Who is Majima? Why Is He Becoming a Pirate in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii?

The Legacy of Goro Majima

Few characters in gaming have captured players’ hearts quite like Goro Majima. First introduced in the Yakuza series, Majima’s journey from a tortured soul to the legendary “Mad Dog of Shimano” has been one of gaming’s most compelling character arcs. His story begins in tragedy, with his loyalty to oath brother Taiga Saejima leading to devastating consequences. After refusing to abandon Saejima before the Ueno Seiwa hit, Majima suffered brutal torture that cost him his left eye and led to a year of imprisonment in “the hole.”

This formative trauma, combined with his subsequent experiences managing Cabaret Grand under Tsukasa Sagawa’s watchful eye, shaped the complex character fans have come to adore. Throughout the series, Majima has evolved from a feared rival to a trusted ally of Kazuma Kiryu, with his seemingly chaotic persona masking deep emotional depths and unwavering loyalty to those he respects.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii marks an exciting new chapter in Majima’s story. The game which is set to launch on February 21, 2025, for multiple platforms takes the beloved character from the streets of Kamurocho to the high seas of Hawaii, where he captains the Goromaru, a vessel named after Noah’s feline companion. This bold direction perfectly aligns with Majima’s unpredictable nature while offering fresh opportunities to explore new facets of his character.

What makes Majima particularly accessible to newcomers is that he has lost his memory and players can receive explanations of all events from his perspective. Majima has dynamic range as a character. On the surface, he embodies the wild, unpredictable energy that the series is known for – earning him the nickname “Mad Dog of Shimano.” However, even without knowing his full backstory, players can quickly grasp his core traits: unwavering loyalty, surprising depth beneath his eccentric behavior, and a complex moral code that sets him apart from typical antagonists or anti-heroes.

Combat Evolution – From Land to Sea

The game introduces two distinct battle styles that showcase different aspects of Majima’s fighting prowess. The Mad Dog Style returns with its signature aggressive movements and lightning-fast attacks, now enhanced with the ability to summon doppelgangers through the Madness Gauge for devastating combination attacks.

The new Sea Dog Style transforms Majima into a true swashbuckler, three unique sidearms which includes the dual cutlasses with a cutlass boomerang for ranged attacks, a chargeable pistol, and a chain hook for quick closing moves. This style also introduces the Dark Instruments system, where Majima can summon powerful deities through cursed musical instruments. Each deity offers unique abilities, from the shark-summoning Dark God of the Waves to the healing powers of the Dark God of the Deep.

The naval combat system is a standout feature, allowing players to captain the Goromaru through diverse environments ranging from tropical waters to treacherous, volcano-riddled seas. Ship customization plays a crucial role, with options to upgrade armor, install stronger cannons, or even equip modern weapons like flamethrowers and lasers. Combat at sea follows a two-phase approach: weakening enemy vessels with cannon fire before engaging in deck battles alongside your crew.

Building Your Pirate Legend

The game emphasizes crew management and ship development. Players can recruit over 100 potential crew members from across Hawaii and Madlantis, each bringing unique skills to both naval and deck combat. The Goromaru serves as more than just a vessel – it’s a full-featured home base where crew members can gather for morale-boosting parties, engage in karaoke, and feast together in the captain’s quarters.

The game world is filled with activities beyond combat. Players can use fishing nets to gather resources, explore treasure islands despite environmental hazards, and participate in the Pirates’ Coliseum, where they can engage in everything from one-on-one battles to chaotic ten-crew free-for-alls. The addition of the Treasury of Treasures system encourages exploration, offering rewards that help increase the crew’s reputation and unlock new benefits through the Pirate Rank system.

While maintaining the series’ signature blend of intense drama and quirky humor, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises to explore new dimensions of Majima’s character against the backdrop of Hawaiian waters. The game balances the character’s trademark chaotic energy with meaningful character development, all while delivering the compelling storytelling the series is known for.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii represents both evolution and continuity for the franchise. By placing one of its most beloved characters in an entirely new setting, the game promises to deliver the perfect blend of familiar charm and fresh excitement, whether you’re a longtime fan or newcomer to the series.

Accessibility – Majima as an Entry Point

For newcomers to the Like a Dragon (formerly Yakuza) series, Goro Majima serves as an excellent entry point into this rich universe. His charismatic personality and distinct aesthetic – from his signature snakeskin jacket to his eyepatch – make him immediately memorable and engaging. While Majima’s history in the series is deep and complex, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is designed to be welcoming to new players, presenting a fresh start in a new setting.

The game introduces several aspects that make Majima’s character immediately engaging:

His Distinctive Combat Styles: The Mad Dog and Sea Dog styles offer both familiar and fresh gameplay elements. The Mad Dog style showcases Majima’s traditional fierce combat approach, while the Sea Dog style presents new players with an exciting pirate-themed fighting system that doesn’t require knowledge of his previous fighting techniques.

Personality Through Gameplay: The game’s various activities, from managing the Goromaru to interactions with the crew, highlight Majima’s multifaceted personality. Players experience his leadership abilities, his unexpected moments of wisdom, and his signature brand of chaos without needing to understand years of character development.

Accessible Storytelling: While the narrative includes nods to the broader series, it focuses on a self-contained story that new players can fully enjoy. The pirate setting provides a natural excuse for exposition and world-building that benefits newcomers without feeling forced to longtime fans.

The game’s Hawaiian setting and pirate theme create a natural separation from the dense continuity of the main series, making it an ideal starting point. While longtime fans will appreciate the references to past events and returning characters, new players won’t feel lost in the narrative. The story focuses on Majima’s current adventures rather than requiring extensive knowledge of his past, though it does include enough context to understand his character’s motivations and personality.

Beyond the High Seas

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii continues the series’ tradition of robust side content, offering a variety of engaging activities that showcase both the game’s humor and heart. Aboard the Goromaru and throughout Hawaii’s ports, players can take breaks from pirating to engage in an array of entertaining diversions.

The Minato Ward Girls system introduces a collection of unique characters with distinct personalities and storylines. Players can develop relationships with these characters through interactions that range from humorous to heartfelt, each offering insights into life in this tropical paradise. These relationships not only provide entertaining side stories but also offer various rewards and benefits that can aid Majima in his adventures.

Traditional series favorites return with a tropical twist. Karaoke, a beloved staple of the franchise, takes on a distinctly nautical flavor with sea shanties and Hawaiian-themed songs added to the usual mix of dramatic performances. The game’s version of Crazy Eats challenges Majima to tackle outrageous Hawaiian fusion dishes, each accompanied by the series’ signature over-the-top eating animations and reactions.

Dragon Kart brings high-speed racing action to the Hawaiian streets, with courses that wind through tropical settings and feature uniquely Hawaiian obstacles and power-ups. The racing mini-game maintains the perfect balance of competitive action and comedic chaos that fans have come to expect, while introducing new elements that fit the island setting.

Aboard the Goromaru, players can participate in various crew-focused activities. Feast halls provide opportunities for raucous celebrations that boost crew morale, while the ship’s kitchen allows Majima to prepare special dishes that provide various benefits. These activities not only serve as entertaining diversions but also contribute to crew development and relationship building.

Side quests maintain the series’ distinctive approach to storytelling, weaving together absurdist humor with unexpected emotional depth. Players might find themselves helping a struggling shave ice vendor one moment and mediating a dispute between rival hula schools the next. These missions often start with seemingly simple or humorous premises before developing into more meaningful narratives that reveal deeper aspects of Hawaiian culture and community life.

The integration of these activities into the main game creates a rich, living world that encourages exploration and experimentation. Whether you’re mastering new karaoke songs, racing through beachside courses, or helping locals with their problems, each activity adds depth to the overall experience while providing welcome breaks from the main story’s pirating adventure.

Bridging the Gap

For players who haven’t followed recent entries in the series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii offers an opportunity to reconnect with a familiar face in a new context. The game acknowledges Majima’s history without being beholden to it, allowing lapsed fans to jump back in without feeling overwhelmed by missed plot developments.

The game’s structure also serves as an excellent introduction to the series’ signature blend of serious storytelling and outlandish humor. The game maintains the franchise’s distinctive mix of dramatic storytelling and absurdist humor, with Majima being the perfect character to demonstrate this balance.

The various activities aboard the Goromaru and throughout Hawaii showcase how the series integrates meaningful side content with main story progression, a hallmark of the franchise. Through crew interactions and story developments, players witness how the series can take seemingly over-the-top characters and imbue them with genuine emotional depth and compelling character arcs.

Whether you’re completely new to the series or haven’t played since the early Yakuza games, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii presents an accessible entry point that captures the essence of both Majima’s character and the series’ unique appeal. The fresh setting and standalone nature of the story ensure that anyone can dive in and experience the chaotic brilliance of one of gaming’s most memorable characters.

Join Us!