Blending the classic feel of Yakuza and Like a Dragon games with a bit of Japanese history, Ishin gives you a new way to enjoy the series and even teach you a thing or two about the way of the samurai.
The review is based on the PS5 version. It is also relevant for PC, XSX, XONE and PS4 versions.
Like a Dragon Ishin is, to some degree, art mixed with story mixed with the humor and gameplay that the Yakuza or Like a Dragon series is known for. It’s kind of like watching a classic movie like Rashomon or Seven Samurai and being transported to a Japan where samurai walked the streets and blood flowed from people faster than a fire hose. The game is set in the late Tokugawa period, a time when Japan began to open up to the rest of the world and powers of influence began to change, but it still manages to feel like a Yakuza game. as it manages to infuse its essence into every aspect of your experience.
BENEFITS:
- A robust game like a dragon with lots to do and explore;
- Four different fighting styles that allow you to experiment during combat;
- A welcoming world that mixes history and fiction.
AGAINST :
- Side stories and random encounters can often interrupt gameplay;
- The story can sometimes get complicated.
When Ishin was first released in 2014, you could only play it in Japan, so this remastered version allows the rest of the world to travel back in time not only to an earlier version of Kyoto, but also to an older game. Like a Dragon. it can still cope with some of the changes introduced by its modern installments. It has its ups and downs, but you can be sure you’ll still beat up random mobsters, clumsily sing tunes to strangers, and explore bustling neighborhoods teeming with life.
history lesson
One of the first of the many gags Ishin has in store for you is that its protagonist is a historical figure named Sakamoto Ryoma, who sounds and looks like none other than Yakuza series veteran Kiryu Kazuma. Many other colorful characters from the series also appear and represent various people, from innkeepers to other samurai, giving the game a very recognizable feel even though it’s set in a completely different timeline.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!, published by SEGA, 2023
This unique combination of characters also allows the game to have fun with its historical setting. Of course, Sakamoto literally rubs shoulders and faces swords with important people who will influence the direction of the Japanese government during this tumultuous time, but he is also just a guy who seeks revenge for his father’s death and erases her name. The added glossary of historical terms gives some context to your surroundings, so even if you’ve never studied Japanese history before or know the difference between a daimyo and a bakufu, Ishin does its best to keep you informed .
Still, the game’s plot is a whirlwind of stories. Each chapter brings Sakamoto one step closer to uncovering the truth, but to do so he must infiltrate the Shinsengumi, a special police force with its own way of delivering justice, working with people he thought was trying to get him, and always succeed. fulfilling his duties as captain of the division he is now in charge of while impersonating someone else. The main plot gets confusing at times, and if you add all the side stories you find, you end up with a game that offers you a lot but can make you want to take a mental break every now and then..
samurai stories
One of the reasons you can sometimes lose track of what you’re doing is that Ishin often gives you a new side story to work on while completing an ongoing story. As in previous Like a Legend games, you’re often interrupted by someone on the street asking for your help, and these scenes happen when you least expect it. Whether it’s protecting a foreigner who wishes to share his knowledge of Western agriculture with Japan or taking a dirty cat to a public bath to clean it…range of missions vary from bland to comical. Es possible que no todos sean ganadores, pero todos distraen si estás concentrated en terminar un objetivo de la historia o si simplee estás tratando de ir del punto A al punto B. No solo eso, sino que a veces obtienes una misión que está muy por on. your current level and requires you to tune or upgrade your weapons if you want to have a chance of completing it.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!, published by SEGA, 2023
Exploration is key to discovering everything the game has in store for you, whether you want to face an interruption midway through or not. The town of Kyo (the former name of what is now known as Kyoto) is quite lively, and while it doesn’t compare to the glitzy glamor of Kamurocho in previous games, it offers a distinctive charm that makes you want to visit every stall. and discover all the stores. This will reward you with many mini-games such as chicken races and real shogi games against increasingly difficult opponents. There’s something you can miss when you want to take a break from history, and yes, apparently the shogunate has karaoke bars again.
VERDICT:
Ishin not only features classic themes that Like a Dragon is known for, but also manages to blend enough variety into its mini-games and side stories to give us a new way to enjoy all the action, combat, and gameplay. ridiculous things we’ve come to. expect from the series.
Visually, Kyo looks amazing, especially at night when the town comes alive and paper lanterns light up its entertainment districts. Ishin looks as good as more modern Like a Dragon titles, and cutscenes show off its most realistic graphics and facial depictions. Although it’s entirely in Japanese, the game’s cast conveys enough passion and seriousness to make you feel their emotions, even if you spend a large part of the game reading subtitles and clicking through play conversations. only.
path of the samurai
Like any good samurai movie, there’s a lot of fighting here too, and Ishin gives you four different fighting styles to punish your foes. During a fight, you are free to switch styles at any time, but there is a certain delay that prevents you from switching between combos.. Instead, you must choose your style and commit to performing a series of combos before moving on to another. Brawler lets you punch enemies with your fists, Gunslinger lets you take down enemies from a distance, and Swordsman lets you perform deliberate strikes and parries with your katana. Wild Dancer, on the other hand, leaves you open but mixes gun and sword techniques for smoother attacks.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!, published by SEGA, 2023
Each of these abilities comes with its own set of combos and special heat techniques that you can use the more damage you deal, ranging from kicking enemies while they’re down to grabbing them and spinning them to hit anyone in your way. The more styles you choose, the more experience you can gain to unlock more of their respective skill trees for more attacks and abilities. It’s fine to experiment and find the right style for the right situation, but unlocking more devastating combos takes time and the skill tree for each style can take a while if you don’t focus on just one. .
Later in the game, you will also find special cards that you can equip to further increase your attacks. Some of them let you heal yourself during battle, while others let you unleash lightning bolts and perform other more devastating and comical attacks that a normal samurai couldn’t.. It’s this combination of precise combos with over-the-top moves that gives Ishin’s combat system a fitting feel that rewards you for mastering its intricacies.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!, published by SEGA, 2023
Most of your battles will be story specific, but Random Battles, much like the side stories you’ll encounter, can come up when you just want to be left alone sometimes. Bandits and ronins roam the side streets of Kyo, so you’ll often encounter thugs who want to challenge you even if you’re not in the mood. You can do your best to avoid or overtake them, but they can also be inconvenient when you just want to sightsee for a change.
final thoughts
Because there is so much to do in the game, Ishin is one of the most robust Like a Dragon games you can play. Of course, not every side story will be a winner, and fighting your umpteenth fight against thugs in the same alley can get repetitive at times, but since there’s so much to do, you can easily move on to another activity if you find yourself. bored and come. come back to it later. Its main story will definitely keep you busy, but you might not even discover all of those side stories or mini-games unless you make an effort to find them all..
Mixing the story with a charming cast of rogue ones, Ishin is an impressive spin-off that manages to give you a game you never thought of before until you actually play it and realize just how well it works. Not only does it feature the classic themes that Like a Dragon is known for, but it also manages to blend enough variety into its mini-games and side stories to give us a new way to enjoy all the action, combat and from the ridiculous that we’ve come. expect from the series.
Giancarlo Saldana | juegopresion.com