Summary
The JRPG genre is starting 2024 on a high note with big titles likePersona 3 ReloadandLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthkicking off the year. While these two titles share a similar turn-based combat system,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthis very different in style and tone fromPersona 3 Reload. However, the two games might have more in common than players think, asLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthfeatures a side activity that draws heavy inspiration from one ofPersona 3 Reload’s most iconic elements.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthhas no shortage of side content for players to dig into when they want a break from the main story, and many of these activities are clearly inspired by other popular games.Dondoko Islandessentially givesLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthits ownAnimal Crossinggame, and the Sujimon League isLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s take on thePokemonformula. While these modes were heavily touted prior to the game’s launch, the Labyrinth is a dungeon-crawling mode that quietly givesLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealtha similar experience toPersona 3 Reload’s Tartarus.
During Chapter 5 ofLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, players will gain access to the Labyrinth, an unfinished building whose construction was abandoned and became home to the legend of a treasure buried within its depths.Kasuga and the partycan enter this dungeon and explore its maze-like floors as they descend deeper to try and find its treasure. However, enemies lurk within the Labyrinth, and the party will be kicked out of the dungeon if defeated at any point, being forced to start back from the beginning with a new randomized layout.
This dungeon shares many features withPersona 3 Reload’s primary dungeon, Tartarus. Both the Labryinth and Tartarus require the player to explore different floors that change every time they enter, and players will encounter enemies as well as rewards for venturing far enough. Additionally, a core part of exploring the Labyrinth inLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthis rescuing people who have wandered in looking for treasure and have become trapped due to the dungeon’s maze-like nature, which is another aspect of Tartarus thatPersona 3 Reloadplayers can tackle.
Other Tartarus Features Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Should Include
Like most of the otherLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthfeatures inspired by other games, the Labyrinth isn’t as robust asPersona 3 Reload’s Tartarus. However, there are a variety of features that could be translated fromPersona 3 ReloadtoLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthto improve the Labyrinth. The biggest feature that the Labyrinth could lift fromPersona 3 Reloadis the presence of rare enemies that grant higher than average XP and better loot like increased money, which could turn this dungeon into the idealfarming spot inLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
Another feature thatPersona 3 Reloadoffers players is the ability to use Fuuka’s Navi abilities outside of battle while in Tartarus to do things like make the party invisible to enemies or buff their stats before a big fight.Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthcould have included a similar mechanic for the Labyrinth to help players breeze past certain enemies to reach deeper floors during their hunt for treasure and missing people. WhileLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthdoesn’t have a designated party member whose job is to specifically act as a navigator, likePersona 3 Reload’s Fuuka, a mechanic like this could still work if one of the reserve party members filled this role.
