In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, players step into the shoes of Goro Majima, the notorious Mad Dog of Shimano. As you dive into the game, Goro starts with a single fighting style in the opening chapter, but as you progress through the storyline, you'll unlock a variety of weapons and the exciting Sea Dog fighting style, which introduces its own upgrade tree. The game features four skill trees: Overall Stats, Shared Abilities, Mad Dog, and Sea Dog. Here's a breakdown of the best early upgrades for Goro that will enhance your gameplay without requiring a significant investment of points or in-game currency.
Max Health Boost (Overall Stats)
Kicking things off with the Max Health Boost is essential. With numerous boss fights surrounded by henchmen, maintaining a high health bar is crucial for Goro to withstand hits and excel in crowd control. Surviving longer while dishing out substantial damage is key to dominating the toughest battles in *Pirate Yakuza*, making this upgrade a smart early choice.
Attack Boost (Overall Stats)
Next up, the Attack Boost is a no-brainer. It amplifies the damage of Goro's base attacks, making it vital for success in the game's return to its traditional melee-focused combat system. While it might be pricey, the Attack Boost Plus upgrade can further simplify your future playthroughs.
Knockdown Evasion (Shared Abilities)
When facing multiple foes, Knockdown Evasion becomes invaluable. This upgrade lets Goro quickly recover from heavy attacks or melee weapon hits, allowing you to swiftly return to an offensive stance, which is crucial for maintaining momentum in combat.
Quickstep Strike (Shared Abilities)
The Quickstep Strike upgrade enables Goro to land attacks immediately after dodging, a game-changer for all encounters. This upgrade not only simplifies regular fights but also gives Goro an additional method to trigger his heat gauge attack during early boss fights.
Grapple Counter (Shared Abilities)
Handling crowds becomes much easier with the Grapple Counter upgrade. It prevents damage from grab attacks and allows Goro to counter with an attack of his own, making it an excellent choice for managing multiple enemies.
Serpent Trick (Mad Dog)
In the Mad Dog style, Goro wields dual swords, a flintlock pistol, and a grappling hook, perfect for taking on multiple opponents. The Serpent Trick upgrade lets Goro launch enemies into the air, setting up devastating combos and leaving them vulnerable for follow-up attacks.
Frenzy Trick (Mad Dog)
The Frenzy Trick in Mad Dog style is another crowd-control gem. Goro spins like a top, knocking down anyone in his path, making it invaluable for the side-quest naval combat where you face large groups of pirates.
Catch ‘n’ Slash (Sea Dog)
Already available when you unlock the Mad Dog style, the Catch ‘n’ Slash upgrade enhances this projectile-based technique, extending the throw's duration and enabling immediate follow-up attacks for longer, more damaging combos.
Charge ‘n’ Shoot (Sea Dog)
The flintlock pistol in Mad Dog style can be a bit of a liability due to its slow charge time, but the Charge ‘n’ Shoot upgrade transforms it into a practical weapon. It allows Goro to shoot multiple enemies at once, sending them flying and making it a more reliable part of his arsenal.
These are the top early upgrades for Goro Majima in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, setting you up for success in your journey through the game's challenges.
*Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*
