Like a Dragon: Ishin! slices, dices, and… gardens in first gameplay trailer

Guest appearances from some series veterans

Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released the first gameplay trailer for their upcoming remake Like a Dragon: Ishin! — the slick video shows off some of the characters, locales, and intense combat action of the period piece spin-off from the much-loved Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise.

Originally released in Japan back in 2014 as Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin!, Sega’s spin-off sees a suspiciously familiar party of heroes and villains clash against the backdrop of the latter-day Bakamatsu period of Edo-era Japan. Replacing the streets of Kamurocho with rural villages and ancient temples, the game follows the adventures of legendary swordsman and folklore figure Sakamoto Ryōma — essentially “portrayed” by Like a Dragon hero Kazuma Kiryu.

The new remake will feature an overhauled game engine, modern visuals, and tightened combat. In addition, a new “soldier” system will let the player call upon classic Like a Dragon characters for an assist in battle, including Like a Dragon 2‘s Kaoru Sayama and Like a Dragon 7‘s Ichiban Kasuga. As depicted in the trailer, fans can also expect a wide variety of dopey side activities, including some garden plantation, fishing, gambling, and, naturally, some Edo-era karaoke. Because why hot?

It might have been a very, very, very long time coming for western fans, but it looks like this new edition of the rare release is going to have been worth the wait. Like a Dragon: Ishin! launches on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms February 21, 2023.