Warning: This article contains spoilers for Yakuza 0 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
Once again, Goro Majima is taking center stage in the upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, where he finds himself as a pirate captain with no memory, navigating the seas around the Hawaiian islands. This zany setup fits Majima’s character perfectly and offers a stark contrast to the more poignant narratives we’ve seen in previous entries like Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. But even though this lighthearted take suits Majima well, it doesn’t mean we should rule out the possibility of a serious Majima-led game, as one particular fan-favorite installment clearly demonstrates.
In a conversation with TheGamer, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s chief producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto mentioned, “you can’t make a serious Majima game,” implying that games featuring Majima are bound to be exaggerated. While it’s true that Majima is known for his outrageously over-the-top persona, Yakuza 0 offered a glimpse of a more nuanced side of him, contributing significantly to his appeal as a fan-favorite. Overlooking the success of Yakuza 0’s portrayal of Majima could be a missed opportunity for future storytelling that might embrace a more serious tone.
Majima’s Journey in Yakuza 0 Shows His Potential Beyond the Over-the-Top
Although Majima is often remembered for his wild antics as the Mad Dog of Shimano, he didn’t start out that way. Yakuza 0, set before many of the series’ events, portrays him as a cabaret club owner—a role imposed upon him as punishment for the botched Ueno Siwa hit. Here, Majima adopts his alter ego, the Lord of the Night, skillfully balancing the demands of club patrons to pay off his debts and reintegrate into the Tojo Clan.
Initially introduced as a quirky sidekick via the ‘Majima Everywhere’ quest in the original Yakuza game, Majima’s character development in Yakuza 0 highlights his potential for depth beyond his exaggerated traits. By choosing to protect Makoto Makimura instead of carrying out her assassination, Majima evolves into a far more engaging character. His Mad Dog persona stems from the restrictions he faced at the Grand Cabaret, with more serious moments hinted at in various flashbacks throughout the series.
Could an Amnesia Plotline in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Set the Stage for a Serious Turn?
In the wake of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s Great Dissolution era, the Mad Dog persona is again showing signs of change. Nowadays, an older Majima is seen fishing alongside Saejima and Dojima in Hokkaido, quite the departure from his usual zany antics. Starting Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Majima awakes with no memories on Rich Island—an ideal setup for his wild persona to be further subdued. Yet, the game seems poised to amplify Majima’s over-the-top antics, which, while entertaining, misses another opportunity for a profound Majima storyline.
Having Majima experience a regression to his pre-Yakuza 0 self due to memory loss could have offered a fresh take on his character. Although we may not see this angle explored in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, there’s always hope for a future prequel that delves into a more serious portrayal of Majima.
In Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, you step into the shoes of Goro Majima, the memory-challenged ex-yakuza who reinvents himself as a pirate captain. Embark on an outrageous modern-day pirate escapade as Majima leads his crew in thrilling land and sea skirmishes, recovering lost memories and hunting for legendary loot.
Join us in this pirate journey and see if Majima has more up his sleeve, or if this bold adventure is merely another chapter in his wildly unpredictable life.
