Yakuza Kiwami 2 Reviews
Simply put, Kiwami 2 is the new pinnacle for the series and any RPGamers with a passing interest in brawlers or wanting to make a virtual visit to Japan should seek it out.
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.
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a great remake offering an expansive narrative mixed with fierce combat and exciting extra activities to take part in.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 takes everything that was great about its predecessors and, somehow, upgrades them in almost every way.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is everything players have come to expect from the series – humour, heart, honour, drama and karaoke. It stands alongside the likes of Shadow of the Colossus as one of the best remakes of this console generation and should be in the library of any Yakuza fan, old or new.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is arguably the strongest in the series yet and one of the best games to release this year.
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.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 does a superb job remaking a classic of the series. The presentation and delivery of the whole experience shows an incredible amount of dedication from the development team to make sure the momentum obtained from Zero and Kiwami could continue for the series, perhaps driven even further as it has been confirmed this will be the last true remake for the series with 3 and 4 being released as HD remasters. In a world with room for only one dragon, the Dragon of Dojima soars.
Yakuza seems to be picking up more and more traction without showing signs of stopping, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a shining example of why that is. Despite some shallow combat, it encapsulates everything that makes a Yakuza game special. The break-neck pacing of the main story ensures its hooks get right into you, and even if you do get side-tracked by the plethora of activities available in these dense open worlds, you’ll have just as much fun. It’s a title that aims to please both fans and newcomers alike, which it pulls off with flying colors, proving once again that Yakuza is a series worthy of the attention it receives and more.
Yakuza games are always a joy for to review. They iterate just enough each time to differentiate themselves but they always stay true to a core focus and never try to break apart an already winning formula. As it turns out, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the best of the bunch.
It's nearly impossible to play Yakuza Kiwami 2 without feeling spoiled. This remake doesn't just transform an old game's visuals into something more visually palatable. It actually adds all the elements you'd expect from a modern day Yakuza title and wraps them around the bones of the most polished version of the developer's most modern game engine. Fuse these assets together with fan-favorite story and a plethora of side activities, and you have yourself not only one of the best remakes on the market, but also one of the best Yakuza titles to date.
An expert remake, imbued with lavish production design, superior voice-acting, flashy fighting, and hours of side content and virtual tourism.
Kiwami 2 is such a great game. From the wonderfully crafted story to all the returning activities, I had loads of fun diving back into the world of Yakuza. This series has become one of, if not, my favorite of all. If you would have asked me a few years ago if a Yakuza game would have been in my top tier list alongside the likes of Mass Effect, Halo, and Grand Theft Auto I would have called you crazy. But here I am devouring every little bit of the series I can get and Kiwami 2 delivers on everything I wanted more of.
Overall, Kiwami 2 is yet another stellar Yakuza re-release. This time it runs in Yakuza 6's dragon engine and it's absolutely gorgeous to look at.
The plot is fun and engaging, the multitude of distractions are a step up from its release predecessor, and Kazuma Kiryu’s steel resolve and Steve Rodgers-esque disposition makes for yet another fun romp through the seedy underworld we’ve come to know and love yet again.
Despite its lack of combat options when compared to previous titles, SEGA continues to prove why Yakuza should be up there with other franchise heavyweights with another packed installment.
SEGA has given a lot of love to the Yakuza series, at the end of 2017 he gave us Yakuza Kiwami, a totally reconstructed version of the original game for PS2 and at the beginning of this 2018 he amazed us with the magnificent final of the series with Yakuza 6. At the end of August the company Nipona brought us the remastered version of the second game that saw the light on PS2, so we moved from Kamurocho to Osaka in the world of Yakuza Kiwami 2.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the culmination of the greatest parts of the franchise. Utilizing Yakuza 6: The Song of Life’s Dragon Engine and physics-enabled combat pairs beautifully with the high stakes tale born on the PlayStation 2 over a decade ago. I might even go as far to say that this recreation could be an even more fitting send-off for Kiryu before the series embraces its new protagonist. Simply put, Kiwami 2 is the peak of Yakuza.