Even in a Wacky Nautical Spin-Off, Yakuza Just Feels Wrong in English

Well, ol’ buddy, I’ve been around the block a few times, and I’ve learned to appreciate the raw charm of games in their original language. Growing up playing games from Japan, I can tell you that there’s just something about the authenticity of Japanese voice acting that English can’t quite capture – it’s like a fine sake versus a cheap imitation.

Nah, we just can’t do it. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii may be a wacky nautical spin on the long-running series, but it still just doesn’t sound right in English.

In a fair assessment, Sega has gathered an impressive ensemble for this production. Matt Mercer, renowned as Leon S. Kennedy’s voice in Resident Evil and Jotaro Kujo from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, will play the eccentric piratical lead, Goro Majima. While his performance is satisfactory, it doesn’t quite capture the same level of quirkiness that the original Japanese voice actor portrayed.

The main characters are backed by a strong ensemble, with Samoa Joe portraying Raymond Law among others. You can find the complete list provided beneath.

Goro Majima
Matthew Mercer
Raymond Law
Samoa Joe
Noah Rich
Maya Tuttle
Jason Rich
Jeremy Brandt
Masaru Fujita
Brent Mukai
Taiga Saejima
James Kirkland
Queen Michele
Debra Wilson

Of course, acknowledging the effort: Sega has undeniably poured a great deal of effort into this dub. However, for us, it’s Japanese all the way. What about you?

What language do you play Like a Dragon games in? (9 votes)

  1. Japanese with subtitles67%
  2. English22%
  3. Other11%

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2024-12-20 17:06