"Pirate Yakuza: Naval Combat in Hawaii Explained"

*Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* introduces an exhilarating twist to the *Yakuza* series by integrating Naval Combat into its gameplay. This new fighting system is crucial for success within the game, and with various elements to master in controlling your ship, understanding how Naval Combat works in *Pirate Yakuza* is essential.

How Does Naval Combat in Pirate Yakuza Work?

In the early stages of *Pirate Yakuza*, players are introduced to their initial vessel, the Goromaru, a small pirate ship that can be upgraded as you progress. Initially, the Goromaru is equipped with two cannons on each side and a machine gun turret at the front. As you navigate the open waters, you'll encounter random enemy ships. Similar to on-land combat encounters, you can choose to engage in battle or attempt to escape.

However, ships move slower than characters on land, making escape attempts risky, especially against stronger ships with ranged attacks. It's generally advisable to confront enemy ships directly and start firing immediately. Naval Combat offers three primary types of attacks:

Turret Gun Attacks: Located at the front of your ship, the turret gun is ideal for mid-range engagements. It allows you to inflict damage as you approach an enemy ship, preparing you to use the more potent cannons at closer range. Players can also manually control the turret by stopping the ship, though this increases the risk.

Left and Right Cannons: These are the Goromaru's most powerful weapons, activated with L2 or R2 buttons, depending on which side you want to fire from. They are effective only at close range, indicated by a lit cannon symbol. After firing, the cannons need time to reload, so it's strategic to maneuver your ship to use the other side's cannons.

RPG Missile: By shifting the camera to the ship's deck, you can control Goro and move freely. This is best done when you're at a safe distance from enemy ships, as the ship will stop moving. Equipping an RPG allows you to deal damage from afar, often providing a strategic advantage at the onset of a battle.

Pirate Ship Traversal

In the wider camera view, you 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 maneuver. Drifting, activated by pressing the boost button and the 'O' button on PS5 or 'B' on Xbox, allows you to spin the ship, dodging cannon fire or aligning different sides of your ship for consecutive cannon attacks.

Boarding Parties

Some naval battles in *Pirate Yakuza* feature two stages, typically during boss battles or in the Pirate Coliseum in Madlantis. These battles involve facing multiple ships, with the goal of destroying the main ship, which has more health than the others. It's best to focus your attacks on the main ship to progress to the second stage.

Once the main ship's health is depleted, a prompt appears to initiate a boarding party, transitioning the combat to the familiar beat-em-up style of the *Yakuza* series. In this stage, you'll face a larger number of enemy crew members and a boss, often being outnumbered. To prepare, it's crucial to level up your crew through morale boosts and smaller skirmishes.

Enemy captains can activate stat boosters like damage or defense, making battles tougher. You can counter this by assigning your own support crew with similar boosters to enhance your stats. The objective is to defeat all opposing crew members before your party is knocked out.

Mastering these two-stage naval battles is crucial, especially in the Pirate Coliseum and later story missions. Additionally, understanding Naval Combat is essential when exploring islands and encountering other ships. The *Yakuza* series has always thrived on refreshing its gameplay, and the pirate ship mechanics in *Pirate Yakuza* offer a thrilling 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's how naval combat in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* is explained. *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.