Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's crew recruitment mechanic is an excellent way to feature cameos of returning characters from throughout the series. Many Hawaiian side characters featured in Infinite Wealth return as potential Goromaru crewmates, and players can purchase the Deluxe Edition to add the likes of Kazuma Kiryu, Taiga Saejima, and Ichiban Kasuga to their crew. However, one character's potential is wasted as a simple optional crewmate in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii: Patriarch Gondawara, whose humorous presence would be a perfect fit for Pirate Yakuza's madcap tone.
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's Cosmetics Are One Of Its Greatest Strengths
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's cosmetic outfits for Goro Majima are an excellent tribute to his previous roles in the series.
Patriarch Gondawara Is A Recurring Yakuza Figure With A Unique Interest
Patriarch Susumu Gondawara first appeared in Yakuza 2 during the substory "Be my Baby." He attempted to introduce Kiryu to his interest in wearing diapers and roleplaying as a baby, but the Dragon of Dojima was not interested, choosing to battle Gondawara and his men instead. He returned in Like a Dragon, this time as part of a substory called "Baby Don't Cry." This time, Kasuga is the one to deal with the diaper-wearing patriarch, stepping in to help a businessman harassed by the Gondawara family. After resolving the issue peacefully, Kasuga has the option to drink a formula toast with Gondawara and can summon him in battle via the Poundmates system.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth sees Gondawara and his men vacationing in Hawaii, where they run into Ichiban Kasuga once again. This time, they use the large amount of diapers in their possession to help a man's dying wife see "snow" once more before she passes. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii seems to confirm that Gondawara is still present in Hawaii, as he is unlockable as a crew member. However, he is not interacted with directly and is simply purchased for the Goromaru's crew using 11,000 points earned in the mini-game Sicko Snap - another returning feature from Infinite Wealth.
Gondawara Would Have Fit In Well With Pirate Yakuza's Goofy Tone
Although it is not without its deep emotional moments, especially surrounding Goro Majima's amnesia and Noah Rich's illness, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is one of the silliest games in the series so far. In particular, it features a number of humorous sub-stories, with Majima bonding with a living statue, fighting polar bears at an aquarium, and finding a date for crewmate Masaru with the help of some quite unique live action sequences.
Gondawara And Majima Have Never Met, And That's A Waste
Patriarch Gondawara, with his love for diapers and roleplaying as an adult baby, would have fit in well in the game, especially as the subject of a substory. Notably, although Gondawara has made three appearances in the series, he has never officially met Majima, and any interaction between the two would inevitably be hilarious. Majima, who is himself no stranger to bizarre outfits such as his "Everyone's Idol" getup and Goromi disguise, would likely be much more willing to go along with Gondawara's diaper cosplay than either Kiryu or Ichiban.
The diaper-loving patriarch is one of several characters who are limited to being purchasable crewmates in Pirate Yakuza after playing larger roles in previous games. Others limited to this role include champion fighter Gary Buster Holmes, his daughter Chitose Buster Holmes, and Sheep Man, an enemy from the movie-watching mini-game in Like a Dragon. However, Gondawara is probably the most frustrating of these optional crew members, because his substory hijinks are hilarious and generally well-received by fans, especially his surprisingly heartwarming role in Infinite Wealth creating diaper-based "snow" for a dying woman.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
- Released
- February 21, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
