Gamegrin reviewed Like a Dragon: Ishin!:

Like a Dragon: Ishin! Review

If you’ve ever wondered what the Yakuza series protagonist Kazama Kiryu would have been like as a samurai in the late Edo period of Japan, then boy have I got the game for you! It’s Like a Dragon: Ishin!, a remake of the PlayStation 3/4 title Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin!, which sees you playing as real-life samurai Sakamoto Ryōma, who happens to look and sound exactly like Kiryu.

As with the Yakuza series, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a third-person action RPG, which sees you wandering around doing tons of side quests, getting into fight after fight, and playing mini-games for hours on end. Oh, there’s also a really great story, but I’m not going to lie, this review would have been out weeks ago if I’d concentrated on the story.

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My only issue with Like a Dragon: Ishin! is in how it sometimes feels like one of the older Yakuza titles. Enemies will straight up disappear if you interact with something, rather than just disengage their pursuit. NPCs will get latched onto level geometry and just run in one spot even after I collide with them. Though very rare, I noticed hitboxes during fights not always being where they should be, either because an attack missed or hit when I shouldn’t have. In one cutscene the camera had been placed behind a wall for one angle, so it kept just showing a close-up of blood-stained wallpaper.

These tiny issues don’t detract too badly from an amazing game, and Like a Dragon: Ishin! is definitely something that series fans need to play. Newcomers might have an easier time getting into it since the faces won’t confuse the names they already know, and the combat has more variety. Overall, it’s great fun and makes me hope for a Western release of Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! and remakes of both Kurohyō titles.

Score: 8.5/10

Fortress of Solitude checked out Like a Dragon: Ishin!:

Like a Dragon: Ishin! Review – A Fun But Dated Yakuza Spinoff

Only Japan got to experience the magic of Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! as it was released on PlayStation 3 and 4 in 2014. However, the popularity of the series known as Yakuza resulted in the remake Like a Dragon: Ishin! arriving for next-gen consoles. As a spinoff that takes place in the Edo period of Japan, the setting is different from the modern Yakuza video games, but the themes about doing what’s right in the face of adversity still remains here.

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Like a Dragon: Ishin! boasts a powerful storyline and engaging combat system, even if it is let down by its previous-gen limitations.

PROS
Outstanding storyline
Fantastic combat system
Captivating world

CONS
The designs vary in quality
Limited world to explore

Score: 84/100

The historical action RPG Like a Dragon: Ishin! has been released:

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

1860s Kyo is plagued by widespread inequality, and one samurai will change the course of history in his search for justice. Take up the sword of Sakamoto Ryoma and venture to Kyoto to find your father’s killer, clear yourself of a framed murder, and restore your honor. In doing so, you will bring an end to the samurai era and forever change the future of Japan. Draw your blade, load your revolver, and join the revolution in this heated historical adventure that only the creators of Yakuza: Like a Dragon could produce.

RPGFan and RPGSite reviewed Like a Dragon: Ishin!:

RPGFan:

Playing Like a Dragon: Ishin! took me back to the feeling I had when I first played Yakuza 0, which is not a bad thing! Though it isn’t the pinnacle of the series, Ishin delivers a pure Yakuza experience that will delight both long-time and new fans. It’s an expertly told melodrama punctuated with moments of genuinely breathtaking absurdity. In other words, it’s a Yakuza game. And frankly, if this actually were a historical drama in the running for Best Picture at the Oscars, it would absolutely get my vote!

Score: 85/100

RPG Site:

Like a Dragon: Ishin is an excellent revitalization of an already solid entry in the Like a Dragon series. It has a compelling story that somewhat falls apart in the last stretch, but the journey that leads to it is captivating. Adding in new likenesses from recent Like a Dragon / Yakuza series from several iconic characters was a change I welcomed, because I loved so many of those characters. The gameplay feels refreshing thanks to Ryoma’s unique arsenal and there is just a sheer amount of optional side content to dive into that all feel fun, partially due to the Bakumatsu time period it’s set in. I ultimately finished my playthrough in 34 hours, but I still have a ton of optional content left that will easily consume dozens of more hours.

Score: 8/10

VG247 checked out the upcoming action adventure Like a Dragon: Ishin!:

Like a Dragon: Ishin review – An exceptional RPG that fulfils the Samurai fantasy

This romp from Kyo is outstanding, even among its peers.

I spend one Ryo for access to the Gion brothel and take on Rock Paper Scissors on the hardest difficulty. It’s a tough fight but I clutch out a win against a now borderline-naked prostitute, and leave her confused as I walk out the door and back to the street. 30 seconds later, I’m unloading three bullets into the chest of a street thug, only for his friend to join my local police force. Like a Dragon: Ishin is exceptionally entertaining.

That might not be a shock to fans of the Yakuza series, a long-running powerhouse that has thrown players into Kamurocho with numerous games as generous with balls-to-the-wall action as it is with genuinely engaging narratives and a healthy dollop of wackiness. I was glad to discover after over 80 hours of in-game fighting, fetching, and fishing that this 19th Century historical rollercoaster lacks none of the bite of its modern brothers.

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Like a Dragon: Ishin in my eyes earns the lofty score I’m giving it. The game is the most fun I’ve had with a single player game in years, and getting a review code for it the same day as Hi-Fi Rush left me spoiled, incredibly tired, and astoundingly happy. It’s worth your time and your money.

Score: 5/5