tight-knit the group is in the game, just like Ichiban’s crew inLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,although Cloud is less charismatic as a leader.
Persona 5 Royalis an easy recommendation as both it andLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthare Sega RPGs. It’s the latest main entry in the series, not counting the remake ofPersona 3. It follows a student who transfers to a new region of Japan after getting in trouble with the law. After meeting fellow teens on the outs, they discover a power that allows them to summon demons and use them to gain entry into the minds of villains to change their ways.
It’s a massive RPG, lasting longer than evenLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,which is a hefty adventure in its own right. Players will rememberPersona 5 Royalnot for the flashy turn-based combat, but for the friends they made along the way.
Pokemon SunandMoonmay seem like odd RPGs to recommend, especially since they are exclusive to the now-forgotten 3DS. However, they fit well in this category of nods because Game Freak and Nintendo themed this new region, called Alola, after Hawaii.
It’s the most tropical entry in the series and introduced the concept of climate-based evolutions for Pokemon. For example, in Alola, Raichu can surf on its tail, and it looks different too. Exeggutor has a giant neck which makes it look even more like a palm tree, and the list goes on. These two games are a solid set of entries for the series.
River City Girls 2takes what the original did well and doubles down on everything. Instead of just the two main girls, Misako and Kyoko, players can play as their boyfriends too, and several other characters as well. It supports co-op, which is always good for a brawler or a game that supports a large cast of playable characters.
Even thoughLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthis no longer a brawler like most of theYakuzagames, that DNA is still ingrained in its turn-based mechanics. That’s why at least one brawler has to be recommended here, andRiver City Girls 2fits the bill nicely.
2Shakedown: Hawaii
Metacritic Score: 78
Shakedown: Hawaiiis a lesser-known title for many but it’s a game that deserves more love. It is the spiritual sequel toRetro City Rampage,which was in itself like a spiritual successor to the old, top-down entries in theGrand Theft Autoseries.
It also loved meme culture and video game jokes, as the references in-game were out of control. The jokes are toned down a bit inShakedown: Hawaiibut they are still there along with the chaotic action. Mechanically, it’s a more solid entry than its predecessor as it dives into the underbelly of Hawaii, akin toLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
StarTropicsis another obscure game and one that even Nintendo forgot about. It was like the Hawaiian version ofThe Legend of Zeldabut instead of a sword, players wielded a yo-yo.
There were two games on the NES and that’s been it up to this point. While there have never been any sequels or remakes past the NES, these games can at least be enjoyed on modern consoles like the Switch via its digital retro library. It’s an old-school selection that Ichiban would probably appreciate as a fan of the 8-bit era.
