The Yakuza/Like A Dragon series has become infamous for its absolutely bonkers mini-games and modes, whether it’s becoming a real-estate mogul, running your own confectionary company, training up a dojo of warriors or managing a busy hostess club. Now though, it seems like Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have fully gone off the deep end and embraced the cozy cottage core lifestyle, borrowing the Animal Crossing formula wholesale for a new mode in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
Announced at the Xbox Partner Preview Showcase, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth introduces a mode called Dondoko Island, in which lead lad Ichiban Kasuga is whisked away to the island in question (by a rather cute and sturdy looking dolphin, if the trailer is to be believed). Once there, players will be able to farm their own crops, build their own town, customise different aesthetic choices like pavements and such, or just erect a monument to Godzilla next to the beach.
If that sounds like Animal Crossing: New Horizons to you, it’s because Like A Dragon has essentially copied Nintendo’s homework, an observation that hasn’t been lost on the majority of the world’s gaming outlets. Naturally, RGG Studio have put their own spin on the premise, as the island is visited by your typical array of Like A Dragon freaks and weirdos, such as a mascot that looks like they’ve been kidnapped from the set of Don’t Hug Me, I’m Scared. Your island can also be invaded by goons, which you’ll have to fend off by smacking them with a baseball bat. Coincidentally, that’s how I wish I could’ve dealt with Pietro on Animal Crossing.
Considering how similar it is to such an already established genre and franchise, you might think that RGG Studio are just lazily following trends to try and make a quick buck, but anyone who’s familiar with the Like A Dragon series will know how far from the truth that is. Most mini-games or side modes in Like A Dragon games have mechanics and systems that are often deeper than some standalone releases, and if the reveal of Dondoko Island is anything to go by, this take on cozy gaming might be able to rub shoulders with the rest of them.
In fact, those who are familiar with the Like A Dragon series will know that this isn’t the franchise’s first foray into the cozy style of gaming, as Like A Dragon: Ishin’s Another Life minigame sees main character Sakamoto Ryoma ditch the samurai life for some simple farming. Sure, it’s not exactly as in depth as something like Story of Seasons or Stardew Valley, but if you got a kick out of it there, Dondoko Island is sure to delight you.
What makes a mode like Dondoko Island even more exciting is that it’s coming bundled with a game that already promises to be a best in class RPG. There’s a dramatic story that promises to be another tense and thrilling installment in the series, and the gameplay is going to blend turn-based combat with Kiryu’s ability to just break the turn-based structure and wallop some dudes right in the face. The Animal Crossing inspired mode is just the icing on the cake.
Hopefully though, Dondoko Island is more than just a side distraction or a way to earn more money like Ichiban Confections was in Yakuza: Like A Dragon. I’m crossing my fingers that it’s a mode which will be added to and improved over time, whether it’s with legacy characters visiting your island, new items to unlock or even the ability to play as other characters or visit your friend’s islands. I want to relive those 2020 peak Animal Crossing vibes again, only with more baseball bats and dudes in mascot suits. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s Dondoko Island looks precisely like that.
READ MORE:Â Yakuza: Like A Dragon | Games To Play Before You Die
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