Highlights

  • Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth promises emotional twists for Kiryu and Ichiban, with a return of the series' quintessential humor, side quests, combat, and minigames.
  • The karaoke in Infinite Wealth looks to build upon emotional references to the past, with a compelling roster of new tracks featuring characters like Kiryu, Ichiban, Chitose, Joon-gi Han, and Saeko.
  • Fans have noticed references to the series' past in Infinite Wealth's karaoke, including a possible successor to the popular Baka Mitai song, as well as a duet between Kiryu and Ichiban that holds emotional weight.

RGG Studio recently gave a greater look into what Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will have to offer. Not only does its story promise many emotional twists for Kiryu and Ichiban, but the return of its quintessential humor through side quests, combat, and minigames has left many eager to dive into the title. As Infinite Wealth continues in the series' talent of balancing comedy and drama, its karaoke looks to follow suit, building on emotional references to the past.

Based on Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's gameplay trailer, its karaoke roster already looks to be more compelling than ever. Though its full set list has yet to be unveiled, a few tracks were shown that spotlight Kiryu, Ichiban, and newcomer characters like Chitose. Much to the excitement of Like a Dragon 7 fans, Joon-gi Han will finally have a track of his own to sing, while others like Saeko are set to appear in unique performances. Beyond its new tracks, however, Infinite Wealth's karaoke looks to hone in on the nostalgia of the series, helping to emphasize the game's themes.

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Karaoke in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Looks to Bridge the Past With the Present

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Fans have been quick to point out that Like a Dragon:Infinite Wealth's karaoke holds a number of references to the series' past, with its spotlight on Kiryu. The gameplay trailer shows a glimpse at what many are thinking is a successor to Baka Mitai, otherwise known as 'I've Been a Fool,' which has been one of the most prominent karaoke songs across past entries' set lists. The song's melodrama has made for incredibly humorous renditions, with its English version in LAD7 being sung by Greg Chun's Nanba as the character gazes wistfully on a picture of Chief from his old homeless camp.

While a Baka Mitai 2 is already exciting enough, preview footage of Infinite Wealth has indicated that Yakuza 0's Judgement -Shinpan- will be brought back, sung together by Kiryu and Ichiban. Fans of the series have pointed out the added layer of emotional weight this inclusion holds; the karaoke song was originally performed by Kiryu and Nishiki in the early stages of Y0's plot, before the hardships the two would come to face throughout its story and the events of Kiwami. Because Nishiki and Ichiban share the same Japanese voice actor, it's as if the two brothers are back singing together again.

Of the others that have been shown, newcomer Chitose is set to sing for Honolulu City Lights, a more upbeat pop track, while Saeko is taking a complete 180 from her performance of Spring Breeze in LAD7 to go for a goth rocker look. Joon-gi Han's debut karaoke performance looks to be a forlorn love song, with a brief glimpse of the track's cinematic showing him gazing at a couple in the rain. Footage so far has only been shown with Japanese lyrics and performances, though with the precedent set by LAD7, it's likely that each song will have an English translation for its Western voiceover.

One of the many endearing traits of Ichiban as a character is how much he cheers on the cast during their performances, and Infinite Wealth looks to be no exception in this case. Another detail that fans have noticed is Ichiban calling Kiryu his 'kyodai', or brother, during their Judgement performance, making the track all the more special. It's evident that one of Infinite Wealth's primary focuses is the bridge between the past and the present of the series, and through its karaoke these themes seem to persist, making the series staple even more iconic.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is set to release on January 26, 2024, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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