Like a Dragon 9 Wiki: Substory Guide, Minigame Tips & Karaoke Songs

Substory Walkthroughs: Essential Missions Like a Dragon 9 packs over 45 substories, but not all are created equal. The "Lost Locker Key" chain (Substory 12-14) rewards the **Golden Dragon statuette** – a permanent +15% attack boost that stacks with gear. You’ll need to find three keys hidden in sewers around Isezaki Ijincho; the final boss is a level-35 thug with high fire resistance. Bring ice attacks. **Must-do substories for progression:**

**Substory 7: "The Cursed Karaoke Machine"** – Unlocks a rare microphone accessory that doubles karaoke score multipliers. Trigger by singing three songs at the Club Sega karaoke booth.

**Substory 23: "Business Rival"** – Recruits a manager with +20% efficiency for your business empire. Starts in Kamurocho’s Champion District after you reach 500,000 yen in sales.

**Substory 41: "The Final Test"** – Unlocks a secret party member (former Tojo Clan lieutenant) with a unique heat action. Requires beating 10 waves of level-50 enemies in the underground arena. **Pro tip:** Save before Substory 35 ("The Taxi Race") – the timer is brutal at 2:30 for a 3-km track. Use the highway shortcuts or you’ll fail and have to reload.

Business Management: From ¥10,000 to ¥10 Million Your real estate empire in Like a Dragon 9 is the fastest money maker, but only if you play smart. The minigame lets you buy properties in three districts: Kamurocho, Yokohama, and a new area, Sotenbori. Each has different rent cycles and event triggers. **Optimal strategy:** 1. **Start with Kamurocho’s Theater Square** – Costs ¥50,000 but yields ¥12,000 every 5 minutes. Reinvest into small shops until you own 70% of the district. 2. **Hire managers from substories** – Substory 23 gives a +20% efficiency manager; Substory 18 gives a +15% security boost that reduces hostile takeovers. Without these, you’ll waste money on bribes. 3. **Avoid the Hotel District early** – It costs ¥2 million but only pays ¥40,000 every 10 minutes. The ROI is terrible until you have ¥5 million banked. 4. **Use the “Stock Market” event** – Randomly appears after 10 property purchases. Buy low on “Kamurocho Steel” (¥100/share) and sell at ¥200 for a quick ¥1 million profit. **Real numbers:** With the optimal setup, you can earn ¥8–10 million per hour in late game. I’ve personally cleared ¥50 million in a single session by focusing on Yokohama’s port area (high rent, low competition).

Minigame Tips: Darts, Batting, and Pachinko ### Darts – The 180 Club Darts in Like a Dragon 9 uses a physics engine that punishes jerky movements. Here’s what works:

**Grip:** Hold the controller lightly – if your thumb presses too hard, the dart veers left.

**Aim:** For bullseyes, aim slightly above the target (the game’s trajectory arc is exaggerated).

**Perfect 180:** Requires three triple-20s. I’ve done it twice; the trick is a consistent release point at the bottom of the swing. **Best location:** The Champion District bar has easier opponents (level 1–3). Avoid the Yokohama underground – those AI players hit 140+ routinely. ### Batting Cages – Rhythm Over Power Unlike previous games, batting in Yakuza 9 uses a rhythm mini-game, not just timing. You’ll see a circle that contracts; hit when it’s smallest for a perfect.

**Fast pitches (140 km/h):** Swing at the circle’s 75% size – the game’s latency means a full-size hit results in a foul.

**Curveballs:** They break left or right. Watch the pitch’s shadow on the ground, not the ball itself.

**Home run challenge:** Use the “power swing” (hold X for 1 second) but only on straight fastballs. Curveballs will miss entirely. ### Pachinko – The Only Ethical Way to Win Pachinko is rigged. Accept it. But you can minimize losses:

**Play at the Kamurocho parlor** – It has a 1:200 payout ratio versus Yokohama’s 1:150.

**Use the “Lucky Cat” charm** from Substory 5 – Increases jackpot chances by 5%.

**Quit after 10 pulls** – The game uses a pity system that resets after 15 losses. If you haven’t won by pull 10, restart.

Karaoke Songs List and Perfect Score Bonuses Karaoke returns with 12 songs, including three new ones. Here’s the full list and their hidden bonuses for 100% perfect scores: | Song | Difficulty | Perfect Bonus | Notes | |------|------------|---------------|-------| | Tonight | Medium | Unlocks “Heat Action: Serenade” – deals 2x damage to one enemy | Requires hitting all notes at “Great” or better | | Kamurocho Lullaby | Hard | +5% permanent HP boost for the party | The hardest song; the rapid-fire section at 1:30 is brutal | | Bubble | Easy | Unlocks a cosmetic outfit (retro suit) | Good for early game – just don’t miss the hold notes | | Like a Dragon (new) | Very Hard | Secret boss fight vs. a karaoke robot | The final note is a 10-second hold; use a controller with turbo function if possible | | Judgment (new) | Medium | 10,000 yen bonus | Nothing special, but good for grinding money | **Pro tip for perfect scores:** Turn off vibration – it throws off timing. Also, practice “Bubble” first (it’s short and forgiving) to get a feel for the rhythm system.

FAQ ### How do I unlock the secret party member in Like a Dragon 9? Complete Substory 41: “The Final Test” in the underground arena beneath Kamurocho. You need to beat 10 waves of level-50 enemies, including a boss with a rocket launcher. Bring heat actions that ignore defenses (like the “Tiger Drop” from the Komaki style). The party member is a former Tojo Clan lieutenant with a unique heat action that stuns all enemies for 3 seconds. ### What’s the fastest way to earn money in Yakuza 9? Business management, hands down. Focus on Kamurocho’s Theater Square early, then expand to Yokohama’s port area. With managers from Substory 23 and 18, you can earn ¥8–10 million per hour. Avoid pachinko – it’s a waste of time unless you have the Lucky Cat charm. ### Are there any missable substories? Yes, three. Substory 12 (first locker key) must be started before Chapter 5, or the sewer entrance gets blocked. Substory 31 (“The Gourmet Race”) requires you to eat at all restaurants in Kamurocho before Chapter 8 – if you skip one, it’s gone. Substory 45 (“The Final Karaoke”) is only available after the main story’s final boss, so don’t rush to finish without checking the karaoke booth.