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

*Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* introduces a thrilling new dimension to the *Yakuza* series with its innovative Naval Combat system. This feature is crucial for success in the game, and understanding the various aspects of ship control is essential. Here's a detailed look at how Naval Combat functions in *Pirate Yakuza*.

How Does Naval Combat in Pirate Yakuza Work?

At the outset of *Pirate Yakuza*, players are equipped with a small pirate ship named the Goromaru, which can be upgraded as you progress. Initially, the Goromaru is armed 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 scenarios in the game, you have the choice to engage in battle or attempt to flee.

However, ships move slower than characters on land, making escape attempts risky, especially against stronger ships with ranged attacks. It's often wiser to confront enemy ships directly and start firing as soon as possible. Naval Combat in *Pirate Yakuza* involves three types of attacks:

Turret Gun Attacks: The turret gun, positioned at the front of your ship, is ideal for mid-range engagements. It allows you to inflict damage while closing in on the enemy, setting the stage for using the more potent cannons at close range. Players can also manually control the turret by stopping the ship, though this is a riskier strategy.

Left and Right Cannons: The cannons on the Goromaru are its most powerful weapons, activated by pressing L2 or R2 depending on the side you wish to fire from. These are effective only at close range, indicated by a lit cannon symbol signaling a guaranteed hit. After firing, cannons require time to reload, so it's strategic to maneuver the ship to use the cannons on the opposite side.

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, providing an advantageous start to battles by weakening enemy ships from a distance.

Pirate Ship Traversal

In the wider camera view, players control the Goromaru using the left stick and can activate a speed boost to either close the gap with an enemy ship or execute a drift by pressing a button (O on the PS5 DualSense, B on the Xbox controller) simultaneously with the boost. This allows you to spin the ship, dodging cannon fire or switching sides to maximize cannon damage.

Related: The Best Order to Play the Yakuza/Like a Dragon Series

Boarding Parties

Some naval battles in *Pirate Yakuza* feature two stages, typically in boss fights or the Pirate Coliseum in Madlantis. These battles often involve facing multiple ships, with the primary objective being to destroy the main ship, which has more health than the others. To progress, focus your attacks on the boss ship, bypassing smaller vessels.

Once the boss ship's health is depleted, a prompt will appear to initiate a boarding party, transitioning the battle into the familiar beat-em-up style of the *Yakuza* series. Depending on the battle, you'll face numerous crew members and a boss, often outnumbered. To prepare, level up your crew by boosting morale and engaging in lower-level fights, ensuring your pirates are stronger than the enemy crew.

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

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, and the pirate ship mechanics and combat in *Pirate Yakuza* offer a dynamic change that rivals 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.*