AEW wrestler Kenny Omega details how he first came into contact with Like a Dragon Ishin, along with an interesting story of getting his finishing move into the upcoming remake. Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have been doing a lot to promote this upcoming remake, as it is the first time the game has been brought over to the West. This includes a bunch of trailers and promotions for Like a Dragon Ishin, including some special celebrity cameos in the form of Trooper cards.
The Trooper cards are a new mechanic introduced in this remake, where these can grant bonuses or special attacks based on the character summoned. These include other Like a Dragon characters like Rikiya Shimabukuro and Kasuga Ichiban and even special celebrity appearances. This includes special Trooper cards based on Kenny Omega and Rahul Kohli, which are both in the game as free DLC. Kenny Omega recently sat down to describe how he first discovered Ishin, as well as how he got into the game.
In an interview with Game Informer, Omega was asked if he first played the original version of Like a Dragon Ishin since he did a lot of wrestling in Japan. He said that he never did but had a dormitory roommate who was playing it, where he was watching him play the game. When Omega asked what it was, his roommate, in English, explained that it was Yakuza, with the wrestler being surprised that the series tackled samurai-era period pieces that the states never got. Omega notes it's cool to see the remaster giving fans a chance to experience these entries, with the wrestler being involved in a small degree as well.
Kenny Omega also detailed how he was a little afraid of giving input regarding his Trooper card. His card is called "Essence of One-Winged Angel," which is a very obvious nod to his Final Fantasy 7-inspired finishing move. He revealed that he was unsure of the boundaries when it came to suggestions. He was genuinely surprised when it was SEGA and the developers that came to him asking if he wanted the card to carry the One-Winged Angel motif. He asked "you know where that's from, right?" to which the developers stated that they knew already and that it completely represented Omega's identity and wanted it in the game.
Omega shared some other details, such as how he never actually wielded a katana other than in a photoshoot, along with his love for the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series. The interviewer asked if Omega would do another video game-inspired themed wrestling entrance based on his Trooper card appearance in Ishin. He said it was a "safe bet" as well.
Like a Dragon: Ishin releases February 21 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Game Informer
