Naval Combat in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Explained

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii charts a thrilling new course for the Yakuza series, introducing exhilarating naval combat. Mastering this system is key to success, so let's dive into the mechanics of ship-to-ship battles.

Early in the game, you'll command the Goromaru, a modestly equipped vessel with two cannons (port and starboard) and a forward-mounted machine gun turret. While exploring the open waters, prepare for frequent encounters with enemy ships. You can choose to engage or attempt to flee, but escape is risky, especially against later-game ships with ranged attacks that inflict damage even during pursuit. Facing enemies head-on is generally the best strategy.

Naval combat utilizes three primary attack types:

Turret Gun Attacks: The turret is your mid-range weapon of choice. It deals damage while closing in on the enemy, setting you up for a devastating cannon barrage at close quarters. You can also manually control the turret, though this is a riskier maneuver as it leaves your ship vulnerable.

Left and Right Cannons: These are your most powerful weapons, activated using L2/R2 (depending on your platform) to fire from either side. Effective only at close range (indicated by a lit-up cannon icon), they require a reload time after each shot. Strategic maneuvering is essential to maximize damage output.

RPG Missile: Shifting the camera to the ship's deck allows you to freely control Goro. While this pauses your ship's movement and exposes you to enemy fire if they're close, it lets you equip an RPG for long-range attacks. This can be a highly effective opening tactic to weaken opponents before closing the distance.

Pirate Ship Maneuvering

From the wider ship perspective, use the left stick to control the Goromaru. A boost function temporarily increases speed, useful for closing the gap with enemies or performing drifts (by pressing O/B simultaneously with boost) to evade cannon fire or reposition for optimal cannon attacks.

Boarding Parties

Many naval battles, especially boss fights and Pirate Coliseum challenges, are two-phased. The first phase focuses on destroying the main enemy ship (which has significantly more health than smaller accompanying vessels). Prioritize the boss ship to advance to the second stage.

Once the main ship's health is depleted, a prompt will appear to initiate the boarding party, shifting the combat to the familiar Yakuza beat-'em-up style. These encounters often pit you and your outnumbered crew against a larger enemy force. Investing in crew member upgrades and morale is crucial for success.

Enemy captains possess stat-boosting abilities, increasing the challenge. You can assign your own support crew to counter these boosts. The goal is to eliminate the enemy crew before your party is defeated. Mastering these two-stage battles is vital for progressing through the game's later stages and exploring the various islands.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's innovative naval combat adds a refreshing layer to the series, offering a unique and engaging experience. With strategic ship upgrades, a well-trained crew, and skillful maneuvering, you can transform the Goromaru into the most formidable vessel on the seas.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.