You’re standing there, controller in hand, staring at the screen while Goro Majima—everyone’s favorite Mad Dog—faces a choice that feels way heavier than it should. It’s that specific moment in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii where the game asks you to confront Wakasa or Otama. If you’ve played any RGG Studio game before, you know these "choices" can range from meaningless flavor text to "oh no, I just locked myself out of a top-tier weapon."
Honestly? It's stressful.
The game doesn't explicitly tell you the long-term ramifications. It just sits there, pulsing, waiting for you to decide who gets the brunt of Majima's chaotic energy. While both characters are deeply embedded in the Rich Island ecosystem, the path you take influences your immediate rewards, the difficulty of the ensuing scrap, and how Majima’s legendary (if eccentric) sense of justice plays out in the tropical heat.
The Reality of Dealing with Wakasa First
Choosing to confront Wakasa is the "brute force" path. Most players gravitate here because, let’s be real, Wakasa is asking for it. He represents that specific brand of bureaucratic arrogance that Majima usually settles with a well-placed kick or a dagger flourish.
If you go after Wakasa, be prepared for a fight that tests your mastery of the "Sea Dog" style. Unlike the more agile encounters you find on the mainland of Honolulu, Wakasa’s goons tend to use environmental hazards. You’ll be dodging crates and dealing with narrow corridors. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s classic Majima.
What's interesting here is the loot drop. Generally, focusing on Wakasa yields more "Pirate Gear" materials. If you’re looking to upgrade your ship, the Goromaru, early in the game, this is arguably the more efficient route. You get the raw components needed for hull reinforcement much faster than if you spent your time chasing Otama’s paper trail.
But there’s a catch.
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By prioritizing Wakasa, you’re essentially letting Otama’s influence simmer in the background. It doesn't "break" the game, but it makes the subsequent social interactions on Rich Island a bit more prickly. The locals are wary. You're the guy who just smashed up a local pillar of (corrupt) society without doing the legwork first.
Why Otama is the Smarter Tactical Play
Then there's Otama. Confronting Otama is the "detective" route, which feels a bit weird when you’re playing as a man who recently had amnesia and thinks he's a pirate king. But it works.
When you confront Wakasa or Otama, choosing the latter opens up a series of investigative sub-objectives. You aren't just punching your way to the truth; you're uncovering the financial ties that bind the island's underworld together. For players who actually care about the lore of the Madlantis region, this is the gold mine.
- Social Links: You get a significant boost to your "Bond" levels with the island's merchants.
- Unique Accessories: Otama often drops (or is forced to hand over) high-tier charms that boost your luck or item drop rates.
- The "Clean" Win: Dealing with Otama first often simplifies the eventual Wakasa fight because you’ve already dismantled his support network.
Otama isn't a physical powerhouse. The challenge here is less about your HP bar and more about navigating the dialogue trees and fetch-quest elements that RGG loves to sprinkle in. If you hate back-and-forth running, you might find this tedious. If you want the "True Hero" vibe, this is your lane.
Breaking Down the Combat Dynamics
Let’s talk mechanics. In Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Majima moves differently than Ichiban or Kiryu. He’s frantic.
When you choose to confront Wakasa or Otama, the combat arena changes. Wakasa’s fight is a wide-angle brawl. You can use your grapple hook—the "Sea Dog" rope—to swing around and clear out mobs. It’s high-octane.
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Otama’s confrontation usually funnels into a "Duel" style encounter. It’s tighter. You have to be precise with your parries. If your timing is off, Otama’s bodyguards will punish you with status ailments like "Groggy" or "Stun."
I’ve seen some players complain that the Otama route feels "slow." I get it. We’re here to be pirates, not accountants. But the permanent stat boost you get from the "Proof of Integrity" item—which is much easier to get through Otama—is a literal lifesaver during the late-game legendary pirate battles.
The Rewards: What Stays in Your Inventory?
Usually, in a Yakuza/Like a Dragon game, the choice is an illusion. Here, it’s a fork in the road for your economy.
If you choose Wakasa:
- Immediate Cash: You’re shaking him down. The yen (or whatever pirate currency Majima is hoarding) is instant.
- Ship Components: Great for those who want to dominate the naval combat sections early.
- Aggressive Reputation: You unlock "intimidation" dialogue options sooner.
If you choose Otama:
- Discounted Shops: Saving the local economy means the local economy likes you.
- Rare Crafting Recipes: These are the blueprints for the "Mad Dog" dagger upgrades that you simply won't find on Wakasa’s path until much later in the story.
- Substory Completion: Otama is tied to three specific substories that give some of the best comedic writing in the game.
Which one is "Canon"?
RGG Studio is notoriously vague about this. However, looking at Majima’s character arc—from the "Lord of the Night" in '88 to the Pirate Captain of 2024—he’s always had a soft spot for the underdog. Confronting Otama first fits the "Hidden Heart of Gold" trope that defines Majima. It feels like the "correct" narrative flow, even if the Wakasa route is more fun for those who just want to see things explode.
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Misconceptions About the Choice
You might hear that choosing one locks you out of the other's boss fight entirely. That is false. You will eventually deal with both. The choice of who to confront Wakasa or Otama is about priority and reward structure. You aren't deleting content; you're just reordering the playlist. Don't stress about missing a trophy or achievement based on this single click.
One thing to watch out for: The "Honor Level" of your crew. If you go the Wakasa route, your crew’s "Ferocity" stat climbs faster. If you go the Otama route, their "Tenacity" or "Loyalty" stats get the bump. This affects how they perform in the ship-to-ship boarding actions.
Strategic Advice for Your First Playthrough
If this is your first time through the Madlantis arc, go for Otama.
I know, I know. It sounds boring. But the accessories you get from that path make the rest of the island's grind significantly more bearable. Having a "Golden Maneki-neko" or a "Merchant’s Ledger" in your accessory slot early on means you’ll never be broke when you find a high-end weapon shop.
On a second playthrough? Or if you’re doing a "Speedrun" style dash? Hit Wakasa. Smash the desk, take the money, and get back to the high seas.
Actionable Steps for the "Confront Wakasa or Otama" Decision
- Check Your Inventory: If you are low on ship repair kits and raw wood/metal, choose Wakasa. The immediate drops will fix your ship and get you back into naval combat faster.
- Evaluate Your Level: If you feel underleveled for the current story beat, choose Otama. The side-objectives and "investigation" steps provide a safe way to farm EXP without risking a "Game Over" against a high-level boss mob.
- Save Your Game: It’s a classic RGG move—create a separate save file before the dialogue trigger. The cutscenes for both are wildly different, and Majima’s dialogue in the Otama path is some of the funniest "serious" writing in the game.
- Prioritize Your Style: Sea Dog users (the rope and dual-cutlass style) benefit more from the gear found on the Wakasa path. Mad Dog users (the classic knife style) will find better synergy with the rewards from Otama.
Ultimately, Majima is going to cause a scene regardless of who you pick. That’s the beauty of the character. Whether you’re shaking down a corrupt businessman or unraveling a financial conspiracy, you’re doing it with style, an eye patch, and probably a very loud shirt. Pick the one that fits how you want your Majima to be remembered on the streets of Hawaii.