The Dragon’s New Groove: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Welcome to the streets of Ijincho, where the hero is a lovable ex-con, the enemies are still terrifying, and the fight has a whole new rhythm. If you’re coming from the classic Yakuza brawlers, you might feel a little thrown off. There’s a new protagonist, a new city, and most importantly, a new turn-based combat system that changes everything. But don’t worry: Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a perfect entry point for newcomers, and its deep, hilarious, and surprisingly emotional world is absolutely worth the learning curve. This guide will help you get started on the right foot.
See other game guides : Guides and Walkthroughs in Gaming
A New Hero, A New Fight
For the first time, you step into the shoes of Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking Yakuza grunt who takes the fall for a crime he didn’t commit and spends 18 years in prison. He emerges to find a world that has moved on without him, setting him on a quest to uncover a huge conspiracy. What makes this game so unique is Ichiban’s perspective: he views the world through the lens of his favorite video game, Dragon Quest. This means that random thugs look like monsters, and his quest for justice transforms into a classic, turn-based JRPG.
This is your party, your turn, your command. The “Live Command RPG Battle” system means that while combat is turn-based, the battlefield is dynamic. Characters move around in real-time, and environmental objects like bicycles, street signs, and even traffic cones can be picked up and used as weapons. Pay attention to positioning—if you try to attack a distant enemy, a closer foe might interrupt and counter you.
Tips for the Early Game
The game starts with a long but necessary tutorial in Kamurocho. The real adventure begins in Chapter 3 when you arrive in the sprawling city of Yokohama, and Chapter 4 is when the world truly opens up. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Protect Ichiban: This is the most important rule of combat. Unlike other party members, if Ichiban falls in battle, it’s an immediate Game Over, no matter how healthy the rest of your team is. Make sure he’s well-armored and has healing items. As you level up his exclusive “Hero” job, he will learn a skill called Peerless Resolve, which allows him to survive one fatal hit—it’s a lifesaver.
- Losing Money is the Only Penalty: If you lose a fight, you don’t get a game over. You’ll wake up with half your money gone. Don’t hoard your cash! Spend it on gear at the pawn shop or store it at an ATM to keep it safe.
- Pay Attention to Weaknesses: Enemies have weaknesses to three types of physical damage (blunt, slash, and pierce) and three types of elemental damage (fire, water, and electricity). Pay attention to the text that pops up when you attack; it tells you if an enemy is weak or resistant to a certain move. Exploiting these weaknesses is key to winning tough fights.
- Unlock the Pawn Shop: Early in Chapter 4, a cutscene will lead you to the Benten Pawn Shop in the commercial district. Get it open and sell your unwanted items for much-needed cash.
Making the Most of Your Party
You can’t do everything alone, and your party is your greatest asset. Here’s how to make them legendary:
- Visit the Survive Bar: This is your party’s home base and the most important location in the game for your teammates. Here, you can deepen your Bonds with them. Increasing your bond level doesn’t just unlock new story moments; it also unlocks new jobs (classes) for your party members and provides them with an EXP boost when they’re not in the active party.
- Change Jobs at Hello Work: This is your job system, allowing you to change your characters’ classes. Once you’ve unlocked new jobs through the Survive Bar, head to the “Hello Work” employment agency to change them. Experimenting with jobs is key to learning new skills, many of which become permanent character skills that you can keep even after you switch to a different class.
Money, Side Quests, and Good Habits
- The Money Problem: Early on, money is tight. The best source of cash in the early chapters are Substories. These are marked on your map as white dialogue bubbles. Not only are they hilarious and provide great stories, but they also unlock core features (like the pawn shop and special summons) and reward you with valuable cash.
- Explore Everything: Ijincho is massive, and it’s often worth your time to wander off the main path. Use the Taxis you find to unlock fast travel points. You can also “treasure hunt” by inspecting vending machines and piles of garbage for spare change and valuable items. If you see a golden glimmer on the ground, check it out.
- Think About Personality: Ichiban has personality stats (Passion, Intellect, Charisma, etc.). Some of his skills scale off these stats, and they also affect romance options. You can boost them by answering questions at the Ounabara Vocational School.
Embrace the absurdity, enjoy the story, and remember: the dragon doesn’t fight alone anymore.
