Why I am excited for Like a Dragon (Yakuza) 8
Infinite Wealth is a subtitle that could refer to the entire series
Few franchises so consistently deliver as Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s Like a Dragon (LAD), formerly known in the West as Yakuza.
The series has gone from relatively obscure to receiving rave reviews worldwide; new entries are considered among the highlights of the gaming year.
This is all the more impressive due to how quintessentially Japanese the games are in their culture and worldview.
Fans of the series eagerly anticipate the upcoming Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which will grace us with its presence on January 26.
As it is a direct sequel to the previous game, those who missed the boat so far might consider passing it up altogether.
You would be missing out. Allow me to bring you up to speed.
Development
The first Yakuza game came out in 2005 for PlayStation 2. Developed and published by Sega, it was a moderate success both critically and commercially. This was enough to kickstart a franchise that has only been gaining momentum since.
Since 2005, there have been 9 main-line LAD entries, and a number of spinoffs and remakes. The high…