Yakuza Kiwami 2

 Xbox One
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 47 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 47
  3. Negative: 3 out of 47

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  1. Xbox_Alive
    Aug 18, 2020
    8
    Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Sega. It is a remake of the 2006 video game Yakuza 2, and is the series' second remake title following 2016's Yakuza Kiwami.
    So what's changed since then? This time, there's a curious reliance on weapons. While you could always pick up the odd pistol or switch blade to give you an edge, Yakuza Kiwami 2 now    Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Sega. It is a remake of the 2006 video game Yakuza 2, and is the series' second remake title following 2016's Yakuza Kiwami.
    So what's changed since then? This time, there's a curious reliance on weapons. While you could always pick up the odd pistol or switch blade to give you an edge, Yakuza Kiwami 2 now strongly encourages this, particularly in main story battles that have you take out a full building worth of goons and many more improvements waiting for us . TK 2 is still a Yakuza game, which means it's a crime drama interspersed by fights, exploration, minigames and substories full of ridiculous slice-of-life character moments that help humanise protagonist Kiryu—making him more than the hardboiled stereotype he could so easily have been. Some games just can't get old somehow they can be remastered or dev's can release another edition and you can always play them regardless of technical advancement they remain relevant in video game history like the YK franchise. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is that game and I highly suggest it giving it a place in your Xbox One library.    … Expand
  2. guiletheguiles
    Aug 19, 2020
    5
    This is my 3rd Yakuza game, so far and... Well, also the worst one.
    The biggest issue is that Kiwami 2 is A LOT like 0 and Kiwami 1. The good and bad things are utterly similar.
    A few things are still as good as before, though. Kamurocho and Sotenbori are still great places to "live" for a while, the soundtrack is amazing, the graphics are beautiful, the battle system is much simpler    This is my 3rd Yakuza game, so far and... Well, also the worst one.
    The biggest issue is that Kiwami 2 is A LOT like 0 and Kiwami 1. The good and bad things are utterly similar.

    A few things are still as good as before, though.
    Kamurocho and Sotenbori are still great places to "live" for a while, the soundtrack is amazing, the graphics are beautiful, the battle system is much simpler now, mini-games are still fun and the new characters fit perfectly with the series' story.
    There were 3 things that I LOVED about Kiwami 2: The first few chapters, the sidequests and Majima's 3 extra chapters!
    . The story is pretty inconsistent and even boring, at times, but DAMN! The first 5 or 6 chapters are intense, well paced and FUN!
    . The other Yakuza games I played had GREAT sidequests, but this one takes the cake! If you want a glimpse of how creative these optional stories are, just search for the 'Be My Baby' substories and thank me later.
    . Majima's 3 chapters are pure joy and simplicity. It gives an "ending" to Majima's events that took place in 0, packs a very good short story and let's you play as the Mad Dog himself, which felt awesome.

    But here's the thing. There are 2 major flaws that kept me from liking it too much...
    . First, the game is VERY similar to past entries. By this point, I know how Yakuza games work, but that doesn't mean that the games need to be almost the same.
    The story's themes were similar, mini-games are the same, some sidequests were just repeats and even some plot twists felt EXTREMELY predictable because past games did the SAME thing. The whole plot starts great, but just loses itself in the middle and never picks up again. There are at least 3 chapters that were pure filler. The pacing is bloody terrible! And I won't even say anything about the final chapters' 100 plot twists. It was just too forced.
    . Second. the fighting system still needs a lot of work. It's not good at all. Bosses and mini-bosses can still overwhelm Kiryu with ease. The flow of every fight feels broken. Just actually hitting a full combo in a major enemy is a chore. It's unnecessarily janky and brutal. This mess could be solved with a dedicated dodge button, a lock-on system that actually works and a consistent defense mechanic, but at this point, it's a lost cause.

    Overall, I did not like Kiwami 2 very much.
    I still love the world and characters of this series, but I can't shake the feeling that there are little to no development and novelty to things. There's a unique charm in it's tales and gameplay, but it's not enough. It's pretty sad, since Yakuza 0 became one of my favorite games.
    I still want to try the other games of the franchise, but Kiwami 2 made me think about entirely dropping it. I can only recommend it if you REALLY want to play Yakuza.    … Expand
  3. EnsarO
    Jun 28, 2022
    10
    The second best Yakuza game of the Yakuza series. Firs one is Yakuza 0. 10/10
  4. Wondux
    Jan 3, 2022
    8
    I really enjoyed the game. I especially loved the characters in this game. I liked the story, presentation, and gameplay. However, the combat was not difficult, similar to the other Yakuza games. You basically had infinite health when you had a lot of meds, which was not hard to get. Only some boss battles were very engaging. The easy combat was not a turn-off for me at all. In general, aI really enjoyed the game. I especially loved the characters in this game. I liked the story, presentation, and gameplay. However, the combat was not difficult, similar to the other Yakuza games. You basically had infinite health when you had a lot of meds, which was not hard to get. Only some boss battles were very engaging. The easy combat was not a turn-off for me at all. In general, a very good experience.… Expand
  5. CloudStrife05
    Aug 16, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Same engine as Kiwami and 0, different story and although its still a good game, I wasn't sold on Ryuji Goda as the main antagonist. Especially coming off the heels of Nishikiyama. The one super good thing about the Kiwami version is that they added a small Majima Saga, which expands on 3 chapters in between certain main chapters to delve deeper in the story. Although during the Majima Saga you can send Kiryu (yourself), money through a ATM machine, thats all you get to send/keep. There is no leveling up carried over and no weapons/items carried over. If you are familiar with the Yakuza series then the weapons and items are not a big deal at all, but, it would have been nice to carry over EXP to Kiryu. The Majima Saga story fills in nicely but tbh, if you do not have to fight, there is no point since its easy, simple, doesn't do anything to level up Majimo nor Kiryu, and the battle for Majima is the same as 0.… Expand
  6. Mizuma
    Nov 16, 2021
    10
    The second best Yakuza game of Yakuza series. It´s just epic and has a lot of content.
  7. Heartbeat98
    Mar 5, 2023
    8
    Game lags a bit,but it's still very great. People are too snobby about the green filter,i didn't even notice it until i saw a side by side.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. DarkStation
    Aug 13, 2020
    90
    Yakuza Kiwami 2 is as abundant as it’s easily approachable. It has a lot to do and plenty of beautiful things to watch, all wrapped in smooth gameplay that can be adapted to the personal playstyle. On Xbox One, the game costs only 20 dollars for a stunning value for money (it’s also a part of Game Pass library). Admittedly, you have to appreciate Japanese culture and entertainment, and be content with the fact that you won’t be firing any guns. In the cruel but honorable world of the game, the hardness of your fists, the reach of your kicks, and the depth of your heart are what matter the most.
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  2. TheXboxHub
    Aug 12, 2020
    90
    Yakuza Kiwami 2 on Xbox One is an excellent addition to Xbox Game Pass, and another solid entry to the series. It is a culmination of the series so far that has arrived on Xbox in 2020, until Like a Dragon releases later in the year. Hopefully, the remaining titles of 3-6 can release on Xbox, because Kiryu and Haruka’s journey is only just beginning. But if this is the last ‘Kiryu’ Yakuza game, then it’s been a wild ride.
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  3. COGconnected
    Aug 10, 2020
    86
    For series veterans, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a great time but it doesn’t give us anything we haven’t seen many times before, with the usual environments, side-activities, and cutscene-heavy narrative exposition. If we are being honest it’s a series that is due for a reset, and it looks like the upcoming Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be just that. But if you have not yet experienced the series, Yakuza Kiwami 2 needs to be high on your must-play list. So much to do, so much to explore, so many faces to roundhouse kick – living the Yakuza life sure is a hell of a lot of fun.
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