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

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

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii introduces thrilling naval combat, a significant departure for the Yakuza series. This guide details the mechanics of this engaging new system.

Early game sees players commanding the Goromaru, a small ship initially equipped with two cannons (port and starboard) and a forward-mounted machine gun turret. Encounters with enemy ships are frequent. While fleeing is an option, the Goromaru's slow speed makes this risky, especially against ships with ranged attacks. Direct confrontation is generally recommended.

Naval combat utilizes three primary attack types:

• Turret Gun Attacks: The turret is ideal for mid-range engagements, allowing damage while closing the distance for cannon fire. Players can manually control the turret, though this increases vulnerability.
• Left and Right Cannons: These are the Goromaru's most powerful weapons, effective at close range (indicated by a lit-up cannon icon). Each cannon requires a reload time, necessitating strategic ship maneuvering to utilize both effectively.
• RPG Missile: Shifting camera perspective to the ship's deck allows free movement of Goro and RPG deployment for long-range attacks. This is best employed at a safe distance, as ship movement halts during the perspective change.

Ship control utilizes the left stick for movement and a boost function for speed increases. A drift maneuver (O on PS5, B on Xbox) combined with the boost enables spinning, useful for evading cannon fire or repositioning for optimal cannon usage.

Many naval battles, particularly boss fights and Pirate Coliseum encounters, are two-phased. The first phase involves destroying the main enemy ship (possessing higher health than smaller accompanying vessels). Focusing solely on the main ship expedites progress to the second phase.

Once the main ship's health is depleted, a boarding party prompt appears. Naval combat transitions to the series' signature beat-'em-up style. These encounters often pit Goro and his crew against a numerically superior enemy force.

Crew member leveling through morale boosts and smaller battles is crucial. Enemy captains possess stat-boosting abilities, demanding strategic crew management and support crew deployment to counter these advantages. Victory hinges on eliminating the opposing crew before your own is defeated.

Mastering two-phased naval battles is key to progressing through the game's latter half and the Pirate Coliseum. Frequent ship encounters during exploration further highlight the importance of understanding these mechanics. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's naval combat offers a refreshing change of pace, adding depth and strategic elements to the gameplay. With strategic crew management, upgrades, and customization, the Goromaru can become a formidable force on the seas.

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