Summary
Like a Dragon:Yakuzais a mixed bag critically. A couple of reviewers really enjoyed Amazon’s adaptation ofSega’s and RGG Studios' beloved series of games, while most described it as an aimless crime drama. Though, an aspect of the show that many have praised is the adaptation of Kamurochō, a fictional district of Tokyo seen in the games.
A neat detail of the show is that it brings Goro Majima’s fighting style from the game into the show, adding another layer of faithful adaptation. As spotted byShoorehplppl, a discerning Yakuza fan on X, when Majima begins fighting in the show, he’s using his thug stance from the games. This style has the left hand raised high and forward, while the right hand drops lower. It’s a southpaw style in the vein of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do.
We mostly see the Thug style in action during Yakuza 0, as Majima is one of the game’s two protagonists. However, he has been seen using the style, including against Kiryu, in other games in the series. The style is a fast one, focusing on targeting weak spots and countering overeager attacks from enemies, rather than relying on brute force. Majima is a master of close combat, even if he never manages to get the better of Kiryu.
While Like a Dragon: Yakuza isn’t universally hated by any means, thefan reaction is generally negative. “It’s Yakuza in name and nothing else,” reads one comment. Another commenter is critical of the show’s adaption of Kiryu, saying “This Kiryu is someone the real Kiryu would beat up to teach some kinda life lesson, in a substory.”
Like a Dragon: Yakuza currently hasmixed to negative reviews, holding a 67% onRotten Tomatoesand a 48 onMetacritic, though not all published reviews out there have been aggregated on either site.
Yakuza
Yakuza, also known as Like a Dragon, is a series of action-adventure games developed by Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Taking place largely in the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurochō, the games are often crime dramas featuring characters such as Kazuma Kiryu, Goro Majima, and Ichiban Kasuga, and are known for their host of fun minigames such as karaoke.
