Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (龍が如く７外伝 名を消した男, Ryū Ga Gotoku 7 Gaiden: Na wo Keshita Otoko, lit. "Like a Dragon 7 Side Story: The Man Who Erased His Name") is an action-adventure spin-off of the Like a Dragon (formerly Yakuza) series for the PlayStation 4WP, PlayStation 5WP, Xbox OneWP, Xbox Series X/SWP, and Microsoft WindowsWP.
It was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio as an interquel between Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, making it the eighteenth installment of the Like a Dragon series. It was released worldwide on November 8, 2023 for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S and on November 9, 2023 for all other platforms. The game initially launched with only Japanese voiceover audio, with English voiceover being added in a free update on December 14, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m. PST.[1]
Synopsis[]
Setting[]
Taking place mainly in late 2019[a] with additional scenes in 2020 and 2023, Like a Dragon Gaiden bridges the gaps between Yakuza 6, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth from the perspective of Kazuma Kiryu, the former protagonist of the Like a Dragon series. It primarily covers the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
The game features an open world focusing on entertainment district Sotenbori, Osaka, a fictionalized Dotonbori, OsakaWP, port district Isezaki Ijincho, Yokohama, a fictionalized Isezakicho, YokohamaWP. The Castle, an offshore container ship and "adult amusement park" accessible from Sotenbori, serves as one of the central locations.
Though the start of the game briefly features entertainment district Roppongi, Minato City, and the southern portion of Ijincho, the majority of the game takes place in Sotenbori and the Castle.
Plot[]
Chapter 1: Hidden Dragon[]
Kazuma Kiryu has assumed the role of Daidoji Faction agent under the codename "Joryu." Resigned, Kiryu sets out to live the rest of his days with an empty heart, fulfilling mundane requests brought to him by his new manager Hanawa.
Chapter 2: Castle on the Water[]
The man who was searching for Kiryu is revealed to be Tsuruno, a Watase Family captain. He proposed to free Kiryu from the Daidoji's chains, provided Kiryu accepts his demands. If he does, Kiryu will be able to see the children of Morning Glory once again—but first, Tsuruno says that he needs Hanawa, Kiryu's manager, in a body bag.
Chapter 3: The Man Who Knew Too Much[]
Kiryu wins big in the ship's fighting arena, rescues Hanawa, and captures Tsuruno. However, in defiance of the Daidoji's orders to kill Tsuruno, Kiryu decides to let him go. The cost is enormous: when Hanawa threatens to take the children of Morning Glory hostage, Kiryu surrenders, and is taken prisoner in the Daidoji temple.
Chapter 4: The Laughing Man[]
The Watase Family's request of Kiryu is for him to be present at the joint dissolution of the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan—but first, he has to put a stop to Homare Nishitani III. Everything hinges on luring Nishitani out of the Castle...
Final Chapter: The Man Who Erased His Name[]
Once the dissolution is announced, Kiryu defeats Shishido and takes Watase and Daigo to the police, ensuring the yakuza become a thing of the past. All his missions complete, Kiryu decides to leave on a trip arranged by Hanawa. As they part ways, Hanawa reveals that he, too, was a man who erased his name...
Characters[]
Like a Dragon Gaiden primarily centers on a conflict between Kiryu, the Daidoji Faction, and the Omi Alliance, with most major characters either belonging to or being connected to one of the two factions. The Tojo Clan, Seiryu Clan, and Ichiban Kasuga's party from Yakuza: Like a Dragon are also featured. The table below outlines brief introductions to the characters of Like a Dragon Gaiden, covering their roles, occupations, characteristics, and early involvement.
| Character | Encountered | Category |
|---|---|---|
 (桐生 一馬, Kiryū Kazuma) | — | Playable Characters |
| Kiryu is the former fourth chairman of the Tojo Clan and the former manager of Morning Glory Orphanage. In 2016, he faked his death and cut himself off from his children at the orphanage, erasing his past and his name. Now operating as an agent under the codename Joryu, he aimlessly fills the void with missions from the Daidoji Faction. | ||
 (花輪 喜平, Hanawa Kihei) | Main Story | |
| Hanawa is Kiryu's direct manager at the Daidoji Faction. | ||
 (鶴野 裕樹, Tsuruno Yūki) |
| |
| Tsuruno is the captain and acting patriarch of the Watase Family. More of an intellectual than a savage, he is a loyal and tenacious leader in Watase's absence as well as a bold and meticulous planner, having laid a mountain of traps for Kiryu. He and Shishido aim to secure Kiryu's help for the dissolution of the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan on Watase's orders. | ||
 (獅子堂 康生, Shishidō Kōsei) |
| |
| Shishido is the lieutenant and "ace-in-the-hole" of the Watase Family. More of a savage than an intellectual, he is a capable lieutenant who commands authority through terror and intimidation, exemplifying his organization's militance. He and Tsuruno aim to secure Kiryu's help for the dissolution of the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan, but he appears to maintain a rivalry with Kiryu afterwards. | ||
Gameplay[]
In a return to the action-adventure genre, Like a Dragon: Gaiden features the beat-'em-up style of combat the Like a Dragon series became known for.
Release and Marketing[]
Like a Dragon Gaiden was officially announced on September 14, 2022. It was streamed live on YouTube as part of the RGG Summit 2022 event alongside the official announcements of Like a Dragon: Ishin! and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. It was accompanied by a teaser trailer showing Kiryu meditating at Daidoji Temple, appearing uneasy. A monk concludes the session, telling Kiryu (whom he refers to as Joryu) that in spite of giving up his identity, he is still shackled by regrets regarding his family. He is then approached by a mysterious man, who offers him his next assignment as a bodyguard.
Series representative and executive production manager Masayoshi Yokoyama explained Like a Dragon Gaiden would expand on the circumstances leading up to Kiryu's encounters with Ichiban Kasuga in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and their aftermath. In preparation for Like a Dragon 8, it was conceived as a game for both series veterans and newcomers. Old fans would get closure for Kiryu's story going into the new game, whereas the new fans introduced to the franchise by Yakuza: Like a Dragon would have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with Kiryu.
Yokoyama stated the game would be about half the length of the average game in the main series, giving an estimation of roughly ten to twenty hours of playtime. He compared the game to Lost Judgment's downloadable expansion "The Kaito Files" in size and scope. In an interview on September 18, 2022, he said it would, unlike "The Kaito Files," feature a fully open world and substantial side content such as substories and mini-games, but that the length of the main story (which was still being adjusted) would remain in the same range.
The game is to be released in digital and physical formats in Japan, with releases in other regions being decided on a case-by-case basis.
The game's World Premier Trailer was shown as part of 2023 Summer Game Fest, wherein its release date of November 9, 2023 was revealed. Snippets of cutscenes and gameplay were shown, revealing new fighting styles for Kiryu, and that Sotenbori would be a featured location.
The game's Overview Trailer and Developer Update were shown as part of a special livestream, wherein more details about the story, side content and fighting styles were revealed. A Special Trial version of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth was revealed to be included as well.
Trophies and Achievements[]
Like a Dragon Gaiden has a total of 62 trophies.
Production Credits[]
Voice Cast[]
| Role | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kazuma Kiryu | Takaya KurodaWP | Yong Yea |
| Kosei Shishido | Yasukaze Motomiya | Matt Bushell |
| Yuki Tsuruno | Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi | Eugene Nomura |
| Akame | First Summer Uika | Holly Chou |
| Kihei Hanawa | Hiroki TōchiWP | Jake Eberle |
| Ichiban Kasuga | Kazuhiro Nakaya | Kaiji TangWP |
| Masaru Watase | Rintaro NishiWP | James C. Burns |
| Goro Majima | Hidenari UgakiWP | Matthew MercerWP |
| Taiga Saejima | Rikiya KoyamaWP | Ron YuanWP |
| Daigo Dojima | Satoshi Tokushige | Tim Friedlander |
| Homare Nishitani III | Kim JaeuckWP | Tyler Yamabe |
| Head Priest | Ikkyu Juku | Kirk ThorntonWP |
| Yoshimura | Mitsuaki Kanuka | Alain Uy |
| Boss | Hiroshi NakaWP | SungWon ChoWP |
| Haruka Sawamura | Rie KugimiyaWP | Xanthe HuynhWP |
| Taichi | Shunzo Miyasaka | Caleb Yen |
| Ayako | Yumi Sudo | Cassandra Lee MorrisWP |
| Agent Saigo | Katsuya | Keythe FarleyWP |
| Agent Mushin | Tatsuya Nakazawa | Damien Haas |
| Agent Enzen | Kenta Kawasaki | Christopher Sean |
| Agent Raita | Tatsuya Kishida | Ryan Colt Levy |
| Ukita | Yoshimi Tachi | Nathan Hendrick |
| Kubota | Miyabi Koteyama | Xander MobusWP |
| Yao | Hiroto Honda | Keone YoungWP |
| Sakuma | Takashi Kitadai | Zach AguilarWP |
Special Appearances[]
| Role | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Kei | Kson |
| Ayu | Ayu |
| Kaname | Ai Kaname |
| Kokoro | Kokoro Nakayama |
| Ai | Ai Sayama |
| MB | MB |
Trivia[]
- The Man Who Erased His Name is the first modern-day title to not feature Kamurocho as an explorable city. However, holograms of parts of Kamurocho are used as arenas in The Castle's Coliseum, specifically the Yoshida Batting Center and the roof of the Millennium Tower.
Gallery[]
Logos[]
.png "LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(ENG).png (171 KB)")
.png "LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(JP).png (161 KB)")
.png "LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(CHT).png (115 KB)")
.png "LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(CN).png (137 KB)")
.png "LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(KR).png (123 KB)")
Notes[]
- ↑ Ambient dialogue in Sotenbori, as well as dialogue with hostesses, indicates the game occurs during or close to winter 2019, as it is mentioned that the cold days are approaching or beginning to set in.
References[]
- ↑ RGG Studio (@RGGStudio), “We're excited to announce the English dub for Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is AVAILABLE NOW as a free update!, ” Twitter, December 15, 2023, 12:19 a.m. UTC, https://twitter.com/RGGStudio/status/1735499710293586121.