Welcome to the Prologue walkthrough of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. I’ll take you through this chapter – step-by-step with screenshots and cutscene transcripts.
The story starts in the Roppongi district in Tokyo in the year. 2019.
CUTSCENE 1 – START OF GAME
AN ALLEY IN FRONT OF A CLUB – NIGHT
A YOUNG WOMAN exits the club, looking back towards the entrance.
YOUNG WOMAN
I’ll be going, then.
Sorry for leaving early like this.
As she walks toward the street, the camera zooms out, revealing three men, the leader being OSAMU, by a yellow car observing the young woman.
MAIN MAN – OSAMU
Hey, check her out.
The camera refocuses on the YOUNG WOMAN, who is unsteady on her feet as she walks away from Osamu. In the background, the THREE MEN are seen approaching the woman, appearing blurry. The YOUNG WOMAN stumbles and a man in a black suit and black glasses – KIRYU – enters out of nothing, helping to support her.
KIRYU
Are you okay?
YOUNG WOMAN
Yes. Sorry to keep you waiting.
KIRYU turns away, holding his earpiece, talking to SOMEONE at the other end.
KIRYU
We just left the club. You’re not here yet?
SOMEONE
Hey, it was a pretty sudden request, all right? How’s the young lady?
KIRYU
She’s fine, assuming you get here soon.
SOMEONE
Got it. Give me five more minutes.
KIRYU turns to the YOUNG WOMAN to talk to her.
KIRYU
The car should be here shortly.
YOUNG WOMAN
(visibly ill)
I’m sorry. I’m really not feeling well.
She crouches down and covers her mouth as if trying to stop something from escaping. Then she looks towards the main street.
YOUNG WOMAN
If it’ll be a while, then let’s just take a taxi.
The YOUNG WOMAN glances at KIRYU, seeking confirmation. KIRYU gazes toward the main street.
KIRYU
Got it. Let’s head to the street.
The young woman, accompanied by Kiryu, starts walking towards the main street.
YOUNG WOMAN
Looks like I had a bit too much to drink… You won’t say anything to my grandfather, right?
KIRYU
I’ll be discreet.
The camera now captures them from behind, with the three men following. OSAMU is their leader.
OSAMU
(shouting)
Say, you okay there? Hey, man, we’ll make sure she gets home.
KIRYU and the YOUNG WOMAN keep walking, KIRYU just raises his right arm, without turning.
KIRYU
We’re good, thanks.
The camera is now showing the group from the front.
OSAMU
(shouting)
My place is just over there, babe. Thirtieth floor. C’mon, we can make you feel all better.
The camera now shows another group of men approaching from the front, surrounding the YOUNG WOMAN and KIRYU. The LEADER OF THE NEW GROUP seems to help OSAMU.
LEADER OF THE NEW GROUP
You just gonna ignore Osamu-kun after such a generous offer?
OSAMU has now reached the YOUNG WOMAN and KIRYU, being now very close.
OSAMU
That’s me, Osamu-kun! Nice to meet you.
KIRYU glances back, then turns to the YOUNG WOMAN. Finally, KIRYU speaks to the LEADER OF THE NEW GROUP.
KIRYU
Move.
We can hang out all you want later, but I’m afraid it’ll just be me.
LEADER OF THE NEW GROUP
That your idea of a joke, old man?
KIRYU gently puts his arm around the YOUNG WOMAN and confidently keeps moving ahead. He then turns his head, holding his earpiece to communicate with SOMEONE.
KIRYU
We’ve got a problem. Where are you?
SOMEONE
Three minutes out. What happened?
KIRYU
I’ll tell you later.
KIRYU guides the YOUNG WOMAN towards a street railing, and she takes a seat.
KIRYU
Rest here for a minute.
YOUNG WOMAN
Um, is everything okay?
KIRYU
It’s fine. Situations like this are why we’re here.
OSAMU gazing at the YOUNG WOMAN from the back, while KIRYU is talking to her.
OSAMU
Wonder if she’s some big shot’s daughter.
Well, that’s all right. My dad’s a big shot, too.
He’s the president of a super famous company.
KIRYU turns away from the YOUNG WOMAN and looks at OSAMU with a serious expression.
OSAMU
Sure about this?
You’re gonna be sorry if you lay a single finger on us!
KIRYU calmly takes off his glasses and puts them somewhere safe.
KIRYU
Turn around now, and you can go home in one piece.
But if you don’t…
Just remember.
Going down this path was your choice.
The camera looks over KIRYU’s shoulder at the LEADER OF THE NEW GROUP.
LEADER OF THE NEW GROUP
This guy seriously gonna fight us, Osamu-kun?
OSAMU
Well, the old man’s just doing his job.
Besides…
OSAMU is gazing at the YOUNG WOMAN again.
OSAMU
The prize is always sweeter when we gotta work for it!
C’mon! Let’s show the lady what real men look like!
KIRYU getting ready to fight
FADE OUT
1 – DEFEAT THE THUGS
After the cutscene in the dark alley of the nightclub, Kiryu gets ready to fight the THUGS.
What follows is the fight tutorial for Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. While fighting you have to make sure you complete the whole objection list of fight moves as shown in the screenshot below. Only after that, the thugs will take real damage and KIRYU can defeat them.
After you’ve cleared all the objectives above, the KIRYU’s Spider Gadget is introduced. He can eject a thin wire from a watch. It can perform actions such as capturing and pulling in enemies and weapons. Defeat all the thugs.
CUTSCENE 2 – END OF FIGHT
SAME ALLEY – NIGHT
KIRYU defeats the thugs and lands a final blow on the leader of the new group. As a result, the leader is sent flying backwards onto the hood of OSAMU’s yellow car, causing it to be destroyed.
OSAMU
Ahh! No, no, noooo! My caaar!
Argh… You’ve gotta be sh*tting me!
KIRYU looking back at OSAMU, who is still exhausted on the floor. The camera zooms in while OSAMU is getting on his feet.
OSAMU
Hey… You got any idea who you’re messing with?
You’re gonna regret this!
KIRYU
How sweet.
OSAMU
Huh?
KIRYU
You’re worried about me…
when you should be worrying about yourself.
OSAMU
Oh, uh, I mean…
At this moment, the YOUNG WOMAN is getting up from the street rail, walking towards KIRYU and OSAMU.
YOUNG WOMAN
Please, wait just a moment.
The YOUNG WOMAN has a thorough look at OSAMU and seems to know him.
YOUNG WOMAN
I thought I recognized you.
Your father is the president of Maruhina, isn’t he?
KIRYU
Maruhina…
The trading house?
OSAMU
How do you –
YOUNG WOMAN
You and your father came to my grandfather’s birthday party last year.
OSAMU
Wait… Are you…
Party Chair Ogikubo’s granddaughter?
Embarrassed and in shock, OSAMU is now bending down to apologize.
OSAMU
Oh my god! I am so, so sorry!
YOUNG WOMAN
Some friends I met while studying abroad in the Middle East have come to visit me in Japan…
That’s what brought me out tonight to see Roppongi for the first time. Do you all come here often?
OSAMU
Oh, no no no. Once in a blue moon.
I can’t tell you how sorry we are.
YOUNG WOMAN
Well, I am a little tipsy myself…
Why don’t we both just forget this ever happened?
OSAMU
Oh, uh, sure! I didn’t see a thing tonight, and I sure as heck didn’t see you either!
You won’t say anything about this to your grandfather, will you?
YOUNG WOMAN
I won’t.
OSAMU
Oh man… Thank you so much! I’m sorry again!
OSAMU is leaving quickly. KIRYU and the YOUNG WOMAN both watch him.
KIRYU
You’re just going to let them get away with that?
YOUNG WOMAN
It’s fine. Besides… I have more important things to worry about.
KIRYU
Hm?
The YOUNG WOMAN feels weak and is now sitting down on the pavement.
YOUNG WOMAN
Please, I need to… lie down somewhere…
KIRYU hastily turns away from her, holding his earpiece to talk to SOMEONE.
KIRYU
Hey, where are you?
How much longer is this going to take?
SOMEONE
I’ll be there in three minutes!
KIRYU
That’s the same thing you said the last time I asked.
YOUNG WOMAN
Urgh… I feel sick…
FADE OUT
CUTSCENE 3 – BUSY STREET IN TOKYO
SOME BUSY STREET IN TOKYO – NIGHT
KIRYU is walking by a busy road in Tokyo when a car stops next to him. A WOMAN is seated in the passenger seat.
WOMAN
Good work on your assignment.
But I can’t say the same for what you did after that.
I know it was just a snack, but you should really eat more vegetables.
KIRYU
Watching every little thing I do, huh.
You didn’t need to come get me. I was about to make my way back.
WOMAN
I’m sure you were.
It’s not that I don’t trust you, of course.
KIRYU is opening the backseat door and getting into the car. Inside, he takes out his pack of cigarettes, trying to take one out, as the WOMAN reaches out.
WOMAN
This car’s non-smoking, so…
KIRYU gives her the pack.
KIRYU
Should’ve had another when I had the chance.
… The sweet taste of freedom.
FADE OUT
CUTSCENE 4 – TEMPLE IN TOKYO
A TEMPLE IN TOKYO – DAYTIME
KIRYU is meditating in a blue kimono near the entrance of a room, facing the inner temple courtyard. A monk is playing the game of “GO” inside the room, in the background.
During meditation, KIRYU relives a violent fight from his past.
UNKNOWN ROAD – NIGHT
KIRYU tightly holds a MAN’s neck as he lies on the floor, KIRYU on top.
KIRYU
You’re nothing. Just a pathetic fool who drags civilians into yakuza conflicts.
MAN
(struggling)
Kill the girl and the stupid kid!
End them!
A man in a suit picks up a gun from the floor. He shoots at a terrified WOMAN and a toddler who are crouched down on the pavement of an unknown road. As he shoots, missing once, another man in a suit runs towards them to protect them. He reaches them just as the man with the gun fires a second shot. Surprisingly, KIRYU quickly steps in between them and gets injured in the lower chest by the bullet.
The WOMAN is looking up, realizing that KIRYU got injured. She starts to cry.
WOMAN
Uncle Kaz…
Uncle Kaz!
FADE OUT
HOSPITAL ROOM
KIRYU lying in a hospital bed. A MAN is sitting next to him.
MAN
Are you awake?
Kazuma Kiryu-kun.
I have some news. I’ve just heard that Minoru Daidoji-sensei passed away in his sleep yesterday.
KIRYU sitting up in bed and looking at the MAN.
KIRYU
So? Who are you?
MAN
I am a politician, mentored in the art of governing over the years by Daidoji-sensei.
KIRYU is looking down at a suitcase filled with money, next to the MAN.
KIRYU
So this would be hush money…
MAN
I’ve done a great deal of research on you.
Do you have a soft spot for orphanages?
All you need to do is accept this money,
and promise you’ll keep our secrets safe.
That is all we ask.
KIRYU
If you want me to keep your secrets…
I have conditions.
MAN
E-Excuse me?
Do you know who you’re talking to!?
You shouldn’t take me so lightly.
Don’t you value your life?
And what about your family? Your friends?
Who knows how they would end up.
KIRYU
(angry, threatening)
Try me.
You say you did the research?
Then you know what happens when people hurt my family?
You want that?
MAN
But then, how can you guarantee you’ll keep our secret safe?
What will you do!?
KIRYU
I’ll die for you.
MAN
What?
KIRYU
Use your influence.
Make the hospital issue a death certificate for me.
Nobody will ever hear from me again.
FADE OUT.
>> CHAPTER 1 – HIDDEN DRAGON >>
LIKE A DRAGON: GAIDEN – THE MAN WHO ERASED HIS NAME
Release: November 9th, 2023
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: SEGA
Official Website: https://gaiden.sega.com/