Board 8 > Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Review Zone

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https://www.metacritic.com/game/like-a-dragon-gaiden-the-man-who-erased-his-name/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5

Kiryu returns in this bite-sized Like a Dragon spinoff that takes place between 6 and 7 to explain what he was up to between being retired after faking his death and suddenly being a special agent. Compared to past games in the series it truly is bite-sized clocking in at only 10-15 hours to finish the story and 25-30 to complete. Reviewers seem split on the older beat'em up style of Kiryu's games. Some welcome its return and the improvements it brings while others seem ready to just move on to LaD8. So far it's averaging a 79 through 44 reviews which puts it more in the Yakuza 3/4 range of reviews and not the higher end the series has experienced recently.

Shacknews - 9/10
Having now completed every side mission, substory, and objective in a little over 25 hours, I can only hope Ryu Ga Gotoku learns from this game and works on more bite-sized spin-offs fleshing out the rest of this universe roster of loveable weirdos, gallant heroes, and snarling villains.

Screen Rant - 9/10
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a success. With just five chapters total, it tells a compelling story that maintains interest throughout. It's also a neat summary of Kiryu's storied past, serving as a solid introduction to him for those who found the franchise through Yakuza: Like A Dragon and Ichiban. Anyone interested in the Yakuza hype heading into Infinite Wealth should absolutely check out Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, which stands on its own as a great entry that does so much with very little.

Dualshockers - 8.2/10
Despite its flaws, I cant deny that I had a great time walking in the shoes of Kiryu. I enjoyed the story, the exciting combat, and the thrilling action. While I may have finished the main story, Ill be going back for more side content to see what I may have missed along the way. While the combat may not demand a high investment from its players, theres no denying that the deeper you dig, the more you get. This is a game that rewards its players for high levels of engagement but doesnt punish the casual player just along for the ride. Whether youre a true blue fan or a newcomer to the series, theres a lot to enjoy about Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

Gamespot - 8/10
And so there I was, sitting in front of my TV, watching Gaiden's ending, crying like a damn baby over the hardships of a fictional man again--and I know those who've also been on this ride over the years will feel me on this. Gaiden may be a brief excursion that occasionally leaves the full potential of its supporting cast on the table and often relies on remixing ideas from the series' past, but with enough new features to make combat exciting and a buffet of high-quality side content, it's still some of the most fun I've had with an RGG game. More importantly, I was just happy to be in Kiryu's shoes again for another emotional story and to brace myself for what lies ahead for the beloved series.

PushSquare - 8/10
Like a Dragon Gaiden teeters on the edge of feeling tired and a bit predictable, but in the end, this is another memorable chapter in Kiryu's seemingly endless tale. It adds welcome weight to the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon while also telling a great individual story, which is stuffed with typically engaging characters. Refined combat carries this 'smaller' title even further, and although its optional excursions can feel a little too grindy for their own good, Gaiden stands as a rock solid instalment, and a potent reminder of why Kiryu's such a beloved protagonist.

Destructoid - 8/10
Like a Dragon Gaiden has games, laughs, tears, and brawls where characters dramatically reveal their resplendent back tattoos. It does what a new Like a Dragon entry needs to do, and tees up some big emotional moments for its longtime series lead along the way. If you want a deep story with twists and turns, this may not be all you hope for. But if you run off the beaten path to get a model AiAi out of the UFO Catcher, this should more than tide you over to Infinite Wealth.

Worth Playing - 7.5/10
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a nice burst of nostalgia, but it isn't worth the $50 price tag. The die-hard Yakuza/Like a Dragon fans who've followed Kiryu from start to finish will likely find that this title feels too familiar and safe. It's nice to have one more adventure with him before what seems like his for-real swan song in Infinite Wealth, but this is easily the most skippable Like a Dragon title to date.

RPG Fan - 7.2/10
Thankfully, with Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name behind us, RGG is set to forge ahead, blending new gameplay and characters with the distinct sense of humor and flair that made Yakuza so popular in the first place. Sadly, if youre looking for one last enjoyable adventure with Kazuma Kiryu, I suggest playing Yakuza Kiwami 2 again. Youre going to get almost the same experience but with a much better plot, more intriguing characters, bigger stakes, and, most importantly, an awesome cabaret minigame.

IGN - 7/10
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is kind of like the cup of miso soup served before Infinite Wealths main course it delivers an enjoyably familiar flavour that stimulates the appetite, but doesnt really make for a substantial meal in its own right. It effectively feels like an appropriate lead-in to next years game in ways both good and bad on the one hand, it gives a satisfying bit of back story to account for Kiryus presence in Hawaii, but on the other its uninspired substories and rehashed side activities are proof positive that the series is crying out for the seachange that Infinite Wealth looks to provide. That said, Gaidens gadget-heavy combat definitely kept me consistently entertained over the course of its compact crime story, so although I was less inclined to search for distractions outside of the destruction, I still enjoyed this latest dose of Kazama Kiryu carnage while it lasted.

SHINE_GET_64 posted...

Reviewers seem split on the older beat'em up style of Kiryu's games. Some welcome its return and the improvements it brings while others seem ready to just move on to LaD8.

Hmm, seems like the ones you posted have more complaints about the substories being below average for the series.

Protip for those playing on PC Gamepass: switch your region to New Zealand and you can get it now instead of midnight.

what about those of us waiting for a physical version from Hong Kong

Protip for those playing a physical version from Hong Kong: go to Hong Kong and you can play it now instead of waiting for it to ship.