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

*Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* introduces an exhilarating twist to the *Yakuza* series with its innovative Naval Combat system. This feature is crucial for success within the game, as players navigate the complexities of ship control and combat. Here's a detailed look at how Naval Combat functions in *Pirate Yakuza*.

How Does Naval Combat in Pirate Yakuza Work?

At the start of *Pirate Yakuza*, players are equipped with a small pirate ship named the Goromaru, which can be upgraded later. Initially, the Goromaru is armed with two cannons on each side and a front-mounted machine gun turret. As you sail the open waters, you'll encounter various enemy ships. Similar to land-based combat, you can choose to engage or attempt to flee. However, due to the slower movement of ships compared to on-foot combat, escaping can be hazardous, especially against later-game ships with ranged attacks. It's advisable to confront enemy ships directly and initiate combat as soon as possible. Naval Combat offers three types of attacks:

Turret Gun Attacks: Positioned at the ship's front, the turret gun is ideal for mid-range engagements. It allows you to inflict damage while approaching the enemy, setting up for more potent cannon attacks upon reaching close range. Players can also manually control the turret by stopping the ship, though this is a riskier strategy.

Left and Right Cannons: The most powerful weapons on the Goromaru, these cannons are activated using L2 or R2, depending on the side you wish to fire from. They're effective only at close range, indicated by a lit cannon symbol signaling a guaranteed hit. After firing, cannons require time to reload, prompting you to maneuver the ship to utilize the opposite side's cannons.

RPG Missile: By shifting the camera to the ship's deck, you can control Goro directly. This is best done at a safe distance since the ship halts during this perspective change. While on the deck, equipping an RPG allows you to strike enemy ships from afar, providing a strategic advantage at the onset of battles.

Pirate Ship Traversal

Using the wider camera view, control the Goromaru with the left stick and activate a speed boost to either close the gap with enemy ships or execute a drift by simultaneously pressing the boost and a designated button (O on PS5 DualSense, B on Xbox controller). Drifting enables you to dodge incoming fire or reposition your ship for dual cannon attacks.

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

Boarding Parties

Certain naval battles in *Pirate Yakuza* consist of two phases, typically featured in boss encounters or Pirate Coliseum events in Madlantis. These battles involve confronting multiple ships, with the primary goal of destroying the main ship, which boasts higher health. To advance to the second phase, focus your attacks on the main ship, disregarding the smaller ones. Once the main ship's health is depleted, a prompt will appear to initiate a boarding party, transitioning the combat to the classic beat-em-up style synonymous with the *Yakuza* series. These confrontations often pit you against numerous crew members and a boss, with your crew potentially outnumbered.

To increase your chances of success, it's essential to level up your crew by enhancing morale and participating in smaller-scale fights. This preparation ensures that your Goro pirates are stronger than the opposition during boarding. Additionally, enemy captains may activate stat boosts like damage or defense, making battles tougher. Assigning your own crew members with support abilities can counter these boosts, and the objective remains to defeat all enemy crew members before your party is incapacitated.

Mastering these two-stage naval battles is crucial for progressing through the Pirate Coliseum and major story battles in the game's latter half. Moreover, understanding Naval Combat is vital when exploring islands for treasure and encountering other ships. The *Yakuza* series is renowned for its innovative gameplay shifts, and the pirate ship mechanics and combat in *Pirate Yakuza* offer a refreshing and engaging experience that rivals even *Sea of Thieves*. With the right crew, upgrades, and customization, the Goromaru can dominate 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.