In an announcement earlier today, SEGA and the development team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio confirmed that six “special guests” will be answering Sakamoto Ryoma’s call for revolution in Like a Dragon: Ishin!. These folks will appear as Trooper Cards, a newly introduced combat feature which grants “temporary but devastating power-ups and special abilities when activated real-time in battle”, and will join the likes of characters from both Yakuza and Like a Dragon universes.
The first two special guests to be announced are wrestling figure Kenny Omega of AEW (Executive Vice President and former AEW World Champion) and actor Rahul Kohli of Netflix fame (iZombie, Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Bly Manor). Read more about both, below:
Essence of the One-Winged Angel
A strapping fighter who’s travelled through space, time, and reality to serve the Shinsengumi. It’s said that his elite skills can summon the stars themselves.
Skill: Cuts down foes with the slashes of his angel’s wing.
Essence of Firestorm
A chivalrous man who’s travelled through space, time, and reality to serve the Shinsengumi. Draws upon his experience in law enforcement to keep the peace.
Skill: Incinerates enemies with fiery waves of righteous anger.
The remaining four cameo Trooper Cards are due to be announced in the coming days, and while not incorporated into the game by default, will be available as free downloadable content from launch.
I’ve been a fan of the Like a Dragon series for years, and to be forever immortalized in Like a Dragon: Ishin!, the newest entry in one of the most iconic game franchise of all time, is surreal. “I’m so excited about my Trooper Card, and I think players are going to love the artwork and attack animation – and the damage I can deal to enemies!
Kenny Omega
As a huge fan of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s games, I was honoured to be asked to be a guest for the Like a Dragon: Ishin! Trooper Cards. As someone who is emotionally invested in the Like a Dragon story, I’m nervously excited to take on this mantle of being a small part of Ryoma’s journey. The close relationship that SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have with their fan community has been really exciting to see manifest in these cards. I’m very honoured to not only be a part of the community, but to also be a part of the series.
Rahul Kohli
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a remake of the previously Japan-exclusive PS3/PS4 game, and will be launching on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC from 21 February 2023.
