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

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. 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

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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »