Tips and tricks for Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Yakuza: Like a Dragon puts you in the shoes of Ichiban Kasuga, a low-level yakuza who dreams of being a hero. After being falsely imprisoned for nearly 20 years, Ichiban comes out with one goal in mind: to find out why the man he trusted betrayed him. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a starting point for the series in many different ways: a new location, a new protagonist, and a new turn-based combat. It can all be quite overwhelming at first, but don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here are some tips for Yakuza beginners: Like a Dragon.

This tip is pretty self explanatory, but once you land on Isezaki Ijincho, you should start exploring as much as you can. Isezaki Ijincho is a large area, with many alleys and buildings that hide items useful for battle. Just be careful where you go hunting – while you can visit pretty much any area from the start, there are plenty of tough enemies who won’t hesitate to take you out if you’re not prepared.

If you discover something you can’t interact with yet, like a sub-story that requires a higher level or a golden safe, don’t worry about losing track on your map. Once discovered, they will be marked on your map so you can easily find them once you are ready.

Yakuza: tips like a dragon: Get in a not-so-crazy taxi

The Isezaki Ijincho district is where you will spend most of your time in the game. Whether you decide to get involved with one of the many side stories or kick back with some food and karaoke, you’ll quickly learn that getting around town is sometimes easier said than done. Fortunately, there are taxis parked on street corners throughout the district. For just a small fee, they will drop you off at some predetermined locations.

You also don’t always have to find a taxi to get around. Once you can hail a taxi, you can call it from your smartphone. Just open the main menu and select the taxi icon. This will allow you to quickly travel anywhere you want, although it will cost you a lot more yen. It’s a convenient way to get around the city, especially if you haven’t unlocked all the taxi spots yet.

Yakuza: tips like a dragon: Drink with your friends

At the beginning of the game, you will be presented with a bar called Survive, which will act as a kind of gathering place for you and the other members of the party. This location is important to remember because it is tied to your party’s tie level.

Once a character joins Ichiban’s party, Ichiban will be able to work on his bond with each character. Your bond always increases after each battle, by sharing a meal with active party members or by listening to their stories while exploring the city. Once your bonding gauge with a party member is maxed out, you can unlock a heart-to-heart conversation, learn more about the party member’s backstory while strengthening your bond with that party member. Doing so will unlock special tag team moves that can be performed between Ichiban and that party member.

Be sure to visit the bar by the time you’ve used up your bail meter. If you don’t, your party member’s Link Level will not be able to increase and you will be wasting any new Link Experience you earn.

Yakuza: tips like a dragon: Wait your turn

Yakuza: As a dragon kills off the beat ’em up mechanics of previous games, it opts for a turn-based RPG system instead. Despite the change, combat remains fast and furious. When you go into battle, be sure to pay attention to who will be next in the order of attack. Unlike previous Yakuza games, you can take advantage of this moment to design the best strategy for each encounter.

It’s something the game doesn’t really draw attention to, but it’s a necessary thing to keep track of, especially in later fights in the game. Prioritizing threats is the key to surviving tougher battles.

Yakuza: tips like a dragon: Dress for the job you want

Ichiban sets himself a noble goal: to be a hero. But being a hero doesn’t necessarily pay the bills, so he and his friends have to get real jobs. Of course, jobs affect your character’s abilities, as well as their outfits in battle. If you’ve ever wanted to see an idol, a breakdancer, a chef, and a musician beat up a group of gang members, this is the game for you.

The higher your level, the more jobs will be available. Increasing your bond with group members also unlocks more jobs for them. Learning how jobs complement each other, or just mixing and matching until you find one that suits your play style, is just another layer of depth in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

Yakuza: tips like a dragon: Scared money doesn’t make money

As any good gangster would tell you, money is everything, and that’s true in Yakuza. Ichiban may be a penniless punk, but he won’t be for long if you follow these handy tips.

At the beginning of the game, you will learn the treasure hunt skill. Using this randomly on garbage bags and vending machines will allow Ichiban to search for money in the surroundings. You may not get anything too impressive, but you have a chance to find some serious yen or even valuable items or equipment to sell. You can also use this ability many times on a single vending machine or garbage bag. If you go to the Hamakita park, you can also find many insects to sell. Keep looking and see what you find!

Another great way to raise money comes from a side mission where Ichiban takes control of a senbai rice cracker company. In this side mission, Ichiban is responsible for turning the company’s fortunes, and he does so by leading shareholders meetings (I know, wild, right?) A successful shareholders meeting means a big payoff for Ichiban, so try to do everything you can to impress shareholders.

Claim your honor

Ichiban may not be the best yakuza, but he is the star of one of the best Yakuza games and one of the best RPGs of this year. Ichiban’s path to redemption is littered with tons of twists and turns, but these tips will get you from zero to hero in no time. Keep an eye out for Yakuza: Like a Dragon when it launches on current and next-gen consoles on November 10, 2020.