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Sega’s 84-Hour Open-World Masterpiece Has Aged Like Fine Wine
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Sega's ninth mainline entry in the Yakuza franchise, reunites veteran protagonist Kazuma Kiryu with series newcomer Ichiban Kasuga as they search across Honolulu for Ichiban's estranged mother. Their investigation intertwines with larger plots involving criminal networks and political corruption, following the series' tradition of deliberately absurd storytelling. The game's distinctive strength lies in its detailed recreation of Hawaii as a setting where narrative weight coexists with opportunities for exploration and leisure activities.
The experience is anchored by numerous side activities, including delivery simulations inspired by Crazy Taxi, island-development gameplay resembling Animal Crossing, and photography-focused exploration modes. Combat operates through a turn-based RPG system with over twenty character job classes, encouraging varied party composition strategies. At 80+ hours in length, the game now delivers substantial content value through promotional pricing reductions on digital platforms and inclusion in major subscription services including Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.
In short
- Yakuza series' ninth entry reunites dual protagonists in Honolulu, balancing crime narrative with leisure-focused exploration
- Extensive minigames and turn-based combat with diverse character classes provide 80+ hours of content
- Currently available discounted on Steam, Xbox Game Pass, and PlayStation Plus subscriptions
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The game demonstrates remarkable craftsmanship across multiple dimensions—a coherent narrative, mechanical depth, meticulous world-building, and successful franchise evolution—creating a comprehensive experience that justifies masterpiece claims. The franchise's proven ability to balance storytelling with varied gameplay, combined with its substantial and polished execution, suggests such positive assessments are likely to prove enduring.
The case against
Describing a recent game as having "aged like fine wine" confuses launch reception with proven longevity, and "masterpiece" language functions as marketing rather than critical analysis. The sheer volume of content and features—80+ hours, multiple parallel systems—does not guarantee coherent design or sustained appeal; what some experience as generous scope others might find unfocused, and true critical staying power can only be assessed through time.
Explained simply
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the ninth main game in Sega’s Yakuza series, which follows people caught up in Japan’s criminal underworld. It brings back Kazuma Kiryu, a long-running central character, alongside Ichiban Kasuga, a more recent lead. The two search for Ichiban’s estranged mother in Honolulu, where their investigation draws them into wider criminal and political conflicts.
The game combines its story with a detailed version of Hawaii that players can explore. Alongside turn-based battles, it offers optional activities such as running a delivery service and developing an island. Its long playtime and availability through subscription services and discounted digital sales are relevant to readers weighing up how much content the game offers for its price.