One of the best entries in the Yakuza franchise was exclusive to Japan for a long time. Like a Dragon: Ishin was originally released in 2014 in the east for the PS3 and PS4. It was actually a launch title for the PS4 in Japan, and frankly, the best launch game for the system in any region. In 2023, the west finally got the game, but not in the form of a remaster, but a remake.

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The remake uses Unreal Engine 4, and this change by itself means much of the game has to be redone, but not as much as you may think. Playing this version, it feels like something between a remaster and remake, with it being mostly faithful but still having many small changes.

10 The Intro

A group shot of all the main characters from Like A Dragon: Ishin.

This first change is apparent as soon as you boot up the game. Every Yakuza title prior to Yakuza 6 had a starting intro before heading into the main menu. These were great and got you pumped to play the game. They're similar in feeling to an awesome anime intro.

The one in Like a Dragon: Ishin used the song Clock Strikes by One Ok Rock, and it's extremely effective in getting you hyped. It's the type of intro you probably wouldn't skip every time you boot up the game. The remake has no intro at all. Since the Yakuza games stopped having intros from Yakuza 6 onwards, this is to be expected, but it's still an unfortunate cut.

9 Gunman Style Nerfed

Using the special move in the Gunman style in Like A Dragon: Ishin.

Even when Yakuza fans imported the game back in the day, Gunman style was notoriously broken. Many didn't use it on choice due to how fast it can kill swarms of enemies. Thankfully, the style was nerfed a bit in the remake.

In the original, you fired at full speed when standing or moving, but now you can only do it while standing still. This cripples the playing style in most fights, considering all the enemies will be close-up. If you can get your hands on one of the more powerful guns, then it becomes broken again, but those are hard to get.

8 Different HUD

The Soji boss fight showcasing the new HUD in Like A Dragon: Ishin.

To put things into perspective, Like a Dragon: Ishin released after Yakuza 5 but before Yakuza 0. This means many aspects are from that era of the series. In the original game, the HUD was very similar to PS3 entries, with the bosses' health bars changing colors when doing damage.

In the remake, all the enemies and bosses have one red health bar, similar to the Dragon Engine titles. There are even damage numbers now similar to Yakuza: Like a Dragon. This is only really useful in the Amon fight because he has a huge amount of health, and you'll probably wonder if you're even doing damage.

7 Face Changes

Kashitaro in both the original and remake versions of Like A Dragon: Ishin.

One of the first changes people noticed about the remake was the different face models for the characters. You might recognize that many of the characters' faces are from Yakuza 0 or Kiwami. However, those games didn't even exist yet, when the original launched.

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As such, many of the faces in the original are from either Yakuza 3, 4, or 5. The replacement faces work quite well, for the most part, especially since a lot of Yakuza 0's characters are iconic to the series. This change only affects diehard fans who imported the game back then since most are playing it for the first time now.

6 Trooper Cards

The Trooper Cards being usable in a story mode segment in Like A Dragon: Ishin.

In the remake of Ishin, the Trooper Cards are one of the core mechanics in combat. Each style can have three troopers to them, their effects are very useful, and most importantly, they beef up your health bar. Once you get your Trooper Cards for the first time, you're relieved that you can finally take some real damage before needing to heal.

In the original game, however, they are only usable in the Battle Dungeons. This is a great and welcome change, as you really feel like you need them in battle. Without them, you feel underpowered with the tools you already have.

5 More Open

The inside of a shop from Like A Dragon: Ishin.

Since Yakuza 6, loading times in the open environment have been dramatically reduced. Most places you can simply walk right into with no loading screens at all. In the Like a Dragon: Ishin remake, you get that, but only halfway.

Unlike the original, all the stores and restaurants, minus a few, can be walked into with no hassle. However, buildings in which you play a minigame still need a loading screen. At least you can head straight into most stores and eateries, making it a faster and more seamless experience.

4 Meal Bonuses

Grilling fish to make a special meal in Like A Dragon: Ishin.

In the original Japanese Ishin, meals at restaurants gave you a meal bonus similar to prior Yakuza entries. Since the Trooper Cards already beef up your health considerably, the meal bonuses have been mostly stripped out. The only food items with meal bonuses are the homemade dishes you make in Another Life.

With the dishes needing several items to make, plus requiring to do a cooking minigame, it makes sense why these meal bonuses stay in. With all the hard work and effort into making them, it wouldn't make sense from a design standpoint to have the dishes only refill your health.

3 Crafting Changes

Nihongo in the menu with its item description, Attack, and intrinsic augments.

Crafting is a big part of Ishin, with it necessary to make the best weapons in the entire game. There are many changes, though, between the original and the remake. One of them is the use of special hammers. In the original Ishin, once you make a weapon, you need to play a timing minigame to get all sorts of weapon bonuses.

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In the remake, the minigame is scrapped, and instead, you pick a hammer to automatically get a certain rank of that weapon. Iron Hammers are the lowest tier, while Kiwami Hammers are the highest. This simplifies crafting a bit and is nice, considering how overbearing crafting completion can be in this game.

2 Seals Aren't Stuck

Putting seals onto a weapon in Like A Dragon: Ishin.

Another nice quality-of-life improvement to crafting is the use of seals. The original Japanese Ishin had a system where once a seal was put in, it was stuck there forever and could not be swapped out. Later on, if you find out a different seal would work better, you can't do anything about it.

Thankfully in the remake, you can swap out seals, although with an added fee. This is a great change, especially early on when you're not certain which seals are the best to use. The added fee is already enough of a punishment for picking a lacking seal to use first.

1 Faster Knockdown Recovery

Ryoma knocked down in combat in Like A Dragon: Ishin.

This is probably the best quality-of-life change made in the Ishin remake. Since the original came after Yakuza 5, it followed in its wake regarding how long knockdown recovery can be. You stay there for a while, and the persistent need to mash buttons can make the process downright frustrating.

Many of the hard encounters suffer from this, but thankfully, the remake improved it. Knockdown recovery is so quick this time, making this previous nuisance disappear. This is a lifesaver and good for your hands as well because, in the older Amon bosses, your thumbs will tire out.

NEXT: Best Substories In Like A Dragon: Ishin