Highlights

  • Like a Dragon Gaiden's powerful post-credits scene highlights Kiryu's character development and sets the stage for the next game in the series.
  • The game offers a mix of old-school Like a Dragon gameplay and introduces gadgets for a unique combat experience. It also features a rich story and abundant side content.
  • The scene in Hawaii where Kiryu honors Yumi's memory explains his presence in the upcoming Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and signifies a closure to his past before passing the torch to Ichiban.

The post-credits scene of Like a Dragon Gaiden is powerful, but players may need some additional information for the full impact. While the scene is a somber ending for Like a Dragon Gaiden on the surface, and one part of what it points to is quite obvious, there is a second aspect to the scene that is even more important for Kiryu's character. It does a good job of summing up Kiryu's arc, especially with the next game preparing to give Ichiban the reins of the series once more. However, the scene itself deserves a deeper dive.

Although the introduction of gadgets in Like a Dragon Gaiden provides a radically different combat option, the game as a whole is old-school Like a Dragon goodness. The classic beat-'em-up style gameplay is back, with a Sotenbori full of minigames and substories to dive into. As usual, players can spend hours on side content at a time due to how much the game has to offer. Like a Dragon Gaiden is no slouch with its story as well, giving players what is likely to be one of the final chapters in the long career of the legendary Dragon of Dojima, Kazuma Kiryu.

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Yumi's ring from the post-credits scene of Like a Dragon Gaiden

Player's emotions are likely already at their peak after Like a Dragon Gaiden's heartbreaking ending, but after the credits, the game still has one more scene. It shows Kiryu entering an empty church in Hawaii, his hair now gray as he is dressed in all black. He takes a ring out of his pocket and carries it to the head of the church before placing it on the altar. He leaves without a word as the camera zooms in, showing the name "Yumi" on the inside. As the screen fades to black, a "To Be Continued" graphic reminds players of the upcoming Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

Kazuma Kiryu has witnessed many tragedies, but the fates of his childhood friends Yumi and Nishikiyama hit him the hardest.

Players who are familiar with the history of the Like a Dragon series may be familiar with Yumi. She was Kiryu's love interest in the first game, a childhood friend that he had recently reconnected with. Tragically, she dies in the game's final act, and the ring that Kiryu carries was the only gift that he ever gave her. Before her death, she had revealed to him that it had always been a dream of hers to go to Hawaii. Although Yumi died twenty-eight years ago, In Like a Dragon Gaiden's closing moments, Kiryu was able to give her a final memorial.

This scene also does plenty to explain how Kiryu is able to return in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Infinite Wealth takes place in Hawaii, with Ichiban starting from scratch on a new adventure. Kiryu going to Hawaii to grant a last request for Yumi explains how he found himself there, justifying his presence as one of that game's protagonists. Plus, with Like a Dragon Gaiden's final chapter seeing Kiryu confront and let go of his past, the post-credits scene follows that trend as he prepares to hand over his role as series protagonist once more, likely for the final time.

Although Yumi died twenty-eight years ago, In Like a Dragon Gaiden 's closing moments, Kiryu was able to give her a final memorial.

Like a Dragon Gaiden's final scene provides some closure before the series shifts gears with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. After the scene regarding the kids from the orphanage, bringing Yumi's ring to Hawaii ties up one of the last loose ends that Kiryu has regarding his old life. Considering that an early trailer for Infinite Wealth revealed that Kiryu has cancer, it's probably for the best that he's getting the chance to confront the ghosts of his past. Like a Dragon Gaiden made sure that Kiryu's last scene was an important one.