Naval Combat in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Explained

Mastering Naval Combat in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii introduces thrilling naval combat, a significant departure for the Yakuza series. This guide breaks down the mechanics of ship-to-ship battles, ensuring your dominance on the high seas.

Early game sees you commanding the Goromaru, equipped with two cannons and a turret. While fleeing encounters is an option, the Goromaru's slow speed makes this risky, especially against ships with ranged attacks. Direct confrontation is generally preferable.

Naval combat utilizes three primary attack types:

• Turret Gun Attacks: Ideal for mid-range engagements. Damage can be inflicted while approaching, setting up for cannon fire at close range. Direct turret control is possible, but riskier.
• Left and Right Cannons: The Goromaru's most powerful attacks, activated with L2/R2 (depending on platform). Effective only at close range (indicated by a lit-up cannon icon). Strategic maneuvering is crucial due to reload times.
• RPG Missile: Shifting to the ship's deck allows free movement of Goro and RPG deployment for long-range attacks. Best used from a safe distance as the ship becomes stationary. This is a great way to initiate combat with a damage advantage.

Ship control uses the left stick, with a boost function for speed increases and drifting (O/B button) to evade fire or reposition for optimal cannon usage.

Many battles, particularly boss fights and Pirate Coliseum encounters, are two-phased:

1. Naval Combat: Focus fire on the main ship to progress. Ignoring smaller vessels maximizes efficiency.
2. Boarding Party: Once the main ship's health is depleted, a beat-'em-up sequence ensues. You'll often be outnumbered, so leveling up your crew and utilizing support crew buffs is critical.

Mastering these two-stage battles is key to game progression and treasure hunting. The Goromaru, with upgrades and a skilled crew, can become an unstoppable force. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii successfully blends familiar Yakuza gameplay with innovative naval combat.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.