Yakuza Kiwami

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 673 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 512 out of 673
  2. Mixed: 95 out of 673
  3. Negative: 66 out of 673
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  1. OrochiamruSama
    Aug 29, 2017
    10
    As A long time yakuza fan,yakuza 0 was the best game ever for me and kiwami is the perfect sequel for it,if you want games with the best story and huge amount of content, yakuza games are for you
  2. 17_jrpg
    Aug 29, 2017
    10
    Yakuza Kiwami returns the first game of the series back to life in a way that is completely rebuilt from ground up for the PS4. This open world action-adventure game with role-playing elements follows the story of Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, whose life changes because of the incident that occurred in the Dojima Family office. In Kiwami, the original story gets an extension thatYakuza Kiwami returns the first game of the series back to life in a way that is completely rebuilt from ground up for the PS4. This open world action-adventure game with role-playing elements follows the story of Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, whose life changes because of the incident that occurred in the Dojima Family office. In Kiwami, the original story gets an extension that adds a new depth of story which tells us about friendship, love, respect, loyalty, sacrifice, greed, betrayal and revenge. New additions to the story further explain certain parts of the story that may have been unclear in the original.

    In Kiwami, they also improved gameplay. Battle system from the original game has been enhanced by adding the battle styles from Yakuza 0. Now you can choose one of four battle styles: Brawler (balance), Rush (speed), Beast (power) and Dragon (ultimate). Each style has its own benefits and weaknesses, so it's up to you to choose the battle style that suits you best or that you currently need in a particular fight. All four battle styles are unlocked and you can train them all to the maximum by using experiece points (EXP) earned from battles and solving side quests (substories and romance with hostesses). To power up the Dragon style you have to fight with Goro Majima everywhere in Kamurocho. They have also improved other aspects of gameplay by adding new substories, two new ladies to romance, MesuKing: Battle Bug Beuaties, and much more nightlife spots. All this gives the player to enjoy even more in Kamurocho.

    Sega has done a very good job with this remake and has demonstrated to other video game developer how to make a real remake of old game. I'm glad they decided to make a remake of the original Yakuza game which is one of my favorite games on PS2. I hope that Sega will also do a good job with Yakuza Kiwami 2, and I also hope that they will decide to make Yakuza Kiwami 3 as well because I only did not play Yakuza 3.    … Expand
  3. marshallu2018
    Sep 10, 2017
    8
    This was my first game in the Yakuza series and I now know what I've been missing. This game is a ton of fun and I'm glad I got it.

    The combat is satisfying and I like that you can switch between four different combat styles to mix it up a bit. There's the brawler style, which is a mix of fast and powerful attacks. Then there's the slow and powerful beast style. Next up is my    This was my first game in the Yakuza series and I now know what I've been missing. This game is a ton of fun and I'm glad I got it.

    The combat is satisfying and I like that you can switch between four different combat styles to mix it up a bit. There's the brawler style, which is a mix of fast and powerful attacks. Then there's the slow and powerful beast style. Next up is my personal favorite, the rush style, that is great for quick punches and still packs a powerful punch. Lastly, there's the dragon style; dragon style is similar to brawler, but it's more powerful and a little slower, but not quite as slow as beast.

    The mini games in Yakuza Kiwami are arguably its strongest (and, at times, quirkiest) feature. The mini games are a blast to play and there is a great variety, from bowling and billiards to more obscure things like pocket car racing with little kids and rock paper scissors in the form of bikini clad women dressed as bugs. No matter what you like, Yakuza Kiwami probably has a mini game that suits you.

    Great features aside, Yakuza Kiwami isn't perfect. First, there's the Majima Everywhere system; at first it's kind of fun and it's quirky enough to give the game some extra life, but after a while it gets annoying having to fight Majima, your rival, so often. Another weak point of this game is the way that most missions and sub stories end up feeling like fetch quests, where you find yourself running all over the map from point A to point B and back to point A again. The in-game city of Kamurocho isn't all that big when you compare it to other games such as Grand Theft Auto V's Los Santos, but it can take a while to get from one end of the map to the other.

    Overall, I highly recommend this game. While it isn't perfect, it brings some charm to the table and has an interesting story that's rifled with betrayal and plot twists. The mini games can keep you busy for hours if you get interested in them and they offer a fun, light hearted escape from the serious story.    … Expand
  4. tomvs123
    Mar 30, 2018
    7
    Make no doubt about it, this is a good game for lovers of good stories, which have been rare from Japanese video games recently. If you're like crime dramas, then you'll probably like this game more than me.

    I don't like crime dramas at all, but I got some good enjoyment out of this one, primarily because of the Yakuza/Japanese setting, which is very different than what you get from the    Make no doubt about it, this is a good game for lovers of good stories, which have been rare from Japanese video games recently. If you're like crime dramas, then you'll probably like this game more than me.

    I don't like crime dramas at all, but I got some good enjoyment out of this one, primarily because of the Yakuza/Japanese setting, which is very different than what you get from the typical American crime drama.

    Your primary goal in the game is to find out what happened to your almost-girlfriend, who you lost touch with since you've been in jail for the past 10 years (partially because of said girlfriend). Along with that, you've working to protect a young girl from various Yakuza factions while trying to find out why they want to kill/kidnap her.

    There's no major issues with the characters or story, although there's a moderate amount of cliche-following going on. The story is no masterpiece, but it's mostly believable and entertaining. The biggest plot hole is the protagonist's fighting abilities. He's able to punch his way through hordes of armed attackers with no issue and that's the primary thing that moves the story forward: you just beat up people who get in your way.

    Also, I'm always annoyed by this, so I must mention that the bad guy reveals his master plan right before the final battle, which sort of took me out of the otherwise serious main story.

    The main story is dead serious and there are some major character deaths happening. But almost all of the side-story content is silly, so there's some good contrasting gong on. A great part of the experience is watching your serious protagonist deal with the silly side-missions, with a few of them (particularly the mini games) resulting in him acting quite child-like. With his old looks and deep voice, it's quite hilarious.

    Also, since I've also been annoyed by many recent Japanese games having walls of meaningless (filler) dialogue, I must mention that this game is mostly free of that. There's just a little of that going on, and it seems more related to the genre (crime drama) rather than this being Japanese.

    I don't care about gameplay or combat much (I'm a story guy). The combat is good enough, but the number of mini games and side content must be mentioned. For someone who normally skips all side-content, they managed to capture my attention and I ended up completing most of the mini games and side-missions. They were interesting and unique enough to keep me engaged and coming back for more.

    So overall, for being my first Yakuza game, this was a great 40-hour experience. Here's hoping that the story only gets better in future Yakuza games.    … Expand
  5. Kenmei
    Apr 18, 2018
    8
    A remake that took a number of things that were already used in Yakuza 0, like models and even sidequests, to remake the original 1st game in the series. The game does ok in that regards, however the battle system was just straight up ripped from 0 to this game and the issues with that are still obvious here. The side quests aren't as varied as 0 and the inability to play as Majima, who IA remake that took a number of things that were already used in Yakuza 0, like models and even sidequests, to remake the original 1st game in the series. The game does ok in that regards, however the battle system was just straight up ripped from 0 to this game and the issues with that are still obvious here. The side quests aren't as varied as 0 and the inability to play as Majima, who I personally liked more than Kiryu in 0, really hurt this game for me personally. The addition of multiple fetch quests to move the main story along too does nothing to help what I already thought a story that shows its age in today's video game world. However, at only 30 bucks full price, it's hard to argue the value you're getting here in the whole package. This is essentially Kiryu's part of Yakuza 0, minus the massive real estate side quest. It feels like it would been better suited as an expansion rather then a full fledged title but its hard to argue against it's value. I'd personally recommend people play Yakuza 0 if they've never touched one of these games before. That's what feels like the true, new starting point for the series, then moving onto this one. And with Yakuza 6 coming out later this week, it was nice to see the origins of one of the most recognizable video game faces in the Japanese scene. As someone relatively new to the series though, this obviously felt more in line with what a large expansion would do instead of a brand new game. But it's a good refresher for the series for people who are about to get 6 this week, and Kiwami 2 later this summer. Just definitely go with Yakuza 0 before playing this is what I'd recommend.… Expand
  6. jelikey
    Aug 26, 2018
    8
    This was my first game in the Yakuza series and I now know what I've been missing. This game is a ton of fun and I'm glad I got it.

    The combat is satisfying and I like that you can switch between four different combat styles to mix it up a bit. There's the brawler style, which is a mix of fast and powerful attacks. Then there's the slow and powerful beast style.
  7. 613th
    Oct 28, 2019
    5
    It was my first game on PS4 and i have finished it just because of it, in other situation i will not play this one.
    The game is very specific, i'd say - for asian market only.
  8. VashloveNpeace
    Jul 24, 2020
    8
    Yakuza Kiwami is basically a remake of the Yakuza 1 game, It is using the new Dragon Game Engine and the visual is stunning for the series. If you play Yakuza 1 then you know this game is gonna be awesome.
  9. Jollyolfun
    Nov 18, 2022
    6
    Rebuild of the original Yakuza, not bad whatsoever, very slow though, and the combat isn't quite there compared to other Yakuza games.
  10. Gandalf44
    Sep 8, 2017
    10
    This game is incredible. The Value is excellent. If you love a good story, lots of drama, turns, twists, and plots that rival game of thrones, then you might love this game. Im a developer, and i really, really appreciate what Sega has done with this series. I hope they take this game style and gameplay, and bring it to other genres and themes. If the developer is reading this, you'veThis game is incredible. The Value is excellent. If you love a good story, lots of drama, turns, twists, and plots that rival game of thrones, then you might love this game. Im a developer, and i really, really appreciate what Sega has done with this series. I hope they take this game style and gameplay, and bring it to other genres and themes. If the developer is reading this, you've earned a fan for life!… Expand
  11. badgerryan19
    Aug 31, 2017
    9
    Yakuza Kiwami returns as the first game in the series worked from the ground up and oh boy is it a blast. Along side Yakuza 0 this is starting to pick up some big momentum towards Yakuza 6. Heck there could be two Yakuza games in my top 10 games of the year so far. Great game. I do feel like 0 is just a tad better though, but besides the point the game has great characters, writing, storyYakuza Kiwami returns as the first game in the series worked from the ground up and oh boy is it a blast. Along side Yakuza 0 this is starting to pick up some big momentum towards Yakuza 6. Heck there could be two Yakuza games in my top 10 games of the year so far. Great game. I do feel like 0 is just a tad better though, but besides the point the game has great characters, writing, story ridiculous fun action. Do yourself a favor and get this and Yakuza 0 if you haven't.… Expand
  12. hasan_oddeyes77
    Sep 12, 2017
    10
    omg this game is so good i liked the story-characters -music very much and i am so excited to play yakuza 0 thank you Sega for this masterpiece wooooooooow
  13. ultimatesoll
    Aug 31, 2017
    10
    Latest Yakuza game finally came to the west after it’s localization thanks to Sega. This game is remake of original Yakuza (“Ryu Ga Gotoku” in Japan) game which released in 2005.

    The very first Yakuza game was badass, fun to play and had awesome scenario. But 2017 version offering much more than that. Highly detailed next-gen graphics, new camera view, enhanced framerate which is    Latest Yakuza game finally came to the west after it’s localization thanks to Sega. This game is remake of original Yakuza (“Ryu Ga Gotoku” in Japan) game which released in 2005.

    The very first Yakuza game was badass, fun to play and had awesome scenario. But 2017 version offering much more than that.

    Highly detailed next-gen graphics, new camera view, enhanced framerate which is perfectly run at 60fps and re-mastered Kamurocho area will bring your memories from past as well as great experience.

    Kiwami has offering new gameplay for our main hero: Kazuma Kiryu. Like in “Yakuza 0”, the character has 4 main gameplay set which you can upgrade throughout the game.

    The in-game sound is awesome, all stage tunes are good and supporting the action. All VAs had great job on this remaster.

    Boss battles, fighting locations, secret locations, secret missions, upgrades, fun parts, cut-scenes, main characters, side characters..they all great. Yakuza 1 is clearly my favourite Yakuza game in entire series in terms of story telling and ending.

    Finding secret “side-missions”, Nishiki’s (who is Kiryu’s old friend) campaigns (which is not included in old version but added to this version), cage matches and lots of action surely make you happy during your walkthrough.

    Literally Sega is making one Yakuza game each year and localize them after a period. Yakuza Kiwami released in Japan long ago but glad we have this game on our market now. Not to mention Yakuza 2 Remake (Ryu Ga Gotoku 2 Kiwami) will be on stores in Japan at the end of the year.

    Brawls in Kamurocho streets will never end!

    Have fun and play on.    … Expand
  14. Shincy
    Sep 6, 2017
    10
    As many players gave comment how good the main story is, I would like to highlight sub-stories are very entertaining, as funny/weird/bizarre as it sound, many of them are realistic situation in Japan.
    It is of the few games that I really enjoy to read those conversation, and the voice/conversation/test of the game is what really gave soul to characters and the game.
  15. ShadowPeter
    Sep 5, 2017
    9
    Ryu ga Gotoku Kiwami (in Japan), better known as Yakuza Kiwami in the West, is a remake of the first Yakuza. It is a game of action and adventure and that has as protagonist the monstrous, invincible, fighting against evil person's and always with the good people, Kazuma Kiryu.

    As in all other titles of the Yakuza series, Kamurocho, based in the royal city of Kabukicho, Japan, is always    Ryu ga Gotoku Kiwami (in Japan), better known as Yakuza Kiwami in the West, is a remake of the first Yakuza. It is a game of action and adventure and that has as protagonist the monstrous, invincible, fighting against evil person's and always with the good people, Kazuma Kiryu.

    As in all other titles of the Yakuza series, Kamurocho, based in the royal city of Kabukicho, Japan, is always present. How could it not be, the story is told by long cutscenes, with the Japanese voices (which I say right away, listen to the voice of Takaya Kuroda, aka the one who gives voice to Kazuma Kiryu ... it is impossible to remain indifferent) and with Subtitles in English, which are very well planned and with dramatic touches, which in most moments leave us curious and eager to progress the story.

    For those who come from Yakuza 0, the gameplay is identical, taking the fact that in this Kiwami there is one more fighting style and a few more heat moves. During the heat of the fighting, Kiryu has 4 types of fighting style: Brawler (balanced); Rush (fast movements and mobility); Beast (Slow but powerful) and the Dragon (similar to the Brawler, but with some different movements).

    Continuing to talk about the fighting, under the Kiryu energy bar there is something (blue) called the Heat Gauge, if the main bar is filled up (do not forget that if we take blows from the enemy, the bar will empty), gets on fire and means that we can perform "Heat moves", which are powerful and rewarding strokes, so to speak. And the blows are very varied and it's cool (even better if it's against Goro Majima, but later I'll talk about this funny guy), step on the face of the enemy, remove the nail or the tooth from our opponent with pliers etc etc etc...

    As we defeat our opponents, we gain experience points, which can be used to purchase upgrades. Upgrades are divided into four categories: Soul (improve Heat Gauge, add Climax Heat Moves that are slightly stronger moves than heat moves, etc.), Tech (add new hits, quicksteps, quich evasions, Healt bar, boosting the attack, etc.) and Dragon (with this, Kiryu can relearn the techniques of the Dragon of Dojima). But to acquire certain abilities, we have to look at the requirements and fight (and defeat) against (believe it you will fight against him so many times...) the Goro Majima or complete the challenges of Sotaro Komaki.

    The crazy Goro Majima decided on his own to help Kiryu to relearn some techniques of the Dragon of Dojima, most often walks the streets of Kamurocho to call (with a touch loving and wailing lol) Kiryu, or walks in certain bars, clubs, etc. And as such... as soon as we come face to face with him, we have to defeat him in a fight or a mini-game. After we defeat it, the bar of the ranking (initially we will stay in rank F) will gradually increase and when the bar is filled, we have to do a special event, that to the terms success, we go up rank (E, D, C, B , A, S, SS and SSS) and ... as obvious, in doing so, the difficulty (in fights) increases. The only complaint I point out at this Majima Everywhere is ... listening to Goro's "Kiryu-chan" call for Kazuma over and over, either after we've left the pause menu or in some store, it becomes a bit annoying. But don't worry, fortunately doesn't spoil the experience that we are having in the game.

    Yakuza Kiwami is also a kind of semi-open world, always on the go and no cars to drive. We can take some taxi to get to some distant street, as well as go to discos, restaurants, bars, hostess clubs, Club Sega's, karaokes, etc. In the streets of Kamurocho, we find people who are in trouble with henchmen, Yakuza's, etc. And we have the power to decide whether we should intervene or not. If we choose to help, we will have to offer punches and leave these useless with bruises. If we succeed, the victim will give us any reward. Just as we can find on the streets those useless individuals who persecute us and who want to give us annoyances, and if we get caught, we are forced to fight and give them some beautiful blows. Sometimes Yakuza's, punk's and gang's bump our way (especially in narrow places) to the destination we want to go, and in Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 we just kept the R1 button (slow steps) to go unnoticed by them. In this Kiwami this no longer happens, and as soon as they come, we have to run to get away from them. Let's say it's a frustrating rather than a negative point.

    And as it could not fail to have, the game has a Coliseum in which we can fight against the best fighters. Don't forget the huge amount of mini-games. In technical terms, what do you think of this game with 1080p with 60 FPS's without having a single framerate break?? Beautiful, right?? Even though it is not as spectacular as Yakuza 4 and 5, the kiwami soundtrack is good. In short, whoever liked the rest of the Yakuza, will like this Kiwami and when you have the game, have this spirit of Kazuma Kiryu to the enemies: "If you want to die, come at me!!".    … Expand
  16. scruffy_77
    Dec 7, 2017
    10
    Just brilliant... the story of these games are brilliant, the game is brilliant and perhaps I should mention it is brilliant. I am just sad I have to wait until March for Yakuza 6. A masterpiece!
  17. monokuma888
    Oct 3, 2017
    10
    This game is great, and I reached this conclusion after a few hours of playing. I've had the game for a few weeks now and I've periodically picked it up here and there. For me, that is how I have gotten the most out of Yakuza Kiwami. I play for a few hours, set it down for a few days, and finally come back to it again. This is my first Yakuza experience and after having gotten more thanThis game is great, and I reached this conclusion after a few hours of playing. I've had the game for a few weeks now and I've periodically picked it up here and there. For me, that is how I have gotten the most out of Yakuza Kiwami. I play for a few hours, set it down for a few days, and finally come back to it again. This is my first Yakuza experience and after having gotten more than half way through it, I was prompted to buy Zero because this franchise is amazing. Just an amazing brawler that is extremely underrated. It's ridiculous that it took me this long to get into the series, but now that I am, it is a pleasure to play.… Expand
  18. shiftyman
    Aug 29, 2017
    9
    Yakuza games are the best, not only do they have great engrossing main stories, main characters you can really get involved with, plus all the crazy side quests and mini games, Yakuza Kiwami is no exception.
  19. GamingNinja
    Sep 23, 2017
    9
    A solid game priced the right way.
    Feels like an expansion for Yakuza Zero.
    My only problem is that it feels like a downgrade from Yakuza Zero,
    Which came out before Kiwami.
    Bring those Yakuza games to the rest of the world quickly now.. having the rest wait years only damages the product.
    Looking forward to Yakuza 6 and Kiwami 2.
  20. HTGamer
    Nov 22, 2017
    9
    Yakuza Kiwami is a great remaster of a great PS2-era Sega game, made for PS4.

    The Yakuza series (known in Japan as "Ryū ga Gotoku") are story-based brawler games, with a variety of mini-games to spice things up. Sadly the series isn't well known outside of Japan because of its focus on japanese culture, but in recent years Sega have been making a serious effort to promote these games to    Yakuza Kiwami is a great remaster of a great PS2-era Sega game, made for PS4.

    The Yakuza series (known in Japan as "Ryū ga Gotoku") are story-based brawler games, with a variety of mini-games to spice things up. Sadly the series isn't well known outside of Japan because of its focus on japanese culture, but in recent years Sega have been making a serious effort to promote these games to the West. They even remake some older games such as the original game, which has been re-launched as Yakuza Kiwami ("remaster") for the PS4 (there is also a PS3 version).

    Yakuza Kiwami is a brawler game set in an open map (not open world, mind you) for you to walk through and do all sorts of yakuza things, from fighting punks in the street to eat burgers in restaurants and undertake missions (both main and side ones). The story may be serious but there is always a subtle comical side to this game.

    The combat system is quite complex at first because it includes 4 different fighting styles and features many upgrades, but you 'll get used to it after a bit. You can mash buttons against typical goons but you won't succeed against bosses, you have to take advantage of combos and special moves to beat them. Thankfully the game is super smooth thanks to its 60 fps frame rate, and even when fighting against many opponents at once there are no drops to frame rate.

    This game's strongest characteristic is its storytelling. Most characters are great and memorable, including the protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. The plot centers around Yakuza/Mafia things and I won't spoil it. But Majima steals the show due to his frequent out-of-nowhere attacks against Kiryu, with bizarre motives. But that's fun, he's not attacking you randomly every 5 minutes to be a nuisance. He attacks you after completing a mission, and you are rewarded with a new upgrade for defeating him.

    I have complaints about the existence of a few invisible walls here and there (come on Sega, really?), plus the camera inside closed rooms is problematic. Also, on Hard Difficulty some boss fights are very cheap, so prepare to be frustrated.

    Yakuza Kiwami is my first experience of this series and I instantly loved it. I picked up the Steelbook Edition at a very low price and I don't regret it. I can't wait to play more Yakuza games, like Yakuza 0 and the upcoming Yakuza 6!    … Expand
  21. Jvbcdtm3
    Nov 4, 2018
    8
    Story:7.3
    Gameplay:8
    Mechanics:10
    Sounds:8
    Characters :9
    Details: 8
    Animations:8
  22. hazartas
    Jan 7, 2018
    10
    Do yourself a favor and just buy this game right now. It's a great remake of the original Yakuza on PS2. It's the sequel of Yakuza 0 which is GOTY of 2017. You will love this game!
  23. sufflaminandus
    Jul 7, 2019
    8
    Beautiful, witty, unexpectedly complex and diverse, Yakuza Kiwami, my first Yakuza game, definitely goes to my favorites. Story is of a solid action-movie quality with tons of gorgeously animated cutscenes, awesome voice-acting and memorable characters. It *is* naive, cliche-ish and very Japanese with their never ending preaching of diligence, duty and virtuousness but still it featuresBeautiful, witty, unexpectedly complex and diverse, Yakuza Kiwami, my first Yakuza game, definitely goes to my favorites. Story is of a solid action-movie quality with tons of gorgeously animated cutscenes, awesome voice-acting and memorable characters. It *is* naive, cliche-ish and very Japanese with their never ending preaching of diligence, duty and virtuousness but still it features numerous intricate turns and twists and delivers positive emotions. Combat is dynamic, fun and engaging with surprisingly extensive skill trees and small but pleasant equipment system. In particularly, this RPG-like character development elevates Yakuza Kiwami above many other similar games because what can be more addictive than leveling up or gearing your hero? Finally, the greatest department of Yakuza Kiwami: open-world...emm, district. Knowing that “Japanese” is basically a synonym of “generic”, I expected Yakuza Kiwami open-worldness to be comprised of marker-chase tasks, all in good western traditions of AC, Far Cry and etc. Imagine my surprise when Yakuza Kiwamy did not ask me to collect 6 coins or complete 5 races but instead provided me with unique substories (Yakuza official term) which are sometimes so original, or funny, or grand that I would not be embarrassed to call them fully fledged “quests”. Plus, these quest gives you huge amounts of experience, can you believe this? JRPG are renown for complete absence of sensible sidequests and boom: action-adventure game (!) has RPG elements that are more sophisticated and thorough then of so called RPGs, both western or eastern. But aside from encountering strangers, the entertainment of Kamurocho includes numerous minigames. When I hear the word ‘minigame’ I usually spit in contempt. It is not the case in Yakuza Kiwami. Here, most minigames are actually worth a try and some of them are virtually blow the mind with their ingenuity like hostess clubs, MesuKing or Pocket Circuit Racing. And Majima-everywhere? The game deserves its bucks simply thanks to this guy.

    Unfortunately I have finish on negative note. I loved literally every aspect of the game except one: exploration is limited to one small district. I personally regard diversity of scenery as a crucial element in the long games but in Yakuza Kiwami you will trudge the very same streets for thirty hours straight. Kamurocho is beautiful and interesting but it was barely enough for its length. The scariest thought for me is that *all* Yakuza games takes place in this one small town, over and over again.

    In the end, I strongly recommend Yakuza Kiwami to anyone who does not mind Japanese yakuza setting. Gameplay of this game is as solid as a rock. But play Yakuza 0 first, do not repeat my mistake.    … Expand
  24. DrSiko
    Dec 22, 2017
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Gameplay gets so repetitive it's so boring. Go to point A, fight goons, go to point B, fight Yakuza gang, go to point C, fight more goons.

    I didn't have the chance to play it on PS2 so it's my first time living the story. The story didn't get climax until the end and I was quite disappointed at the ending which is cheesy and uncalled for. Yakuza 0 was far more refined. I felt every scene there like it's the final one. So much climax and deep feelings. This one is plain and even ridiculous.

    it's weird too how Yakuza peeps who are notorious for money laundry, drug and sex trafficking are burning 10Bil to prevent a gang leader to do so lol.    … Expand
  25. JERupp
    Dec 10, 2018
    1
    This is by far one of the most overrated games I have ever had the displeasure of pushing myself to grind through. The only redeemable part of this game is the story, and it's really just a somehow white-washed, weeabu attempt at being a Japanese interpretation of the Count of Monte Cristo.

    The side games are all extremely heavy on re-showing the same animations, the graphics are barely    This is by far one of the most overrated games I have ever had the displeasure of pushing myself to grind through. The only redeemable part of this game is the story, and it's really just a somehow white-washed, weeabu attempt at being a Japanese interpretation of the Count of Monte Cristo.

    The side games are all extremely heavy on re-showing the same animations, the graphics are barely passable for a game made in this decade, and the fighting is really just an orgy of men slapping each other until the main character stands on top after drinking about a dozen energy drinks. Everything about this game is inflated "game hours" with grindy, endlessly boring and unrewarding RPG aspects that somehow overstay their welcome before you even start learning how to unlock the "Dragon of Dojima" skills--a feat that is absolutely useless as you basically need to be endgame before you can finish learning said fighting style (and rush is the best fighting style by far).

    If this is what the series is all about, I'll be taking a hard pass on the future iterations.    … Expand
  26. jackjackson4206
    Apr 5, 2020
    0
    At first glance Yakuza Kiwami looks like a great game. Decent story, as far as video games go, and a big city to explore. Unfortunately it is soon apparent that all the minigames used to pad the game are all poorly designed, with sluggish menus, unskippable dialogue which you must sit through everytime you wish to retry a challenge, and no retry option. Furthermore, roaming the city toAt first glance Yakuza Kiwami looks like a great game. Decent story, as far as video games go, and a big city to explore. Unfortunately it is soon apparent that all the minigames used to pad the game are all poorly designed, with sluggish menus, unskippable dialogue which you must sit through everytime you wish to retry a challenge, and no retry option. Furthermore, roaming the city to knock out the challenges will be constantly interrupted by the unavoidable, easy but long Majima fights. Clearly this is a game aimed at people with no jobs or life outside of the game, because even the simplest tasks require crazy amounts of time. This kind of game design would not be acceptable in a PS2 game, let alone a PS4 game. I can only hope that the flaws in this series are seen and addressed, because it has a lot of potential, but constantly suffers from poor design choices.… Expand
  27. AfroThundah
    Oct 3, 2017
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Everyone says it's been rebuilt from the ground up but, well, it still plays like a PS2/3 era game, with the same stupid camera and all, don't get me wrong, swinging a reception lounge chair (yes, a 3 seater chair) is stupid and hilarious, but the camera does nothing to help you in fights (I'm dwelling on the terrible camera). And those climax battles, that **** can just leave, seriously. The story is the only reason this doesn't get a 0, it looks a little bit prettier than the original but not enough was done to modernise this to make it a "remake", it has to be remade, not given another lick of paint.

    **** stupid seamed to be the word of the day I started playing..........and it owes me a new controller and headset (Shimano you cheap ass sack of **** and button mashing X can **** off back to 2005)    … Expand
  28. DUKEofNY
    Jan 10, 2019
    0
    This is just cut scene's, this game (if you can call this a game) is why sega has gone down in flames. Boring, janky controls, feels like your playing ps2. If you want a story, watch a movie
  29. Zeydlitz
    Sep 8, 2017
    5
    This game could be almost perfect Yakuza game, but one piece of crap made it pretty mediocre -- it's Climax battles. This stuff SHOULD be removed from games .
  30. SOLIDSNAKEN64
    Nov 13, 2019
    8
    I enjoyed kiwami story more then 0. The game graphics looks exactly the same as 0 and looks like they just reused the same city with same assets. The goofy side quest and serious main story kept me interested the entire time. The battle system is still fun and improved slightly since 0 for the better. I wish they would put in english dubs, I would enjoy these games more instead ofI enjoyed kiwami story more then 0. The game graphics looks exactly the same as 0 and looks like they just reused the same city with same assets. The goofy side quest and serious main story kept me interested the entire time. The battle system is still fun and improved slightly since 0 for the better. I wish they would put in english dubs, I would enjoy these games more instead of having to read the captions during cutscenes.… Expand
  31. bullshark
    Feb 21, 2022
    10
    When I thought there was another Yakuza game couldn't stand next to 0, there comes Kiwami. This game gets props bc its essentially that which started it all, but with big combat and quality-of-life improvements over Yakuza 0. The story is gripping, both the original and additions, the writing and humor fantastic, and acting amazing. There's always something new to do even when you beat theWhen I thought there was another Yakuza game couldn't stand next to 0, there comes Kiwami. This game gets props bc its essentially that which started it all, but with big combat and quality-of-life improvements over Yakuza 0. The story is gripping, both the original and additions, the writing and humor fantastic, and acting amazing. There's always something new to do even when you beat the main game. Majima Everywhere is way better than Mr. Shakedown. A must play!… Expand
  32. GameforGamers
    Dec 25, 2020
    10
    first if you are wondering whether you should play this game or not? the answer is definitely you should play it.

    Sega just prove again that they can always be trusted to deliver great quality when it comes to the Yakuza series. it's rare in gaming industry to see a franchise stay strong and keep getting better and better every time, that's what Yakuza series provide a franchise where    first if you are wondering whether you should play this game or not? the answer is definitely you should play it.

    Sega just prove again that they can always be trusted to deliver great quality when it comes to the Yakuza series.
    it's rare in gaming industry to see a franchise stay strong and keep getting better and better every time, that's what Yakuza series provide a franchise where every game is a masterpiece on it's own.

    yakuza kiwami combine the deep storytelling , and the wacky fun side activities, instead of going for a massive empty openworlds like some other franchises, yakuza goes for a small world full of activities and where everywhere you go there is something fun to do, and the world almost feels real.

    i personally give this game the perfect score of 10/10, an i recommend it to everyone    … Expand
  33. TheOldestOak
    Nov 14, 2022
    10
    The Yakuza aka Like a Dragon series is incredibly good and I recommend these games go literally anybody.
  34. 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.
  35. MPK92
    Aug 31, 2023
    8
    A fantastic remake. Good story, great characters, good side content, good combat, looks and sounds good. A few lulls in the mission design such as a handful of fetch quests and other missions that seem rather superfluous.
  36. toysjoe
    Feb 19, 2021
    3
    I'm about 40 hours in to this game, and at the final save before the end of the game. I've unlocked every purchasable skill, and I got to say, this game is absolutely awful.

    See it's not actually a third person action adventure game. This is actually a pinball game. Kiryu is the ball and the enemies are the bumpers, because in every battle, you just get pinballed and bounced around    I'm about 40 hours in to this game, and at the final save before the end of the game. I've unlocked every purchasable skill, and I got to say, this game is absolutely awful.

    See it's not actually a third person action adventure game. This is actually a pinball game. Kiryu is the ball and the enemies are the bumpers, because in every battle, you just get pinballed and bounced around infinitely.

    Imagine the fun of playing a fighting game where everything knocks you down, everything interrupts your attacks, Except the enemies are much more resistant to knockdowns, are immune to interrupts, and can teleport behind you.

    The only redeeming factor this game has is the main story, and the side stories. The combat is garbage, the minigames are garbage. It should have either been a pinball game, or a visual novel - not a third person beat 'em up game.    … Expand
  37. tbouniverse
    Feb 24, 2018
    9
    This is the first Yakuza title I have ever played.

    The story is deep and intense. It combines elements of friendship, love, sacrifice, betrayal, greed and revenge to tell a very heartfelt story. I felt a sense of dread many times throughout the story and rightly so quite often. Outside the story, you can spend upwards of 50 hours doing side-quests with an endless supply of fun    This is the first Yakuza title I have ever played.

    The story is deep and intense. It combines elements of friendship, love, sacrifice, betrayal, greed and revenge to tell a very heartfelt story. I felt a sense of dread many times throughout the story and rightly so quite often.

    Outside the story, you can spend upwards of 50 hours doing side-quests with an endless supply of fun activities you will enjoy. Trust me, this is something you will really get into.

    Playing through it, I was floored by how enjoyable the fighting was. Majima Everywhere and its progression is very well done as you learn new skills that you need to quickly dispatch more powerful enemies. Completing all side-quests culminates in a VERY cool boss fight.    … Expand
  38. RuslanDZE
    Oct 5, 2017
    8
    After my first game in this series which was Yakuza 0, Ive became very interested at this world. I love story driven games with cool characters so that is exactly my type. I was anticipating Yakuza Kiwami. I picked this game up without a secind thoughts, especially for 30$ is a very decent deal.

    After finishing this game, this is my thoughts. If you played Yakuza 0, Kiwami will feel    After my first game in this series which was Yakuza 0, Ive became very interested at this world. I love story driven games with cool characters so that is exactly my type. I was anticipating Yakuza Kiwami. I picked this game up without a secind thoughts, especially for 30$ is a very decent deal.

    After finishing this game, this is my thoughts. If you played Yakuza 0, Kiwami will feel like an add on/expension. Same engine,same graphics, some aspects of the game tweaked but not drastically. Main story is fine, not better than 0. I was slightly dissapointed in sub stories, they did not have fun/unique stories and most of them would end up by a fight. Overall, game feels repetative sometimes but fun is still there. You wanna know how story will end so you keep playing even if you tired with a gameplay. Game mechanic with Majima is a nice feature that I hope we will see at the next game.

    Summary: must have for a Yakuza fans and Beat Em Up enthusiasts.    … Expand
  39. p1menta
    Dec 25, 2018
    8
    so nostalgic. miss ps2 times so much. also, japan seems more and more appealing to me, wanna visit it soon. the game is still cool, years later, although the fights can be really frustrating some times. not because it's hard, it's just ridiculous sometimes. you cannot full combo some people, the evades and dashes are just stupid nothing terrible, but ok
    the side missions are really fun    so nostalgic. miss ps2 times so much. also, japan seems more and more appealing to me, wanna visit it soon. the game is still cool, years later, although the fights can be really frustrating some times. not because it's hard, it's just ridiculous sometimes. you cannot full combo some people, the evades and dashes are just stupid nothing terrible, but ok
    the side missions are really fun for me too, btw    … Expand
  40. pongkrit03
    Jan 21, 2019
    8
    Coming after Yakuza 0, I think Yakuza Kiwami 1 did a great job but not yet on par with Yakuza 0. (I loved Yakuza 0 so much that I gave it a 10/10). Main Story is still the strong point of the game but this time side quests are not as fun. Combat is also basically the same as Yakuza 0, which is fun but get repetitive overtime. Music, however, a let down. It does not have as many amazingComing after Yakuza 0, I think Yakuza Kiwami 1 did a great job but not yet on par with Yakuza 0. (I loved Yakuza 0 so much that I gave it a 10/10). Main Story is still the strong point of the game but this time side quests are not as fun. Combat is also basically the same as Yakuza 0, which is fun but get repetitive overtime. Music, however, a let down. It does not have as many amazing tracks as 0. Minigame is also lacking. the reasons that I love Yakuza 0 so much are not only because story alone, but also minigame like Cabaret club, Real Estate management, disco dancing ... etc. Yakuza 1 does not have any entertaining mini games for me.

    In brief, I think the first starter for everyone should be Yakuza 0. Yakuza kiwami is a good game for story but not as amazing as Yakuza 0, which is understandable because it was a remastered of PS2 game. The price now is very cheap though, that why I give it 8/10 because you will get much more content than you have to spend. I will soon buy Yakuza kiwami 2 in the hope that kiwami 2 will be the greatest episode in Yakuza series    … Expand
  41. joaopontesvaz
    Nov 4, 2017
    8
    Graphics: 8.4 Sound: 8.2 Gameplay: 8.1 Fun/Story: 8.2

    A unique game with nice plot and level design. SEGA at its best, with very consistent graphics and art conjugation.
  42. Kai82
    Aug 30, 2020
    9
    Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the original game or more like a great enhancement and overhaul. The Yakuza games are best described as open world action adventures with RPG elements. While they have maybe the smallest open world in this category it is filled to the brim with content. It is the story of Kazuma Kiryu who on the eve of becoming the leader of his own family branch takes theYakuza Kiwami is a remake of the original game or more like a great enhancement and overhaul. The Yakuza games are best described as open world action adventures with RPG elements. While they have maybe the smallest open world in this category it is filled to the brim with content. It is the story of Kazuma Kiryu who on the eve of becoming the leader of his own family branch takes the blame for a crime his best (childhood) friend and sworn brother Akira Nishikiyama committed. He returns after serving ten years in prison sentence to find the world and people he knew have changed drastically. The overall story is breathtakingly good. Be it the overall plot and power struggles in the Yakuza or his personal story involving his friend / brother Nishikiyama and their mutual childhood friend Yumi who has vanished. I felt always invested and Nishikiyamas arc is so well written as are his moral dilemmas. Then I must mention Goro Maijima. He returns to help Kiryu. He checks if Kiriyu is still the near unbeatable fighter from back then by fighting him and beating him up at first. He then put up challenges and fights to bring him back in shape. It is as much entertaining and hilarious as you can imagine as you progress. Then there are the side activities were the Yakuza series is unmatched. You can play: Bowling, Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat, Darts, Cee-Lo, Koi Koi, Karaoke, Mahjong, Pocket Races, Pool, Shogi, Mesu King (collecting card game) and more. There are on top of this tons of side quests with interesting characters and situations (mostly). Then there are the RPG elements. You can level up your abilities, find and equip accessories and learn new abilities. Content-wise it delivers an excellent amount and good quality but Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwawi 2 have even more and better content. The only down side is the graphic. While not terrible it is not up to date. It does not matter for me but others can view this as a no go. Overall an excellent game but not as good as Yakuza 0. Yakuza 0 enhanced and declined this game for me at the same time. It added to the character and story with giving more background and motivations. It is however the benchmark I will compare all other games with. Worth playing even when it is a bit weaker.… Expand
  43. sweed1234
    May 29, 2020
    9
    Great game but not as good as the others. This is a remake of the first original hence why it's not as amazing as recent titled. Still a solid game which I loved.
  44. The_BlueRose
    May 19, 2018
    8
    Yakuza Kiwami delivers a quite bland story with the same aspects of Yakuza 0.

    - The story is not bad not good, mises good story flips and is a bit plain. - The combat is like Yakuza 0, but there is a big problem with Dragon style, once unlocked the parry and the counter you become invincible, rising the heat meter to MAX in no time and dealing enormous damage. - Majima everywhere:    Yakuza Kiwami delivers a quite bland story with the same aspects of Yakuza 0.

    - The story is not bad not good, mises good story flips and is a bit plain.

    - The combat is like Yakuza 0, but there is a big problem with Dragon style, once unlocked the parry and the counter you become invincible, rising the heat meter to MAX in no time and dealing enormous damage.

    - Majima everywhere: is fun and original until the very end, as said about the Dragon style, one got the parry and counter, is cheesing.

    - In general: is like Yakuza 0 but without it´s originality and impact    … Expand
  45. filip92
    Jul 9, 2022
    9
    I played the main game with only a few sidequests. Stories in Yakuza are unlike any others. Characters are unique and crazy. Dialogue is good, and the game always shifts from comedy to serious situations.
  46. TheMegaGodz
    Jan 6, 2020
    9
    An incredibly gripping story with amazing characters and fun combat system makes this game a fantastic experience. Sometimes information that could be incredibly useful to the player isn't explained very well, but it doesn't ruin the overall experience.
  47. Wander22
    Feb 17, 2019
    8
    Gameplay/Mechanics: 8
    Sound/Music: 8
    Graphics/Art: 8
    Story/Atmosphere: 8
    OVERALL: 8/10
  48. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    8
    Last year I gave Yakuza 0 a chance and I’m very glad that I did. Normally I look at these weird Japanese titles and they just don’t seem up my alley. If something is weird and Japanese then it’s not for me or at least that’s what I thought. What I discovered last year is that I am a fan of Yakuza 0 so much so that it was my second favorite game of 2017. What I’ve discovered this year afterLast year I gave Yakuza 0 a chance and I’m very glad that I did. Normally I look at these weird Japanese titles and they just don’t seem up my alley. If something is weird and Japanese then it’s not for me or at least that’s what I thought. What I discovered last year is that I am a fan of Yakuza 0 so much so that it was my second favorite game of 2017. What I’ve discovered this year after playing Yakuza Kiwami is that I’m actually a fan of the franchise. This game is not as good as 0 but it’s impressed me and I am a fan.

    The game starts out where Zero leaves off. You’re Kiryu and you’re good friends with Nishiki. Nishiki ends up killing a higher up in the Yakuza which Kiryu takes the fall for and ends up in prison for 10 years. The whole early part of the game is leading up to prison and then spending time in prison where it’s a quick montage. After you get out of prison this is where the game truly begins. I don’t want to get too deep into the story because I don’t want to spoil anything but the game continues with the tradition of being a Japanese Soap opera which I am a fan of.

    The game’s combat feels an awful a lot like Yakuza 0’s combat which makes sense because Kiwami was built in Yakuza 0’s engine. Sadly the big difference between 0 and Kiwami is the fact that in Kiwami you do not get to play as Majima. Now from what I understand Sega did change Kiwami up from the original where they have sprinkled more Majima into the game but it’s not quite the same. Either way, it’s a great game that kept me entertained for a very time.

    The game also carries on the tradition of having a lot of fun mini-games that you can get engaged with. In 0 the Cabaret Club really pulled me in and in this one, it was actually the slot cars. I don’t know what it was but it was like a fun puzzle that I had to sit down and try to solve. You needed to make sure you weren’t too fast to fly off the track, too heavy to slow you down and all the while maintaining good acceleration.

    I fully plan on playing Yakuza 6 and Yakuza Kiwami 2 this year but I want to wait until Kiwami 2 comes out first. I’ll probably play Kiwami 2 when that comes out in August and then maybe finally sit down and play through 6 in November/December when things slow down for me. Plus by then the game will be much cheaper for me to buy.    … Expand
  49. ElleryHQ
    Jun 21, 2019
    7
    Игра похожа на демо Yakuza Zero с одной локацией и одним персонажем. И кому пришло в голову, что восстанавливающие здоровье противники, это хорошая идея?
  50. Chimes003
    Jan 18, 2018
    9
    Yakuza Kiwami is the best remake I have seen on the PS4 thus far. It is a remaster of the original Yakuza game for PS2. The 2016 remaster can be found with Japanese audio and English subtitles for relatively cheap in America. The Sega corporation has made a strong showing in the beat 'em up genre that it was known for during the nineties. The steel book edition features great graphicYakuza Kiwami is the best remake I have seen on the PS4 thus far. It is a remaster of the original Yakuza game for PS2. The 2016 remaster can be found with Japanese audio and English subtitles for relatively cheap in America. The Sega corporation has made a strong showing in the beat 'em up genre that it was known for during the nineties. The steel book edition features great graphic art on the front and back. My favorite is the Yakuza style tattoos on the back cover. The player plays as protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as he brawls anyone standing in his way. There is strong RPG elements evident in an internal leveling system that improves your four styles of martial arts, strength and health. As the player enjoys the constant scuffles on the fictional city of Kamurocho the RPG elements really come alive. The cinematics engrosses the player in the criminal underworld of the real life Yakuza. There is murder, cover ups, mystery. deception. revenge, honor and loyalty. The graphics standout on their own. The player will forget that Yakuza Kiwami is a 10th anniversary remake. And let's not forget Goro Majima. He is in every part of the game as the system "Majima Everywhere" suggests. He is difficult to fight, but good for comedic relief. This is a true next-gen beat 'em up/RPG and if you don't find a steel book copy, you'll be missing out on a great game.… Expand
  51. egoBorder
    Jun 11, 2018
    7
    I'm not familiar with the Yakuza series outside this game, so maybe take this with a grain of salt, but Yakuza Kiwami did not make a good first impression. If, like me, you're new to the series and looking forward to a bit of role-playing in a Tokyo neighborhood, you might be disappointed to find a highly-controlled experience here that simply does not know the meaning of fun.

    If you    I'm not familiar with the Yakuza series outside this game, so maybe take this with a grain of salt, but Yakuza Kiwami did not make a good first impression. If, like me, you're new to the series and looking forward to a bit of role-playing in a Tokyo neighborhood, you might be disappointed to find a highly-controlled experience here that simply does not know the meaning of fun.

    If you are saintly patient, the game eventually opens up and gives you true freedom. And there IS a lot to do. Unfortunately by the time you have a lot of options the map is so familiar and you've been so worn down by scripted events that the charm is lost entirely.

    If you are patient and don't mind LENGTHY tutorials built into the story, you might enjoy this. Otherwise, it's a controller death sentence. And not because the gameplay is difficult or frustrating, but simply the amount of times you will want to JUST DO ______ but four things have been scripted to happen before ______ is available, even though ______ is right there in front of you    … Expand
  52. Split_Decay
    Nov 17, 2018
    9
    For a game to break the norm in today's society is not as common as it once was. FPS games carbon copies of another, MMO's fighting for the best paid membership and some games too broken that it's skeptical to call them one. Even though there is a surge of copy cats and prototypes there are some that stand out above all else, this game is one of them.

    It may be a modernised remake of a    For a game to break the norm in today's society is not as common as it once was. FPS games carbon copies of another, MMO's fighting for the best paid membership and some games too broken that it's skeptical to call them one. Even though there is a surge of copy cats and prototypes there are some that stand out above all else, this game is one of them.

    It may be a modernised remake of a classic but it still holds a candle to original creations. This game for me is one that not only captures the essence of good storytelling but in a way I don't see very often. The combat being a centre focal point and narrative push makes be engaged and focused on the story aspect.

    Each character of the game whether it's Kiryu or Haruka each have purpose and reason. The voice actors are ace and really show the expressive attitudes of each. The city in which the game is based is big enough to explore but too big where traveling becomes a bore.

    I must say I though this game would be difficult to play as I don't understand Japanese and that the subtitles would make it hard to grasp the seriousness of it, but i was wrong. The expert voice acting, well timed music and expressive animations allowed a wide understanding of what was going on regardless of the language barrier.

    Overall this game is one of the best I've played, my only bad thing is the obvious nostalgic feel of its PS2 days, but it wasn't that bad. This game is a must buy and really captures an originality that only SEGA could produce.    … Expand
  53. Timbone
    Feb 1, 2020
    10
    Yakuza Kiwami gives me faith in video games. I know its a updated version of an PS2 game. But they nailed it. The storyline keeps you involved and wanting to know more. The fighting in the game is tight. Kiryu is so cool. You want to take down mobs of Yakuza as him. He's stylish but also a total badass. I love that Majima is the complete opposite of him. Being a badass in his own right butYakuza Kiwami gives me faith in video games. I know its a updated version of an PS2 game. But they nailed it. The storyline keeps you involved and wanting to know more. The fighting in the game is tight. Kiryu is so cool. You want to take down mobs of Yakuza as him. He's stylish but also a total badass. I love that Majima is the complete opposite of him. Being a badass in his own right but being more crazy than Kiryu. This was the first game of the Yakuza series I ever played and I loved it so much, I went out and got ever Yakuza game there is. I think Yakuza is what is keeping Sega alive. It wasn't super successful when it came out on PS2 but these last couple of years, Yakuza has gained so much popularity with American fans and I love that. Give this game a try.… Expand
  54. Enkindled
    Aug 3, 2019
    8
    I've almost unlocked the Platinum now, so here it goes. There are some nice things to be told about this game. I have read the other reviews so I`ll try to same different things.
    Yakuza is a story-driven Beat'em Up game, sited in Japan - as you can guess, the Japanese mob, the Yakuza is the focus background here. You have basically a large neighborhood to explore, full of restaurants,    I've almost unlocked the Platinum now, so here it goes. There are some nice things to be told about this game. I have read the other reviews so I`ll try to same different things.
    Yakuza is a story-driven Beat'em Up game, sited in Japan - as you can guess, the Japanese mob, the Yakuza is the focus background here. You have basically a large neighborhood to explore, full of restaurants, minigame places, tons of NPCs, sidequests and a DAMN GOOD fighting system. It was first made for the PS2, but now it was completely remade for the PS4. And I can say by experience, completely remade. For the best. That being said, let us begin.

    *The Cons:

    - This is one of the reasons I give an 8, instead of a 10. Sometimes combat gets tedious because is to damn frequent. You are trying to get to a restaurant that is only 2 blocks away, and BAM, 3 fights. However, you can try to outrun your enemies, so It gets a pass. But is still annoying.

    - The soundtrack is not bad, but you will never remember it has music because it has no memorable feature.

    - Another reason it gets an 8 instead of a 10 is that, for some subquests, or parallel crucial quests, you are obligated to do some of the game minigames. I like this "minigame" layer in a game, especially in games like Yakuza, which aim to be more realistic with the world, but I don't like being forced to play some of them to progress in some aspects. So, I mostly do not agree with this. But it's not that invasive.

    * Now the good, and it's damn long, take your time:

    - The combat is awesome. You have 4 fighting styles, all completely different, with a large variety of moves and finishing moves. This adds to a large list of skill you can acquire and change them even more. Different enemies have different styles, so you will try them all. A good addition is that the combat is very cathartic. You will FEEL the punch.

    - Weapons. A nice feature in Yakuza games is that you can grab stuff in the street (or buy them) and use as weapons. Each object has their own move set and funny and aggressive finishers. You will love this because it's so damn good to smash a bicycle into the enemy`s head that you will try all you can.

    - The story. The story is as addictive as hell. It is extremely well made, with interesting characters. You will find yourself really interested in all the characters. Their behavior is realistic and the facial expressions are well made. The side stories are funny and cool too. Some of them are very realistic and try to explore some Japanese problems, such as working conditions, traditions and etc. Some stories are fun, but most of them are intricate, emotional and badass.

    - Mature game. This game is about revenge, violence, breaking bones, and trying to get laid (sometimes). So, it is never boring.

    - Majima. Play the game, you will soon understand.

    - Funny. This game, such as all true Japanese games (in their essence) are made to have comic reliefs and Yakuza Kawani has tons of it.

    Overall, this is a game you don't want to miss. You will love the protagonist, the combat system, the story, and all the realist that is built around you. I knew this series from time ago, but this PS4 remake is a fresh take and can`t be missed. Try out!    … Expand
  55. M4nU
    May 2, 2018
    8
    First of all I have to say that YK is my first Yacuza game. On my opinion this is a very good title with a great story. The game is not a free roaming; it is a kinda of particular action/adventure with jrpg elements; sub stories and a lot of stuff to do. Its mainstay is undoubtedly the story and its great direction. The cons are that it is not totally "free", in the sense that you moveFirst of all I have to say that YK is my first Yacuza game. On my opinion this is a very good title with a great story. The game is not a free roaming; it is a kinda of particular action/adventure with jrpg elements; sub stories and a lot of stuff to do. Its mainstay is undoubtedly the story and its great direction. The cons are that it is not totally "free", in the sense that you move into a giant but "restricted" area and the camera which forces gamer's movements all around the map. Btw a very nice ps4 exclusive.… Expand
  56. B-Bog
    Dec 19, 2022
    7
    Haven't played the original, but IMO they should have done more with this remake to modernize the game, since it is still veeeery clunky in a lot of ways (menus, item management, general movement etc. etc.), but the worst offender here is clearly the janky combat. Never have I felt so utterly ineffective in any video game combat system. The enemies are constantly blocking, dodging,Haven't played the original, but IMO they should have done more with this remake to modernize the game, since it is still veeeery clunky in a lot of ways (menus, item management, general movement etc. etc.), but the worst offender here is clearly the janky combat. Never have I felt so utterly ineffective in any video game combat system. The enemies are constantly blocking, dodging, swarming you and knocking you down, they have insanely long health bars, especially later in the game, and you do so little damage even after fully upgrading all skill trees that combat, even on easy difficulty, is just a tedious and drawn-out mess. To make it even worse, boss enemies can even REGAIN health, which can only be stopped if you have the right fighting style selected, your heat gauge is full, AND you have unlocked a specific skill in that specific style. Otherwise, no dice, enjoy your fight taking EVEN LONGER. Really, the only thing making fighting somewhat enjoyable in this game are the signature Heat moves, which, as always, are totally ridiculus and over-the-top.

    The city of Kamurocho, with all its (often very funny) substories and mini-games is as engaging as always; and the story-telling and writing is generally pretty good, although you can tell that this was the first entry in the series, since the narrative isn't quite as bold and the characters not quite as complex as in later titles.

    The Majima everywhere mechanic wasn't a totally bad idea, but its implementation is pretty uneven. I got through the main story without really encountering Majima all that much since I wasn't aware of how to progress the meter (you have to go to the information booth instead of just being able to walk into the "Shine" nightclub for some weird and contrived reason), then when I did finally do that in the post-game he became a giant nuisance since his health bar grows to gigantic lengths and you have to fight him an ABSURD number of times to get all your Dragon abilities back, which wasn't even worth it at that point for me.

    So, all in all, if you like Yakuza games in general, you're probably going to like this one, too, but the remake seems to have squandered the opportunity to really modernize this title, especially the combat, and bring it up to current standards.    … Expand
  57. buddy01238
    Nov 17, 2018
    8
    Yakuza Kiwami has a fantastic story with memorable characters that you will actually care about and some emotional parts. The combat is fun and addicting for people that enjoy the martial arts style. The game gives various mini games but is not as filled with content as the later yakuza titles. The game gets an 8/10 because of it’s fantastic story, gameplay and content but is hell back byYakuza Kiwami has a fantastic story with memorable characters that you will actually care about and some emotional parts. The combat is fun and addicting for people that enjoy the martial arts style. The game gives various mini games but is not as filled with content as the later yakuza titles. The game gets an 8/10 because of it’s fantastic story, gameplay and content but is hell back by the fact it’s a remake and does not hold as much content as later games… Expand
  58. SplitMind
    Dec 2, 2018
    8
    I really enjoyed this game, albeit with some noticeable flaws.

    What separates it from Yakuza 0 is the new way of obtaining skills. Rather than spending money, you also gain experience points. I found this far easier to obtain various skills, although beyond basics such as health boosts there weren't a lot of skills I particularly desired or used. The battle system is very similar but    I really enjoyed this game, albeit with some noticeable flaws.

    What separates it from Yakuza 0 is the new way of obtaining skills. Rather than spending money, you also gain experience points. I found this far easier to obtain various skills, although beyond basics such as health boosts there weren't a lot of skills I particularly desired or used. The battle system is very similar but with the added 'Dragon' style, which showed a lot of promise but was too inconvenient and awkward for me to upgrade when I could just use Beast style and plough through opponents.

    This game felt a lot shorter than the first, and I'm not sure if that's because we only followed the story from Kiryu's perspective or because I did not invest as much time into substories. There are a lot of these in the game and most of the ones I played were interesting and varied in terms of story, however usually came down to you choosing to fight or not as a resolution to the plot.

    Some people may find the combat too similar and repetitive to the previous game. I noticed an array of new moves and animations, but there was still a fair bit of repetition. For me though, it was always entertaining to pick up random objects and smash them across peoeple's heads.

    The graphics are pretty good, and I loved the colourful backdrop of neon signs and shop windows.
    The voice acting was pretty good, although you'll be reading English subtitles for them.

    The bottom line is that I enjoyed Yakuza 0 so much that I bought this, and now I've enjoyed Kiwami so much that I'm really looking forward to playing Kiwami 2 and seeing what it's like with the new engine. If you've never played these games then go back to Yakuza 0 and try it. Just beware that it is also heavily story-driven, meaning there are quite a few cutscenes but i enjoyed watching them.    … Expand
  59. superpyro296
    Jun 28, 2020
    8
    Yakuza Kiwami is another solid entry in the Yakuza series. I have played Yakuza 0 last year and it's hard to don't compare both games. I would definitely say that Kiwami is weaker than Yakuza 0 for almost everything, especially the story. Don't get me wrong...the story is still better than most of the video games but for a game with ps2 graphics, we need a really good story to compensateYakuza Kiwami is another solid entry in the Yakuza series. I have played Yakuza 0 last year and it's hard to don't compare both games. I would definitely say that Kiwami is weaker than Yakuza 0 for almost everything, especially the story. Don't get me wrong...the story is still better than most of the video games but for a game with ps2 graphics, we need a really good story to compensate and have a 8 or 9 rating imo. I'm still giving it a 8 though because I don't want my rating to be influenced by how exceptional was Yakuza O. I beated Yakuza Kiwami after 39 hours and had a 51% completion rate on Normal difficulty.

    In Yakuza Kiwami, you will also have really interesting side missions. For minigames, i would say it's "less of the same" if we compare to Yakuza 0. The fighting seems almost the same thing and we also have the same map.

    I still recommend this game and I need to acknowledge the following: we have a fun game with an interesting story and great character development. Playing this game around Christmas made the experience even more genuine as Yakuza Kiwami takes place around Christmas too and the developers made us feel the Christmas vibe in this game.

    I also recommend not playing Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami back-to-back and wait at least a few months between the games. I'll wait until next December before playing Yakuza Kiwami 2    … Expand
  60. Spideyfan4Life
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    The beginning of The Dragon Of Dojima Kiryu Kazuma! This game is yet another masterpiece in a legendary series.
  61. deho7
    Sep 24, 2018
    8
    This yakuza game is a great remaster of the original yakuza. Although i haven't played the original game, the story is written well enough to be considered a good game by today's standards. My pet peeve about this game is that this game is too short for a yakuza game. it only takes me about 40ish hours to finish all the sub stories and maximizing all the skill trees. I wished that i canThis yakuza game is a great remaster of the original yakuza. Although i haven't played the original game, the story is written well enough to be considered a good game by today's standards. My pet peeve about this game is that this game is too short for a yakuza game. it only takes me about 40ish hours to finish all the sub stories and maximizing all the skill trees. I wished that i can play more than one character in this game. However, i only paid 10 bucks for this game through PS store so its all well worth it in the end.… Expand
  62. Onask
    Oct 16, 2018
    8
    La saga Yakuza debe de ser de las menos conocidas y con mejor calidad a nivel de trama e historia de todos los juegos exclusivos de PlayStation (y prácticamente de cualquier consola).

    Excelente remake del original Yakuza lanzado en 2005 para PlayStation 2 que no hace sino mejorar todos los apartados técnicos del clásico.

    Imprescindible, como toda su saga.
  63. Yukki
    Jul 18, 2019
    8
    I really loved this game from the beginning till the end, the main story is memorable and the side quests are so good and meaningful.
  64. Muoliver
    Dec 9, 2018
    10
    It's a rich game in content. Gorgeous special effects and give continuity to the series in a amazing form after Yakuza 0. If you enjoy beat 'em up games, this game is for you!
  65. KratosKong
    Nov 25, 2019
    9
    como todos los Yakuza que he jugado, la historia se mantiene interesante de principio a fin, los combates espectaculares y el contenido en general es de mucha calidad, destacando el nuevo modo de majima.
  66. karbabtahir
    Feb 21, 2019
    9
    now this game was my first yakuza game and i get that this game really isn't for everyone , there's a lot of restrictions here and there , not to mention that you really aren't allowed to explore freely until chapter 4 , but i loved the game , it has a great story polished ub by this set of great characters , sre as any other game it may get frustrating and/or repetitive but it's a greatnow this game was my first yakuza game and i get that this game really isn't for everyone , there's a lot of restrictions here and there , not to mention that you really aren't allowed to explore freely until chapter 4 , but i loved the game , it has a great story polished ub by this set of great characters , sre as any other game it may get frustrating and/or repetitive but it's a great game non the less… Expand
  67. Arcticsurface
    May 9, 2019
    10
    Just too **** good, even though its the remake of a game made in 2005, its still so amazingly fun i have no words to explain it, my god Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio you are so good!

    50 out of 10 is my score.
  68. Wweald
    Dec 16, 2020
    7
    Yakuza 0 my first game of the series and this the 2nd, I felt disappointed in this one coming from 0 but it's still a really good game. I think only playing as Kiryu made the game worse, using the same stances the whole game instead of swapping between characters with unique stances. Some of the level design choices made this a lot worse too. There are a lot of fights where you're fightingYakuza 0 my first game of the series and this the 2nd, I felt disappointed in this one coming from 0 but it's still a really good game. I think only playing as Kiryu made the game worse, using the same stances the whole game instead of swapping between characters with unique stances. Some of the level design choices made this a lot worse too. There are a lot of fights where you're fighting a ton of enemies and there's nothing to pick up for beast stance, rush isn't great for dealing with groups so 90% of the time I was just using brawler. The dragon stance was cool especially how it levels by fighting Majima but it felt underwhelming to me personally. The story is interesting but not nearly as compelling as 0s. The boss fights are obnoxious in this game, they're all so insanely mobile it's hard to land a hit on them. They take a long time to fight because there are less windows to attack.… Expand
  69. Jackthegamer
    Sep 15, 2022
    6
    It's ok. The fighting is fun, open world activities are cool and the atmosphere is good
  70. Mazhi
    Oct 4, 2020
    10
    Creo que no le puedes pedir más a un videojuego. Una revisión perfecta del ya perfecto clásico de PS2.

    Ambientación inmejorable, submisiones divertidísimas, una historia excelente, y un montón de cosas que hacer para entretenerte entre las misiones prnicipales. Si no lo has jugado no sé a qué esperas.
  71. Cafe_8bits
    Jul 6, 2020
    8
    Yakuza Kiwami have tons of great moments, unforgettable characters and great gameplay and presentation. Sure, it has some flaws, but its a solid and great game. Never spent so much hours in a game without even noticing.
  72. memokmo
    May 10, 2021
    8
    Fun combat.
    Good story.
    Good characters.
    Content is enough.
    I loved it really good game.
  73. MrChickster
    Jul 28, 2020
    7
    Story - worse. Gameplay and engine - same. An uninspired sequel. Who would've known the prequels can be better huh? Rights Star Wars?
  74. GameReviewStars
    Feb 18, 2020
    10
    Very good story and serious cast but also has very funny moments! The gameplay is very easy and entertaining.
  75. mateusbatatais
    Jun 13, 2020
    8
    Confesso que joguei o game original mas não lembrava de nada, entao foi como jogar um novo jogo. Yakuza peca muito em lutas repetitivas e sempre arrebenta na historia. Como isso é muito valido pra mim, curti bem o jogo. Achei péssimo o jogo ser na mesma cidade do yakuza 0(quem usou a cidade de novo foi o zero), mas tem motivo pois a historia é continua. O Yakuza 0 é melhor.

    História: 10    Confesso que joguei o game original mas não lembrava de nada, entao foi como jogar um novo jogo. Yakuza peca muito em lutas repetitivas e sempre arrebenta na historia. Como isso é muito valido pra mim, curti bem o jogo. Achei péssimo o jogo ser na mesma cidade do yakuza 0(quem usou a cidade de novo foi o zero), mas tem motivo pois a historia é continua. O Yakuza 0 é melhor.

    História: 10
    Som: 10
    Jogabilidade: 5
    Gráficos:10
    Diversão: 7    … Expand
  76. ThePSButton
    May 6, 2020
    7
    Yakuza: Kiwami fue mi primer contacto real con la serie, y quedé encantado. El título es el ejemplo perfecto de un mundio abierto pequeño, pero lleno de contenido y actividades, que deja mal parado a todos esos juegos que se llenan la boca con hectáreas y hectáreas completas de mapas donde no hay mucho por hacer. Ah, sí, Kiwami también tiene un sistema de combate competente que lo hacen unYakuza: Kiwami fue mi primer contacto real con la serie, y quedé encantado. El título es el ejemplo perfecto de un mundio abierto pequeño, pero lleno de contenido y actividades, que deja mal parado a todos esos juegos que se llenan la boca con hectáreas y hectáreas completas de mapas donde no hay mucho por hacer. Ah, sí, Kiwami también tiene un sistema de combate competente que lo hacen un beat ‘em up respetable y tiene un tono extrañísimo que junta la seriedad y rareza japonesa en un solo paquete, entregando una experiencia muy única y disfrutable.… Expand
  77. EnsarO
    Jun 28, 2022
    10
    Nishiki...
    This game is so epic. I liked it. You must play it.No Eng Dub, no Ten years in the joint.
  78. INU4SH4
    Jun 29, 2020
    8
    At first, I thought this would simply be another GTA clone but looks can be deceiving

    While the dialog was pretty cheesy at times, it also managed to be quite powerful and blend Japanese non-sense perfectly with drama. Some dramatic moments could have been less over-the-top though. While the map is certainly a lot smaller than GTA V's map, it felt certainly way more alive and there    At first, I thought this would simply be another GTA clone but looks can be deceiving

    While the dialog was pretty cheesy at times, it also managed to be quite powerful and blend Japanese non-sense perfectly with drama. Some dramatic moments could have been less over-the-top though.

    While the map is certainly a lot smaller than GTA V's map, it felt certainly way more alive and there was secrets, side-quests, and just crazy activities in every corner.

    The combat was excellent. Not Dark Souls level but it was still very deep and addictive. Sometimes it felt a little repetitive but thanks to different art styles you could fight that feeling. There were a few confronts that felt kinda cheap but overall it was pretty solid gameplay.

    Do you like Japan or its sub-culture in any way and want to experience its over-the-top humor? You came to the right place.    … Expand
  79. Nick_Scratch
    Nov 25, 2022
    8
    Having just finished Yakuza 0, I was eager to dive into this remake of the first title, and it did not disappoint. Kiryu is just so fun to play as the stoic, basically superhuman protagonist. Good stuff.
  80. daikengo
    Sep 15, 2020
    8
    일단 내가 클리어해본 키류 시리즈 중에서는 최고걸작. PS2판 1의 부실했던 점이 완벽하게 보강되었고 최고의 덤인 마지마와 함께(...)도 있다. 니키시야마의 캐릭터성이 꽤 충실하게 보강된 점도 칭찬할만한 점.
  81. Bloodhammer99
    Oct 23, 2020
    10
    Yakuza Kiwami's gameplay feels very smooth, fluid, varied, satisfying, polished and extremely fun, its the most satisfying combat in a game ever along with yakuza 0, the combat is honestly perfect, it's not complicated like a fighting game, it doesn't need to be and shouldn't be, it's simple but very satisfying and skill based. The game doesn't have a high skill ceiling or anything (as itYakuza Kiwami's gameplay feels very smooth, fluid, varied, satisfying, polished and extremely fun, its the most satisfying combat in a game ever along with yakuza 0, the combat is honestly perfect, it's not complicated like a fighting game, it doesn't need to be and shouldn't be, it's simple but very satisfying and skill based. The game doesn't have a high skill ceiling or anything (as it shouldn't since its a singleplayer game) but u can easily identify an experienced player from a beginner, furthermore the fact it has 3 playstyles (4 if you count dragon) that can be switched to at any time adds a lot of depth and stratagy to the combat which wasnt in the series before 0. Grabbing thing from the environment to beat the **** out of people with is really fun and so are the heat actions and kiwami moves, that are a great addition that makes boss fights more fun, only found in this entry. The combat is so well design that if done right combat encounters can look like well choregraphed fight scenes. This game also has the most memorable and most fun bosses in the series along with 0, atleast for me. I played this after playing the amazing yakuza 0 and i can easily say this game is better. Im glad that it retains the 3 kiryu playstyles from it, I personally like kiryus playstyles more than those of Majima so i enjoyed the gameplay here more than 0s, along with this there there are no tedious escort missions like in 0 and the beat em up stages here are just as good in my opinion and there are more of them too. I love the setting and aesthetic. The story here is very well paced, its a pretty simple story but its very entertaining. This game is easily the most replayable yakuza game, its the yakuza game with the most gameplay and the story is easily skipped too since its mostly told through cutscenes (that are way easier and faster to skip than dialogue) with barely any dialogue, story is usually a pain to skip on repeat playthoughs in yakuza games due to the fact there is a lot of dialogue but thats not the case with kiwami, skipping the story also results in bad pacing in yakuza 0, this is also not the case here. Furthermore even though this game is on the shorter side it still has the same amount of gameplay as the rest of the games, its a better balance than the other games imo which have a bit too much story. Another great thing about this game is that it has some really fun side stuff, like the fights in the colosseum. It has the best side stuff in the series imo. Some people may argue that having the dragon style locked behind majima everywhere is a negative but it personally didnt bother me due to the fact that 3 playstyles is more than enough variety for a 15 hour game and fighting majima is fun, besides you can play though the game with the dragon style via new game plus afterwards. This game also allows you to save without having to go to a phone booth which is a nice albeit minor addition. I rate games based on enjoyment and this one is easily a 10/10, amazing gameplay, great story, great side stuff. Masterpiece. A steal for just 20$.… Expand
  82. Own-san07
    Jul 1, 2020
    10
    One of the greatest game I ever play Great characters amazing and simple and emotional story and very enjoyable gameplay
  83. Ruguer
    Jul 19, 2020
    8
    I loved this videogame. The trama, the gameplay, almost everything but one thing I did not like is the variation of the languages. I know this game is made in Japan, but I would like dub in English at least. That is the reason of 8. But that game show that you do not need to got epic graphics to be a good videogame, even does not matter how many years ago was its release date.
  84. Realnoobman
    Jul 19, 2020
    6
    Nice game, good atmosphere and very humorous, funny fight moves, but too repetitive.
  85. vvv123
    May 7, 2021
    7
    Finished in 14 hours. This is a good game on its own but compared to Y0 its not as good. It would have been better to play as both Nishki and Kiryu, so we can follow his story from the player perspective in a bit more depth. I guess we can assume Majima went mad from the end of Y0 but he wasn't needed in Kiwami at all, avoided him the whole game. The boss fights were harder/longer vs Y0 asFinished in 14 hours. This is a good game on its own but compared to Y0 its not as good. It would have been better to play as both Nishki and Kiryu, so we can follow his story from the player perspective in a bit more depth. I guess we can assume Majima went mad from the end of Y0 but he wasn't needed in Kiwami at all, avoided him the whole game. The boss fights were harder/longer vs Y0 as they were quicker on their feet. The story was an ok continuation from 0. But overall still a good game, the Yakuza series is enjoyable!… Expand
  86. ehtaco
    Oct 28, 2022
    8
    This game didn't hit for me like 0 did, but it's still a fantastic game and worth playing.
  87. nexus151196
    Sep 10, 2020
    6
    Играется тяжело конечно, без локализации тяжеловато. Но в целом прошел и доволен. На раз пойдет.
  88. Elite_Soldier
    Apr 14, 2022
    9
    First time playing a Yakuza game, I'm now hooked into the series. Fun combat and lots of side activities to do in the meantime.
  89. RoninNinjaXL
    Sep 18, 2020
    8
    Story: 10
    Gameplay: 7
    ost: 8
    Characters: 10

    Could've been better like yakuza 0
  90. Uncl3s4mbr
    May 4, 2023
    8
    Very good gameplay with a very good history and new graphics. Continues the history from Yakuza 0 very well.
  91. soki98
    Jul 6, 2021
    8
    a great game and one of the better yakuza entries the story is really beautiful and ends nicely
  92. rvp
    Nov 30, 2020
    9
    I just love the Yakuza series, I can recommend all of the games! Also this entry of the series is just great. The story is great, the side quests are amazing. The open world is a lot of fun! It's nice to play in a smaller open world where you know the whole world after a while and it's a lot of fun to do stuff in it. The characters are as always loveable. The plot twists are great! A greatI just love the Yakuza series, I can recommend all of the games! Also this entry of the series is just great. The story is great, the side quests are amazing. The open world is a lot of fun! It's nice to play in a smaller open world where you know the whole world after a while and it's a lot of fun to do stuff in it. The characters are as always loveable. The plot twists are great! A great great Yakuza game!… Expand
  93. jaco955a
    Feb 1, 2021
    3
    The combat sucks. The controls are janky and it feels like it came out in 2005
  94. kyle9431oilers
    Aug 4, 2021
    8
    Great remake and great start to an amazing series.

    It may not be as deep as newer entries but it's still a fun game with a good story.
  95. InkPrince
    Dec 12, 2021
    7
    Cast is great. Main character is likable. Story is just decent but the voice acting, although is Japanese only, is very good and can make some of the scenes intense. The skill trees and styles are nice to diversify combat but enemies/fights are repetitive and don't fully make use of everything especially once the Dragon Style's counter is unlocked which is OP broken. The world looksCast is great. Main character is likable. Story is just decent but the voice acting, although is Japanese only, is very good and can make some of the scenes intense. The skill trees and styles are nice to diversify combat but enemies/fights are repetitive and don't fully make use of everything especially once the Dragon Style's counter is unlocked which is OP broken. The world looks lively, detailed and populated but feels purposeless once all the quests are done. There's a handful of fun minigames/activites in different buildings if punching gets repetitive and boring. Side quests can get hilarious, wacky and fun and trophy hunting wasn't too hard.… Expand
  96. MarleyW
    May 16, 2021
    8
    The story took a step down in regards to the story, especially how it ended, however the side quests have been improved. I also love the majima everywhere system.
  97. fabgo
    Oct 11, 2022
    6
    It's OK. The main story is decent, if a little sappy and very unbelievable, although the cutscenes are endless. The side quests did not grab me. The game can be very annoying at times. Sometimes it gives you no (or very vague) pointers on where to go and what to do next.

    Combat is both simple and overwhelming, There are far too many skill choices and combos, most of which only trigger    It's OK. The main story is decent, if a little sappy and very unbelievable, although the cutscenes are endless. The side quests did not grab me. The game can be very annoying at times. Sometimes it gives you no (or very vague) pointers on where to go and what to do next.

    Combat is both simple and overwhelming, There are far too many skill choices and combos, most of which only trigger in special conditions and are hard to remember. I found it very confusing. In the end it doesn't matter, as the game is not hard, but many fights are very repetitive and drag on forever and ever.

    Fighting gunmen in particular is super annoying, as they constantly knock you down over and over. The combat would make a lot more sense if guns and blades were left out. But no, you, the lone ex-Yakuza, fight hordes of bad guys who slash and gun you down repeatedly - yet you take little damage. Even the Terminator was easier to kill.

    Also, the endless fights with Majima get old fast.

    I made it to the end, but was glad when it was over. This is the third Yakuza game I tried. I found them all flawed. I won't try to play another one,    … Expand
  98. dotdotdot1
    Jun 17, 2021
    6
    The background and story are interesting, but the combat is horrible.

    The protagonist has 4 modes, one of which is locked that you have to do a series of side quests to unlock them. Along with the story, most of the time you have only 3 modes available. Street fights are easy and semi-inevitable. Boss flight is a disaster. The boss follows different rules from you. They have super fast    The background and story are interesting, but the combat is horrible.

    The protagonist has 4 modes, one of which is locked that you have to do a series of side quests to unlock them. Along with the story, most of the time you have only 3 modes available. Street fights are easy and semi-inevitable. Boss flight is a disaster. The boss follows different rules from you. They have super fast speed and super armor 99% of the time. You hit the boss the first punch, and when you send the second punch, the boss has already hit you at back. It's a disaster.    … Expand
  99. Fraxxo
    Sep 9, 2023
    7
    Remake of the first title in the Like a Dragon series, Yakuza Kiwami is built on the same model as Yakuza 0 and it works as a direct sequel of it.
    This remake follows the story of the first game and tries to bring it up to date with how the series has evolved during the years prior, connecting various dots to the prequel 0 and adjusting Kiryu character to his new image, but it somehow    Remake of the first title in the Like a Dragon series, Yakuza Kiwami is built on the same model as Yakuza 0 and it works as a direct sequel of it.
    This remake follows the story of the first game and tries to bring it up to date with how the series has evolved during the years prior, connecting various dots to the prequel 0 and adjusting Kiryu character to his new image, but it somehow fails to totally reinvents itself and the result is a game which narrative and characters feel too outdated and totally different from their 0 counterparts.
    In particular the protagonist itself feels way too different from how we left him at the end of 0, basically scrapping all the character development he previously had: the result is a game which takes pace 17 years after but feels like it should actually be the first to be played. The same can be said for Majima which in this game is just a shell of its former self, to the point of being unrecognazible.
    The story isn't actually bad, it's just not that engaging and it shows its age (11 years), more so if played after 0 which had a phenomal storytelling and characters.
    The gameplay is a slightly better version of 0, focusing this time on only on character instead of two and four fighting styles from the beginning, altough the majority of them feels like they were nerfed from 0 while the Dragon of Dojima style is overpowered and the only style you'll actually need to destroy most of the enemies. I actually enjoyed the combat, despite missing Majima's crazy movesets, and I think Kiryu is way more enjoyable as a fighter in this title than 0, but I also did found the game extremely easy, to the point where the secret boss was just a walk in the park.
    What I did find bugging was how Kamurocho, despite being the only city available this time, had much less activities than 0 without a proper reason: RGG Studio removed the Disco and Arcades, which were some of the most beloved side activies in 0, but somehow felt like MesuKing was something necessary for the game despite being very time-consuming and, to some extent, annoying.
    That said, Kiwami's Kamurocho is basically a copy and paste of 0 one, just slightly changed to match its 2005 vibes, and that's something I loved about the game: to see the city I played in changed, but the same at heart, it made me feel like I was visiting an old friend.
    The soundtrack is spot on and it has some really good tracks (my favourites being Funk Goes On, Son of a Gun and For Who's Sake), nothing else to say.
    The game has also many side activities which are what really makes it shine: racing with little toy cars in Pocket Circuit, gambling in a hidden casino, taking out hostesses, playing cards or just walking around with Haruka really made the experience a memorable one.

    The graphics are good: the game clearly shows its PS3 nature, having lot of pop-in and technical limitations, but it's enjoyable and totally bug-free.
    The only thing I would have done differently were the cutscenes which reused directly the original Yakuza models base, resulting in the new models acting in clunchy ways.

    All in all, I enjoyed Yakuza Kiwami, despite being a remake clearly showing its dated story and characters. The new beginning of the Dragon of Dojima journey was a thrilling experience, and being a game shorter than other Yakuza titles, I actually had the chance to play it without getting to the point of redundance like I did in 0.
    So play this game, either before or after 0, if you are a Yakuza fan or just someone looking for a good Beat 'Em Up/Adventure game.    … Expand
  100. borla
    Nov 14, 2021
    8
    Great game, cool story and a awsome gameplay. I highly recommend for beat em up players.
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Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Best PS4 Game of 2017
42
#42 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
84
#84 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 70 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 70
  3. Negative: 0 out of 70
  1. PLAY! Zine
    Apr 27, 2018
    85
    Yakuza Kiwami is a fine example of how a remaster should be done. Graphical changes and fixing some story plot holes are pretty well done. Majima everywhere is sometimes a nuisance, but all in all, it's a solid addition for an already great game.
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  2. GameCritics
    Nov 17, 2017
    65
    Overall, Yakuza Kiwami isn’t a bad game despite several issues that drag it down. No, its real problem is that Yakuza Zero is a significantly superior product in every way that matters. Fans of the original release will likely dig the modernization, but for any newcomers thinking of jumping in, I’d recommend starting with the infinitely better prequel.
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  3. CD-Action
    Nov 16, 2017
    75
    Yakuza Kiwami is so much more than just a remake of the first game in the series. Sega rebuilt the original from scratch using a much more powerful engine, with the help of completely new artists, and enriched the script with tons of references to subsequent Yakuza releases. It’s not a perfect game but it does a great job at tying up loose ends from Yakuza Zero. [11/2017, p.50]
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