Yakuza Kiwami Reviews
Sega reminds us that, with Yakuza Kiwami, not only is its heart in the right place, but it hasn’t missed a beat.
Yakuza Kiwami is everything a proper remaster should be. Instead of just plainly expanding ratios, this 10th anniversary version of the adventures of Kazuma Kiryu is a success in every aspect, with a complete rework visual and audio, new activities and minigames, a modernized combat system and more than 30 minutes of new cinematic features, Yakuza Kiwami is what other publishers should follow when trying to revive their old icons.
There are two kinds of players that Yakuza Kiwami should interest — existing Yakuza fans that want to give the first game a visit, and the gamers who’ve heard great things about Yakuza but never gave it a chance. When it comes to these two audiences, Sega hit it right out of the park with this remake especially with the game’s $30 price point.
I really can't recommend this title enough. It may not hit as high as Zero did, but it does a damned fine job modernizing a game that fans fell in love with a decade ago. Tack that on with a budget price and an abundance of gameplay, and you'll be finding yourself among the ranks of Yakuza fans, as I have.
While the narrative isn’t as clear-cut as it was in Yakuza 0 and the fact that this is a true-to-life remake of the original game will mean it may not be as exciting as some of the more recent outings in the franchise, the classic re-telling of how everything came to be and the addictive gameplay is enough for fans of the series to give this a go. If you haven’t played Yakuza 0 yet, I strongly suggest starting there. But if you have played 0, what are you waiting for? Continue Kiryu’s story and let Sega know we want Yakuza Kiwami 2 localized as quick as possible in English after it releases in Japan at the end of this year!
Yakuza Kiwami is an exceptional game with exceptional action and exceptional stories. There are so many things to do and experience here that $30 for Yakuza Kiwami feels almost like highway robbery. Throw in Yakuza 0 and you are set for about 100 hours of great gaming.
Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the original Yakuza game, which was released on Playstation 2 nearly 12 years ago, but it may as well be regarded as its own entity. Yakuza Kiwami is a fully done remake – with all new textures, extended stories, and more depth and cohesion than the original Yakuza could have dreamed of – so it’s not to be confused with a general remaster (*cough Sleeping Dogs *cough*).
Yakuza Kiwami honestly rides on the thin line between remake and reimagining of a classic game. It keeps all of the original story beats and brings the games visuals into the modern-day while incorporating a lot of the newer games mechanics without hampering the original games integrity. This game is honestly the best way to experience the original Yakuza.
For those itching to spend more time with Kazuma Kiryu following Yakuza 0, Kiwami is exactly what you’ve been waiting for and an essential purchase. If you happen to be looking to start the series, it’s hard to recommend Yakuza Kiwami over its immediate predecessor.
Yakuza Kiwami is a polished and exceptionally fun game with a fantastic and moving storyline.
I certainly did enjoy Yakuza: Kiwami as my first visit of the franchise and look forward to hopefully playing more down the road.
Yakuza Kiwami isn't the most innovative game under the sun, but it builds on such a solid foundation it's still definitely worth playing. However, due to the lower budget and slavish devotion to the decade old original game, it doesn't quite hold up to Yakuza 0.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
A great game, but one that pales in comparison to Yakuza 0. Still, if you enjoyed Yakuza 0, you'll enjoy Yakuza Kiwami, though the story is different and the gameplay might have taken step back.
Twelve years ago, in 2005 to be more exact, SEGA launched a game on the market based on the fearsome mafias that hit the Japanese slums, it was a game with an excellent story and an impeccable narrative that combined hand to hand combat, excellent graphics and endearing characters in a solid package that started a successful saga that remains in force until now.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Yakuza is a niche series and it’s definitely an acquired taste, but if it hooks you it’s unlikely to ever let you go.