Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Reviews
Unique in its kind and treasured by the true essence of Japanese, the saga by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has always given us a power of 200 hp to reveal an experience of empathetic attitude. One that has been armed with reputation, honor and paternalism, among other values. An experience that in this sixth installment is illuminated by a renewed Kamurocho and an Onomichi away from the worldly noise that put the golden brooch to a truly majestic presentation. In the present case, the opening and closing of a presentation starring Kazuma Kiryu. It's not the perfect closure we've all hoped for, but it effectively manages many feelings of our own and others.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Dragon of Dojima returns for one more adventure, with the stakes higher and more personal than ever in this touching farewell to a Yakuza legend. With a tale that closes the book on a long-running saga, Kiryu's farewell results in a story that is as satisfying to watch as its gameplay is as underwhelming to consume.
After 13 years SEGA brings us the final chapter of the Yakuza series. Albeit it doesnt offer many new things than change drastically its established formula and its world maps and activities feel a little bit reduced when compared to previos entries, Yakuza 6 its an awesome game with fantastic visuals and a great and deep narrative that concludes in a terrific way the story of Kazuma Kiryu.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The fittingly titled “Yakuza 6: The Song of Life” gives beloved protagonist Kazuma Kiryu his swan song as the Dragon of Dojima picks one final fight. The new combat will admittedly be hit or miss for folks and the story doesn’t quite stack up to the series’ best. Despite that, however, Yakuza 6 remains a stellar entry in Sega’s open-sandbox, crime drama formula that also manages to retain the the franchise’s charm, heart and — more importantly — tacky karaoke stylings.
Although the game sports a few bothersome hiccups, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life ultimately serves as a near-perfect send-off for the Dragon of Dojima after years of delivering bloody knuckles and scarfing Smile Burgers.
Yakuza 6 doesn't bring up every plotline or major character that Kiryu has interacted with, but it is a finale for the hero. This is a more a story of him finding his place and purpose, coming to grips with his mistakes, and figuring out what he's willing to sacrifice.
Technically and dramatically impressive conclusion of a unique Japanese epic.
Review in German | Read full review
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is a game I keep going back to. Even after finishing the main quest I want to keep playing and exploring the world of Yakuza. It also inspired me to get into the larger series, and as a result I just installed Yakuza 0 to start playing.
We could not have thought of a better way to end Kiryu Kazuma's adventures. More than a simple GTA clone, Yakuza 6 is a generous game which will provide you with hundred hours of an amazing gaming experience. You will never be bored with the never ending amount of content available in this game. Moreover, Japanese culture enthusiasts will have a great time hanging out in a very well modelized versions of Hiroshima and Kabukicho. A must have !
Review in French | Read full review
Because Yakuza 6 spends so much time tying the story into knots, a strong villain never emerges.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is a wonderful crime thriller that embraces everything that made the series great, refining it further with new technology – it blew me away. I'm not ashamed to say that the closing minutes of Kazuma Kiryu's final chapter brought me to tears, acting as the culmination of a story in which I've lost myself for more than a decade.
Yakuza 6 delivers the series' signature poignant story, and is probably the best Yakuza has been narrative and production-wise. However, the game's trademark diversions have been trimmed back.
It's taken me a long time to experience the Yakuza series, but Yakuza 6 makes me so thankful that I finally have. The insurmountable badass Kazuma Kiryu is surrounded by a fantastic cast of characters and some gripping drama—it's just a shame that the "game" portion of this video game isn't quite what it could be. Still, this is a superb adventure from beginning to end, and further proof of the magic that Japanese developers can weave when they put their minds to it.
Yakuza 6 is a great game because it's a Yakuza game, but it's not a great Yakuza game. It still has the great brawler action the series is known for, and a tight put together story. However, the tightening of the narrative in no ways makes up for all the great things I missed out on from the previous game.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is a fine entry of the Yakuza series, but a poor way to end the story of Kazuma Kiryu.
If you’ve spent hundreds of hours with Kazuma Kiryu over the years, then the conclusion to his sprawling arc in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life won’t disappoint. And if you haven’t played a Yakuza game before, you’ll still get a whole lot out of this. Yakuza 6 is a sensational game.
Yakuza 6 is not a game for everyone, but you can’t deny it a certain charm. I followed a very cool storyline for many hours and I have happily frittered some time away playing various mini-games. The combat becomes repetitive after a while, but, all in all, this is a really great game.
Review in Polish | Read full review
It focuses on the minutiae of the world, from the detailed shop interiors that serve no purpose other than to ground you in the setting, to the nearby citizens who go about their daily business as anarchy unfolds around them in your wake. But perhaps the greatest feat of all is that the game trusts you, the player, to find it all yourself. By refusing to hold your hand and lead you from A to B, it gives you room to explore, to procrastinate and breathe between story steps, and it's in those moments of respite that you'll find the best of what the Yakuza series has to offer.
Not entirely satisfying farewell, yet it has some good fundamental changes in the formula and it makes for fresh start for the series.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life brings a fitting and satisfying conclusion to Kiryu's story and character. Even though I have only played three Yakuza games, I will miss his attitude and demeanor always fighting for what is right and honest. The Song of Life struck a perfect balance between goofy and serious missions, but I would have liked to see some of the other series-favorite cast have a more prominent role. The smaller scope of the narrative gives off an intimate sensation, but with that being said, I am quite interested in where Sega will take the decade-old franchise in the future, especially with its growing popularity in the West.