In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, players dive into the thrilling world of Goro Majima, the Mad Dog of Shimano, who embarks on a pirate-themed adventure. Goro starts off with a single fighting style but quickly gains access to new weapons and the Sea Dog fighting style, which introduces a whole new set of skills to master. The game features four skill trees: Overall Stats, Shared Abilities, Mad Dog, and Sea Dog. Here are the top early upgrades for Goro that will enhance your gameplay without breaking the bank.
Max Health Boost (Overall Stats)
One of the first upgrades you should prioritize is the Max Health Boost. This upgrade is essential for surviving intense boss fights surrounded by numerous henchmen. A higher health bar allows Goro to withstand more hits, which is crucial for maintaining control in battles. Outlasting your opponents while dishing out heavy damage is key to success in *Pirate Yakuza*, making this upgrade a must-have early on.
Attack Boost (Overall Stats)
Another crucial early upgrade is the Attack Boost, which significantly increases the damage of Goro's base attacks. With *Pirate Yakuza* returning to the classic real-time combat system of the *Yakuza* series, melee attacks are vital for progressing through the story and side content. While the Attack Boost Plus upgrade might be more costly, it can greatly simplify future playthroughs.
Knockdown Evasion (Shared Abilities)
When facing multiple enemies, getting knocked down by heavy attacks becomes a frequent challenge. The Knockdown Evasion upgrade is perfect for Goro, enabling a swift recovery after being hit by melee weapons or heavy blows from larger foes. This allows you to quickly resume your offensive strategy, keeping you in control of the fight.
Quickstep Strike (Shared Abilities)
The Quickstep Strike upgrade enhances your combat efficiency by allowing you to attack immediately after dodging. This upgrade is invaluable for all encounters, making fights significantly easier as every additional attack counts. It's particularly useful in early boss fights, providing another way to trigger Goro's heat gauge attack.
Grapple Counter (Shared Abilities)
Dealing with crowds of enemies becomes much easier with the Grapple Counter upgrade. This skill prevents damage from grab attacks and allows you to retaliate with a counterattack of your own, making it an excellent choice for managing groups of foes effectively.
Serpent Trick (Mad Dog)
The Mad Dog style, Goro's pirate-themed fighting approach, utilizes dual swords, a flintlock pistol, and a grappling hook, making it ideal for handling multiple opponents. The Serpent Trick upgrade is a fantastic early investment, enabling Goro to launch enemies into the air, setting up deadly aerial combos and leaving adversaries vulnerable.
Frenzy Trick (Mad Dog)
The Frenzy Trick in the Mad Dog style is another crowd control gem. Goro spins like a top, knocking down everyone in his vicinity. This move is particularly useful during the naval combat side quests where you face waves of pirates, making these challenging battles more manageable.
Catch 'n' Slash (Sea Dog)
The Catch 'n' Slash attack, available with the Sea Dog style, is initially unlocked with the Mad Dog style. Upgrading this skill extends the duration of the throw and allows for immediate follow-up attacks, enabling longer and more effective combos.
Charge 'n' Shoot (Sea Dog)
The flintlock pistol in the Mad Dog style can be a bit unwieldy due to its long charge time, which leaves Goro vulnerable. However, upgrading to Charge 'n' Shoot makes this weapon much more practical, allowing you to shoot multiple enemies at once and send them flying, significantly improving its utility in combat.
These are the best early upgrades for Goro in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, designed to enhance your gameplay experience and make your journey through the pirate-infested world more enjoyable.
*Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*
