Cheat codes used to be a common occurrence, until greedy publishers realised there was so much money to be made by charging for them. No longer could you enter a secret command and suddenly be granted infinite ammo, unlimited health, or big heads - these features were sadly locked away for everyone except those willing to cough up a few extra pennies. It sucks, and as the industry continues to embrace subscriptions and services, I can only see cheat codes resurfacing as a cutesy nostalgia pull more than anything else.
The same can be said for New Game+, although this idea of carrying all of your progress to a second playthrough has recently become fodder for either season passes or updates after launch, acting as an additional treat for players who decided to stick around. Unfortunately, it seems thatLike A Dragon: Infinite Wealthis continuing this worrying trend by locking this big feature behind its ‘Deluxe’ and ‘Ultimate’ Editions. If you want to take Ichiban Kasuga for yet another ride with all of your loot and experience intact, you had best be ready to spend more.
Fans were quick to notice this awkward rollout and, as expected, aren’t happy about it. While the retail version of the game goes for $70, you will be paying far more for the Deluxel and/or Ultimate versions of the RPG, which include a selection of launch bonuses and future DLC in the form of new heroes, cosmetics, and other items that are more complementary than game-changing.
These are par for the course when it comes to downloadable content in 2024, but New Game+ being awkwardly factored into the equation represents an element of greed that I struggle to reconcile. It is unnecessary, especially for a turn-based RPG such as this, where you will spend tens of hours levelling up your party and chasing full completion. We shouldn’t be prevented from carrying on this adventure through a new campaign because of monetary constraints. It’s not something an otherwise happy-go-lucky franchise like Yakuza should be known for, but here we are staring down the barrel of a $15 New Game+ mode.
Imagine ifDark SoulsorElden Ringdared launch without a New Game+ mode as normal. It would see riots erupt in the streets as Soulsborne fans decry the lack of a feature which ever since the series’ inception has informed so much about it. I still remember tackling all the Old Hunters expansion inBloodborneon NG+2 as it turned what should have been a difficult yet approachable series of boss battles into a gauntlet that took me months to beat. Bosses are harder, equipment and character builds carry greater importance, and it gives games longevity it would otherwise lack.
The same goes for Like A Dragon, which has always been known as this melodramatic power fantasy where you walk in the shoes of a wholesome gangster who can move mountains if they so wish. New Game+ could come with new characters, quests, and end-game bosses; which they often do, but Infinite Wealth has seen fit to charge us for it. To some, it might be a silly thing to complain about because Infinite Wealth is more than likely boasting an exhaustive amount of content that most of us will never bother with a New Game+ playthrough.
But that isn’t the point. It’s about setting a precedent that a feature we once considered standard and took for granted can suddenly be taken away and sold to us on top of the games we already spend hard-earned money on. It can’t be allowed to become the status quo, because as soon as it does, we’ll never be able to take it back.
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