The recent announcement ofLike a Dragon 8was a welcome one for fans of the long-running series. Given the success of the most recent installment,Like a Dragon 7, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku has declared full steam ahead for the franchise, announcing three upcoming games in total, including two spin-off titles which should release before the next mainline entry. Many new things were introduced inLike a Dragon 7, from characters to places, and plenty of brand-new mechanics. The Jobs system was one of the innovative new mechanics introduced, allowing players to quickly change their party members' skills and play styles. It proved to be a popular addition which fans hope to see more of inLike a Dragon 8.
With many long-running RPG series moving away from traditional turn-based combat systems,Like a Dragon, previously known asYakuza, bravely went against the grain. Since the franchise’s PS2 debut in 2005, it quickly became associated with real-time beat-em-up action, and this would remain the case until the 2020 release ofLike a Dragon,when the series switched to turn-based combat.The gamble paid off, andLike a Dragon 7was widely praised for breathing new life into the franchise.Like a Dragon 8, then, must build on these systems to keep the franchise’s momentum going.
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Like a Dragon’s Job System is Fun and Engaging
TheLike a Dragonfranchise has long been known for its unique approach to humor. Everything from the sometimes over-the-top dialogue to the series' wacky collection of side quests is oftentimes steeped in comedy.Like a Dragon 7is no different, despite telling a serious story of betrayal and loyalty at its core. The game implies that, while Ichiban Kasuga’s involvement in the plot is very real, his love forDragon Questgames allows his vivid imagination to run wild during battles. This results in the party seemingly doing battle with some truly bizarre opponents and unleashing a raft of equally bizarre moves.
Underpinning all of these moves is the game’s intuitive Job system. Relatively early into the game,Ichiban Kasugaand the rest of the party gain the ability to switch between a suite of jobs, effectively acting like character classes. Each of these jobs is based on a real-life vocation such as Bodyguard, Chef, and Detective. Some jobs are specific to certain characters, and each has its own complete set of moves, with only a handful of these moves able to transfer between jobs. Leveling the party up allows them to become more acquainted with their chosen jobs, unlocking new moves and abilities as they progress.
The job system was amongLike a Dragon 7’s most well-received changes, andRyu Ga Gotokuwould do well to double down on this inLike a Dragon 8. There are hundreds of other real-world jobs that didn’t feature in the game, some of which could be brought to life brilliantly usingLike a Dragon’s trademark humor. Everyday vocations such as Cab Driver and Cleaner would fit in just as well as more extravagant ones like Doctor or Dentist, and they would likely result in more creative and hilarious moves.
The near-endless possibilities are exciting, and if the system itself grows to become deeper, it’s easy to imagine additional party benefits from choosing classes that complement each other such as Doctor and Nurse, and so on. Allowing for this kind of strategy would further cementLike a Dragonas a driving force in helping to revive theturn-based RPGgenre.
WithLike a Dragon’s popularity in the westat an all-time high, it’s a perfect time to be a fan of the series. It has been confirmed thatLike a Dragon 8will stick to the turn-based combat of the previous game, despite reintroducing the brawler Kazuma Kiryu as the game’s joint protagonist, so it seems that the Job system has all the tools it needs to shine even brighter this time around. It’s up to Ryu Ga Gotoku to surpass its fans' expectations a second time.
Like a Dragon 8will release in 2024 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
