Summary

• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has a New Game Plus mode that allows players to restart the game with some progress carried over.
• In New Game Plus, most progression markers transfer completely, but certain side activity progress doesn't.
• NG+ also introduces new features, including variable difficulty levels and new store items.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has a New Game Plus mode, but not all progress is transferred into it. New Game Plus is a common feature in RPGs with level-based progression. It allows players who have beaten the game to restart it, maintaining some of their progress. NG+ can include extra content, new difficulty levels, or, at the very least, an opportunity to make different story and character choices. In short, it's a way to keep repeat playthroughs fresh, and has been a staple in the Yakuza series for quite some time.

Ever since Like a Dragon put a turn-based spin on Yakuza's combat, however, New Game Plus is a little different. Power and progression in Like a Dragon and Infinite Wealth are based on four statistical categories: character level, job level, equipment, and money. That doesn't even begin to cover all of Ichiban's stats, however, and there are certain things inevitably left behind when starting a New Game Plus. Here's everything to know about Infinite Wealth's New Game Plus mode, what does and doesn't carry over, and how to unlock it.

LAD: Infinite Wealth - What Does And Doesn't Carry Over Into NG+

Most metrics of combat and social progression carry over into Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's NG+. All the following transfer completely into Infinite Wealth's New Game Plus:

• Levels
• Items
• Equipment
• Money
• Poundmates
• Ichiban's Personality Traits
• Unfinished Business completion

Levels are pretty self-explanatory: each party member will start NG+ at the same level they finished the first run. Characters can also select from one of 25 jobs in Infinite Wealth, and change them at will. Job levels also carry over into NG+. All of Ichiban's money remains in his at the beginning of NG+. Similarly, items and equipment carry over directly - this applies both to consumables and gear. All progress in the Personality Traits system also carries over. This mechanic allows Ichiban to develop different aspects of his personality, with certain content locked behind certain trait ranks.

To that end, some completed Personality Challenges - long-term goals that reward points towards Ichiban's Traits once achieved - remain completed in NG+. Others can be completed repeatedly for extra Trait points. The same goes for Kiryu's Unfinished Business objectives, which raise his efficacy in battle. Ichiban's bonds with his companions remain at the same level, but their Bond Bingo cards are reset, so players can enjoy the same character development the second time around. Poundmates are summonable allies gathered throughout Infinite Wealth, and once Ichiban unlocks the Poundmates app, all his recruited summons remain available.

However, there are some things that don't carry over into NG+. Although character levels remain consistent, character recruitment remains locked behind story events. That means that, in NG+, characters will the party at the same point they ed the party in the first playthrough. Players will have to complete certain substories a second time in NG+. Some progress in mini-games, like Infinite Wealth's Dondoko Island, also resets. For example, players' islands will be completely reverted to their original state in NG+, but they'll retain all their Dondoko Bucks and crafted items.

While most side activities carry over all progress, some reset partially or completely. Business Management starts almost from square one, but all funds and recruited employees are retained. Dragon Kart ranks and races remain the same, but Rival Races must be repeated. All other mini-games and side activities, like Sujimon, Darts, Mahjong, Shogi, Can Quest, vocational school exams, and casino earnings carry over into NG+.

LAD: Infinite Wealth - What NG+ Adds

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's NG+ includes an additional feature: changeable difficulty levels. There are three available: Normal, Hard, and Legend. Normal is the default setting, and should be a breeze on NG+. Hard is recommended only if the party has reached level 50. It makes all enemies and bosses in Infinite Wealth more difficult, but grants an additional 16,000 Job XP at the end of every battle. Legend is recommended only for a party of level 70 and above. It's even harder than Hard mode, but each battle grants an extra 32,000 Job XP.

These difficulty levels can be changed at any time, so it's perfectly acceptable to start on Hard mode and crank up the difficulty once the party hits level 70. There's also no shame in turning the difficulty back down to Normal to get past a tough fight.

In addition, Dancer Fumie's Shop in Yokohama gets in some new stock during NG+. These new items include both crafting materials and XP boosts, but they aren't cheap. Some prices run into the millions of yen, but with all the savings from their first run, a NG+ player should have an easier time affording them.

LAD: Infinite Wealth - How To Unlock NG+

Usually, unlocking NG+ is as simple as completing the game. However, things are a little different in this case. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's NG+ is locked behind the Deluxe and Ultimate editions of the game, an unprecedented choice by Sega that prices out many players. Unfortunately, there's no way to one of the higher tiers, so owners of the standard edition will have to buy a more expensive version of the game all over again to access NG+.

The standard edition does include a limited post-game: Adventure. This keeps all mini-games and unfinished side activities open, allowing players to wrap up any loose ends they didn't get to during the main campaign. It also allows for free travel between Yokohama and Honolulu, and for characters to wear their Job costumes outside combat. Adventure also unlocks an ultra-hard post-game dungeon, Final Millennium Tower. However, if standard edition players want to re-experience the story from here, they'll have to start over and reset all their progress.

Final Millennium Tower represents a significant difficulty spike, even compared to Infinite Wealth's final boss. It'd be a good idea to spend some time grinding up to level 70 before tackling this dungeon - that'll leave the party better prepared for Legend mode anyway.

That's everything there is to know about Infinite Wealth's NG+ mode - the only way to learn more is to go out and experience it for oneself. While it's a shame to see such a staple feature locked behind a more expensive edition, barring a major update or the option for a standalone upgrade, it's just the unfortunate reality of the situation. At the very least, with the knowledge of how New Game Plus works, those with access to this Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth feature can enjoy it to the fullest.