Summary
Like other turn-based RPGs,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthplaces heavy emphasis on the use of status ailments in battle. The feature ties cleverly into many facets ofInfinite Wealth’s gameplay, where efforts both in and out of battle can affect how they are utilized in combat. With an ailment system that takes into account status resistances and weaknesses, it’s clear that RGG Studio has gone to great lengths to weave them into both grinding and strategizing; from raising Ichiban’s personality stats to crafting weaponry, there’s ample room to consider their best uses.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s status afflictions follow suit with the standard RPG ailments, including burn, poison, charm, and rage, among others. These ailments can have quite an effect on both damage and turn action/order, with afflictions like paralysis keeping allies from acting, or rage causing a party member to attack without input. These ailments follow the conventions ofInfinite Wealth’s predecessor,LAD 7,and the RPGs from which the two take inspiration, though RGG Studio incorporates them into the title’s story considerations, as well.
How Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Bakes Status Ailments into its Character Backstories
Character Specialties
The first “dungeon” of sorts inLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthcomes in the form of District Five’s underside, where many members ofthe Barracuda gang rely on threatening Ichibanand the party. If successful, the taunt invokes fear in an ally, though some may have noticed that Kiryu in particular is quick to evade this move.
When considering his background as the Dragon of Dojima, it certainly makes sense that the Yakuza legend would be difficult to threaten by such low-level thugs, and RGG Studio thought exactly of this when incorporating “character specialties.” Among the characters' stat screens lies a look into these specialties, detailing ailments that each party member resists based on their in-story backgrounds.
As a result, a character like Kiryu is stated to be uneasily fear-stricken or charmed given his past experiences across theLike a Dragonseries, allowing his resistance to the two ailments in battle. Others, likethe cabbie Tomizawa, are stated to keep a “cool-head” (resistance to rage) based on having to deal with all sorts of passengers during his time as a driver. This attention to detail is a great way to consider how character backstories and personalities have an emphasis on combat, with these specialties persisting even as the player equips different jobs for an ally.
The Personality System
Ichiban’s specialty is a bit different from the rest of the party, as his status resistances tie directly into his stats.Ichiban’s personality is an incredibly robust systemthat takes into account dialogue choices, mini-games, and adventure completion to make him more of a well-rounded human being, and as these stats increase, so too do his resistances.
For example, he’s less likely to be struck by fear with greater confidence, or to succumb to rage with high kindness, making the pursuit of increasing his personality a worthy endeavor. It’s another great way to show consideration of status afflictions beyond combat itself.
Of course, the status ailment system can be seen across other avenues as well, like in items to equip that can provide resistances or, in rare cases, even nullify certain ailments entirely. The same can be said forInfinite Wealth’s crafting at Julie’s Gearworks, where weapons can be fit with certain seals that increase the chances of afflictions on enemies, among increasing critical hit rates and other buffs. Some job moves even offer a high chance of inflicting status effects, allowing for greater strategizing beyond just focusing on enemies' elemental weaknesses.
Though there are a myriad of ways to change the party’s job designations, weaponry, and gear, it’s refreshing to see that their resistances play in role in their canon backstories, showing how RGG takes the series' stories into great consideration.
