It was when I drank baby milk with a bunch of half-naked yakuza in diapers that I really knew I was back in a Yakuza game. I noted an edge of disbelief in my voice as my laughter echoed across the room. But mixed in with my cackle was genuine warmth, too. It was good to be back.
As a long time fan of Sega’s action adventure beat ‘em up series, I was lucky enough to give Yakuza: Like A Dragon a whirl for a few hours of preview, and it made me grin like a happy baby throughout – like those diaper-wearing yakuza, I suppose. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the series it’ll likely elicit a similar reaction, because you don’t need to be clued in on any previous happenings to enjoy it. Like A Dragon does retain all the best quirks from its past, and builds on them, too. But make no mistake: it isn’t afraid to tear the foundations down and start anew.