Category: PlayStation

Undisputed launches October 11 on PS5, and has been in development for nearly five years, starting as the humble Esports Boxing Club and then evolving into the first major boxing game in over a decade. With over 70 of the most prestigious prizefighters on the roster, including Canelo Álvarez, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Roy Jones Jr. and Joe Frazier, it was our priority to make sure that they not only looked amazing, but that they moved in their own, unique, signature ways too.

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From scan to sculpt

How do you get the longest reigning super middleweight world champion, Joe Calzaghe, to look as authentic and life-like as possible? It all starts with the scanning process. We work with a variety of scanning studios all over the world to create the most accurate reference images for us to work from. The Steel City Interactive art team then use this to sculpt the in-game models, recreating every muscle, vein, hair, and bead of sweat.

For our boxing legends, we also have a de-aging process. Players want to experience these fighters in their prime, so we try to recreate exactly what they looked like at that time.

“One of the most challenging parts of bringing characters from the past to life is the de-aging process. Lots of things usually change with age: eye shape, lip volume, cheekbones, body fat, even ear size, but my aim is to get them back to their fighting shape, recreating the look of their greatest fights. First, I collect a lot of references from every possible angle to have an overview of what I want to achieve. Then, I check the model to understand what to keep and what to change according to the pictures and footage. I then work on the tone and symmetry, removing some fat, wrinkles, and imperfections from the body and face. After this, I sculpt the main muscles and tweak the facial features. Eventually I get to a point where the boxer is recognizable both from a distance and up close. When I’m happy with the result, I proceed to fix the textures as well.”

– Francesco Primiceri, 3D character artist at Steel City Interactiver

Motion capture

We also try to get as many fighters as possible into our motion capture suits, so we can record their unique footwork, punches, slips, dodges – and even taunts! When you play as Oleksandr Usyk, we want it to feel like you are Oleksandr Usyk, so our art and animation teams spend days processing the output from the motion capture and then applying that to our detailed character models.

British and Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Champion, Dalton Smith, was one of the fighters we worked closely with to capture his boxing style. He also helped mimic some of the fighters who are no longer with us, studying their movements then performing them so we can immortalize them in Undisputed.

“I am used to boxing in the ring or the gym, but throwing punches in a motion capture suit is a whole different ball game. I got suited up and spent a few days working with the team at Steel City Interactive to capture not only my own personal in-ring moves, but those of some of the old school boxers as well. You don’t realise how intense and detailed the process is until you’re throwing the same punches and performing the same blocks over and over again until it’s captured from every angle. Seeing the results in-game is incredible – my avatar really does look like me.”

– Dalton Smith, British and Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Champion

Styles (and stats) make fights

There’s a saying in boxing that ‘styles make fights’ and we think it’s really important that those styles are backed up with real life statistics too. There’s no point in having the undefeated legend of boxing, Rocky Marciano, in the game if we don’t also give him the punching power and stamina he was known for.

That’s why we work with CompuBox to define each fighter’s ratings, statistics and behaviours. When you’re playing as a boxer with a fantastic knockout ratio, like Deontay Wilder, his ability to land KO’s in the game is boosted. And this works the same for the AI version of them too; each fighter has their own skills and abilities – taken from their real-life fight records – that will change the outcome of the fight in a meaningful way. It’s your job to figure out how to counter that!

Rule the ring

Undisputed has the most expansive and authentic licensed fighter roster of any boxing game yet, and we’re excited for you to experience that.

You can pick up the Undisputed Deluxe WBC Edition on October 8 on PS5 and play three days early. Undisputed Standard Edition launches on October 11 on PS5.

The release of Silent Hill 2 is just around the corner on October 8. We’re honored to be able to share detailed information about Silent Hill 2 with PlayStation players. Konami and Bloober Team have focused on respecting the original 2001 Silent Hill 2’s storyline, emphasizing the emotional expressions of each character through the highly skilled performances of their respective actors, and modernizing the overall gameplay. We hope that this very clear comparison will show you which aspects of the original the production team has respected and emphasized, as well as which aspects have been improved upon.

Spoiler Alert: This article and video reveal some narrative and gameplay surprises within Silent Hill 2.

For this episode of PlayStation Underground, Bloober Team partnered up with the SIE crew to bring you an exclusive look at James’ confrontation with Flesh Lip inside Brookhaven Hospital, presented in a head-to-head comparison with the same boss battle as it appears in the original game.

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Caption: Join Bloober Team’s Mateusz Lenart, Creative Director, and Andrzej Mądrzak, Lead Writer, for a look inside Brookhaven Hospital.

In many ways, this boss fight, alongside its accompanying cutscene, exemplifies the approach we took when reimagining Silent Hill 2. It shows our reverence for the original game by staying true to its original design, while also expanding upon it using modern technology that allows players to feel more in control of James.

As you can see, the general set-up for Laura’s cutscene that predates the battle and the Flesh Lip encounter itself are quite faithful to the original game, but with a few key changes that enable us to take full advantage of current storytelling and combat design techniques.

Caption: Comparison between 2001 Silent Hill 2 and the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake 

Familiar characters come alive

For Laura’s cutscene, the interaction between her and James maintains the same story beats as in the original. Both James’ and Laura’s personalities have been preserved, with the most significant changes coming in the form of more involved camera work and top-notch voice acting.

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Caption: The full cutscene between James and Laura from the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake, without commentary.

Full-body motion capture, used in conjunction with detailed animation, has allowed us to make these characters come alive through subtle facial expressions and gestures. The performances of the actors were key in this respect, with both Evie Templeton and Luke Roberts really embodying the characters of Laura and James, respectively.

When it comes to the script itself, we wanted to avoid changing things for the sake of changing them. While minor deviations from the original game’s script can be expected, our main objective with this cutscene and all others was to capture the complex character dynamics that made the original Silent Hill 2 such a landmark in the history of interactive storytelling.

Caption: Comparison between 2001 Silent Hill 2 and the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake

A boss battle for the ages

The encounter with Flesh Lip is one of Silent Hill 2’s most startling moments. With its unique and unnerving look, Flesh Lip was groundbreaking in terms of integrating symbolism into the design of a monster. Doing this boss battle justice in the new game was a challenging but ultimately rewarding task.

Unlike the fixed camera system in the original Silent Hill 2, adopting an over-the-shoulder perspective brought with it a series of changes to the encounter’s design. For instance, the scale of the room where the fight occurs has been expanded to allow players more space to roam.

Caption: Comparison between 2001 Silent Hill 2 and the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake

But the biggest change in the design of the boss fight has to do with Flesh Lip himself. Instead of facing two of them right from the start, the battle now begins with a single foe, but one who can dynamically move through the ceiling, ready to pounce on James at any point.

Caption: The Flesh Lip battle takes on a new shape in the Silent Hill 2 remake

Moreover, once players manage to bring Flesh Lip down to the ground, he unveils his second phase, adopting a menacing spider-like pose that greatly enhances his speed and range of attack. To counteract this, players will have to use a combination of melee and ranged attacks, while also dealing with Flesh Lip’s terrifying scream, which can temporarily stun them during the fight.

Once Flesh Lip is defeated, players will likely breathe a sigh of relief. But that’s when the battle’s final surprise arrives. A second Flesh Lip appears and instantly grabs James by the neck, dragging him further into the underbelly of Brookhaven Hospital. This functions as both a jump scare in its own right, and also as a kind of easter egg for fans of the original game. They will likely be taken aback by the appearance of a second Flesh Lip just as the battle wraps up.

Caption: Comparison between 2001 Silent Hill 2 and the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake

Final thoughts　

As the new Silent Hill 2 remake inches ever closer to release on October 8, we wanted to take the time to present a head-to-head comparison depicting one of the game’s defining moments. We hope this manages to convey our approach towards the whole game, which emphasizes the original’s strengths and seeks to expand upon them while staying true to the game’s spirit.

Hi all – Luke Karmali here from the team over at Larian Studios, bringing you the exciting news that Baldur’s Gate 3’s Patch 7 is now officially available on PlayStation 5 today. There’s quite a meaty buffet that stands before us, and a lot of ground to cover, so let’s dive in.

First up, the dastardly-minded among you will be pleased to know Patch 7 brings a whopping 13 new cinematic Evil Endings, including unique ones for each Origin Character. Unsatisfied with how much The Sword Coast has suffered to this point? Well now’s your chance to set the world to rights…or wrongs, as it turns out.

Alongside this, we’ve revamped our split screen gameplay offering for couch co-op play. Dynamic split screen means each side of the screen will merge when you near each other and split back up as you head off on your own adventures. No more arguments over which direction to head in!

But the addition that we’re especially keen to talk about today is our brand new Mod Manager, allowing console players to experience a fresh brand of mutable mayhem authored by community members like yourselves.

With mods running the gamut from the mad to the macabre, we can appreciate it may be a bit overwhelming for some to know where to start. With that in mind, we’re here to offer a rundown of five of our favourites, showing just what’s possible with this latest toolkit.

Five game-changing Mods to get you started

1) Adjustable Party Limit by PixellBytes

If you’ve been suffering from choice paralysis when it comes to building your party, then rejoice! Our first mod adds spells that allow you to adjust the number of companions in your party, up to 16, and can even work in multiplayer. Not content with your fellows swearing just their swords, bows and axes to you? Well now you can add their daggers, flails, glaives, staves, salamis and even their lutes at the same time! Speaking of which…

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2) Underwear of Rituals by Xelphos

Undercrackers. Budgie-smugglers. Banana hammocks. Words that no doubt conjure an array of images to your mind. But what if they could conjure more than just that? What if they unlocked your latent ability to read minds, shapeshift, or even speak with the dead?! Well, wonder no more, as this mod realizes this potential via the Gilded Chest of Ritualistic Underwear. We promise, it’s anything but pants.

3) Underdark Dice by elliegreenart

Spores spores spores! How do you like them, why don’t you like them!? Amid a SPOREgasbord of options for dice reskins, it’s these Underdark-themed beauties that really caught our (fung-)eyes. While other dice are available, we don’t think there’s mushroom for improvement. Okay, I’ll stop now. 

4) Kuo-Toa Playable Race by Gonzalo_Marcos

Of all the myriad races inhabiting Faerun, there’s one in particular that never fails to leave an impression – one could even say, BOOOAL us over. We’re talking, of course, about the enigmatic Kuo-Toa. Just look at his face – what is he thinking? What does he know!? Well, wonder no more as these questions and more can finally be answered. And remember – where there’s a gill, there’s a way.

5) Mystic Class by Xhevo

Unable to choose between the initial offering of 12 classes and 46 subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3? Well, the choice just got even harder, with a bevy of new classes being added as I type thanks to our illustrious modders. Though there’s some very interesting variations on offer on the Paladin and Warlock fronts, this take on the Mystic class from the Unearthed Arcana is a great place to start. 

This is just a taster of all that’s on offer with new mods being added all the time. We hope you’re inspired to give some of them a go…and perhaps even look into authoring some yourself!

Who knows what mayhem you may be capable of wroughting with your very own hands?

On October 31, Starship Troopers: Continuum will be released on PS VR2. This multiplayer co-op shooting game is the first to recreate Starship Troopers in virtual reality. This blog will explain what the game’s name actually means. But first, please welcome a very special guest! The face of FedNet, hero of Klendathu, General Johnny Rico!

A word from Casper Van Dien

“I guess I’m the closest thing Starship Troopers has for a hero. My character, Johnny Rico, has been with me for nearly 30 years. He spends most of the first movie surrounded by death. He’s responsible for a death in training. He’s mistakenly K.I.A on Klendathu. He’s promoted when Troopers die around him, falling upwards through the ranks. 

‘A citizen accepts personal responsibility for the safety of the body politic, defending it with his life; a civilian does not.’

In the end, Rico’s changed. He takes that quote to heart and becomes willing – even keen – to die for the cause. He becomes harder, stronger, more pragmatic… but at what cost? 

In Starship Troopers: Continuum, Rico’s a figurehead for FedNet’s ‘Klendathu 25’ celebration. I’m helping recruit new meat for the grinder, and you’re the meat. You play Mobile Infantry Troopers as they battle the opposing Arachnid force. Thousands will die on both sides. You’re disposable. Mobile Infantry does the dying, and that’s what this game is all about. 

VR puts you right there, on the battlefield with your squad, facing big, fast, mean and lethal bugs. Like Rico, you’re surrounded by death. So eyes front, Trooper! It’s your duty to take responsibility and defend the Federation with your life! Or do you wanna live forever?” 

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Authenticity evolved

In developing Starship Troopers: Continuum, we at XR Games wanted to capture the essence of Starship Troopers. As Casper says, that’s the meat grinder. This war is dangerous, and the bugs are lethal. You will die. 

Then accept your rewards, choose a new Trooper, and start again. Kill bugs, earn money, gain EXP. Survive long enough and you can retire your Trooper into citizenship, with the extra bonus that brings. Or don’t, and die, and try again. This is the meat grinder.

Of course, you bank your progress. You earn new perks and guns to arm your next Trooper with. You get to make a stronger build. The mechanism by which you do this is called the Continuum. 

Enter the Continuum

Remember Cyrano the ferret?

Starship Troopers: Continuum takes place 25 years after Klendathu, and there’s been a breakthrough in psychic research – the Continuum. This technology creates a psychic interface through which soldiers called PsyCommanders can control other human beings, like Cyrano in the movie.

In Starship Troopers: Continuum, the moment you don your VR headset, you’re connected to the Continuum in the role of a PsyCommander. You control one Trooper at a time. Die, and you can immediately take a new Trooper. Your goal is to keep them alive… but accidents happen!

As a PsyCommander, you have access to perks via the Continuum. As you level up, you gain access to more perks and super-perks, which can be injected into your Trooper to improve their performance. As your Trooper ranks up, they can take on more perks simultaneously, allowing for build combinations to tune your play. For instance, equip Psychosis Blast to add damage to your dash ability, then complement it with Adrenaline to reduce your dash cooldown time. Throw in Tactical Relocation – move faster as you kill more – and you have a speed build! 

Plus, the more you use your perks, the stronger they get. Even if your Trooper dies, a future Trooper can take on that perk at its advanced level. This is the meaning of the Continuum. Even as Troopers die, the Continuum becomes stronger, justifying every Trooper sacrificed on the battlefield, redeeming every drop of blood that’s shed!

Build your Trooper, form your squad

Starship Troopers: Continuum is an online multiplayer game, great with 1 to 3 players. So build complementary Troopers for battlefield dominance! 20+ weapons and 40+ perks allow you to create a different Trooper every time. Keep them alive, hit the criteria for citizenship, and gain big bonuses that’ll make you even more powerful. But don’t underestimate the bug! They’re fast and lethal, with some tricks you’ve not seen yet!

I’m doing my part! How will you do yours?

Starship Troopers: Continuum for PS VR2 is released on October 31.. 

There are many other ways to kill bugs this October! Starship Troopers: Extermination, the 16-player co-op FPS developed by Offworld Industries and published by Knights Peak, will arrive on PlayStation 5 on October 11.

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here

Hello listeners, we’ve got a bunch to unpack! This week, the PlayStation Podcast team dives into some of the hottest reveals coming out of this week’s news-packed State of Play. Plus, Sid discusses his recent hands-on experience with PS5 Pro launching on November 7.

Stuff We Talked About

• Next week’s releases:
  • Until Dawn | PS5, PC
  • Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream | PS5
  • Spongebob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game | PS5, PS4
• PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October:
  • WWE 2K24
  • Dead Space
  • Doki Doki Literature Club Plus
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Astro Bot new content announced
• The Midnight Walk
• Hell is Us
• Chroma Collection – PS5 accessories
• Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
• PS5 Pro
• The Plucky Squire
• Doom + Doom II
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

The Cast

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Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE

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Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE

Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Last week, we asked you to share your favorite VIP Bot cameos in Astro Bot using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

TheFourthFocus shares the Machine Hunter/Aloy VIP Bot in action.

DiogOliveiraVP shares Astro posing with the Lovestruck Lyricist/PaRappa VIP Bot.

omegangell shares the Roguish Conduit/Delsin Rowe VIP Bot blazing through the skies.

shimo_ps shares the Dependable Smuggler/Joel VIP Bot protecting the Immune Survivor/Ellie VIP Bot from the Fungus Head/Click VIP Bot.

spideyfan0480 shares Astro decked out to match the Dad of Boy/Kratos VIP Bot.

i3ecci shares the Tooled-Up Mechanic/Ratchet standing beside the rift jumping Multiversal Rebel/Rivet.

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Astro Bot – Levels
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 2, 2024

Next week, we’re blasting across the galaxies to highlight Astro Bot’s levels. Share your favorite level using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

As PlayStation celebrates its 30th Anniversary, we’re excited to share some thrilling news with our PlayStation Plus members. To make this milestone even more special, we’re adding one of the most beloved titles to the Game Catalog: The Last of Us Part I. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members* will have the chance to experience or revisit the unforgettable journey of Ellie and Joel. Fittingly, the game will be available today, in time to mark the series’ own The Last of Us Day celebrations, September 26.

To make this occasion even more memorable, we’ve lined up several exclusive activities for our community:

PlayStation Star Campaign

From September 26 to November 26, all PlayStation Stars members that play The Last of Us Part I, which is in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog*, will earn a fearsome Clicker Digital Collectible. 

New PlayStation Plus Avatars

Starting September 26, known by fans and Naughty Dog as The Last of Us Day, you can redeem a voucher code for new PS5 and PS4 avatars featuring key characters from The Last of Us. Choose from Ellie, Joel, or even a Clicker to personalize your profile. The voucher will be available on the PlayStation Plus website and on The Last of Us Page on the PS Plus Hub on your console. The avatars will be available until October 26.

Discount on PlayStation Gear

Show off your fandom with official The Last of Us merchandise! From September 26 to October 26, PlayStation Plus members can enjoy a 10% discount on select The Last of Us merchandise at PlayStation Gear. Simply use the promo code TLOUPLUS10 at checkout. Visit gear.playstation.com  to explore all the items and find the perfect addition to your collection.**

We hope you enjoy these activities as well as the chance to revisit or experience Ellie and Joel’s unforgettable journey when The Last of Us Part I launches onto PlayStation Plus Game Catalog later today.

*Game Catalog varies over time, region/country, and plan. PS Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms.

**Some exclusions Limit one per customer. Must use code at checkout for discount. Only valid on The Last of Us Products.

Monster Hunter Wilds, the next entry in the popular hunting action game series is set to release on February 28 on PS5. I had an opportunity to play the Story Quest at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, where I immersed myself in the gameplay from the introduction of the new story to the intense battle against a frog-like amphibian monster, the Chatacabra. 

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Monster chase in Windward Plains

The Story Quest kicked off with the enjoyable process of creating my character. I had the freedom to customize every detail of the hunter’s appearance and even that of the hunter’s trusted partner, Palico.

As the story began, I found myself traversing Windward Plains in a sand ship with the Forbidden Lands Research Commission. Through flashbacks you’ll learn how your character became a part of the commission. Suddenly, the scene cut to a nerve-racking chase, where a herd of desert-dwelling Balaharas are in hot pursuit of a girl riding a Seikret. Without a moment of hesitation, I leaped onto a Seikret and gave chase to rescue the girl.

Balahara chase

During this chase scene my Seikret was on autopilot to catch up to the girl. However, with some freedom to control the camera view and my ridable partner, I immersed myself in the action as I jumped over boulders and slalomed through the air to close the distance.

When I finally caught up to the girl, it was my turn to be pursued by the hordes of formidable Balaharas in a heart-pounding chase. They were relentless, closing in on us from every possible direction as I dashed through the desert, attacking them with my slinger to fire sonic bombs.

Seikret joy ride

Upon discovering that the young girl was separated from her brother, the hunter decided to find him. To gain more insight before embarking on the mission, I sought the advice of the Handler, Alma. She gave me a valuable recommendation on which one of all 14 available weapons I should take on the journey.

Luckily, the girl’s Seikret remembered the scent of her missing brother so it knew exactly where to go. Though I was guided to the location automatically, having complete control over the Seikret’s movements was liberating. I could accelerate and decelerate using the R1 and R2, respectively, while holding them made it dash forward or come to a quick stop. With the left stick, as expected, I guided my mount in the direction I wanted it to go. From time-to-time, I made detours, stopping off at places that grabbed my attention. I even took advantage of the hands-free ride to gather hunting items, materials, and wield my weapon.

New wound system and SOS flare in the Chatacabra hunt

Soon after arriving at the locale, a simple mission of searching for the brother quickly escalated to a hunt for a formidable foe as I found the girl’s brother in imminent danger from a Chatacabra’s attack. Leveraging the new wound system, I attacked the same weak point persistently to inflict significant damage. Also new to Monster Hunter Wilds, Focus mode is activated by holding down L2 to display a reticle on the screen for guidance on where to attack, and a red highlight on the monster’s wounds for easier aiming. The ability to change the target point, even during the attack motion, allowed me to effectively attack the weak point despite using a weighty, slow-motion weapon like the Great Sword.

By pressing R1 in Focus mode, I uncovered the strategic Focus Strike. This special attack works by connecting with a wound or weak point, and it proved to deal massive damage and stun the foe. Undoubtedly one of the most satisfying moments in the game was when I managed to destroy multiple wounds with a single Focus Attack.

During hunting, you can summon your Siekret by pressing the directional key for swift mounting. Once mounted, I strategically drank a healing potion to restore my health and used a whetstone to sharpen my weapon.

Another unique feature is the SOS Flare, a tool that calls in aid from NPC support hunters. The monster’s rage is likely to be redirected when other hunters join the fray. This is an excellent way for novice players of this series to divert damage. Although this feature wasn’t available during the offline single-player demo, I learned that you can recruit other players while summoning support hunters while online.

New stories unfold in the Forbidden Lands

After defeating the Chatacabra, I hurried back to the camp with the rescued brother. The main mission in the first chapter concluded with the newly reunited siblings sharing tales to catch up.

The Story Quest was rich in content, from the gripping Balahara chase scene to leveraging the wound system and Focus mode in the challenging hunt for the elusive Chatacabra. As players step into the main mission, I’m convinced new hunters and those about to uncover the series for the first time will find themselves mesmerized by the world that unfolds when Monster Hunter Wilds launches February 28 on PS5.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, slated for release on February 28 is an action-adventure game that stars Goro Majima as the sole protagonist for the first time. After losing his memory and being stranded on Rich Island near Hawaii, Majima takes on the role of a pirate and sets out on a grand oceanic adventure. Recently showcased at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, I had the opportunity to get hands-on with this highly anticipated title, and here’s my impression of the gameplay experience.

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Pirate’s life

In this hands-on preview, players control Majima as he embarks on an adventure in Hawaii, engaging in battles and activities. At the start of the game, Majima is shown traveling by ship with his crew, including Jason, his son Noah, and Masaru, a chef and bodyguard. Their goal is to reach the imaginary island of Madlantis, but they make a stop in Honolulu to prepare.

Mad Dog and Pirate style

As Majima and Noah stroll along the beach, the battle tutorial begins. Unlike the RPG live-command system of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, this title returns to Majima’s action-packed, brawling roots, last seen in Yakuza Kiwami 2. Players can switch between two battle styles, Mad Dog and Pirate, with the latter involving a transformation into pirate-themed attire.

In the Mad Dog style, Majima primarily uses his fists and a knife for combat. Compared to Kazuma Kiryu, Majima’s movements are noticeably quicker, with agile footwork and rapid attacks. A standout feature of this style is the ability to jump, allowing Majima to perform air combos. Players can enjoy the satisfaction of launching enemies into the air and continuing their attacks mid-air. The extended airtime makes it easy to execute aerial combos for those unfamiliar with action games.

Additionally, as time passes or when Heat Actions are activated, the Madness Gauge in the top left corner of the screen fills up, allowing Majima to create clones. Once triggered, four shadowy duplicates of Majima appear and begin attacking nearby enemies. It’s exhilarating to see Majima at the center, spinning like a top with his clones and knocking enemies around.

The Pirate style focuses on attacks using pirate-themed weapons, especially the cutlass, a curved, single-edged sword pirates carry around in films. Majima can dual-wield cutlasses to slash enemies and even throw them like boomerangs. The Charge Gun increases in power the longer the button is held, and there’s also the option to use wire hooks. This allows Majima to either attack from a distance or quickly close the gap with enemies, offering versatile combat strategies depending on the situation.

In combat, you can seamlessly switch between the two battle styles at any time. Even players who aren’t comfortable with action games can enjoy flashy, dynamic moves by mixing and matching these styles. The Pirate style in particular, with its use of pirate-themed tools and unique actions, is sure to become addictive. Similar to Kiryu’s gadget-based Agent style from Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Majima’s Pirate style offers a tricky way to fight.

Play around in Honolulu

After completing the battle tutorial, I was able to explore and enjoy various activities in Honolulu freely. I got to try out popular features like Karaoke and Boutique, along with the explosive race Dragon Kart and the stunt-based delivery game, Crazy Delivery. Though these activities are familiar to players, experiencing them as Majima instead of Ichiban Kasuga brought a fresh twist to the gameplay.

Mobs of Madlantis

After playing for a while, you can talk to Jason, and finally set foot on the island of Madlantis. It’s a desolate place known as a ship graveyard, where mafia and gangs gather. The island exudes an atmosphere of decay, and you’ll frequently get into fights with rowdy individuals. Additionally, there are gambling spots to enjoy games like poker.

As you gather information from the roughnecks and head towards the bar where Keith resides, a battle ensues. Surrounded by a horde of henchmen, Majima’s combat skills truly shine. Using the Mad Dog style, you can confuse enemies with swift, acrobatic moves while wielding your knife. On the other hand, the Pirate style allows you to unleash wide-range attacks with dual swords. The one-on-one fight with Keith offers thrilling action, as you dodge, guard, and strike at opportune moments.

While the idea of Majima becoming a pirate might seem far-fetched, the gameplay proves to be a solid action-adventure experience. Majima’s characteristic Mad Dog persona shines through, showing that even with memory loss, he can’t help but enjoy the thrill of battle. There’s much to look forward to when Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches on February 28 on PS5.