Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 504 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 424 out of 504
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 504
  3. Negative: 46 out of 504
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  1. 17_jrpg
    May 4, 2018
    10
    I've been waiting for this game since it was released on December 8, 2016 in Japan. After more than a year and a half, Yakuza 6 was finally released in Europe.

    Yakuza 6 is great! I like everything in this game! With the new Dragon Engine, Kamurocho looks the best so far. Now Kamurocho is really more realistic, actually, it looks like you're in real Kabukicho (part of Tokyo on which    I've been waiting for this game since it was released on December 8, 2016 in Japan. After more than a year and a half, Yakuza 6 was finally released in Europe.

    Yakuza 6 is great! I like everything in this game! With the new Dragon Engine, Kamurocho looks the best so far. Now Kamurocho is really more realistic, actually, it looks like you're in real Kabukicho (part of Tokyo on which Kamurocho is based). Battle system is excellent. The fighting is similar to the first five Yakuza games (1-5), no more fighting styles like in Yakuza Zero and Kiwami. I play Yakuza games since 2006, so I prefer the battle system from Yakuza 1-5 and I'm glad they continued with a similar system in Yakuza 6. There are many interesting things you can do in Kamurocho and Onomichi. I always enjoyed in all the minigames that appeared in Yakuza games. I could spend hours just having fun with the minigames in Yakuza games and that's one of the reasons why I like this franchise. Also the story of this game is very good and interesting. Unfortunately this is the last chapter of my favorite character in video games. I enjoyed playing all seven stories (Yakuza Zero, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) of Kazuma Kiryu, and Yakuza 6 gives an excellent conclusion to his story. Of course Yakuza games does not end up with Kazuma Kiryu: SEGA has already announced a new game in series (Shin Ryū ga Gotoku) with a new main character, but at the moment I'm most interested in spin-off Hokuto ga Gotoku (based on the series Fist of the North Star) that will be released before the new Yakuza game.

    Also I want to add: I hope SEGA will make a remake of Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 for PS4 after Kiwami 2. I would like to have the entire Yakuza collection of games on PS4.    … Expand
  2. secret2assassin
    May 18, 2018
    10
    I have played most of the yakuza games at this point, All in all this was the perfect end to the perfect story. I was so happy to buy it when it first came out. Now I'm just genuinely sad that it's over. These games always have given me the story I wanted so badly from games and to see a story as wonderful as this one makes me the happiest I've been in gaming in a long time. Thank you toI have played most of the yakuza games at this point, All in all this was the perfect end to the perfect story. I was so happy to buy it when it first came out. Now I'm just genuinely sad that it's over. These games always have given me the story I wanted so badly from games and to see a story as wonderful as this one makes me the happiest I've been in gaming in a long time. Thank you to the creators of this series for everything.… Expand
  3. Kenmei
    May 10, 2018
    7
    Yakuza 6 enters the west at a very weird time. The series is finally picking up steam here in NA but this is the final game in the storyline for Kazuma Kiryu, the main character since the first one. For people, like myself, who only got into the series recently with Yakuza 0 and Kiwami, you will be lost for a vast majority of the game. I was very disappointed that a brand new cast joinedYakuza 6 enters the west at a very weird time. The series is finally picking up steam here in NA but this is the final game in the storyline for Kazuma Kiryu, the main character since the first one. For people, like myself, who only got into the series recently with Yakuza 0 and Kiwami, you will be lost for a vast majority of the game. I was very disappointed that a brand new cast joined Kiryu in his final game in the series. There's hardly mention of series favorites like Majima or other characters of the like. The story also ends on a very meh note. While it certainly picks up towards the end, the story as a whole wasn't as good previous games. Not even Beat Takeshi himself could keep this story from just being average at best.
    That's all a shame as this is the first game in the series to update the main overworld and the stuff in it. From that aspect, it's great. Kamurocho has never been prettier and it's actually fun to walk around town and find new stuff to get into. However, the substories here are prob the worst of the series from the games I've played. There's not as much of the craziness that these games are known for here in this one as compared to the past. The side stuff you can do ranges from a very well done baseball sim to a clan fighting creator that kinda missed the mark. I just wished that the game that took the Yakuza series into the new generation of consoles, (because this game techincally came out in '16) would have done more with Kiryu's final story then what ended up happening. Especially since it was just starting to gain popularity in the west. While Kiwami 2 will keep Kiryu in the spot light, it almost would have been better for the series to have started from scratch with Yakuza 7, especially in the west. As it stands, the Yakuza series should be very well off going forward into the future. This is just a bad game for people who are only familiar with the 0 and Kiwami games to play. Because there's a ton that people are missing by not playing the 4 games from Kiwami to this one. For those who have been with the series since the original dubbed version on PS2, congrats. To the other 95% of westerns playing this game, it's a big realization that we missed out on a great series for years because it was mainly intended for Japanese audiences.    … Expand
  4. Wander22
    Feb 17, 2019
    8
    Gameplay/Mechanics: 8
    Sound/Music: 8.5
    Graphics/Art: 9
    Story/Atmosphere: 8
    OVERALL: 8.4/10
  5. Zomgclaude
    May 20, 2018
    8
    Foreword: a score of 10 should only be given to a game that redefines its genre, is incredibly innovative, etc. 9 is an amazing score, and so is 8. Why do most people give every game either 0 or 10 is beyond my comprehension...

    In any event, I gave this game an 8 because it's a really good game. I think it falls just shy of greatness, which it does achieve in its storytelling. There    Foreword: a score of 10 should only be given to a game that redefines its genre, is incredibly innovative, etc. 9 is an amazing score, and so is 8. Why do most people give every game either 0 or 10 is beyond my comprehension...

    In any event, I gave this game an 8 because it's a really good game. I think it falls just shy of greatness, which it does achieve in its storytelling.

    There are many substories and mini-games to keep you playing. Not the least of which is the karaoke (the song Today is a Diamond may be the best in the entire franchise).

    But being the game that follows Yakuza 0, meeting expectations can't be easy. I really enjoyed the game. But Yakuza 0 is one of the most complete games I've ever played, and one of very few I gave a 10 rating to.

    Still, Yakuza 6 is worth any gamer's time. But if you haven't played any entry in the series yet, save 6 for later and play Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami instead (also Kiwami 2 comes out in Aug. 2018 ). How can you appreciate the final chapter in Kazuma Kiryu's story if you're not familiar with the previous ones?

    Yakuza 6 has superior graphics, but it also refers to back stories. And because these games are heavily invested in above-average storytelling, you might as well start from the beginning.    … Expand
  6. moNkeybOi
    May 13, 2018
    9
    In true Yakuza fashion, this game allows for dozens of hours to be spent on saving stray cats, creating the best baseball team in Japan, dressing up as a mascot with ramen on its head, chatting with streamer girls, getting drunk at the bar, and of course beating up people from all walks of life. While the story takes many twists and turns, all in all the game end up being a veryIn true Yakuza fashion, this game allows for dozens of hours to be spent on saving stray cats, creating the best baseball team in Japan, dressing up as a mascot with ramen on its head, chatting with streamer girls, getting drunk at the bar, and of course beating up people from all walks of life. While the story takes many twists and turns, all in all the game end up being a very well-thought out and very entertaining piece of art.

    Even if you've never played any of the Yakuza series before, you'll only miss out on a few references to the past. This game deserves all the praise it receives as in my humble opinion it is one of the best games of the year.    … Expand
  7. Snchzvita
    May 19, 2018
    10
    Buen juego lleno de actividades y una historia que resulta atractiva en esta ultima aventura de kazuma kiryu unico punto negativi que no viene subtitulado al español pero no es tan grave para el desempelo del juego
  8. rotolotto
    Sep 11, 2018
    9
    Yakuza 6 is an excellent game. It offers a wealth of activities that have brought me to pop in the disc months after beating it to just take in some more of Kamurocho and Onomichi.

    Since there are very few, let's get the negatives out of the way: There is a segment where you are tasked with retrieving formula for baby food with the child in tow and this naturally means an intrusive and    Yakuza 6 is an excellent game. It offers a wealth of activities that have brought me to pop in the disc months after beating it to just take in some more of Kamurocho and Onomichi.

    Since there are very few, let's get the negatives out of the way: There is a segment where you are tasked with retrieving formula for baby food with the child in tow and this naturally means an intrusive and annoying minigame at frequent intervals during this time. The game has loads of fun stuff to do on the side, but once you've done it all, there's not a whole lot to come back for- the karaoke only has a few songs, darts is... well, darts, the Sega arcades have a few classic retro titles, and the cat cafe takes all of 4 seconds to interact with once you've collected them all. There are a few minigames that are substantial, as opposed to the earlier mentions, but once you get through them you likely won't return. These things reveal the nature of the minigames within- they're all just a bit too small to really rope you in for long, so while I'll pop the disc in for a mini vacation, it only ever lasts an hour or two and then it's back to the box for a few more months. That's it, all the bad!

    Yakuza 6 hits those classic satisfying franchise points like heavy and emotional drama, wild flair and style, and pulse-pounding action all wrapped neatly within a mystery. As the definitive ending to our main character's story, Yakuza 6 provides a resolution that most long time franchise fans will find satisfying, though a few like myself will find the very last moments a bit cliche. The game comes very close to perfection but only slightly misses the mark and that is why I rate Yakuza 6 a near-perfect 9/10. Yakuza 6 is playable as a newcomer, but it is not recommended as a lot of context will be missing and this world deserves to be as fleshed out as previous titles make it. If you are unfamiliar with the franchise, go pick up 0 and Kiwami and work your way up to 6, but if you are familiar with the franchise, buy this game immediately as it is worth every cent.    … Expand
  9. zxcvbnnm
    Nov 11, 2020
    10
    best yakuza game ever
    fantastic graphics and soundtrack
    I love japanese game
  10. Brandon_Tjon
    Apr 17, 2018
    9
    Kazuma Kiryu's last game (no spoilers)

    I managed to get Yakuza 6 a little earlier and my opinion on it is highly positive. The game is really immersive with a cast made out of very wholesome, comedic and plain evil characters. The story takes you to both Onomichi and Kamurocho in yet another tale of our beloved Dragon. The story itself is really good. Yakuza 6 has a really    Kazuma Kiryu's last game (no spoilers)

    I managed to get Yakuza 6 a little earlier and my opinion on it is highly positive. The game is really immersive with a cast made out of very wholesome, comedic and plain evil characters. The story takes you to both Onomichi and Kamurocho in yet another tale of our beloved Dragon.

    The story itself is really good. Yakuza 6 has a really interesting plot and definitely goes for that less grim Yakuza 5 atmosphere in comparison to the one that we had in 0. The substories this time around are fully voiced. The substories can be sad, funny and have a whole lot of effort put in them. The substory-voice actors really did put that extra weight on their characters and it really helps out because not every character has that much screen time.

    The mini games including the new Clan Creator, Baseball manager and underwater fishing game are done really well. One moment you're fighting a squid monster that fires little squids as projectiles and other moments you'll find yourself waging war in the streets of Hiroshima and Tokyo. And don't worry about previous minigames, as far as I can tell they have all been improved and streamlined.

    The game does have a couple of minor issues however. The combat for one is shallow compared to previous installments. With only one style and a limited amount of heat moves the combat does feels repetitive at times. At some point in the game I had been using the same combo string for 10 fights in a row! BUT repetitive doesn't mean bad, keep that in mind. Kamurocho is also missing part of the upper map which made me a little upset. And finally it's time to address the engine. While the engine is drop dead gorgeous it does have some issues: minimal street NPC's, fade-aways, pop ups and some physics based issues.

    All in all Yakuza 6 is a great game but I can't easily ignore some of the issues it has. However i'm happy to say that Yakuza 6's positive aspects easily overshadow the negatives aspects. The game is fun, well written, unique, dynamic, addictive and worth your time. I rate Yakuza 6 a 9 out of 10.    … Expand
  11. slim1985
    Apr 23, 2018
    10
    i have played all yakuza games and each delivered special experience and when i say special it because each yakuza game represent something different for ex. yakuza 1 represent brotherhood yakuza 3 represent family bond yakuza 0 represent loyalty and so on yakuza 6 by far is one of the best games this year with strong narrative and enhanced gameplay mechanic despite the downgraded fightingi have played all yakuza games and each delivered special experience and when i say special it because each yakuza game represent something different for ex. yakuza 1 represent brotherhood yakuza 3 represent family bond yakuza 0 represent loyalty and so on yakuza 6 by far is one of the best games this year with strong narrative and enhanced gameplay mechanic despite the downgraded fighting system but sega did this one for good i highly recommend this game but make sure that played 0, kiwami and 3 before starting 6 for full experience… Expand
  12. ShadowPeter
    Apr 22, 2018
    10
    More like 9.5 than 10.

    Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is the last game in the Yakuza series, but not the last in terms of quality; far from it. My knowledge of this series already comes from Yakuza 4, which came out in PS Plus in February 2015 and from there I was completely addicted and aware of the upcoming Yakuza that were to come at that time, namely Yakuza 5, Yakuza 0 and Yakuza    More like 9.5 than 10.

    Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is the last game in the Yakuza series, but not the last in terms of quality; far from it. My knowledge of this series already comes from Yakuza 4, which came out in PS Plus in February 2015 and from there I was completely addicted and aware of the upcoming Yakuza that were to come at that time, namely Yakuza 5, Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami. As in previous games, Yakuza 6 is an action-adventure game that mixes brawler style combat with RPG elements. And again we have the protagonist, the 4th Chairman, that is, Kazuma Kiryu.

    When I returned to Kamurocho, I soon noticed that it was visually amazing and the same goes for the city Onomichi, who is also present in the game. Now we will not have loadings of 1 second, each time we enter or leave a restaurant for example. Whenever we come into conflict with some ruffians on the streets, the city itself "becomes a battle arena" (and still we can escape successfully), unlike the previous ones where we were limited to a small place. Yes, we can also take and fight the ruffians in places like Poppos or on Smile Burger. The spectacle of all this is to see smashed glasses, objects flying and as result, the employee expels us and the site is temporarily closed for repairs. It's these little details that make me delight in this Yakuza 6: The Song of Life.

    But you may be wondering, what has really changed in the gameplay over Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami? A lot of things. The Brawler and Rush styles were eliminated, with only Beast (when we entered Extreme Heat Mode) and Dragon remaining and still have their differences. In Beast we don't have those slow movements anymore and in Dragon, the moveset is different from the previous Yakuzas. Each time we win a battle or eat something, we are rewarded with experience points for 5 abilities: Strength, Agility, Spirit, Technique and Charm, which can be used to increase Kiryu's stats (Health, Attack, Defense, Evasion, Heat Gauge) and to buy Battle Skills, Heat Actions and other skills.

    What I really have to say about the gameplay of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is that I feel the character's moves and the blows are smooth, frantic, and full of strength. It is true that at the beginning we are taking a lot of kicks when we are facing many ruffians, triads or yakuzas, but it is because we are limited to a one quickstep (there are double and triple) and the fact that we don't have the quickstep cancel. It's always rewarding to see our enemies taking with a Heat Action, some of theme are hilarious. An example of this is the Essence of Electromagnetic Torture, which consists to shoot the enemy at the microwave and asking the employee to "warm" the head of our enemy. Another example, the Essence of Knock Out Punch, allows us to see (through a 1 second Slow Motion) our enemy spitting blood whenever we punch him in the chin. In comparison to the previous ones, we don't have some old Heat Actions, but we have many new ones.

    In this Yakuza 6: The Song of Life we have something new called Clan Creator. Let's say it's a kind of Fighting Manager, in which we have a hierarchy (Chairman> Captain> Lieutenant> Soldier) to organize, take them to the missions and fight against other clans. Correct, if we want a soldier for our clan, sometimes we will have to search in the streets of Onomichi and defeat this person in a fight. They all have different moves, weapons, punches and some characters have special moves. And yes, we can also take our team to the online battles.

    As always, this Yakuza 6 also features the usual Yoshida Batting Center, Hostess Clubs, Substories and Mahjong, but new things have also been added, such as hunting fish, octopuses and sharks in the waters of Onomichi, a site called RIZAP Kamurocho to exercise our muscles and improve our character's physique, and we even have to rescue lost cats, which we then send to the Nyan Nyan Café. In addition, there are also Vending Machines, which help to temporarily increase our stats and the missions or the help requests to rescue someone who is having trouble with ruffians, for example. And, of course, the Sega Club is also present in this Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, and we have games like Virtual Fighter 5: Final Showdown and even classics such as Out Run, Puyo Puyo, Super Hang-On, Fantasy Zone and Space Harrier.

    Despite all of this, i miss the mini-games like Bowling, Pool, gambling and fights in the Purgatory Coliseum. Fights against bosses are challenging, with a phenomenal soundtrack and feature breathtaking scenes. SEGA has done a almost perfect work by keeping the style that made this series unique, but at the same time make some changes so that the game and series stay fresh. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is not only one of the best entries in the series, but also one of the best experience of 2018 so far.    … Expand
  13. Fuzz_Effect
    Apr 23, 2018
    10
    The game itself was fantastic. the story is way more intense than all of the yakuza games.. not better than yakuza zero. but on this yakuza **** goes nuts at the end. its captivating heart wrenching story will drive you insane. plenty of things to do at this small new open world..
    Kazuma Kiryu The dragon of dojima thanks for the journey!
  14. ToxicParasite
    Apr 19, 2018
    9
    Just play this Game! you can live in Japan. what else do you want? Sushi? you got it
  15. Alastor15
    Apr 17, 2018
    9
    Not better than Yakuza 0, but Yakuza 6 still has its own ways to attract the gamers with its touching story. The dragon engine really improves Yakuza 6 graphic to the next level.
    You don't really need to play yakuza 2 until 5 to follow and understand yakuza 6 story.
  16. scruffy_77
    Apr 23, 2018
    10
    Sega have done it again, A masterpiece. It was only last year I stumbled across the Yakuza series as its not widely marketed in the west, and since have found them to be the extraordinary. The story is deep, the gameplay is excellent and the content is huge. How we have media pushing games like Far Cry 5 which is just a rehash of past versions loaded with micro transactions when a gameSega have done it again, A masterpiece. It was only last year I stumbled across the Yakuza series as its not widely marketed in the west, and since have found them to be the extraordinary. The story is deep, the gameplay is excellent and the content is huge. How we have media pushing games like Far Cry 5 which is just a rehash of past versions loaded with micro transactions when a game like Yakuza 6 is also due out makes no sense. There is a country mile of difference with the Yakuza series compared to the other big named games, and in my opinion, Yakuza 6 deserves all the credit due.

    The new dragon engine too has improved the game a lot from Yakuza 0. No loading times going into shops/restaurants and buildings and the game is fluid. The recreation of city's is remarkable, I found myself spending time looking at walls, signs, shop windows just because of the articulate details etc... and they have not missed a single thing. I can only give this game a 10 because for me, its a perfect example of how a game should be.    … Expand
  17. JackKasket
    Apr 19, 2018
    9
    Great game, great story.

    Graphics and controls have improved massively from Yakuza 0. Especially the camera improvements are a massive QoL surge. However, the combat system feels a bit repetitive, as there is only one stance to play with (as opposed to three in Yakuza 0). This alone may cause some people to stop playing after a while. There is virtually no depth to the combat    Great game, great story.

    Graphics and controls have improved massively from Yakuza 0. Especially the camera improvements are a massive QoL surge.

    However, the combat system feels a bit repetitive, as there is only one stance to play with (as opposed to three in Yakuza 0). This alone may cause some people to stop playing after a while. There is virtually no depth to the combat anymore. While you can use the environment to your advantage more than in previous installments, weapons and the like feel pretty toothless. It's just easier to grab and swing a human than a traffic cone...

    I personally like the updated level up system. In Yakuza 0 you were forced to grind hours on end for cash on both characters to max out your stats, but in Yakuza 6 you get points to level up for every single activity, including eating.    … Expand
  18. Chiyou
    May 6, 2018
    10
    Coming from someone who platinumed this game, it's an incredible story with great additions to the Yakuza series, they did cut some stuff out but that just makes it a more focused experience. Onomichi Hiroshima is now my favorite city in the entire series. The lighting especially at night will take your breath away. The combat is great, I wish it had more styles but if you upgrade yourComing from someone who platinumed this game, it's an incredible story with great additions to the Yakuza series, they did cut some stuff out but that just makes it a more focused experience. Onomichi Hiroshima is now my favorite city in the entire series. The lighting especially at night will take your breath away. The combat is great, I wish it had more styles but if you upgrade your combat you'll be satisfied. I'm excited to see what Ryu ga Gotoku studio has planned for us next because I think it'll be a great way for people to start fresh in the Yakuza experience.… Expand
  19. SlyKen
    Apr 27, 2018
    9
    There are a lot of things to do in this game and its better to go off the story mode an into the mini games and sub-stories , its just fantastic , story got its pacing issues at the beginning but it gets better
    Clan battles , baseball team, and many more! , i hope we get the entire collection to the PS4 even dead souls , i enjoyed it alot and i wish i got more to do. PS: yakuza kiwami 2    There are a lot of things to do in this game and its better to go off the story mode an into the mini games and sub-stories , its just fantastic , story got its pacing issues at the beginning but it gets better
    Clan battles , baseball team, and many more! , i hope we get the entire collection to the PS4 even dead souls , i enjoyed it alot and i wish i got more to do. PS: yakuza kiwami 2 is coming!    … Expand
  20. Max552
    Dec 31, 2022
    0
    Can't say I was a fan. Played and found it too easy and quite boring. I really don't see the fuss about these games.
  21. SWERY_51
    Apr 21, 2018
    8
    I love Yakuza series.

    But Yakuza 6 disappoint in terms of content. The story is nice, the new engine brings new cool stuff, but compared to the fantastic Yakuza 0, this conclusion of Kiryu Kazuma's journey feels unfinished. A bunch of mini-games have simply disappeared. No more snooker, bowling, dancing, casino (black jack, roulette, poker), UFO catcher, bonnet game, cards, etc...    I love Yakuza series.

    But Yakuza 6 disappoint in terms of content.

    The story is nice, the new engine brings new cool stuff, but compared to the fantastic Yakuza 0, this conclusion of Kiryu Kazuma's journey feels unfinished.

    A bunch of mini-games have simply disappeared. No more snooker, bowling, dancing, casino (black jack, roulette, poker), UFO catcher, bonnet game, cards, etc...

    Same thing with the trophies. The platinum is much more easy to get and you don't need to do everything at 100%, at all.

    Yakuza 6 is still a pretty good game with some cool new features, but not the best entry, be warned.    … Expand
  22. Showrath
    Apr 20, 2018
    9
    Yakuza 6 was one of the best mafia game focusing on Kiryu’s last journey. It has one of the most deep cast with very well voiced acted. The story focuses on the bond between father and son. The only criticism I have is the combat is much shallow than yakuza 0 , this game provides lots of side quest and addictive mini games like the fan favorite Karaoke. There is so much to do in Yakuza 6Yakuza 6 was one of the best mafia game focusing on Kiryu’s last journey. It has one of the most deep cast with very well voiced acted. The story focuses on the bond between father and son. The only criticism I have is the combat is much shallow than yakuza 0 , this game provides lots of side quest and addictive mini games like the fan favorite Karaoke. There is so much to do in Yakuza 6 which is all for free unlike EA and activision who make you pay for everything. The Yakuza 6 delivers everything in a single package which is good because it’s not holding back any content or adding any future content like dlc for extra buck.… Expand
  23. Fairbottom
    May 24, 2018
    4
    Since I've studied Japanese for many years, I know the importance of deferential language in social interactions in that country. Unfortunately, it makes no difference in this game because everyone wants to hurt you. Clearly, the game lacks for cultural understanding. Disappointing.
  24. tbouniverse
    Apr 30, 2018
    10
    This game is billed as Kazuma Kiryu's final adventure and what better sendoff than using the new Dragon Engine?

    A lot of the characters in previous Yakuza titles take a backseat here while we focus on an entirely new cast. I was curious as to how that would be handled and I thought that a spectacular job was done. Sub-stories are more immersive as they blend into cutscenes now and feel    This game is billed as Kazuma Kiryu's final adventure and what better sendoff than using the new Dragon Engine?

    A lot of the characters in previous Yakuza titles take a backseat here while we focus on an entirely new cast. I was curious as to how that would be handled and I thought that a spectacular job was done. Sub-stories are more immersive as they blend into cutscenes now and feel like its own story. I love the new Clan Creator simulation, which is a fighting manager with a Yakuza Family hierarchy. You can recruit characters in the Yakuza universe and even people off the street to create a powerful organization to neutralize bad actors. It is innovative because it has a great storyline and had me spend several hours on this alone.

    Character development was well done, motives were justified and the near-complete focus on Kiryu makes perfect sense here since this is the last time we play as the Dragon of Dojima. Gameplay mechanics have changed and I like the changes because it helps the game feel fresh and new.

    My only gripe with this game is that frames go slow-mo sometimes and it runs on 30fps. I never really paid attention to it as I was so engrossed in the game itself.

    What really impressed me was how Kamurocho was realized in this game. By contrast to the bustling Tokyo city, Onomichi has a small town traditional setting based in Hiroshima. This juxtaposition helped me appreciate the game even more. I was also very impressed by the new heat actions which I found extremely cool.

    I would recommend this game as a must-play for Yakuza veterans and newcomers. I would implore new-comers to try Yakuza 0 and Kiwami before getting into this for an enhanced experience. Yakuza 6 is not only one of the best entries in the series but one of the best experiences this year. 9.5/10.    … Expand
  25. Zeydlitz
    Apr 25, 2018
    7
    This game is not so bad, but! Authors still could not pass a chance to add a piece a garbage at the game. This time it is batting minigame and substories 19 and 20, wich are increadible hard and unpassble for average player.
  26. Kinokee
    Aug 22, 2018
    8
    Tank controls suck. The new engine is cool but I can't really enjoy it as well as I want with such poor movement controls. The fighting is a bit slow to turn around and the targeting often doesn't work. A lot of the fighting is kind of buggy when you're near a wall or throwing people near walls. Still a fun game and the redone mini-games are in the right direction. Although they're stillTank controls suck. The new engine is cool but I can't really enjoy it as well as I want with such poor movement controls. The fighting is a bit slow to turn around and the targeting often doesn't work. A lot of the fighting is kind of buggy when you're near a wall or throwing people near walls. Still a fun game and the redone mini-games are in the right direction. Although they're still hit and miss. I feel like the karaoke isn't responsive enough and is not as enjoyable as before. I do like how macho dramatic everything looks and feels though. The shots are well done in many places.… Expand
  27. Risax
    Apr 23, 2018
    10
    After thoroughly enjoying my time with Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami, I decided to support the Yakuza series again by purchasing Yakuza 6. I haven't played any games aside from those, though I have watched a Let's Play of Yakuza 4.

    Fortunately, the game provides a recap of all the previous games and, of course, Yakuza 6 shows some flashbacks to tell of the events that happened in Yakuza 5.    After thoroughly enjoying my time with Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami, I decided to support the Yakuza series again by purchasing Yakuza 6. I haven't played any games aside from those, though I have watched a Let's Play of Yakuza 4.

    Fortunately, the game provides a recap of all the previous games and, of course, Yakuza 6 shows some flashbacks to tell of the events that happened in Yakuza 5.

    In any case, on to the game! In Yakuza 6, Kiryu goes to find out what happend to Haruka after she left the orphanage while he was in jail. In doing so, we end up in the new location of Onomichi. A town with a pretty big secret, as we find out later.

    Like the previous games, you have to retrain Kiryu from the ground up. At first, he'll be slow and weak. But you shouldn't have any problems with most fights near the end of the game. Even on Hard mode. But even then, combat is as fun as always. Hitting and kicking stuff feels satisfying and the Heat moves are brutal as always. You can even take fights into stores and restaurants now!

    I did miss the fact that most of Yakuza's more popular characters barely show up. Majima, Taiga and Daigo show up at the beginning and the end, and otherwise you don't see them. I know it is the end of Kiryu's story, so it makes a kind of sense. But I feel like some of the interactions with the Hirose family, who you maybe know for a few weeks, would have made more sense and impact with Kiryu's older friends. Not that I disliked the new characters.

    Another thing I disliked where the cameos from Japanese actors and wrestlers. Beat Takashi from Battle Royale and other movies was pretty great. But the Japanese wrestlers from the Clan Creator minigame fell kinda flat. I can't exactly speak Japanese, but their voice acting wasn't on par with those of the other characters.

    All in all, it was a fantastic game. Kiryu's ending was not what he deserved...but kind of what I expected. I look forward to seeing what they'll do with the new protagonist, Ichiban, but I will miss playing as the Dragon of Dojima.    … Expand
  28. shiftyman
    Jun 12, 2018
    7
    Easily the worst of the 6, but still an ok story, with plenty of the typical crazy side quests and games but totally ruined by a truly weak ending, fans of the series deserved better.
  29. Berrlett
    Apr 23, 2018
    9
    Captivating story inside an action packed, as.. whipping game play ? I am sold. Brilliant game all around, love the smooth combat and all the styles of fighting. Still prefer Yakuza 0 but Yakuza 6 is a must play if you want to pick up a decent game with very interesting characters oriented around close family ties and always fighting for a reason. Love this game and strongly recommend it aCaptivating story inside an action packed, as.. whipping game play ? I am sold. Brilliant game all around, love the smooth combat and all the styles of fighting. Still prefer Yakuza 0 but Yakuza 6 is a must play if you want to pick up a decent game with very interesting characters oriented around close family ties and always fighting for a reason. Love this game and strongly recommend it a nearly perfect Japanese Action.… Expand
  30. Redjohn1991
    Apr 30, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. (Spoiler Alert !!!)

    I want to inform everybody that I have played yakuza 1 and 2 on the ps2, yakuza 3,4 and 5 as well as dead souls on the ps3. And it is my first time to push out a written review on metacritic.

    At times, it baffles me how games like Star Wars Battlefront 2 and Far Cry 5 receives more attention while this gem remains in the shadows.

    Yakuza 6 is simply gorgeous look at, prior to previous entries, but I do some complaints in some of its aspects.

    Graphics - They are pleasant to touch with your eyes on a regular ps4 (not sure if the graphics has been vastly improved for the ps4 pro). (10/10)

    Story - a very well written human drama and a magnificent ending to the legend of the Dragon of Dojima (Dojima No Ryu). Also, the sidequests stories carries a lot of charm and touches on your heartstrings at certain moments (10/10)

    Gameplay - Combat has been reduced significantly from prior titles, which was surprising and unexpected as prior titles tend to do the opposite. I felt the need to address this issue because you can see throughout the game the combat can be quite dull and repetitive; It is noticeable once you get all the heat skills for Kiryu. Minigames, although, reduced have been refined to the enjoyment of the players. (8/10)

    Sound - The music is on point. It doesn't seem that it needs more songs to compliment some situations in the game. It manages to create quite an impact in certain points in the story. (10/10)

    Environment - I love Kamurocho and Onomichi in this game. They have expanded on what you can do in the world map where you can explore every nook and crany in both of these places. Furthermore, you can take pictures with your phone. While it seems to heavily promote tourism in Japan, I like it a lot. (10/10)

    In conclusion, I would recommend Yakuza 6 to any person with an affinity in the Japanese culture or simply likes interesting stories, to buy this game ! It is simply a blast to experience and I am still playing it on NG+ on Hard Mode. The game is simply that good, in spite of its shortcomings.

    Thank you Kazuma Kiryu for this wonderful journey !!!    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best PS4 Game of 2018
36
#36 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2018
23
#23 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 91 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 91
  3. Negative: 0 out of 91
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Sep 13, 2018
    80
    The sixth Yakuza does not bring a huge open world. It brings a great hall full of amazing toys that you will not want to leave. [Issue#284]
  2. CD-Action
    Jun 5, 2018
    80
    There are a lot of seemingly dissonant notes in The Song of Life, but from this chaos arises one of the best written open world games of this generation, a great technological foundation for upcoming Yakuzas and a beautiful farewell to Kazuma Kiryu. [05/2018, p.38]
  3. Jeuxvideo.com
    Jun 2, 2018
    90
    Yakuza 6's intimate story, combined with a cinematic presentation, pays tribute to Japanese gangster movies while the overhaul of the combat and RPG systems leads to the hero's organic development.
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