Summary
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s substories pay great homage to the series' past, with Kiryu’s ‘Memoirs of a Dragon’ quests serving as a reminder of his many life experiences. As the story sees Kiryu revisit Kamurocho, he is able to reminisce about the many ways that he and the city have both changed and stayed the same over the years. Discovering a new branch of Four Shine, the cabaret club that he helped to manage back in Sotenbori, Kiryu’s encounters with legendary hostesses Yuki and Koyuki inLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthare as nostalgic as they are comedic, serving as a treat forYakuza 0andKiwami 2fans alike.
The cabaret club mini-game oftheLike a Dragonserieshas received numerous iterations, though its most involved versions were featured inYakuza 0andKiwami 2, starring Majima and Kiryu respectively.Yakuza 0saw Majima managing Sotenbori’s Club Sunshine, helping to mold its hostesses through fashion choices and coaching, helping those like Yuki reach newfound heights.Kiwami 2saw this idea iterated on with Kiryu at the helm, working as manager of the newly founded Club Four Shine alongside Yuki, now club owner. Not only did the mini-game deliver on early 2000s fashion game aesthetics, but its focus on side characters showed how even the smallest of narratives could still take precedence, making Yuki and the club’s business worth rooting for.
How Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Calls Back to Sotenbori’s Club Four Shine
Branching Club Four Shine Out
Kiwami 2’s Koyuki served as Four Shine’s most requested hostess, making her a top player and friend alongside Yuki, helping with the club’s success.Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthsees Koyuki making the business shots this time around, bringing Four Shine to Kamurocho as she fulfills her dream of branching the company out. As she confides inKiryuover the challenges she’s been facing, Koyuki explains that Yuki went on to begin a different business of her own, opening a chirashi sushi restaurant in Ijincho. Kiryu can visit her restaurant in his Memoirs of a Dragon quests, and upon seeing that business isn’t exactly booming, he lets Yuki know of the troubles that Koyuki has been facing.
References to the Past
Fans will notice a nod toYakuza 0in Yuki’s restaurant, as a golden statue of a dancing Majima can be seen in the background, an item also available as a DIY blueprint for Dondoko Island. Upon returning to Kamurocho’s Four Shine with Yuki in tow, Kiryu can see his own statue, a gift he got for Yuki back in one ofKiwami 2’s substories. Resolved to help Koyuki with Four Shine’s new branch opening, Kiryu and Yuki don their old attire and get to helping as a manager and hostess; being short-staffed, however, leads Kiryu to make a call to a friend, bringing one ofInfinite Wealth’s party membersinto the fray.
Worlds Collide
Given thatInfinite Wealth’s Saekois a cabaret club owner and hostess herself, her inclusion within the Four Shine subplot is a small but mighty one. While the title’s party members are given fantastic development through their Bond Bingos and Drink Links, it’s not often that they have a direct hand in substories, making Saeko’s inclusion all the more welcoming. As she fangirls over Yuki and Koyuki while questioning how on earth Kiryu knows such legendary hostesses, Saeko resolves to help the cause by filling in as a hostess. The team works together to make Kamurocho Four Shine’s opening a success, rounding out the night with the club’s signature salute.
The Four Shine subplot inInfinite Wealthis just one of many that pays tribute to the series' past while enriching the development of its NPCs. Like so many ofInfinite Wealth’s mechanics, the subplot is further entwined with the title’s combat, giving Kiryu and Ichiban the chance to call on Yuki and Koyuki in battle throughtheir ‘Poundmates’ selection. Yuki and Koyuki’s appearances show thatLike a Dragon’s mini-games are more than capable of providing endearing and comedic narratives on their own accord, making it so that even referential treatment can be effective. Because of this, it’s a Memoirs of a Dragon subplot that shouldn’t be missed.
