"Pirate Yakuza: Naval Battles in Hawaii Unveiled"

*Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* introduces a thrilling new twist to the beloved *Yakuza* series with its innovative Naval Combat system. This feature plays a crucial role in navigating the game's challenges, as players must master various ship control mechanics to thrive. Let's dive into how Naval Combat operates in *Pirate Yakuza*.

How Does Naval Combat in Pirate Yakuza Work?

At the start of *Pirate Yakuza*, players are equipped with a modest Pirate ship named the Goromaru, which you can later upgrade. Initially, the ship is armed with two cannons on each side and a machine gun turret at the front. As you sail the open waters, you'll frequently encounter enemy ships, much like land-based combat encounters, with the choice to either engage or attempt to flee.

However, escaping can be risky due to the Goromaru's slower speed compared to land combat, especially as stronger enemy ships may have ranged attacks that can damage you while you're on the run. It's often wiser to face these encounters head-on and start firing immediately. Naval Combat in *Pirate Yakuza* includes three types of attacks:

Turret Gun Attacks: Positioned at the front of your ship, the turret gun is your go-to weapon when you're at a mid-range from an enemy ship. It allows you to deal damage as you close in, setting the stage for more potent cannon attacks once in close range. Players can also take direct control of the turret, though this increases risk.

Left and Right Cannons: The cannons on the Goromaru are your most powerful weapons. Activated by L2 or R2, depending on the side you're firing from, they're effective only at close range. A visual cue indicates when they're ready to fire. After a shot, there's a reload time, so it's strategic to maneuver and use the opposite side's cannons next.

RPG Missile: During naval combat, you can switch the camera to the ship's deck to control Goro freely. This maneuver is risky near enemy ships, as it halts your ship's movement. However, roaming the deck allows you to equip an RPG for long-range damage, an effective way to start battles by weakening enemy ships from a distance.

Pirate Ship Traversal

In the wider camera view, controlling the Goromaru involves using the left stick. A boost feature temporarily increases your speed, ideal for closing gaps with enemy ships or executing a drift maneuver (by pressing O on PS5 or B on Xbox alongside the boost) to dodge or reposition for dual cannon attacks.

Boarding Parties

Some Naval battles in *Pirate Yakuza* escalate to two stages, typically in boss fights or Pirate Coliseum challenges in Madlantis. These battles often involve facing multiple ships, with the primary goal to take down the main ship, which has a larger health pool. Focusing your attacks on this ship is key to advancing to the second stage, where the battle shifts to a familiar *Yakuza* series beat-em-up style.

Upon depleting the enemy ship's health, a prompt allows you to initiate a boarding party. Here, you'll face off against a large crew and a boss, often outnumbered. Strengthening your crew through morale boosts and smaller skirmishes is crucial to ensure your pirates are more powerful than those you're boarding. Both your enemies and your crew can use stat boosters, making strategic crew assignments vital to overcome these challenges.

Mastering the two-stage naval battles is essential for the Pirate Coliseum and major story battles in the game's latter half, as well as for encounters while exploring islands for treasure. The *Yakuza* series' tradition of mixing up gameplay formulas shines through in *Pirate Yakuza*, offering a fresh and engaging experience that rivals even *Sea of Thieves*. With the right crew, upgrades, and ship customization, the Goromaru can dominate the seas.

And that is how naval combat works in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*.

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