Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS5)

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth ist ein unglaublich ambitionierter Titel, den man uneingeschränkt empfehlen kann. Er wurde an allen Ecken und Enden gegenüber dem Vorgänger verbessert, wobei besonders die rundenbasierten Kämpfe von profitieren. Die Geschichte bietet besonders ab der Hälfte eine ambivalente Achterbahnfahrt sondergleichen und die Nebenaufgaben sind so abwechslungsreich und ausufernd wie noch nie. Und einen besseren Nostalgie-Trip für Yakuza/Kiryu-Fans wird es so schnell nicht wieder geben.

Infinite Wealth is a swing for the fences for RGG. At one point, the Yakuza series was a cult classic relegated to small fanbases outside of Japan. That changed in 2017 when Yakuza 0 finally hit it big. By the time Yakuza: Like a Dragon came out in 2020, it was clear RGG had a phenomenon on its hands. The result of that success is a massive game brimming with things to do and say.

This sequel proves that RGG is a legitimate player in the RPG space with a vastly improved combat system that is so uniquely representative of the series' identity that it feels like a perfect fit, and it's used to great effect by simply spotlighting its fantastic supporting characters. As a swan song for Kiryu, I'm conflicted on how it all comes together, but it's impossible not to get emotional about the ways it lends a deserved weight to his legacy. So, I'm not going to remember this game for its villains, their motivations, or the reasons for fighting in Hawaii, but I will remember it for the wild Yakuza hijinks and the sobering messages about what we do with the time we have left.

I can’t exactly sell Infinite Wealth as an easily accessible JRPG for anyone to enjoy. It’s a dense game with at least a 100-hour adventure for players to undertake. However, if you’re willing to brave the time commitment, there’s an amazing story here that feels like the most fitting wrap-up for anyone who has loved Kazuma Kiryu throughout the series. I don’t know where a possible ninth game might take the series, but getting here has been an incredible experience.

Violent stakes once again meet zany shenanigans in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the series' much-improved second RPG.