Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, a sequel to the action-adventure Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, is because of set sail tomorrow, February 21 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. We not too long ago had a dialog with Masayoshi Yokoyama, RGG Studio Director and the Like a Dragon Collection Government Producer, about what went on behind the scenes in the course of the improvement of the Pirate Battle system, in addition to why he thinks Goro Majima stays a fan-favorite to this present day.
Masayoshi Yokoyama
A story-driven sport design
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii introduces a brand new fight system known as Pirate Battles, the place gamers can interact in cannon battles aboard their ships. Was it your plan all alongside to create a sport that was vastly totally different from the remainder of the collection? How did the concept come about?
To be sincere, we weren’t positive the place the sport would find yourself once we first kicked off improvement. We had a narrative that we needed to inform, and we began from there. There have been nonetheless quite a lot of unanswered questions after Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, like what would occur to Hawaii and the way the previous yakuza, after their full dissolution, would proceed with their lives. We thought one of the best ways to reply these questions was to create a spin-off sport. That being mentioned, at the beginning of improvement, we had no concept that we’d find yourself implementing Pirate Battles into the sport.
Did you develop the Pirate Battle system from the bottom up, particularly for this sport?
Sure. The Like a Dragon crew excels at remodeling present belongings to construct new techniques, however we did create the Pirate Battle system from scratch.
The canon battle that’s a part of the Pirate Battle is actually a taking pictures sport, and shooters can find yourself being too advanced and tough for gamers who aren’t used to motion video games. We ideated varied ideas to keep away from growing the problem an excessive amount of, like making a mini-game the place you shoot enemy ships from a 2D chook’s-eye view. Nonetheless, our improvement crew labored laborious to implement practical 3D pirate ships that the participant can steer to interact in cannon battles. It did make the sport barely tougher although, so we spent further time ensuring the problem degree was good for a Like a Dragon sport.
It’s straightforward to make one thing as easy as doable, but when it’s not difficult or rewarding, it’s not lots of enjoyable. In the long run, we determined to make naval battles in the primary story simpler to play, and on the similar time got here up with the Pirates’ Coliseum, an enviornment excellent for gamers trying to problem themselves with back-to-back fights with highly effective enemies. There are only some battles which can be required to progress the primary story, however we additionally needed to cater to gamers searching for a problem. That is just like what we did with the Coliseum in Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Identify, so we’ve taken this sort of twin strategy extra usually with our current video games.
My dream is for the Pirate Battle to be embraced by gamers everywhere in the world and for us to create an internet battle mode. Nonetheless, I perceive the sport will must be tremendous profitable for that to occur. If the Pirate Battle system is well-received and gamers ask for a sport centered on it, that suggestions will most definitely affect the video games we make sooner or later.
Majima’s confidence in his powers permits him to make huge life-altering choices
Did your impression of Majima change all through the sport’s improvement?
Majima exhibits a special aspect of himself when he meets a boy named Noah on this sport. Majima suffers from amnesia and has forgotten who he’s, however deep down he is aware of he most likely spent his life as a good-for-nothing hoodlum. Then he meets Noah and develops a paternal bond with him, wishing to assist fulfill his goals. You definitely see Majima by way of a special lens on this sport.
Noah suffers from power bronchial asthma, and his father, Jason, forbids him from leaving their island over considerations about his well-being. By no means having left the confines of his island, Noah yearns to see the remainder of the world. That’s the place Majima is available in, after getting washed up on the island’s seaside. Noah and Jason each wrestle with their suppressed feelings, however Majima swoops in and helps break them out of their hardened shells. The sport begins with Majima embarking on his journey with Noah and Jason by his aspect.
His lack of recollections doesn’t cease Majima from throwing himself into something that piques his curiosity. He’s the kind of man that may make life-altering choices that others will discover extraordinarily tough. Some might name him shortsighted, however Majima is ready to accomplish all of this as a result of he’s absolutely assured in his energy and capabilities. Though he has no recollection of his previous, he takes motion as a result of he is aware of he has the facility to guard Noah it doesn’t matter what.
Throttle your enemies with Majima’s signature Mad Canine Type
Might you inform us what went on behind the scenes in the course of the improvement of Majima’s two combating kinds, the Pirate and Mad Canine kinds?
We settled on the idea for Pirate Type pretty early on. We began brainstorming concepts like his pirate costume, cutlass, and flying weapons, and all of it got here collectively in a short time.
Alternatively, the Mad Canine Type was a problem. Majima is often not a playable character, so we didn’t have a lot expertise creating combating motions and actions tailor-made to him. We did, nonetheless, have lots of expertise creating Majima because the antagonist, so we needed to broaden on that.
One other problem was that the strikes Majima utilized in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth had been far too highly effective for a playable character, however we additionally knew that gamers would wish to expertise Majima’s signature combating model. So, we spent lots of time mulling over how we may adapt Majima’s distinctive strikes for a playable character, and the way we may rework them to be applicable for a combating motion sport as a substitute of an RPG. We ended up spending practically 3 times extra engaged on the Mad Canine Type in comparison with the Pirate Type.
Nonetheless, the Mad Canine Type ended up much less flashy and spectacular in comparison with the Pirate Type, so possibly it wasn’t the best use of our time and power (laughs). Nonetheless, I’m glad that we went with two battle kinds, as a result of I noticed many gamers attempting out the Mad Canine Type at hands-on occasions, most likely as a result of it finest represents Majima and his scrappy methods. I personally favor the Pirate Type as a result of I like AOE assaults, however each are totally different and tremendous enjoyable.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches on PS5 and PS4 February 21.
