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

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii charts a thrilling new course for the Yakuza series, introducing exhilarating naval combat. Mastering this system is key to success, so let's dive into the mechanics of seafaring combat in Pirate Yakuza.

Early in the game, you'll command the Goromaru, a modest pirate ship initially equipped with two cannons (port and starboard) and a forward-mounted machine gun turret. While exploring the open waters, expect frequent encounters with enemy ships. You can choose to engage or attempt a risky escape – remember, your ship moves slower than on land, and some enemy vessels possess ranged attacks that inflict damage even while fleeing.

Facing enemy ships head-on is usually the best strategy. Naval combat involves three main attack types:

Turret Gun Attacks: The turret is your mid-range weapon of choice. It allows you to inflict damage while closing the distance to unleash your more powerful cannons. You can even manually control the turret for a more tactical, but riskier, approach.

Left and Right Cannons: These are your Goromaru's heavy hitters, activated using L2/R2 (depending on your platform). Effective only at close range (indicated by a lit-up cannon icon), they require a reload time after each shot. Strategic maneuvering is crucial to maximize your cannon usage.

RPG Missile: Shifting the camera to the ship's deck allows for free movement of Goro. While this pauses your ship's movement and is risky at close range, it lets you equip an RPG for long-range attacks, providing a significant advantage at the start of many battles.

Pirate Ship Maneuvering

From the wider ship perspective, control the Goromaru using the left stick. A boost function temporarily increases speed, useful for closing distance or executing drifts (by pressing O/B simultaneously with boost) to evade cannon fire or reposition for optimal cannon attacks.

Boarding Parties

Many naval battles, especially boss fights and Pirate Coliseum challenges, are two-phased. The first phase focuses on destroying the main enemy ship (which has more health than its escorts). Prioritize the boss ship to progress to the second phase.

Once the main ship's health is depleted, a prompt initiates the boarding party, transitioning combat to a classic Yakuza-style beat 'em up. Expect to be outnumbered. Leveling up your crew, boosting morale, and engaging in smaller battles beforehand will greatly improve your chances of success.

Enemy captains possess stat-boosting abilities, increasing difficulty. Utilize your own support crew's stat boosts to counter this. The goal: eliminate the enemy crew before your party is defeated. Mastering these two-stage battles is crucial for progressing through the Pirate Coliseum and later game story missions. Your understanding of naval combat will also prove essential during open-world exploration.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii cleverly blends the series' signature style with innovative ship combat, offering a refreshing change of pace. With upgrades and crew customization, the Goromaru can become the most formidable vessel on the seas.

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