Over the years, video game franchises have produced some memorable protagonists, from the likes of the resourceful and courageous adventurer Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), to the charismatic and assertive Commander Shepard (Mass Effect). TheLike a Dragonfranchise is no exception to this, with its protagonist Kazuma Kiryu being the face of the series since its debut in 2005. AfterLike a Dragon 7introduced a new protagonist in Ichiban Kasuga, the upcoming sequel has confirmed that Kiryu and Ichiban will share the spotlight as dual protagonists, and this should serve as a great opportunity for a student-teacher dynamic between the two.
DespiteIchiban only debuting in 2020’sLike a Dragon 7,he made a positive first impression with fans thanks to his endearing, kind-hearted nature, which, when combined with his somewhat unhinged imagination, made for an interesting character who seemed to fit perfectly intoLike a Dragon’s world. Kiryu appeared inLike a Dragonas a non-playable character who the player must battle, so many assumed this moment passed the torch between the two, with Ichiban assuming the role of the main protagonist moving forwards. Given Kiryu’s advancing years, it would make perfect sense if this was the case. However, Kiryu has since been revealed as part ofLike a Dragon 8, so the dynamic between the two must change in order for them to share spotlight duties.
RELATED:Like a Dragon: Ishin! Could Lead to a Yakuza: Dead Souls Remake Next
Ichiban and Kiryu Make a Perfect Student-Teacher Combination
Barring any significant time jumps, followingLike a Dragon’s timeline, Kazuma Kiryu should be in his mid-50’sduring the upcoming sequel. Having lived through his fair share of drama, he is a man who abides by a strict code of honor and justice, and is fiercely loyal to those he trusts. Getting into Kiryu’s inner circle is no easy feat though, and he is very selective about the company he keeps. DuringLike A Dragon 7, he didn’t exactly get off a smooth start with Ichiban Kasuga, berating the younger man for his reckless fits of rage. Following a fight between the two though, in which Kiryu wanted to ensure Ichiban and his party were worthy of his assistance, he appeared to show respect to Ichiban and his friends, and assisted them with their journey by providing some useful information.
It appeared that Kiryu was already beginning to take the role of Ichiban’s mentor, since this chapter ofLike a Dragon 7was called ‘Passing The Torch’. However, Kiryu’s involvement with the party abruptly ended here, as he feared any further assistance could breach the terms of the contract he signed in order to make himself disappear, thus protecting the ones he loved from harm. Gamers can expect to find out much more about this period of Kiryu’s life, in the upcomingLike a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, which takes place between the 6th and 7th installments and will fill in some of these blanks.
How Kiryu comes back into the fold, and how he finds himself working with Ichiban once again, is currently unknown. It may even be that the two have separate, unrelated adventures, as was the case when Kiryu shared protagonist duties withMajima Goro inYakuza 0. That game had players switching between protagonists every couple of chapters and continuing their separate journeys, without ever crossing paths until a post-credits scene. Narratively though, having Ichiban and Kiryu on two separate adventures would feel like a missed opportunity here, given where they are both at in their respective stages of life, and a single adventure which sees them working together makes much more sense.
A singular, shared adventure would allow Kiryu to grow into his role as Teacher, passing on the wealth of knowledge and skills that he’s honed over the years to Ichiban, who would be a willing and able student. This dynamic should make for an engaging narrative, and It’s easy to see how this could play out in future games, as legacy characters such asKiryu and Majimabegin to take more of a backseat.
TheLike a Dragonfranchise is more popular than everat the moment, and it appears to be around for the long term. Ichiban has huge boots to fill, but with the help of his would-be mentor Kiryu, the series has a protagonist it can move forward with.
Like a Dragon 8will release in 2024 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Like A Dragon 8 Should Double Down on the Previous Game’s Job System
