Format: Xbox Series X
Genre: RPG
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: Sega

Almost as if Sega had never left the hardware business, their "Dragon Engine" is perhaps what "Dreamcast 5" games might have looked like, in a parallel universe. The lighting model is primitive, and textures plus geometric detail give the environments a somewhat dated appearance-- but on the flip side, the character faces are extremely detailed, while the engine leans heavily into some nice screen space reflection techniques. There are also some cool programming tricks in the menus, such as how the character models are drawn line-by-line, stylistically, as the player flips between the party members. On the "Series X", the game's 1440p and sixty frames per second combination works well.

As in most modern games, Like a Dragon relies mostly on ambient sounds-- but when music does play, it's an interesting fusion of unlikely components. For instance, this song successfully blends trance, techno, hip-hop horns, Yuzo Koshiro, and dub step samples into something notable. Some of the boss songs-- like this one-- are also highly memorable. In an age when the art of making video game music seems lost, titles such as this provide hope. The title's original Japanese voice acting is spectacular, with some strong emotions on offer, and with each character's voice lending real, believable personality.

The original Yakuza team's April Fool's joke was something even they didn't take seriously-- and yet, here we are: a Yakuza game with full-on turn-based combat. And it works fabulously, with a huge choice in interesting character "jobs", each with unique and oftentimes hilarious abilities. Nominally the game's Yokohama map isn't very large-- yet not only does it never once feel silly, but its intimacy gives it a "feels like home" sensation after some time. The title's pacing is also spot-on, lending the player ample opportunities to grind, perform side quests, or progress the story as he sees fit.

As someone who has never touched the series before, and who generally has little interest in story-driven games, Yakuza: Like a Dragon was an enormous surprise for this reviewer. The level of sophistication in the way the plot and characters are driven forward is much better than anything contemporary Hollywood can deliver, while the title's myriad indoor shops and overall feel evoke positive "Shenmue" vibes. For all of its entertaining "Dragon Quest" references, the Yakuza team has made a better "Dragon Quest" than the actual "Dragon Quest" games!