Like a Dragon: Ishinwas a hugely anticipated release given the 2014 original has long been regarded as one of the best spin-offs to come under the widerYakuza/Like a Dragonfranchise umbrella. With western audiences now having a translated release of this less-traditional game to enjoy, discussions surrounding what the next move for the franchise will be skyrocketed.
The faithful historic setting ofLike a Dragon: Ishinis a sensible move for the franchise given how much each entry focuses on recreating Japanese environments, allowing the IP to thrust its most iconic faces into the archaic Imperial Japan. With that precedent of spin-offs known for settings that are great deviations from the narratives of the mainline games, a future spin-off could foster a strong cyberpunk setting.
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The Settings of Ishin and Other Like a Dragon Spin-offs
The core narrative ofIshintakes place during the late 1800s, during a time of intense geopolitical transition. The title’s story is largely based in reality,showcasing real-life organizations such as the Shinsengumias well as the figures who belonged to them.Ishinwas Ryu Ga Gotoku’s first foray into the Samurai era, however, with the earlierRyu Ga Gotoku: Kenzanbeing set in the early 1600s.
Aside from these more traditional tales,Like a Dragonspin-offs are also renowned for their unashamed wackiness and eccentricity, typified by2011’sYakuza: Dead Souls. LikeKenzanandIshin,Dead Soulsfeatures characters from the mainline series, but this time maintaining their original identities in a non-canon story. Taking place in the familiar city of Kamarucho,Dead Soulssees Japan engulfed by a zombie apocalypse, leading to an uncharacteristic focus on firearms to take out hordes of the undead.
How a Future Like a Dragon Spin-off Could Utilize Cyberpunk Themes
WithseveralLike a Dragonspin-offstaking on past and present settings, the developer could also stretch its talents by exploring the future. Given theLike a Dragonfranchise consistently pushes the boundaries of its own eccentricity and storytelling avenues, it is easy to imagine that Ryu Ga Gotoku could tackle a future-set spin-off in an excellent way.
Cyberpunk is one of the most well-worn science-fiction genres across all forms of media, withCD Projekt Red’sCyberpunk 2077and the filmBladerunner 2049showcasing a contemporary, ongoing appeal. Japanese culture has long influenced the cyberpunk genre, with famous manga such asAkirashaping the aesthetic from as early as the 1980s. Japanese cyberpunk themes would surely shine withinLike a Dragon’sbustling metropolis of Kamarucho, opening up a huge breadth of narrative possibilities for the long-used location.
Of course, this game would also feature the same returning likenesses and voices of the main series, perhaps embodying different characters akin toIshin. This would provide a great opportunity to change the ages of many characters, withthe likes of Kazuma Kiryuand Goro Majima returning to their more youthful states from the popularYakuza 0. While a cyberpunk setting would be an ambitious one, it would clearly be a challenge that theLike a Dragonfranchise is more than capable of tackling and making a success.
Like A Dragon: Ishinis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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