Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza's Hawaiian Warfare Uncovered

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, crucial for success in the game.

Early game sees you commanding the Goromaru, a small ship initially equipped with two cannons (port and starboard) and a forward-mounted machine gun turret. Open waters frequently bring encounters with enemy vessels; you can choose to engage or flee, though escape is risky due to slower ship speed and enemy ranged attacks. Direct confrontation is generally preferable.

Three primary attack types exist:

• Turret Gun: Effective at mid-range, ideal for weakening enemies before closing in for cannon fire. You can manually control the turret, though this is riskier.
• Left/Right Cannons: High-damage, close-range attacks (activated by L2/R2). Each cannon requires a reload, necessitating strategic ship maneuvering. A visual indicator shows when a cannon is ready to fire.
• RPG Missile: Switching to a deck-view perspective (risky at close range) allows deploying an RPG for long-range damage. This is a potent opening tactic.

Ship Control: Use the left stick to steer the Goromaru. A boost function increases speed temporarily. Combining boost with a drift maneuver (O/B button) allows quick turns to dodge attacks or reposition for optimal cannon fire.

Two-Stage Naval Battles: Certain encounters, particularly boss battles and Pirate Coliseum events, are two-stage affairs. Focus fire on the main, larger ship to progress to the second stage.

Boarding Parties: Once the main ship's health is depleted, a boarding party sequence begins, transitioning to the familiar Yakuza beat-'em-up style. You'll often be outnumbered; upgrading your crew's morale and combat skills is vital for success. Crew captains possess stat boosts, requiring strategic combat. Assign support crew to enhance your team's stats.

Mastering two-stage naval battles is key for progression in the latter game stages and the Pirate Coliseum. Effective naval combat is also essential for exploration and treasure hunting. Upgrade your ship and crew to make the Goromaru the most formidable vessel at sea.

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