Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has solidified Ryu Ga Gotoku’s position as a powerhouse for JRPG fans, with a strong assist from Atlus. The game offers an energetic mix of eccentric drama, exaggerated action, crazy side stories, and tons of mini-games that keep players engrossed.
Despite the series’ well-known characteristics, Infinite Wealth stands out as one of the most remarkable and massive games to come out of Japan in recent years. It retains the essence of Like a Dragon but takes it to a whole new level, surprising players with its scale and ambition.
Intense Drama in a Roundabout
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth embraces a grand Japanese drama, even as it ventures to Honolulu, Hawaii. The game’s storyline unfolds slowly, leaving players feeling like a lot is happening without revealing much about the main plot. This deliberate pacing is a trademark of the series, building up to a satisfying payoff that ties everything together in unexpected ways.
Refined Combat System
Infinite Wealth refines the combat system introduced in Like a Dragon, addressing earlier friction points and enhancing the overall experience. The turn-based combat is more engaging and strategic, with improvements that make battles more enjoyable. Players will find themselves immersed in training and mastering the new mechanics, which add depth to the gameplay.
Crazy Optional Activities under the Lights of Honolulu
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth continues the series tradition of offering a plethora of optional content, from side missions to mini-games. The game’s setting in Honolulu provides a vibrant backdrop for these activities, adding to the overall charm and fun of the experience.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – Technical Analysis
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has significantly contributed to reinforcing the extraordinary feeling that we are currently experiencing some of the most thrilling weeks in the history of video games, outside of the busy end-of-year months. Japanese productions, between Persona 3 Reload and now this remarkable effort from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, demonstrate a brilliant ingenuity in balancing the preservation of their essence, expanding scales, and refinement to appeal to a wider audience. It stands out as one of the best Japanese games I have played and undoubtedly the finest effort from this studio.
Key Highlights
- Impressive overall graphic quality, particularly in the characters and lighting
- The larger scale gives the Like a Dragon series a GTA-like effect in terms of immersion and exploration
- Notable refinement in the combat system
- The story is filled with intense and dramatic moments that resonate with players
- The addition of Dondoko Island is spectacular
- The soundtrack features several moments of brilliance
- Eccentric side activities and classic Sega arcade games provide immersive experiences
- Some weak graphical elements may be noticed
- There are instances where the narrative feels unnecessarily dragged out, a characteristic of the series
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