Yakuza Kiwami 2 Reviews
An expert remake, imbued with lavish production design, superior voice-acting, flashy fighting, and hours of side content and virtual tourism.
Graphically-wise, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the best in the franchise so far, but it's not only the Dragon Engine that shines: an array of mini-games, an amazing campaign and improved combat system are the stars of the show.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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
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.
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
Yakuza’s silly sense of humor may not be everyone, but it’s complex narrative plays out like an HBO style crime thriller, so it’s worth experiencing for that alone. Fans of the series will, no doubt, have a blast with Yakuza Kiwami 2.
While by no means a perfect game, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an example of a remake done right. It feels fresh and modern, it takes the original story of Yakuza 2 without losing its spirit or charm. If you've never played a Yakuza game before, Kiwami 2 is a good place to start as it introduces you to everything you've missed so far, keeping the doors open to new players. You've tried being an American gangster in GTA, perhaps being a Japanese one will be to your liking as well.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the first must have game of 2018 for just about style of gamer. By all means, you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you pass up this gem
Barring our gripes with the optional Majima campaign, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is yet another enjoyable entry in Sega's long-running series.
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Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 with solid ports that honor the origins of Kazuma Kiryu. Kiwami shines with upgraded performance at 60 FPS and welcome quality-of-life improvements, while Kiwami 2 delivers a faithful but less polished experience due to frame pacing issues. Strong stories, engaging combat, and Latin American Spanish localization make these versions a great entry point for Nintendo players; though veterans may only find value in the portability
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While I enjoyed another romp through the small burrows of Tokyo and Osaka that feel now like a second digital home, returning to Kiwami 2 felt more in service of Kiwami 3, which will be here before we know it. The Switch 2 port is a serviceable one for sure, especially when considered against the PlayStation 4 version, and there isn't a major sacrifice made to run around these punk-filled streets on-the-go. If you're becoming a Yakuza collector or have never experienced the second game in the series, there may not be a better time.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 delivers a slick fresh coat of paint onto this Japanese epic tale, while keeping the same engaging and complex story that fans know and love.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is among the best titles of the series like Yakuza 0. If you haven't got the chance to get yourself involved in world of Yakuza already, this is the perfect time.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Overall, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is one of the best entries in the franchise. It's the technically most advanced and includes many improvements that significantly enhance the experience while also telling a gripping and satisfying story. It's not perfect, with a sometimes slow progression system and a few hit-and-miss additions in the side content. Some fun additions from previous iterations could've made Kiwami 2 even more special.
As the fourth entry in a very short time and coming after Zero and 6 means that it doesn't quite have the same impact as it did originally, with a simpler story and sidequest and battle design than those two game. Nevertheless, it remains an excellent game with its immersive content and world.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an excellent remake of a classic that manages to modernize the best aspects of the original and adds a few surprises in order to please both new and old fans of the series. Kiwami 2 is the best opportunity to finally understand why Yakuza 2 is remembered as one of the best titles of the PS2 era.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The city of Kamurocho is packed with interesting characters, fun activities and a number of excellent diversions, all backed up by a solid narrative that throws up as many surprises as it does heartwarming moments.
While the main story can get too melodramatic for its own good and Majima's side story doesn't amount to much, I can recommend Yakuza Kiwami 2 on its level of presentation alone. The twists and turns of the plot kept me wanting to see what would happen next, the gorgeous production provided by the Dragon Engine left me wandering the streets just taking in the sites, and the combat is as satisfying as hitting someone you don't like with a bicycle. While I can't say that Yakuza 2 still holds up under a modern lens, I can say that this remake kept my attention to the end. And in that regard, the developers should give themselves a round of applause.
Mechanically, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the best offering in the entire series. With the abundance of fun distractions, quirky side stories, break-neck and brutal combat, and the franchise's signature dark, if sometimes convoluted story, newcomers and veterans are in for a real treat.