Like a Dragon: Yakuza season 1 review: "Wasn't at all what I was expecting – and that's not a bad thing"

GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Pros+Ryoma Takeuchi’s take on Kiryu is engaging and is never a mere copy+Like a Dragon’s 1995 story is a highlight, gifting Kiryu and Nishiki’s story with an extra layer of emotional weight Ryoma Takeuchi’s take on Kiryu is engaging and is never a mere copy Like a Dragon’s 1995 story is a highlight, gifting Kiryu and Nishiki’s story with an extra layer of emotional weight Cons-Like a Dragon sometimes squeezes in fan service to the detriment of its story-The fight scenes don’t pop as much as its game equivalent Like a Dragon sometimes squeezes in fan service to the detriment of its story The fight scenes don’t pop as much as its game equivalent Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Like a Dragon is going global. The video game series, previously known as Yakuza in the West, has only grown in popularity since 2015’s Yakuza 0, encompassing all manner ofturn-based RPGs,secret agent brawlers, andpirate-themed adventures. Now, it’s about to be plonked in front of millions of subscribers on Prime Video. However, Like a Dragon: Yakuza never stretches to the incredulous heights of its gaming cousin. A fairly loose adaptation of the original 2005 video game, the new Amazon series revolves around a more grounded gangster story during two time periods in Kamurochō, a fictional entertainment district in Japan. Ten years later, Kiryu – who once harbored ambitions to become the legendary ‘Dragon of Dojima’ – is released after a significant stretch in prison and has been branded anoyagoroshi(literally ‘killer’). Fast facts Release date:October 24 Available on:Prime Video Episodes:6 Family comes first (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios) All told, I appreciated that this was an original interpretation of the character and not simply a copy. It’s not the game Kiryu – and why should it be? Yakuza: Like a Dragon, if nothing else, is always confident in being its own thing. Lost in translation (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios) But not every reworking of its source material pays off. Like a Dragon’s game series is a uniquely broad church, one where nuanced character work and intense drama co-exists with goofy ‘Substories’ and an inexplicable mahjong addiction. Those coming in hoping that the Prime Video series will seamlessly blend Kiryu’s crusade against the criminal underworld alongside some of Like a Dragon’s more ridiculous elements will be left sorely disappointed. This is a pretty serious adaptation filled with excessive melodrama, especially once it sticks to the ‘present day’ of 2005. I would have loved to have seen some more personality bursting through the edges of the main story, but I can see why it doesn’t contort itself to fit that in. Some characters away from Kiryu’s orbit, too, are products of the show’s indecision in not knowing which parts of the original game’s story to jettison and which ones to salvage. The tongue-waving, knife-wielding favorite Majima (Munetaka Aoki) is an especially sad casualty of the slightly more restrained approach to Like a Dragon’s story; he never quite fits in, nor does he leave a lasting impression beyond mere fan service. As much as it pains me to say, he probably should have been left out to fight another day. (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios) The action and fight scenes, which admittedly reach its brutal, bloodied peak during Kiryu’s underground scraps, are fairly tame and awkwardly choreographed in places. Emotionally-charged showdowns later in the season also lack the blistering capital-H ‘Heat’ of a truly great Yakuza boss fight. Most glaring, though, is something away from the show itself: the slip-ups and typos present in the translations of the six episodes we were given. The odd mistake here and there can be ignored, but Like a Dragon’s translation is far too sloppy to overlook. There’s every chance it could be fixed for release, but it’s a far cry from the stellar English-language localization work thatSEGAroutinely achieves in the game series. Indeed, all the pieces are now present for Like a Dragon: Yakuza to be a success on Prime Video beyond its first season, even with viewers who haven’t yet taken in the majesty of Millennium Tower or run through the litter-strewn streets of Theater Square on consoles. As Kiryu might say – that’s rad. The first three episodes of Like A Dragon: Yakuza are available on Prime Video from October 24. For more, check out theLike a Dragon: Yakuza release scheduleand our ranking of thebest Yakuza games. 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Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is 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Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”