Like a Dragon: Ishinreleased on February 21, with the title being a remake of a 2014 game which was originally limited to Japanese audiences. With the unique nature of the game and the presence of fan-favorite characters in a different historical setting, it is no wonder that Western fans of the franchise have long been voicing their desire for a global release of the title.
These desires were recently made a reality with the release ofLike a Dragon:Ishin, which offers increased graphical fidelity, comprehensive new content, and an updated roster of more contemporary iconic characters. Given the anticipation and success ofIshin, it is clear that Ryu Ga Gotoku is becoming more comfortable with expanding the scope and reach of the franchise even further, and so a remastered release ofRyu Ga Gotoku Kenzancould very well come in the near future.
RELATED:All the Characters That Like a Dragon: Ishin Replaced From the Original Game
Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan
While the aforementionedIshinhas been the source of a lot of fan discourse in more recent years of the widerLike a Dragonfranchise, it is not the first IP title to feature a dedicated historic Samurai setting. The first wasRyu Ga Gotoku Kenzan, which released in 2008 solely for the PlayStation 3, spawning a spate of ambitiously set spin-offs for the franchise such as thezombie shoot-em-upYakuza Dead Souls.
Importantly,Kenzanis set over two centuries before the events ofIshin, and thus features a narrative and a cast of characters completely unrelated from the latter game. Because of this,Kenzanis a much more traditional Samurai game, being set in the Edo period of Japan in 1605 and subsequently doing away with the likes offirearms and more modernistic themes thatIshinfeatures.
Like most franchise titles,Kenzanfeaturesfour distinct fighting styles, withKenzan’sbeing focused on unarmed combat as well as a variety of different sword types. The story ofKenzanfollows a loose framework to some of the narratives of the mainline franchise story, but does so in a layered and period-appropriate manner, making it just as worthy of a remake asIshin.
Like a Dragon: Ishin and a Kenzan Remake
While there are currently no confirmed plans forRyu Ga Gotoku to produce aKenzanremakein the franchise’s near future roadmap, recent developments for the IP make it a very plausible prospect. Mainly, the huge reception and longstanding anticipation ofLike a Dragon: Ishinis a huge indicator for Ryu Ga Gotoku as to the growing profile of the widerYakuzafranchise across the globe.
Historically, the franchise has shyed away from going through the process of language localization for foreign audiences for its more obscure spin-off titles, withKenzanandIshinbeing the most high-profile examples of this. WithIshinalready receiving its own comprehensive remaster, it seems almost inevitable that the same courtesy will now be extended toKenzan, given the similar motifs and initial small scope of release that both titles received.
With Western audiences recievingIshinwith open arms, Ryu Ga Gotoku has a confirmed understanding of how successful aKenzanremake would likely also be received, only further increasing the likelihood of an eventual remaster. When also considering howKenzanis considered by many to be one of the best spin-off titles to come under theYakuzaname within its own right, the game is more than worthy of a remaster that could very easily become a reality in the near future.
Like a Dragon: Ishinis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
