Summary
A major part ofLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthis reminiscing with Kiryu as he works to complete his bucket list while traveling around Ijincho and Kamurocho. While this side content can be bittersweet for someLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthplayers who have fond memories of the series, it serves as a great way to showcase the highlights of Kiryu’s story. However, there is one reference within this questline that may not land with all players, even those who have played every game in the series to be released in the West, due to it requiring knowledge of a spin-off game that was only released in Japan.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthgoes above and beyond to deliver Kiryu a send-off worthy of the Dragon of Dojima by letting players relive his journey through the series thus far. Not only does collecting theMemoirs of a Dragonincrease Kiryu’s fighting prowess, but they also help to fill in the gaps in Kiryu’s history for players who may not have played the entire series before jumping intoLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. While fans of the series will likely enjoy collecting these memories, the inclusion of one that referencesLike a Dragon: Kenzanis odd given that the game never saw a Western release.
Like a Dragon: Kenzan’s Japan-Only Release Hurts Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
As players discover the Memoirs of a Dragon littered throughoutIjincho and Kamurocho, they will likely come across Kiryu’s Dream of Another Life and Dreams of a Past Life. These specific memories reference the non-canon spin-off games in the series, includingYakuza: Dead Souls,Like a Dragon: Ishin, and the Japan-onlyLike a Dragon: Kenzan. While two of these three games have had Western releases, it’s odd thatLike a Dragon: Kenzanis included among them as it does little to provide context for a game most Western players have likely never played.
Like a Dragon: Kenzan, orRyu Ga Gotoku Kenzanas it’s officially titled, follows the story of Miyamoto Musashi in 1605 Kyoto after his defeat at the iconic Sengoku Era Battle of Sekigahara. Having adopted the new identity of Kazumanosuke Kiryu and becoming a bodyguard in Gion, Miyamoto’s life is upended when a young girl named Haruka comes to him to request that he assassinate an impostor claiming to be Miyamoto Musashi. The plot of this game mirrors Kiryu’s life from the early entries in the series while translating them into a fictionalized version of a real-world historical setting.
Why Now is the Perfect Time for a Like a Dragon: Kenzan Western Release
Although it might seem strange forLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthto reference a gain that was never released in the West, there is still hope thatLike a Dragon: Kenzanwill get a Western release, and now has never been a better time for it to happen. The other formerly Japan-exclusive spin-off title,Like a Dragon: Ishin, was remastered and released in the West early last year, and was generally well-received by Western audiences. With developerRyu Ga Gotoku Studio teasing announcementsof upcoming projects, many fans speculate that a remake and Western release ofLike a Dragon: Kenzancould be among them.
ReleasingLike a Dragon: Kenzanin the West would also be a great excuse to give fans another opportunity to play as Kiryu, even if the character itself isn’t technically the same Kiryu of the main series. WithLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthlikely being Kiryu’s final game, giving fans one more opportunity to play as a version of Kiryu inLike a Dragon: Kenzanwould be a welcome surprise. It would also give fans of the series' action-based combat another game with different fighting styles similar toLike a Dragon: Ishin.
