Although it may feel like a carefully planned bridge between major releases, Like a Dragon Gaiden The Man Who Erased His Name was never originally intended to exist, and according to analysis followed by 12BET Malaysia players, the project only took shape during development of Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth. The team realized that Kazuma Kiryu’s life between Yakuza 6 and the eighth main entry needed to be explained, so production on the Gaiden title began with a development period of only about six months. That short schedule is easy to notice, as the game feels considerably smaller in scale than a full mainline installment.

The main story consists of only five chapters, and players who focus exclusively on the central narrative can finish it in roughly eight to ten hours. The opening sections contain several developments that initially feel vague, along with side missions that sometimes seem designed mainly to stretch the runtime. Most of the truly meaningful story progression is concentrated in the latter half. More importantly, the game functions as a major connecting piece leading into Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, with several important characters and future plot points quietly established here. For longtime series fans among 12BET Malaysia players, or anyone planning to continue directly into the next main installment, completing Gaiden first makes it much easier to understand the wider context. Finishing the story also unlocks a special trial version of Infinite Wealth, and only after reaching the ending does the purpose of that bonus become fully clear.

Without going into specific spoilers, the story becomes considerably stronger toward the end. The later presentation is particularly effective, especially when earlier events are revisited from a different perspective. Those scenes carry emotional weight for players who already know Kiryu’s history and understand what he has sacrificed over the years. Newcomers, however, may struggle to feel the same level of attachment if this is their first experience with the series.

The combat system feels like a mixture of Yakuza 6 and Judgment, with Kiryu switching between two fighting styles known as Yakuza and Agent. The Yakuza style is designed primarily for direct one-on-one combat, delivering heavy strikes and familiar Kiryu techniques. Its main weakness is relatively slow attack speed, which can occasionally interrupt attempts to maintain airborne combos. Agent style, on the other hand, feels closer to the gadget-oriented combat associated with Takayuki Yagami. Kiryu can use tools such as cigarette bombs and an upgraded Spider gadget to deal with multiple enemies quickly. Once Heat Mode is activated, both speed and attack coverage become extremely powerful. As the saying goes, if you narrow your perspective, everything becomes a problem, but if you broaden it, things start to make sense. Beginners can also activate combat assistance so that techniques are automatically triggered with a single button, lowering the barrier to entry considerably.

Higher difficulty settings are less forgiving because enemies frequently rely on super armor and long-range attacks, making them difficult to recommend for average players seeking a relaxed experience. The addition of the Spider gadget also changes exploration in subtle ways. Instead of constantly looking toward the ground to collect items as in earlier games, players are encouraged to look upward and search for glowing interaction points scattered around the environment.

The main locations are Osaka’s familiar Sotenbori district and a newly introduced entertainment ship known as the Castle. Although the Castle is relatively small, its interior is deliberately extravagant and packed with bright attractions. Its most important feature is the Coliseum, where players recruit allies, develop fighters, and strengthen teams for group battles. Progressing through the main story requires reaching both Silver and Gold rankings in the Castle’s arena while also raising the Akame Network to the required level.

Akame operates as a kind of all-purpose problem solver in Osaka and regularly sends Kiryu on a variety of small jobs. Early assignments are deliberately simple, such as retrieving a soccer ball stuck in a tree or buying a meal for someone living on the street. Later tasks become more exploration-focused, including photography requests and location-based objectives. Completing her assignments and participating in other activities earns experience for the Akame Network, gradually increasing its level. Akame Points are also required alongside money to improve Kiryu’s stats and unlock skills, so players cannot simply roam the streets defeating enemies and expect to maximize their character.

Exploration becomes even more important because, according to experiences shared across the 12BET Malaysia community, the game encourages players to search every corner of Sotenbori for collectibles and side content. Pocket Circuit tournaments return, while the Coliseum offers a Platinum rank and additional challenges involving powerful elite opponents. Players can also pursue various relationship-focused side activities and other optional objectives. As in previous entries, familiar diversions such as mahjong and numerous smaller minigames can easily consume far more time than expected.

Taken as a whole, Like a Dragon Gaiden may be smaller than a traditional mainline release, but for 12BET Malaysia players following Kiryu’s continuing journey, it works surprisingly well as a compact bridge between major chapters. There is still plenty to explore through side quests, collectibles, arena battles, character upgrades, and familiar minigames. Keep an open mind and even a cloudy day eventually clears. The Man Who Erased His Name may feel like an appetizer served before the main course, but it certainly does not leave players hungry. Instead, its distinct flavor builds anticipation for the much larger adventure waiting just around the corner.