Yakuza 0 Demonstrates That a Serious Majima Game is Possible

This article dishes out some juicy SPOILERS on Yakuza 0 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, so read on at your own risk!

Once again, we’ll see Goro Majima stepping into the spotlight in the game Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. This time, he’s an amnesiac pirate captain cruising through the picturesque Hawaiian islands. The wild setup and quirky atmosphere totally suit Majima’s character, offering a delightful departure from the more heartfelt narratives we’ve come to expect from the series, particularly in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. However, that’s not to say that a serious take on Majima wouldn’t be a hit. One standout game in the series has already proven that point.

A while ago, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, the chief producer at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, told TheGamer in an interview that “you can’t make a serious Majima game,” hinting that any game about him would naturally be larger than life. Sure, Majima is known for his flamboyance in the franchise, but Yakuza 0 showed off a much calmer side of him, adding layers to his character and winning over the hearts of fans. Overlooking the success of Majima’s journey in Yakuza 0 seems unjust, and it suggests that a more serious Majima game should definitely be explored in the future.

Let’s talk about why a serious Majima game shouldn’t be off the table, even if we welcome the nuttiness of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

Majima’s portrayal in Yakuza 0 truly came alive with its serious tone. Longtime fans know Majima as the Mad Dog of Shimano—a title he’s held onto over the years. But, in Yakuza 0, which sets the stage for the rest of the series, we see Majima in a different light. He’s running a cabaret club as punishment after a botched hit and adopts the suave persona of Lord of the Night to make ends meet, aiming to clear his debts and return to the Tojo Clan.

Initially introduced as a quirky side character in the Majima Everywhere quests of the original Yakuza game, Majima’s growth throughout Yakuza 0 demonstrated his potential as a character with real depth—not just the over-the-top character we often see. The game shines a light on his softer side, especially through his protective actions toward Makoto Makimura, who he was originally assigned to kill. This mission helped reveal a Majima who is layered and fascinating, rather than just a caricature. His wild Mad Dog antics were, in a way, a reaction to the constraints he felt while managing the Grand Cabaret in Sotenbori. Flashes of a serious Majima appear in various flashbacks throughout the series, too.

It’s intriguing how Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, with its amnesia plot, could have set the stage perfectly for another deep dive into Majima’s character. In Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, set after the Great Dissolution, Majima’s Mad Dog persona fades a bit as he ages and becomes a peaceful fisherman in Hokkaido with Saejima and Dojima. The upcoming Pirate Yakuza game begins with Majima waking up with memory loss on Rich Island, suggesting his Mad Dog persona could have receded further. Sadly, the game looks like it’s doubling down on his nutty side, pleasing many but potentially missing an opportunity for another profound Majima story.

If Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii had chosen to show Majima reverting to his pre-Yakuza 0 self due to his memory loss, it might have offered an interesting narrative twist. Majima fans rarely see this version of him, so even if the upcoming game doesn’t embrace this angle, there’s hope for another prequel or spin-off that will. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a deeper glimpse into Majima’s complexities in the future.