Highlights

  • Hell Team Rumble in Like a Dragon Gaiden brings familiar faces from the Yakuza series into the fray, allowing players to fight alongside beloved characters.
  • The ally specialties in Hell Team Rumble resemble the class designations in Kiwami 2's Clan Creator, adding strategic depth to battles.
  • The Fighter's Lounge extends the Joryu Clan's presence outside of the Coliseum, allowing players to bond with allies and level up their characters for success in Hell Team Rumble.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name takes Coliseum battling to an even higher extreme through Hell Team Rumble, an ally-based brawl letting Kiryu fight alongside familiar faces. Situated in the Castle's Hell Arena, a no-holds-barred fighting ring set atop an extravagant cruiser ship, Hell Team Rumble provides a perfect arena experience through a team of up to 10 allies. Not only does the mode allow for switching out leaders, letting players experiment with the movesets of beloved characters across the Yakuza series, but the chaotic nature of so many fighting participants makes for the most fun rendition of the Coliseum to date.

Like a Dragon Gaiden's Hell Team Rumble operates similarly to the frenzy of Kiwami 2's eight-character Battle Royale, only this time, Kiryu's got a whole Joryu Clan to back him up. Like other modes in the Castle's Coliseum, Hell Team Rumble offers new challenges as players climb up the ranks of the Castle; from Bronze to Platinum status, the fights become even more unwieldly through a host of enemy combatants and arena effects. As Kiryu recruits characters to his team, a feature that extends cleverly into Gaiden's substories, the enemies within the arena become more formidable in strength and number.

RELATED: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Review

Like a Dragon Gaiden's Hell Team Rumble Makes For the Perfect Arena Battle

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Hell Team Rumble Brings Familiar Faces into the Fray

Hell Team Rumble builds upon the series' nostalgia through its recruitable allies. Players will recognize many of its fighters from past appearances throughout the series; from a Ryuji Goda lookalike, to the weapons dealer Kamiyama or the iconic Gary Buster Holmes, there's no shortage of references within the Joryu Clan. Even smaller characters like Akimoto-kun, whose tumultuously toxic relationship kept Kiryu and Haruka on their toes in the series' second and third entries, work to pay homage to the side quests of Like a Dragon's past. This extends to RGG's Judgement spin-off as well, with Kaito and Higashi joining the fray as a defender and healer, respectively.

Ally Specialties Bear Resemblance to Kiwami 2's Clan Creator

Hell Team Rumble take a few notes from Kiwami 2's Clan Creator, namely in its use of class designations. Fighters can specialize in offense, defense, or healing, though each holds effects and resistances that let players strategize a bit between battles. Some arenas include incendiary-based enemies that make allies resistant to fire a better choice to bring along, while others utilize stun-based walls and enemies with shock weaponry that make fighters resistant to paralysis a wise decision. A balance of fighters is necessary for success as Kiryu moves into Platinum-ranked battles, letting players take into consideration which allies are best suited for the fight.

The Fighter's Lounge Adds Versatility to Hell Team Rumble

Gaiden extends the Joryu Clan beyond the Coliseum into its Fighter's Lounge, allowing Kiryu to build the bonds and experience of allies. Through sending fighters off to training, popping Champagne to build the team's motivation, or purchasing Ceremonial Oath Sake Cups as gifts, the Joryu Clan can become even more of a powerhouse. Leveling up characters is a crucial component to progressing the ranks, allowing the team to gain more fans while subsequently earning more money for Kiryu to upgrade his moveset. The versatility of the Fighter's Lounge adds to Hell Team Rumble's appeal, while showing off its characters in a fun light as they relax outside the ring.

DLC Fighters in Hell Team Rumble

What most fans were looking forward to in Gaiden's Hell Team Rumble mode was the return of three series icons who were made available through the title's pre-order. These include:

  • Daigo Dojima (Healer)
  • Taiga Saejima (Defender)
  • Goro Majima (Attacker)

While Saejima and Majima have been playable protagonists in the series' past, Daigo's inclusion in Gaiden's Hell Team Rumble marks an exciting first foray into controlling his character. Not only can the three be used as capable allies or leaders throughout Hell Team Rumble, but they are also available for one-on-one battles, working to test the might of Kiryu's strength. Their addition works not only in favor of the Coliseum's innate nostalgia, but in helping to make the Joryu Clan a team worthy of taking on the Castle's most formidable combatants.