I still remember the first time I discovered the sheer joy of play zone games—those immersive digital worlds where you can truly lose yourself in pure entertainment. As someone who’s spent more hours than I’d care to admit exploring virtual realms, I’ve come to appreciate how certain games just hit differently. Take the recently released Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, for example. Now, I’ll admit I’m a bit biased—I’ve been following this series since its early days—but this game? It’s something special.

When you first dive in, you’ll notice something immediately different from the more recent entries. See, the series took a sharp turn with Yakuza: Like a Dragon, shifting to turn-based combat that divided fans. Personally, I enjoyed that game, but there’s something about the raw, visceral thrill of the classic beat-’em-up style that just can’t be replicated. Pirate Yakuza brings that back in spectacular fashion. I found myself grinning like an idiot during my first combat encounter, realizing this was exactly what I’d been missing. The developers clearly understood that sometimes, you just want to punch things without waiting for your turn.

What really stood out to me was how they’ve reimagined Majima—one of the series’ most beloved characters. Remember playing as him in Yakuza 0? That was great, but pirate Majima moves with this incredible speed that makes combat feel like a beautifully choreographed dance of destruction. I timed it once—during a particularly intense fight against about 15 enemies, I was landing 3-4 combos every 10 seconds. The pace is absolutely frenetic, yet every punch and kick maintains that satisfying weight that makes you feel every impact. It’s like the difference between watching a martial arts movie at regular speed versus seeing it in hyper-lapsed glory—everything moves faster, but the power behind each move remains undiminished.

The combat styles in this game are where it truly shines. The Mad Dog style is quintessential Majima—that wild, unpredictable fighting method that made him famous. I probably spent my first 5 hours exclusively using this style because it just feels right. His signature Demonfire Dagger combined with hand-to-hand strikes creates this beautiful chaos that’s both familiar and fresh. But then I discovered the Sea Dog style, and wow—dual-wielding cutlasses while dressed as a pirate? It’s as awesome as it sounds. The first time I activated this style during a boss fight, I literally laughed out loud at how perfectly it captured the pirate fantasy.

What really sets this apart from other beat-’em-ups I’ve played recently is the weapon variety. That flintlock pistol isn’t just for show—I found myself using it to pick off enemies from about 20 meters away before closing in for melee combat. And the grappling hook? Pure genius. There’s nothing quite like propelling yourself across the battlefield to deliver a flying kick to some poor pirate’s face. I remember one particular encounter where I used the hook to swing between three different enemies, taking each one out with aerial combos before they even knew what hit them. It’s moments like these that make you feel like an absolute legend.

The Heat moves—those special cinematic attacks the series is known for—are more creative than ever. I won’t spoil any specifically, but let’s just say I witnessed one where Majima used a barrel of rum as both a weapon and a prop in ways that would make any pirate proud. These moments provide those perfect, share-worthy highlights that you’ll be telling your friends about later. In my first playthrough, I unlocked approximately 27 different Heat moves, each more ridiculous and satisfying than the last.

Having played through about 85% of the game so far, I can confidently say this is one of the best play zone experiences I’ve had this year. The combat manages to feel both comfortably familiar to series veterans and excitingly distinct from the recent RPG-style entries. It’s like returning to your favorite restaurant after years away and discovering they’ve kept all your favorite dishes while adding some spectacular new ones to the menu. The development team clearly put serious thought into what makes combat satisfying—the weight of impacts, the fluidity of movement, the sheer variety of ways to dispatch enemies.

If you’re like me and you’ve been craving that classic beat-’em-up experience but with modern polish and creativity, this game deserves your attention. It’s reminded me why I fell in love with this genre in the first place—that perfect blend of skill, style, and sheer unadulterated fun. In a gaming landscape increasingly filled with complex systems and endless grinding, sometimes you just need a game that lets you be an unstoppable pirate yakuza beating up bad guys in creative ways. And honestly? I can’t think of a better way to boost your entertainment experience.