Highlights

  • Like a Dragon Gaiden explores Kiryu's involvement with the Daidoji Faction and his role in the dissolution of the Tojo Clan and Omi Alliance.
  • Nishitani and Shishido are highlighted as major antagonists in the game, with Nishitani's obsession with killing Kiryu likely leading to his return as a villain in the future.
  • The Daidoji Faction, portrayed as untrustworthy and devious, is set up to potentially serve as future antagonists in the series, with their abduction of Nishitani and Shishido hinting at greater roles for them in later entries.

Like a DragonGaiden is a spin-off interquel set during the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduced fans to Ichiban Kasuga, the new series protagonist. In spite of the series' shift in focus to a new hero, the protagonist of the first 6 Yakuza games and their spinoffs, Kiryu Kazuma, still plays an important role in the story. Like a Dragon Gaiden serves to fill players in on what Kiryu was doing before and during the events of that game and to prepare them for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Infinite Wealth will release next year and feature Kiryu and Ichiban serving as dual protagonists, and Gaiden gives some hints as to who they may fight against.

Like a Dragon Gaiden tells the story of Kiryu first saving his handler in the Daidoji Faction and then being leaned out to the Watase family to aid in the Tojo Clan and Omi Alliance's dissolution, one of the key moments of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The Daidoji Faction and Kiryu bump heads multiple times during the game, but he is their employee, and the game's antagonists are Nishitani and Shishido. While the Daidoji Faction is not this game's big bad, they are painted as untrustworthy and devious in both Gaiden and Yakuza 6. Sooner or later, it seems that the Daidoji Faction will serve as antagonists.

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Like a Dragon Gaiden and Infinite Wealth Walk Two Different Roads

Despite Like a Dragon Gaiden and Infinite Wealth being released less than three months apart, they are walking two distinctly different paths.

The Daidoji Faction Could Bring Back Two Of Gaiden's Antagonists

The first major antagonist that Kiryu faces after saving his handler in the Daidoji Faction is Nishitani. Nishitani is the patriarch of the Kijin Family and the owner of The Castle through most of the game's events. In The Castle, Nishitani oversees the arena, which houses the Hell Team Rumble and other combat events. Once working with the Watase family, Kiryu learns that Nishitani will oppose the planned dissolution of the Omi Alliance and Tojo Clan. This compounds with Nishitani's previously established interest in fighting Kiryu, whom he has seen through his disguise.

Nishitani and Shishido are Abducted

The fact that Nishitani sees through Kiryu's disguise as Joryu, alongside Kiryu's subservience to the Watase Family, places the two on a direct collision course. Nishitani and Kiryu face off for the first time in the Kijin offices after Kiryu is informed that Nishitani is secretly Korean and a former member of the Jingweon Mafia. Nishitani's death is faked, and he returns to fight again during an ambush to try and prevent the planned dissolution of the Omi and the Tojo crime organizations. Fighting alongside Shishido, Nishitani is finally defeated. A cutscene later reveals that he survives the encounter and is whisked off by the Daidoji to be turned into an agent like Kiryu was. Shishido meets the same fate soon after.

Shishido and Nishitani Will Return

Shishido being abducted by the Daidoji Faction

Nishitani and Shishido will almost certainly return in the future, though their roles could vary. Nishitani is obsessed with killing Kiryu, so the character's return will likely be wholly villainous. Shishido, on the other hand, is a more complex character. He is a man who is fighting to protect the life that he has always known, something reflected in Shishido's tattoos. Kiryu disagrees with his stances and ultimately defeats him, but does so from a place of respect. A showdown against the Daidoji Faction could see Kiryu or Ichiban taking on Shishido again, but he could just as quickly fight alongside them as well, considering his distaste for Nishitani, whom the Daidoji are forcing him to work with.

The Daidoji Faction Will be Future Antagonists

Like a Dragon Gaiden's villains occupy a small role in the franchise's overarching story, but their abduction by the Daidoji faction means the two could return in later entries, serving much greater roles. Given the ominous presentation of the Daidoji Faction and the control they hold over Kiryu, it seems likely that the group will appear in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth in a more villainous role. Kiryu is extremely ill and the game will see him making the best of the time he has left. This story could be his last, so his conflict with the Daidoji Faction coming to some sort of conclusion would only make sense.