After being terribly miscast as a Japanese-influenced “Grand Theft Auto” clone when originally released on the Playstation 2 in 2005, “Yakuza” set the stage for a franchise that would take over a decade to gain a solid footing on western shores. The “Yakuza” franchise found itself finally being praised for innovation meeting old school mechanics with the prequel to the original game, “Yakuza 0”. Fans both new & old were off to the figurative races following “Yakuza 0” with remakes, remasters, and even brand new continuations enveloping gaming’s eighth generation. This rise in newfound popularity allowed developers Ryu Ga Gotoku to not only produce sequels to the original games, but also try remaking classics, presenting spin-offs, and, most importantly to gamers not living on the eastern hemisphere, a chance to play something once confined to the mainland. Sharpen your katana, prepare those lungs for singing, and enjoy these first impressions of “Like a Dragon: Ishin!”.