Ichiban Kasuga would "definitely lose" a Segway race against Cloud Strife, says Infinite Wealth producer

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Cloud Strife and Ichiban ride Segways while a larger Ichiban cheers in the foreground
(Image credit: Square Enix / Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio)

In a sporting upset that will leave fans across the world gobsmacked, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto settled one of gaming's ultimate questions: who would win in a Segway race; Cloud Strife or Yakuza's own Ichiban Kasuga? 

The question came as a result of both Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth showing off Segway mechanics in their games. When asked at a hands-on preview event which of the game's protagonists would win such a race, Sakamoto answered directly: "In terms of who I think would win, I think Ichiban would definitely lose." 

In Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Ichiban finds himself in Hawaii on a quest to track down his estranged biological mother. However, as I swiftly found out during my time with a preview build of the game, Infinite Wealth's Honolulu area is impressively large, making traversal on foot a tall order. However, after a quick sidequest, I soon unlocked Segway travel, making for a convenient and amusingly oddball form of transport.  

"It's a big map," said Sakamoto. "One of the big issues that we ran into was 'how are we going to get these characters to go around on such a big map?'. We really wanted a vehicle option, and so we floated a bunch of ideas from bicycles to scooters, but we thought the Segway was going to be a lot of fun."  

Cat Bussell
Cat Bussell
Freelance contributor

An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.


A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.