In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, players step into the shoes of Goro Majima, the Mad Dog of Shimano, embarking on a thrilling adventure filled with battles and upgrades. Goro starts with a single fighting style in the game's opening chapter, but as you advance through the story, you'll unlock new weapons and the Sea Dog fighting style, opening up additional skill trees. The game features four skill trees: Overall Stats, Shared Abilities, Mad Dog, and Sea Dog. Here are the top early upgrades for Goro that can significantly enhance your gameplay without draining your resources.
Max Health Boost (Overall Stats)
Prioritizing the Max Health Boost should be one of your first moves. With numerous boss fights surrounded by henchmen, a higher health bar is crucial for enduring attacks while you control the crowd. Surviving longer and dealing substantial damage is key to winning the most challenging battles in *Pirate Yakuza*, making this upgrade a must-have early on.
Attack Boost (Overall Stats)
The Attack Boost is another essential early upgrade for Goro. It amplifies the damage of your base attacks, which is vital in the game's return to the classic *Yakuza* real-time combat system. Although it's a costly upgrade, the Attack Boost Plus can further streamline your future playthroughs.
Knockdown Evasion (Shared Abilities)
When facing multiple adversaries, avoiding all attacks becomes daunting, and the risk of being knocked down increases. The Knockdown Evasion upgrade is perfect for Goro, enabling quick recovery after being hit by melee weapons or heavy attacks, allowing you to swiftly resume your offensive strategy.
Quickstep Strike (Shared Abilities)
The Quickstep Strike upgrade allows Goro to strike after dodging, making every fight in *Pirate Yakuza* more manageable. This upgrade is particularly useful in early boss fights, providing an additional means to trigger Goro's heat gauge attack.
Grapple Counter (Shared Abilities)
The Grapple Counter is invaluable when dealing with groups of enemies. It allows Goro to counter grab attacks, preventing damage and enabling a counter-attack, which is crucial for maintaining control in chaotic battles.
Serpent Trick (Mad Dog)
Goro's Mad Dog style, tailored for pirate combat, includes dual swords, a flintlock pistol, and a grappling hook. The Serpent Trick is an excellent early upgrade within this style, allowing Goro to launch enemies into the air, setting up devastating aerial combos and leaving opponents vulnerable.
Frenzy Trick (Mad Dog)
The Frenzy Trick in the Mad Dog style is all about crowd control. Goro spins like a top, knocking down enemies in his path. This upgrade is particularly useful during naval combat side-quests, where you'll face waves of pirates, making these fights more manageable.
Catch ‘n’ Slash (Sea Dog)
The Catch ‘n’ Slash technique is available from the start of the Sea Dog style, but upgrading it enhances its effectiveness. The upgrade prolongs the throw and allows for immediate follow-up attacks, extending your combos.
Charge ‘n’ Shoot (Sea Dog)
The flintlock pistol in the Mad Dog style can be a game-changer with the Charge ‘n’ Shoot upgrade. This upgrade reduces the charge time and increases the pistol's effectiveness, allowing Goro to hit multiple enemies and knock them back.
These are the best early upgrades for Goro in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, designed to enhance your combat prowess and make your journey through the game's challenges smoother and more enjoyable.
*Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*
