When I controlled Ichiban Kasuga to fight side by side with Kazuma Kiryu on the Honolulu beach of _Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth_, watching these two Japanese tough men in flower shirts interpret a new adventure in a foreign country, I suddenly realized This series, which was once rooted in Tokyo Kamurocho, has successfully transformed into a real global work. Ryū Ga Gotoku Studio used the most ingenious narrative transformation to make this IP full of Japanese characteristics conquer the hearts of players around the world.
The game opens at the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures. Ichiban Kasuga is looking for his mother’s whereabouts in Hawaii, while Kazuma Kiryu faces the final chapter of his life. But what really made _Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth_ achieve an international breakthrough is its comprehensive innovation of the game system — transforming traditional action fighting into a turn-based RPG, a bold attempt that began in _Yakuza: Like a Dragon_, in this work It has been perfected. When I directed the team to show exaggerated “professional moves” on Waikiki Beach, the unique integration of Japanese humor and the American open world was amazing.
The most impressive thing is the game’s clever handling of cultural differences. The perfect combination of Japanese dubbing and English localization allows Western players to truly understand the subtleties in the character dialogue. I remember that in a side mission, Ichiban needed to explain the true meaning of “Jingi” to a group of American tourists. This scene just metaphorized the challenges and breakthroughs faced by the whole series in the process of internationalization. The newly added “dating software” system perfectly integrates the social culture of contemporary young people around the world into the game experience.
The game shows the ambition of internationalization in map design. From the familiar Yokohama Isezaki Ijincho to the brand new Hawaii Honolulu, each area is full of local characteristics and cultural details. The most touching thing is that when exploring the Hawaii map, I can hear authentic Japanese English in street shops and feel the integration of Eastern and Western cultures in Chinatown — this precise grasp of cultural details makes _Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth_ a real Cultural ambassador.
As the game progressed, I saw the exquisite balance between internationalization and localization of the production team. Traditional Japanese mini-games such as Karaoke, Shogi and Pachinko are still retained, but more gameplay instructions that can be understood by international players have been added; the classic gang battle main line is still exciting, but the motivation and emotional expression of the characters are more in line with the aesthetics of the global audience. One late night, when I watched Kazuma Kiryu recall his life on Hawaii Beach in the sunset, I suddenly realized that this character had transcended cultural boundaries and become a tragic hero that players around the world can sympathize with.
According to the information after customs clearance, the sales of _Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth_ in Europe and the United States have exceeded that of Japan. This series, which was once considered “too Japanese”, has really achieved a breakthrough in globalization. If you also want to experience a wonderful story about cultural integration, _Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth_ will give you the most perfect answer. It proves that a really good story can cross borders and move every heart that yearns for sincere feelings.
