Yakuza Kiwami 2 Reviews
Even though Kiwami 2 doesn't quite achieve the emotional highs of the "Song of Life", the polished gameplay as well as one of the finest antagonists the series has to offer makes it a must play for Yakuza fans, whether they played the original on the PS2 or not.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a bit of a mixed bag for me with so many small issues, but tons of great aspects. Hopefully the next remaster will be a better one with improved gameplay, visuals, facial animations, and more. Maybe I was expecting it to be as good as Yakuza 0.
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.
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.
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.
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
With improved and amazing graphics, polished gameplay and excellent additions of other games, Yakuza Kiwami 2 places as an incredible remake and one that stands out from many other recent re-released games.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an amazing remake of Yakuza 2 with superb graphics, charismatic characters, addictive gameplay and a lot of fun side quests. If you have finished Yakuza 0 and the first Kiwami already, then you should definitely play Kiwami 2.
Review in Russian | Read full review
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.
As much as this is a better, more confident game than Yakuza 6, the series still has plenty of room to grow.
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
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.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 does a fabulously job recreating the original sequel, making it one of the best remakes available on the market.
Based on the best ever chapter of the saga, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an almost perfect remake in the technical side and absolutely stellar in terms of contents.
Review in Italian | 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
Fans of Kiryu's crazy adventures will love Yakuza Kiwami 2 as it's full of over-the-top action and ridiculous scenarios.
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.
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.