Yakuza Kiwami reviews
Metacritic - 82
OpenCritic - 83
Dualshockers - 90
Ultimately, Yakuza Kiwami is a fantastic game, and a real benchmark for how remakes of old and glorious titles should be done. While the explorable area is a bit more limiting than in other games of the series, the rich content, fantastic story, enjoyable gameplay, beautiful environments, and likable and deep characters, combined with the extremely affordable price, make this game simply a must-have, that I can recommend to nearly everyone (who isn’t easily offended) without reserves.
Attack of the Fanboy - 9
Yakuza Kiwami represents the pinnacle of the series, with Sega bringing everything it has learned over the years and refining it into a single neat package. The result is a unique and unforgettable experience that far outstrips what was presented in the original entry. Unfortunately, as a remake of a game from more than a decade ago its impossible for the game to escape its core structure. Yes, the graphics, sound and overall gameplay has been improved, but there is still content in the game which is still evidence of a time when Yakuza was new and Sega was still wading in new waters
Playstation Universe - 9
Though not quite so sprawling or wildly ambitious as Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami nonetheless cements its place as an essential entry in the series. Indeed if anything, the leaner content offering (it’s still a 60 hour plus affair and then some), coupled with its lower price point both combine to make Yakuza Kiwami an essential starting point for newcomers to Sega’s increasingly popular franchise.
Hardcore Gamer - 4.5 out of 5
Yakuza Kiwami remakes the original game in a near-perfect way. Some may be disappointed over the lack of English voice acting, but the use of Japanese with English subtitles greatly increases the authenticity. Kiwami plays far better than the original release and it delivers a more enjoyable experience overall. Every benefit from the most recent games is here, resulting in the definitive way to play the original game’s story. Anyone who has missed out on it before should check it out now as should players of the original who always wanted to see it in a better-looking and playing form. Yakuza Kiwami packs a lot of content into an affordable package and is a great jumping off point for newcomers to the series as well.
Hobby Consoles - 89
Twelve years after its original release on PS2, Yakuza Kiwami is still a great adventure set in modern Japan. Some mechanics such as invisible walls or certain fighting elements feel outdated, but the story, setting and minigames are awesome.
God is a Geek - 8.5
Yakuza Kiwami is indeed extreme, and is great to play, but combat has always ran the risk of featuring a bit too much for my liking. For example, when I was travelling from Serenas to Ares, I faced two separate gangs and got stopped by a cop who was basically accusing me of stealing a kid. This can happen quite a bit, and simple journeys can be bogged down by some boring interactions and countless fights. The fighting is fun, but too much of a good thing and all that. Regardless, I loved playing it again after all this time, and despite its clunkiness, bizarre writing, and obsession with Pocket Racers, Yakuza Kiwami is a hoot, and one I wish I could spend all my time playing. It’s also a fantastic remake that makes the smallest detail like skin blotches and the puddles reflecting the neon lights stick out like a wonderfully sore thumb
Playstation Lifestyle - 8.5
As a remake, Kiwami is a triumphant success. Not only is it leaps and bounds more playable than the PS2 original, the additional scenes help flesh out character motivations. This all makes the story of Kiryu’s rise feel more special, and it’s a perfect continuation for those who recently played Yakuza 0. There are some disappointments, though, as just roaming around Kamurocho feels like a step backwards from previous games that featured multiple cities to explore, but that’s just an unfortunate side-effect of being a remake of a much-less ambitious title. The new bells and whistles make Yakuza Kiwami a worthwhile time no matter if you’ve played the original or not.
Gamespot - 8
Kiwami does a great job as both a remake of the original Yakuza game and as a sequel to Zero. Despite that combat remains more of a bump in the road than a rewarding pursuit, it's a no-brainer for existing fans of the series, and shouldn't be overlooked by newcomers, even if Zero passed them by. There's nothing else quite like Yakuza, and Kiwami isn't afraid to show it.
USGAMER - 4 out of 5
If you want to see what all the fuss is about this is the place to start. Yakuza 0 is technically the beginning of Kiryu's story, but it's a full priced release and Yakuza 6 won't be launching on PlayStation 4 until March of next year. This is the ground floor folks. Time to hop on the ride. For my money, I'm glad the soul is still strong in this one.
RPG Site - 8
Following in the footsteps of Yakuza 0 was always going to be a tough act to follow for Sega. While I did not enjoy Yakuza Kiwami to the degree that I did with that game, all the same, Kiwami is excellent. There’s a ton of content here to make your way through, especially if you take the time to just explore the city streets and indulge in side activities. If you’re a newcomer to the series, this is an excellent jumping on point, and it’s a steal at only $30. So if you only have even a passing interest in the game, just know that there’s no better time to lose yourself in the neon glow of Kamurocho.
Destructoid - 8
Really, you can’t go wrong with Kiwami. I would have liked it if every aspect of the game had been fully redone, but we don’t see remakes like this come along often. I can deal with a few stumbling blocks when the core quality of what makes Yakuza so unique and engaging remains untouched. At least now more people can have a chance to experience this classic, which is the best thing about Kiwami’s existence.
IGN - 7.9
Yakuza Kiwami makes great strides in updating the classic original Yakuza game to modern standards. But while it adds better combat, bizarrely charming side quests, and a gorgeous graphical revamp, it also ignores some of the original’s biggest problems in pacing and storytelling. And because of its relatively short length, Yakuza Kiwami’s fun trip through the tangled web of Japan’s criminal underground feels like a prelude to something bigger and better to come
Push Square - 6
Yakuza Kiwami finds itself in a strange position. A remake that's technically a sequel to a much better game in Yakuza 0, it struggles to offer anything besides another engaging crime-drama storyline. Best described as a kind of expansion, Kiwami really shows its age in terms of narrative structure and gameplay design, but it's still worth playing through if you just can't get enough of Kaz. It goes without saying, however, that series newcomers are much better off starting with the far superior Yakuza 0.
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