"Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza's Naval Combat in Hawaii Detailed"

*Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* takes the beloved *Yakuza* series into an exciting new realm with the introduction of Naval Combat. This innovative fighting system is crucial for success in the game, and given the multiple aspects of controlling your ship, understanding how Naval Combat works in *Pirate Yakuza* is essential for any player.

How Does Naval Combat in Pirate Yakuza Work?

In the early stages of *Pirate Yakuza*, players are introduced to a small pirate ship named the Goromaru, which can be upgraded later in the game. Initially, the Goromaru comes equipped with two cannons on each side and a machine gun turret at the front. As you navigate the open waters, you'll frequently encounter enemy ships. Similar to other combat encounters in the game, you have the choice to engage in battle or attempt to flee.

However, escaping can be risky due to the slower movement of ships compared to on-land combat, especially as stronger enemy ships later in the game can attack from a distance. It's generally more effective to confront enemy ships directly and start firing as soon as possible. In Naval Combat, there are three main types of attacks:

Turret Gun Attacks: The turret gun, located at the front of your ship, is ideal for mid-range engagements. It allows you to damage enemy ships as you close in, preparing you to use the more powerful cannons at close range. Players can also manually control the turret by stopping the ship, though this increases the risk.

Left and Right Cannons: The cannons on the Goromaru are the most potent weapons available, activated by pressing L2 or R2, depending on which side you want to fire from. These are effective only at close range, indicated by a lit-up cannon symbol signaling a guaranteed hit. After firing, the cannons need time to reload, so maneuvering the ship to use the opposite side's cannons is a strategic move.

RPG Missile: By switching the camera perspective to the ship's deck, players can move Goro freely, though this is risky when enemy ships are nearby. Equipping an RPG allows you to attack from a greater distance, which can be advantageous at the start of a battle to weaken enemy ships before closing in.

Pirate Ship Traversal

Using the wider camera perspective, players control the Goromaru with the left stick and can activate a boost to temporarily increase the ship's speed. This boost is useful for either closing the gap with an enemy ship or executing a drift maneuver by pressing the appropriate button (O on PS5 DualSense, B on Xbox controller) simultaneously with the boost. Drifting allows you to spin the ship, evading cannon fire or positioning to use both sets of cannons effectively.

Boarding Parties

Some naval battles in *Pirate Yakuza* consist of two stages, typically found in boss battles or the Pirate Coliseum in Madlantis. These battles often involve facing multiple ships, with the primary objective of destroying the main ship, which has more health than the others. To progress, focus your attacks on the boss ship, ignoring smaller ones.

Once the boss ship's health is depleted, a prompt will appear to initiate a boarding party, transitioning the battle into the *Yakuza* series' familiar beat-em-up style. Depending on the battle, you'll face numerous crew members and a boss, often being outnumbered. To prepare, level up your crew through morale boosts and smaller fights, ensuring they're stronger than the enemy crew you're boarding.

Enemy captains can activate stat boosters like damage or defense, making battles more challenging. You can assign your own support crew to enhance your stats, aiming to defeat the opposing crew before they knock out your party.

Mastering these two-stage naval battles is crucial, especially in the Pirate Coliseum and major story battles in the game's latter half. Additionally, understanding Naval Combat is vital for exploring islands and encountering other ships while searching for treasure. The *Yakuza* series is known for refreshing its gameplay formula, and the pirate ship mechanics and combat in *Pirate Yakuza* offer a thrilling change of pace, rivaling even *Sea of Thieves*. With the right crew, upgrades, and customization, the Goromaru can become the most formidable ship on the seas.

And that is naval combat in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, explained.

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