In some ways, it's an inspired addition, lending an extra frisson to the moments you're pounding those rain-slicked streets because you're never quite sure when and where he's going to pop up.
The fourth, Dragon of Dojima, can only reach its full potential if you keep facing this crackpot with the eyepatch and the snakeskin jacket. Kiryu's three fighting styles from Zero - the dash-heavy Rush, the slow but powerful Beast and the more balanced Brawler - can be developed by spending XP. Majima typically frames it as if he's doing Kiryu a favour: the latter's ten-year stretch in prison during the game's opening act has left him a little rusty, and these scraps are designed to help him get back up to speed. This manifests in the form of the Majima Everywhere system, which sees him strolling around Kamurocho, constantly spoiling for a fight - specifically with Kiryu. Accumulate enough Heat, however, and you can interrupt their recovery with a powerful Kiwami attack. Stronger enemies will pause during fights to regain some health.
He rather stole the show from his popular rival, in fact, and so it's no surprise that Sega has decided his cameo in the original game should be significantly expanded.
Goro Majima has always one of the series' most memorable characters, and his elevation to a starring role alongside series stalwart Kazuma Kiryu in Zero was long overdue. It's a change that makes a lot of sense at first.