Yakuza Kiwami Review

A Dragon’s Prime

It has been 12 years since the original PS2 version was released in 2005. Many were reeling from the lack of another Shenmue game and wonder if we will ever experience something like it again.  Yakuza was called the spiritual successor to Shenmue, keeping the sandbox-style gameplay with a beat em’ up twist. It was this and so much more. It became a series known for its great visceral combat, multiple activities are interwoven masterfully, and a Yakuza story that any Japanese or Film aficionado can appreciate. Now remade for the current generation, newcomers can experience the game that started the series. First, we had Yakuza 0. Now we have Yakuza Kiwami.

This is the prime of the Dragon of Dojima and a must-a-have in any PS4 user’s library.

The only thing I love about the English dub is the performance of Mark Hamill for Goro Majima.  It’s also worth pointing out that Sega could get the original  Japanese voice cast completely redid the voice-overs lines to match the game’s new story cutscenes and dialogue in-between story. To compare the PS2 performance to the PS4, the difference is night and day, and I applaud their performance. Thanks to this, it’s like night and day when you compare the PS2 version with this new updated version.

In translation, Kiwami means “Extreme” and SEGA, and the team wanted to bring that original PS2 game to the current-gen in a way that matters.  Sure, the game was impressive when released previously, but now we’re on the PlayStation 4.  With the power of the current-gen, you can see Kiryu’s furrowed brow, Majima’s pores, and the deeper emotional cues that simply weren’t possible back then.

While some may argue that the engine is dated, you have to respect that it has held up for all these years and still looks great compared to other games this generation. Nevertheless, the game has stood through time, and a new facelift only makes it look better. And for those that still want more, you’ll be happy to know the next Yakuza will have a new engine build exclusively for the PS4.

For the uninitiated, the story is about the Dragon of Dojima and the series’ protagonist, Kiryu Kazuma. The drama begins with him looming over the body of his dead boss, Souhei Dojima, and going to jail for the murder for 10 years. The truth, however, is that his sworn brother and childhood friend in the same Sunflower Orphanage, Araki Nishikiyama, was the one who killed Dojima to protect their childhood friend and Kiryu’s love, Yumi Sawamura, from being taken advantage of. In order to protect the ones he loves, Kiryu decided to take the fall for Nishiki and let him and Yumi escape at the cost of his future.

After serving his 10-year sentence, he is informed that Yumi had disappeared since the incident, the Tojo Clan is in disarray due to the death of the 3rd Tojo Clan Charmian and disappearance of 10 billion yen, and that the one who was the catalyst and traitor who started the chaos was none other than his sworn brother, Nishiki. Kiryu embarks on his journey to find Yumi, unravel the mystery that grips the Tojo clan, and find out what caused his sworn brother to change after these many years.  He then finds a mysterious girl named Haruka, who may be the key to unraveling this mystery. Needless to say, there are many twists and turns in the story, and that will get you invested.

While it may not be the grandest or original story in hindsight, it this kind of drama you just can’t help but love in Asian, gangster, martial arts films of yore. The motivation of the character’s actions, the causes that drive one to act, this is what will push you to know more as you progress through the game. Without going into spoilers, in the end, as the credits roll, you will feel that you had just gone on a roller coaster of emotions and a feeling of satisfaction after you watched a great movie.  The Yakuza series pride itself on a great cinematic experience and has carved that niche for itself. From its array of fleshed-out characters that you can sympathize with to the sub-stories in the hub world of Kamurocho, this tale is worthy of being retold again. 

Yakuza is a prime example of a beat em’ up done right. All the tools needed are your simple fists, and boy does it feel good to pummel your opponents and beat them to a bloody pulp. You string combos with your light and heavy attacks while bobbing and weaving through. Though if you are like me, you just go for pure offense instead of defense.  If you have played the Yakuza 0, what they added to Kiwami is the option to change your battle style from four categories. 

Brawler is your default offense stance, which radiates you blue. Nothing fancy as it balances both speed and power. Rush style pink, which trades your power for speed and allows quick attacks, and weaves through at the cost of blocking.  Beast style yellow, which you become a tank and allow you to pick up heavy objects as you plow through enemies at the cost of speed and finesse. Finally is your Dragon style red. This is the style that allows you to harness moves only the Dragon of Dojima is only capable of doing.

Notice the colors because there is one addition added to the combat system. Whenever you face opponents or bosses, there will be a chance that they will Dragon style and become vulnerable. They then glow in a certain color and as well try to regenerate themselves, especially so in hard mode. The only way to stop it is to either trigger your heat moves or being in the correlating color style and trigger your climax move there. This particular heat move is most satisfying as it only happens as the opponent is on the last bits of health. To finish a  fight in this fashion is always a satisfying moment.  From the great camera control, a variety of weapons from swords, tonfa, and bowling balls, to the myriad of heat moves.

Speaking of the Dragon style, there is only one way to upgrade it. It’s by beating your eternal rival and senior, Majima Goro. Here is one new feature that deserves focus.  Majima states that he yearns to fight with Kiryu. To the point & willingness to stalk him everywhere and anywhere. He is not kidding. There will be many times when you walk around Kamurocho, minding your own business and taking in the town, when suddenly Majima will on your path, hiding in trash cans, coming up from maintenance holes to being in drag and ambushing you at a hostess club. This is made clear right from the start when you first meet with him. He will stalk you to the point in which you have no rest, like a crazed, battle-obsessed yandere. This is all for the sake of him wanting to battle the Dragon while improving Kiryu in a surreal tough-love mentality.

In the beginning, he’s an easy encounter, but as you go on, he will be one adversary you will dread to face.  With multiple lines of health and his different forms, he will make your life a living hell. However, the reward of upgrading your Dragon style will be worth it in the end. Worry not, as you won’t get a game over screen if you lose. Just make sure you have enough healing items with you at all times and stay on your toes as you walk around town.

Lastly is the city of Kamurocho itself.  The town itself is a near replication of Shinjuku, Japan’s real-life location. The city itself brims with life and activity and does a great job recreating the style of the mid-late 1990s. Make no doubt about it, you will lose yourself and get sidetracked from the many activities you can do. Naturally, there are sub-stories that you can encounter which will net you experience or some pretty useful items and weapons.  

But what is intriguing about these side quests is that the characters and the situations involved will range from normal to simply crazy. From taking out scammers, teaching friendship to kids via a card game, and finding a successor for a mini kart MC, all these stories add to the overall experience to Kamurocho and give you the sense of what the city is about. Plus it also rewards veterans and those who played Zero with nods and cameos of the previous game.

There are also a plethora of mini-games as well. Wanna go to a batting cage? Do some Karaoke? Play Mahjong? Partake in a Fight Club? Do some mini kart racing? You can do all of that and more. That is one of the major selling points of Yakuza Kiwami. All these games could’ve been their own game, but the way it merges all together to reinforce the environment is just genius.

Want to get your drink on? Have Sushi? Or be a tourist and learn about the culture? By all means, do so.  If you don’t have the funds to go to Japan for real, the Yakuza games are the next best thing. All these activities,  you may forget to play the main game. I know I had spent so much time in Mahjong  before I progressed through the story

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Yakuza game without the Hostess Clubs and Fan Service.

*NSFW Warning*

However, the Hostess aspect is smaller compared to the original Ps2 version. The PS2 version had six cabaret girls you can woo as well. Yakuza Kiwami has only two girls you can date from what I played. The hostesses are a great focus in Yakuza Kiwami as it taught a cultural aspect that is distinctly Japanese. What’s more interesting is that they are the real hostess that SEGA recruited to be included in the game. When you meet with them, you go into a dating sim and choose the right answers to increase their affection meters.

You learn about her story and personality as you reach an S rank. Once you hit S, you partake in her specific sub-story, and once completed, you are rewarded with a nice Gravure session of your girl, though it subtly suggests something else.