Like a Dragon: Ishin!

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Like a Dragon: Ishin! are generally positive. Many critics praise the game for its historical setting and complex narratives. Critics such as Gaming Age, Game Informer, and Pure Xbox appreciate the gripping drama and intriguing twists that the story offers. The story is often described as emotionally engaging, with Easy Allies noting its heightened melodrama. The narrative explores themes of revenge, identity, and political struggles, providing a meaningful and emotional experience for players. The inclusion of familiar characters from the Yakuza series, as mentioned by COGconnected and Game Revolution, adds a sense of familiarity and depth to the story. The story also incorporates elements of Japanese history, with IGN Adria and Dexerto highlighting the references to real-life historical figures. However, there are some criticisms regarding the story of Like a Dragon: Ishin!. Some critics, such as GameSpew and Siliconera, find the story to be dull or confusing at certain points. Game Informer mentions that keeping track of the story can be challenging, and the ending is considered uncharacteristically meta. PC Games and ZTGD criticize the excessive number of twists in the last third of the game, which affects the credibility of the story. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment towards the story remains positive. In conclusion, the story of Like a Dragon: Ishin! is generally well-received by critics. It is praised for its gripping drama, emotionally engaging narrative, and inclusion of historical elements. The story explores themes of revenge, identity, and political struggles, providing a meaningful and emotional experience for players. While there are some criticisms regarding dull or confusing moments, as well as excessive twists in the story, the overall consensus is that the story of Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a compelling and enjoyable experience. Critics such as Gaming Age, Game Informer, and Pure Xbox particularly appreciate the depth and drama of the narrative, making it one of the standout aspects of the game.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Like a Dragon: Ishin! are generally positive. Many critics praise the combat system, which offers a variety of fighting styles and abilities. Critics such as COGconnected and Game Informer highlight the fun and diverse combat encounters, with options to personalize the character's fighting style. The addition of Trooper Cards, as mentioned by GameSpew and Dexerto, adds depth and variety to the combat. The skill trees and upgradeable abilities, as mentioned by Easy Allies and Push Square, provide opportunities for customization and growth. The combat is described as engaging, satisfying, and punchy by critics like DualShockers and VG247. However, there are some negative aspects of the gameplay that critics point out. Some critics, like Player 2 and TheSixthAxis, mention that the gameplay feels outdated and reminiscent of earlier Yakuza games. The archaic UI and menus, frequent loading screens, and repetitive side quest design are mentioned by Player 2 as elements that may be difficult to overlook in a modern game. The camera and enemy placement in cramped areas are mentioned as problematic by Game Informer. Critics like Cultured Vultures and Gaming Age express disappointment in the combat, with Cultured Vultures noting that it relies too heavily on gimmicky aspects. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of Like a Dragon: Ishin! is enjoyable, with a variety of combat options and activities to engage in. The combat system is praised for its depth and variety, with the inclusion of different fighting styles and Trooper Cards. The skill trees and upgradeable abilities add customization and growth to the gameplay experience. However, there are some negative aspects, such as outdated mechanics and repetitive side quest design, that some critics find difficult to overlook. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment is positive, with critics finding the combat engaging and satisfying.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Like a Dragon: Ishin! are varied, with both positive and negative aspects highlighted. Several critics praised the game's visuals, noting impressive lighting effects, detailed character models, and authentic environments. Critics such as Game Informer and NME commended the meticulous attention to detail in the historical setting of 1860s Kyoto, which brought the open world to life. The city of Kyo was described as well-designed, with distinct districts that added character to the overall setting. The remastered graphics and fully rendered cutscenes were also appreciated by critics like COGconnected and Hey Poor Player. However, there were also negative opinions regarding the game's visuals. Some critics, such as God is a Geek and Screen Rant, pointed out issues with textures, plastic-looking character models, and awkward body movements. The visuals were described as inconsistent, with a mix of impressive visuals and lackluster ones. The game suffered from technical issues, including visual glitches and frame drops, as mentioned by PCMag and The Mako Reactor. Critics like Digital Chumps and Cultured Vultures noted minor glitches, performance issues, and a lack of polish in certain areas. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Like a Dragon: Ishin! has visually improved remastered graphics, with impressive lighting, detailed character models, and authentic environments. The historical setting of Kyoto was praised for its meticulous detail and immersive visuals. However, there were some negative aspects, such as inconsistent visuals, technical issues, and a lack of polish in certain areas. While some critics were impressed by the visual overhaul and fully rendered cutscenes, others felt that the game's visuals were not as impressive as other entries in the series. Despite the mixed opinions, it is evident that the game's graphics and visual design received both praise and criticism from reviewers.

The majority of the critics praised the sound design and music of Like a Dragon: Ishin!, considering it to be very good. DualShockers noted the distinct sounds of traditional musical instruments, which added to the overall experience. Game Informer highlighted the impressive direction of cutscenes and excellent voice acting performances, with the sound design and music enhancing the game. GamesHub appreciated the sharp and entertaining English localization, while Hey Poor Player mentioned the excellent variety of mini-games and activities, including a singing and dancing mini-game. PCMag commended the excellent voice performances and period-accurate Japanese dialogue, emphasizing the cast's exceptional delivery. Twinfinite also praised the stellar voice acting, sound effects, and music throughout the game. While the overall sentiment towards the sound design and music of Like a Dragon: Ishin! was positive, there were a few critics who mentioned some limitations. Impulsegamer noted that the game lacked English voice acting, but still commended the amazing job done by the Japanese cast. The Mako Reactor also mentioned the absence of English voice acting, but still found the Japanese voice acting to be superlative. Worth Playing mentioned that the voice acting was exclusively in Japanese, which may limit accessibility for non-Japanese speakers. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the sound design and music of Like a Dragon: Ishin! are very good. The distinct sounds of traditional musical instruments, impressive voice acting performances, and enjoyable music were highlighted by multiple critics. The audio was well done, with NPCs talking and impressive voice acting during cutscenes, as mentioned by Movies Games and Tech. The soundtrack was also praised for evoking memories of previous battles and enhancing the immersive experience, as noted by Cultured Vultures. Pure Xbox mentioned that the game looked and sounded fantastic, with glorious cutscenes and a compelling soundtrack. The positive opinions of the majority of the critics indicate that the sound design and music of Like a Dragon: Ishin! greatly contributed to the overall enjoyment of the game.

The voice acting in Like a Dragon: Ishin! has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the critics. Many critics praised the performances in the cutscenes, noting that they were strong and helped build engagement with the narrative. COGconnected and Movies Games and Tech both highlighted the impressive voice acting during the game's cutscenes, emphasizing how it added to the overall quality of the game. Game Rant also commended the emotional weight carried by the voice acting in pre-rendered sequences, further enhancing the characters' personalities and voices. The return of familiar faces and voices from the Yakuza series was also seen as a positive aspect by Game Revolution, with each new encounter acting as an Easter egg for fans of the franchise. There were no significant negative opinions regarding the voice acting in Like a Dragon: Ishin! mentioned by the critics. This suggests that the voice acting was consistently well-done throughout the game. The absence of any negative comments indicates that the voice acting did not detract from the overall experience and was not a point of criticism for the reviewers. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Like a Dragon: Ishin! was excellent. Game Informer, PCMag, and Push Square all described the voice acting as superb, with notable performances from Takaya Kuroda and other returning actors from the Yakuza series. Impulsegamer praised the Japanese cast for doing an amazing job in depicting the characters. The Mako Reactor mentioned that while the voice acting is only available in Japanese, it is still superlative. Twinfinite also commended the voice acting, describing it as stellar with strong performances throughout the game. The positive opinions from multiple critics highlight the high quality and consistency of the voice acting in Like a Dragon: Ishin!, ultimately contributing to the overall positive reception of the game.

In terms of the technical performance on the PS5, several critics had mixed opinions. Some reviewers, such as Gamers Heroes and Impulsegamer, reported no frame drops or crashes during gameplay, indicating a smooth experience on the platform. Additionally, The Mako Reactor mentioned that the day one patch significantly improved the game, addressing various issues like camera problems and animations. These positive aspects suggest that the PS5 version of Like a Dragon: Ishin! can provide a stable and enjoyable gaming experience for players. However, other critics highlighted technical issues on the PS5. Game Rant and PCMag mentioned freezing, crashes, and menu problems that disrupted the pacing and immersion of the game. Screen Rant and Siliconera also noted issues like invisible dialogue options and slowdown when loading scripted sequences or talking to vendors. These negative aspects indicate that the PS5 version of the game may suffer from bugs, glitches, and occasional technical hiccups that can hinder the overall experience. Moving on to the PC version, Dexerto and Movies Games and Tech reported technical issues such as framerate drops, stuttering, and crashes. However, Movies Games and Tech mentioned that the stuttering improved with a patch. ZTGD stated that most of the issues on PC at launch have been fixed, suggesting that the developers have been actively addressing and resolving technical problems. Despite these issues, it is worth noting that Dexerto mentioned the likelihood of not experiencing the same issues on a console, implying that the PC version may have more technical challenges compared to console versions. For the Xbox Series X, Cultured Vultures reported minor glitches and performance issues, such as textures loading during cutscenes and characters getting stuck on geometry. Tech-Gaming mentioned problems with the camera in confined areas and unexpected difficulty spikes in side quests. These issues, however, were considered understandable given the vast amount of content in the game, indicating that the Xbox Series X version still offers a satisfactory gaming experience. Overall, the critics' opinions on the technical performance of Like a Dragon: Ishin! were varied across different gaming platforms. While some platforms, like the PS5, had a mix of positive and negative feedback, others, such as the Xbox Series X, had a more positive reception with only minor glitches and understandable technical challenges. Despite the reported technical issues, it is important to consider that some critics mentioned improvements through patches and the potential for future updates to address these problems. Players should take into account the specific platform they intend to play on and weigh the overall consensus of the critics when considering their gaming experience.

The overall sentiment regarding the replay value of Like a Dragon: Ishin! is largely positive. Many critics praised the game for offering a variety of meaningful activities and side missions that contribute to its replayability. Gaming Age, Easy Allies, and Game Rant all highlighted the game's diverse range of activities, including side quests, mini-games, and a farming simulator called Another Life. These activities provide players with ample content beyond the main story and contribute to the game's replay value. Dexerto also commended the game for its engaging world and dense setting, which breathes life into the gameplay experience. However, there are some criticisms regarding the replay value of Like a Dragon: Ishin!. DualShockers mentioned occasional difficulty spikes and outdated activities that may require grinding, which could potentially hinder the overall replayability for some players. Worth Playing also noted that while the game offers a fun experience with optional challenge dungeons and a variety of mini-games, some reviewers preferred the modern setting of previous games in the franchise. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Like a Dragon: Ishin! offers a significant amount of content and activities to keep players engaged and entertained, contributing to its replay value. Critics such as Easy Allies, PCMag, and TheXboxHub highlighted the game's various side activities, substories, and systems that provide good value for money. The game's wealth of substories, minigames, and slice-of-life gameplay were also praised by TheGamer. While there were some criticisms regarding difficulty spikes and preferences for previous game settings, the overall sentiment suggests that Like a Dragon: Ishin! offers enough replay value to keep players entertained for hours on end.