Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Reviews
If you've played Yakuza in the past, I think you'll get a tremendous amount of enjoyment out of this game. If you haven't, do yourself a favor and grab Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami and play through both of them, then grab Yakuza 6 when it comes out
Yakuza 6 is a fitting end to a great saga, with fantastic combat and lots to do outside the main story
Yakuza 6: Song of Life is an excellent conclusion to Kazuma Kiryu's story while also improving and streamling the gameplay and exploration.
Yakuza 6: Song of Life is a very deep and exciting game with a great sense of humor and strange, but fun side quests. Fans for sure won't be disappointed.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life tells a truly gripping tale – a story that blows most games out of the water. Combine that with a refined combat system and a new engine capable of making the game's world feel more alive than ever, and you've got a stellar Yakuza title. Although the experience does feel a little stunted in places outside of the main plot, this is still a fitting final chapter. Yakuza 6 is a gloriously dramatic send off for one of the greatest characters in modern gaming.
While it's slightly disappointing to see so many members of Yakuza‘s great ensemble cast take a back seat in Yakuza 6, it ultimately works out for the best. Song of Life is Kiryu's story and focusing on something larger would only be a disservice to one of gaming's most fully realized characters. It's only fitting that he bows out in Ryu ga Gotoku Studio's most mature and focused game.
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: 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.
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
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.
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.
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
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is one of, if not the, most touching games in the long running series. It offers a fitting end to Kazuma Kiryu's story and gives the series a change of pace (Onomichi and its people are great). It's just too bad that SEGA didn't go the remaster route (on Xbox Series X|S) as the game feels a bit weird running at 30 fps in 2021.
Review in French | Read full review
Yakuza 6 is an incredible title. While in certain moments it remains so over the top it's hard to take seriously, Kiryu's story of evolving as a person despite his sordid history makes for a relatable protagonist. Knowing that a real member of the Yakuza has played a game in the series and found it to be more accurate than he anticipated just adds to the authenticity of Yakuza as a title. Every part of the game was a delightful surprise and I've found myself absolutely addicted to the game, even post-story. Every time I come back to Yakuza 6, I find something else absolutely charming about it.
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.
Debates about whether or not Yakuza 6 is the best game in the franchise will probably rage on for a long time to come- but if nothing else, The Song of Life represents a franchise, a developer, and most of all, a character, at the peak of their talents.
Aside from the most nitpicking of complaints, Yakuza 6 is but another declaration to the well-documented notion that Sega's decade-long series remains one of the finest, most consistent outings in the medium.
When the title credits roll, you’ll be hard pressed not to feel bittersweet to know this is the end of Kiryu’s long tale. Where the series goes next is anyone’s guess, but it’s hard to imaging it without our scarlet-shirted protagonist. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is not only a great game, but a fitting closure for the long and turbulent story of Kiryu Kazuma.
With less content and gameplay depth, how could this sixth entry in the long-running franchise possibly hold up against its predecessors? Quite well, as it turns out
All in all, thanks to its fantastic story, memorable cast, and more than competent gameplay, Yakuza 6 is an apt send off for the hero of one of the more criminally underrated franchises.