Yakuza Kiwami 2 Reviews

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

Kiwami 2 finds Yakuza deliberately and desperately recycling and remixing pieces of its past. While it remains a mesmerizing intersection of violence, eccentricity, and drama, its impulse to reprise Yakuza's rich history can wear out even the most ardent enthusiast. In a vacuum, Kiwami 2 is a beacon of its namesake's power and an imposing remodel of Yakuza 2. As the Kazuma Kiryu ninth adventure, Kiwami 2 may have reached Yakuza's breaking point.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2018

Yakuza Kiwami 2 has been a pleasant surprise for me. We have a good story of intrigues among families of yakuzas to rise to power, with charismatic characters, lots of humor and action, as well as a lot of mini-games and side quests. In case it was not enough, audiovisually fulfills in a remarkable way.

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8.1 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2018

Yakuza Kiwami 2 totally revitalizes an underrated gaming classic and applies the lessons Sega learned throughout the series’ evolution. It’s still unique and even weird at times, and it can still be a little rough around the edges, but few series manage to take you deep into a criminal underworld and tell such compelling stories.

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Aug 22, 2018

A perfect slice of Yakuza life, with added toppings of humour and a badass crime story.

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9.2 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2018

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is arguably the strongest in the series yet and one of the best games to release this year.

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7.5 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2018

In the end, I’d say that Yakuza Kiwami 2 is still a decent game that has a lot going for it, but I really hope that for the next remake or entry in the series they improve upon everything about the Dragon Engine if they plan on keeping it around, as well as changing up the design choices regarding how you level up and improve your character.

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Aug 22, 2018

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is another spectacular entry in the long-running series. It brings the 2006 classic into the modern generation with gorgeous visuals, engaging combat and a melodramatic story that hits all the right notes.

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9 / 10
Aug 22, 2018

I vastly enjoyed every second of my time exploring the world through his eyes, whether I was helping a dominatrix stop dealing with pushy clients or handing a guy some new underwear from a convenience store over the top of a bathroom stall. This is the definitive way to experience Yakuza 2, and an excellent showcase for what the series is capable of. Seriously, you've just got to get into it now. I'm tired of repeating myself.

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ACG
Top Critic
Buy
Aug 23, 2018
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GameXplain
Top Critic
Liked-a-lot
Aug 23, 2018
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Aug 23, 2018

Yakuza Kiwami 2 offers the best Yakuza experience money can currently buy, not to mention a story that wouldn't seem out of place in an old Kinji Fukasaku flick.

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10 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2018

Honestly, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the best Yakuza game to date. Its story is gripping and has a brilliant pace, its combat is tighter and more engaging, and there's such a varied range of sub-stories and side activities to absorb yourself in that it offers great longevity

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9 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2018

As a remake of a sequel, it's no surprise that Yakuza Kiwami 2 has a lot more on offer than the first title. However, the choice to stick with Yakuza 6's convoluted stats system is an unfortunate blip in what could have been an ideal remake.

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9.5 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2018

While Yakuza Kiwami 2 isn't the best point of entry in the Yakuza series compared to Zero or Kiwami due to being a sequel (even if it comes with an extensive recap to catch you up on the story so far), it's a masterpiece that no fan of Japanese games should miss. Even those who typically tend to prefer Western titles might very well discover in the remake of Yakuza 2 a great way to broaden their gaming horizon.

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8.5 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2018

What better way to remake one of the earliest games in a series than by smashing its various pieces together with those of the newest entry? The Yakuza franchise truly is the gift that keeps on giving

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9 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2018

Kiwami 2 is more than a great remake: it's the best this strange, wonderful series has to offer and it shouldn't be missed by fans of action or RPG titles

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9.3 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2018

Yakuza Kiwami 2 has easily become one of my favorite games in the Yakuza series. From the action packed story, to the overabundance of side content provided, to the ability to play as Majima again, I honestly have a game that keeps me wanting to come back for more and more, and never want to put the controller down.

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GameSkinny
ElConquistadork
Top Critic
Aug 23, 2018

Whether you're new to the series or just want to see what goofy problems you can get into this time, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is another brilliant entry into the franchise.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2018

An assuredly robust and spectacular remake of the PS2 original, Yakuza Kiwami 2 learns from the lessons of Yakuza 6 to create one of the best entries in the franchise to date.

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7.5 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2018

For my money, it is the best way to experience this particular story and improves enough of the game to make for a great time sink. Maybe certain aspects could have been tweaked to be more faithful to the source material, but the worst thing that could happen is you end up wanting to play the original to see the changes firsthand. That isn't such a terrible outcome.

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