You're running through Honolulu, feeling like a god because Ichiban Kasuga just unlocked a new job, and then the game decides to trap you in a shopping mall. It’s the Anaconda Shopping Center. It should be a place for high-end fashion and overpriced lattes. Instead, it becomes a claustrophobic gauntlet that has left a lot of players staring at a "Game Over" screen wondering where it all went wrong. The Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Anaconda escape isn't just a mission; it's a massive gear check that the game tosses at you right when you think you’ve got the rhythm down.
It happens in Chapter 4. You’re forced into this scripted retreat where the exits are blocked, the security is relentless, and the level scaling suddenly feels very, very real. If you haven't been keeping up with your gear or your Poundmates, this is usually the moment the game humbles you.
🔗 Read more: Why Sonic Adventure 2 Still Dominates the Conversation Decades Later
The tension is high. You have characters like Chitose and Tomizawa who might not be fully "baked" yet in terms of their build. One wrong move, or one under-leveled encounter, and you're back at the last checkpoint. It’s frustrating. It’s also one of the best examples of how Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio uses environment to force tactical thinking.
Survival in the Anaconda Shopping Center
The first thing you have to realize about the Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Anaconda escape is that the game is actively trying to funnel you into bad positions. You’re dealing with Section 1F and 2F of the mall, and the security guards aren't the typical street thugs you find near Revolve Bar. These guys have better synergy.
If you’re running Kiryu in your party during this stretch, you might feel a bit safer, but even the Dragon of Dojima can get swamped if you aren't managing your MP. The biggest mistake? Trying to fight every single person like it’s a standard street brawl. The escape sequence requires a bit more finesse. You need to use the environment. See those promotional stands? Use them. The game rewards you for "Proximity Bonuses" more than ever here.
Most people get stuck because they enter the mall at level 16 or 17. Honestly, that’s risky. The enemies here can easily chain attacks that take a squishier character like Chitose out in two turns. If she goes down, your healing economy collapses. You’ve basically got to stay on top of the turn order.
The Problem With Level Scaling
Infinite Wealth handles difficulty differently than the previous game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon. In the first game, you could usually grind your way out of any hole. In the Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Anaconda escape, the level gap matters, but your "Job" rank matters more. If you just switched Tomizawa to a Culinarian right before entering the mall, you're going to have a bad time. He won't have the base stats to survive the concentrated fire from the mall security.
I’ve seen players complain that the difficulty jump feels "fake." It isn't. It’s a literal wall meant to teach you that Honolulu is more dangerous than Yokohama ever was. You have to respect the enemy levels. If the red icon above an enemy's head is glowing, you're in for a rough ride.
Navigating the Map Under Pressure
The mall layout is a circle, basically. But it’s a circle filled with barricades. During the escape, the "intended" path isn't always the most obvious one. You’ll find yourself sprinting toward an escalator only to find it blocked by a wall of high-level NPCs.
- Priority 1: Find the healing spots. There are specific vending machines and shops that stay "active" even during the chaos. Use them.
- Priority 2: Focus fire on the "Call for Backup" enemies. Some guards in the Anaconda escape will pull out a radio. If they finish that animation, you're fighting six guys instead of three. It sucks.
- Tactical Tip: Use Kiryu's "Rush" style to reposition. Most people stay in "Brawler" because it's balanced, but "Rush" lets you move further in the radius, allowing you to kick an enemy into a hazard or closer to Ichiban for a follow-up attack.
The Anaconda Shopping Center is huge. It’s easy to get turned around when the camera is tight and you’re trying to avoid a patrol. Check your mini-map constantly. The objective marker can be deceptive because of the verticality of the mall. Sometimes you’re standing right "on" the exit, but it’s actually one floor above you.
Why Your Gear is Probably the Issue
If you’re struggling with the Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Anaconda escape, look at your shoes. No, seriously. Most players forget to upgrade armor in the early game because the weapons are more "fun" to buy at Julie’s Gearworks. But in the mall, the damage output from enemies is consistent.
If you haven't visited the various boutiques around the map to get at least 2-star or 3-star protective gear, the guards will shred you. You’re essentially a glass cannon. You’ll hit hard, but you’ll shatter the moment a guard hits you with a baton. Go back to a save if you have to. Buy the combat gear. It makes a 20% difference in damage taken, which is the difference between needing a heal every turn and actually being able to attack.
✨ Don't miss: Why Life Is Strange Chloe Max Still Breaks Our Hearts A Decade Later
Breaking the Script
There is a specific part of the escape where you are forced into a series of back-to-back fights. This is the "Anaconda Gauntlet." You can't save. You can't leave. You just have to win.
I found that using "Poundmates" here is the "cheat code" for people who are under-leveled. It costs money—sometimes a lot of it—but calling in an assist like Nancy the Crawfish or the newer summons can clear a room in one go. Don't be stingy with your cash. The game gives you plenty of ways to make money later (Dondoko Island, anyone?), so spend what you have to survive the mall.
Also, pay attention to the weaknesses. A lot of the security forces in the mall are weak to electricity. If Tomizawa has his "Battery" skills leveled up, or if you have some stun grenades in your inventory, use them. Crowd control is king. If you can paralyze two out of four enemies, you’ve basically won the fight.
The Psychological Aspect of the Escape
The music changes. The lighting gets harsher. The game is trying to make you panic. When you panic, you mash buttons. When you mash buttons in a turn-based RPG, you miss the "Perfect Guard" timing.
The Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Anaconda escape is as much a test of your patience as it is your stats. You have to time those B-button (or Circle) presses perfectly. Reducing damage by 30-40% through a Perfect Guard is the only way to survive the multi-hit attacks some of the mid-bosses in the mall use.
Actionable Steps for Beating the Anaconda Escape
If you’re currently stuck or preparing to enter the mall, follow this checklist. Don't skip the prep work.
Check your Levels First
Don't even think about starting this sequence if Ichiban is below level 18. Ideally, you want to be level 20. If you’re low, go hit the Hawaiian Haunt (the procedurally generated dungeon). Run the first few floors a couple of times. You’ll get the XP you need and some decent crafting materials to boot.
Optimize Your Jobs
Ensure your party has a dedicated healer. If Ichiban is a Hero, he has "Hero’s Healing," but it’s MP-intensive. Having Chitose as a Kunoichi is great for speed, but she might need some inherited skills from the Geisha job to keep the party alive. Use the "Skill Inheritance" system at Alo-Happy Tours before you trigger the mission.
Stock Up on Consumables
Go to an ABC Store. Buy all the bentos. Buy the tauriner. You won't have time to go to a restaurant once the escape sequence begins. You need items that can heal the whole party at once.
Focus on the Squishies
In every encounter during the Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Anaconda escape, look for the enemy with the lowest HP first. It sounds obvious, but removing one "turn" from the enemy's side of the timeline is better than doing 50% damage to three different guys. Focus fire. Get them off the board.
💡 You might also like: Why Scary Five Nights at Freddy’s Pictures Still Haunt the Internet
Upgrade at Julie's Gearworks
Take your best weapons and get them to at least +10. Add elemental effects if you have the materials. As mentioned, electricity is incredibly effective against the armored guards you'll face inside.
The escape ends eventually, but it leaves an impression. It's the moment the game stops holding your hand and demands you start playing like a strategist. Once you're out, the world opens up even more, but you’ll never look at a shopping mall the same way again.
Don't let the difficulty spike discourage you. The story beats immediately following the mall are some of the best in the series. Take a breath, check your gear, and get Ichiban and the crew out of there in one piece.