Yakuza Series

This is getting some really solid reviews. 87 on Opencritic right now.
http://opencritic.com/game/6429/yakuza-kiwami-2


Game Revolution: "Yakuza Kiwami 2 is one of the best games ever made."
10/10

GameSpew: "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."
10/10

Digitally Downloaded: "It's a bloody brilliant game."
10/10

DualShockers: "The physical interactions brought forth by the Dragon Engine create brawls that feel incredibly satisfying.
9.5/10

Hobby Consolas: "Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a great adventure, full of details, minigames and wonderful characters, and it gets a new Goro Majima campaign for this PS4 remaster. Combat system is not as deep as in the first Kiwami, but still, it is one of the best entries in the franchise."
9.1/10

Wccftech: "A new antagonist and rippling implications of gang warfare once again drag Kazuma Kiryu back into the action. Between exploring Kamurocho and Sotenbori, ultimately players are going to find out that there's only room for one Dragon in Yakuza Kiwami 2."
9.1/10

Twinfinite: "It’s amazing to think that we’ve gotten now four Yakuza games in the span of nearly a year and a half, and yet, Yakuza Kiwami 2 doesn’t feel old or overdone. The amount of content, and the quality of said content is staggering."
9/10

Trusted Reviews: "Another spectacular entry in the long-running series. It brings the 2006 classic into the modern generation with gorgeous visuals, engaging combat and a melodramatic story that hits all the right notes. The sheer amount of content on offer across multiple modes and cities is an achievement in itself, made even better by the way in which Kiwami 2 unashamedly bathes players in the culture that inspired it."
9/10

DarkStation: "Like so many games before it, Yakuza Kiwami 2 does a great job of bringing players up to speed with previous events, which makes stepping into this pleasantly dense universe easy and comfortable."
9/10

PlayStation LifeStyle:
9/10

Attack of the Fanboy: "With its intricately woven story and memorable characters, Yakuza 2 was already viewed as one of the best in the series. And now with improved graphics and a refined Dragon Engine, it's remake, Yakuza Kiwami 2, could be the best of them all."
9/10

Game Informer: "In a time where the expectation of the video game remake is constantly changing, Kiwami 2 proves to be one of the best ones out there by imbuing its systems with new life and adding a ridiculous amount of compelling content."
9/10
 
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I'm really looking forward to this, have it pre-ordered. I'm going to have to hit it pretty hard though because I want to finish it before Spider-Man launches.
 
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Cool. Glad we have one die-hard Yakuza fan here. I had a little trouble getting into Yakuza Kiwami, but I'm at the point now where the story is taking off, and I'm getting into it. From the sounds of the reviews, I'll be picking up Kiwami 2 down the road, too.
 
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Cool. Glad we have one die-hard Yakuza fan here. I had a little trouble getting into Yakuza Kiwami, but I'm at the point now where the story is taking off, and I'm getting into it. From the sounds of the reviews, I'll be picking up Kiwami 2 down the road, too.

The stories are just so well done that they have all hooked me, I like brawlers too so that helps. I'm worried about how I'll feel when they move on to a new character with the next game in the series, I really like Kiryu.
 
The stories are just so well done that they have all hooked me, I like brawlers too so that helps. I'm worried about how I'll feel when they move on to a new character with the next game in the series, I really like Kiryu.

Oh, I didn't realize that Kiryu wasn't in #3. That's too bad. I like him as a character, too. So moral and serious. The contrast with some of the side stories can be really funny, and the way his character plays off Nishki and Majima is great.

I agree about the Yakuza stories. I'm not into crime dramas, usually, but these really surprised me. Maybe it's the different culture; maybe it's the morality; maybe it's just how much melodrama there. I think it has a lot to do with the characters, who are unique and interesting. The humor helps a lot, too. The game could be rough, if everything was serious. Whatever the mix is, they pull it off and keep me entertained.
 
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Oh, I didn't realize that Kiryu wasn't in #3. That's too bad. I like him as a character, too. So moral and serious. The contrast with some of the side stories can be really funny, and the way his character plays off Nishki and Majima is great.

I agree about the Yakuza stories. I'm not into crime dramas, usually, but these really surprised me. Maybe it's the different culture; maybe it's the morality; maybe it's just how much melodrama there. I think it has a lot to do with the characters, who are unique and interesting. The humor helps a lot, too. The game could be rough, if everything was serious. Whatever the mix is, they pull it off and keep me entertained.

No he's in all of the games so far but 6 is supposed to have been the end of his story but there is going to be another Yakuza game with a different lead character :) I really wish they had released them in order here so it wouldn't be so confusing lol.
 
No he's in all of the games so far but 6 is supposed to have been the end of his story but there is going to be another Yakuza game with a different lead character :) I really wish they had released them in order here so it wouldn't be so confusing lol.

Oh, ok, gotcha. I thought you meant the next Kiwami (3). You meant the next Yakuza game (7?).

He's a great character, for sure.



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Just read about Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 getting remasters on PS4 that'll run at 1080p 60fps. They aren't Kiwami style remakes though just remasters because these 3 games were PS3 titles and not PS2 games like the others so the visuals hold up better. Of course on PS3 they were 720p 30fps so they are still upgraded just nowhere near as much. They haven't announced western release dates (Yakuza 3 remaster just released in Japan) yet they'll surely be released here, the creator of the series said the only reason they are being remastered at all was because the other games did so well in the west.

Here is some gameplay of the demo of Yakuza 3 remaster that released in Japan. Clearly not anywhere near as good looking as the remakes but it looks good for a remaster.

 
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Looks good enough to me. 720 to 1080 is a big jump, and so is 30 fps to 60. I can tell the graphics aren't quite as sharp as the remasters (e.g., his suit doesn't have the textures), but that's okay. As you say, they're starting from a PS3 game rather than PS2, so they're starting from a higher level.

Good to hear that Yakuza games have sold well enough to justify bringing these other games over. There's something unique about Yakuza games you just don't find elsewhere.
 
I want to try one of these games, but I hate taking chances on games these days. Which of these games on the PS4 would be the best to try out?
 
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I want to try one of these games, but I hate taking chances on games these days. Which of these games on the PS4 would be the best to try out?

That question gets asked a lot, and the answer always comes back, Yakuza 0. That's the best place to start for newcomers. The game was made specifically for that -- as an intro to the series, and as a prequel that explains where it all started. So it's chronologically first in the storyline, although it was developed with the modern engine. It's an all-around great game, I think -- surprisingly well-done story, fun combat, variety of funny sidequests, memorable characters, weird Japanese quirkiness, etc. It was one of my favorite games from last year, second only to Horizon.

My only issue with the game is that there are a lot of fist fights, and it gets a little tedious sometimes. There are plenty of options for weapons, stuff to pick up, special moves, etc., but I'm just not all that into brawlers. I've found a solution, though, and that is to set the combat on easy so I just breeze through it. Kind of cheap, but it makes it more enjoyable for me.

You can find Yakuza 0 for $20 now. Well worth it.
 
I think a sleeping dogs/Yakuza crossover would be really cool. There is a lot of talk about Triads in some of the Yakuza games, would be cool to see Kazuma Kiryu and Wei Shen cross paths.
 
Just finished Yakuza Kiwami. Really good. 9/10 for me. The story was great melodrama. I got confused with all the different clans, the shifting alliances, the intrigue, etc., but that's fine. I don't care, and I'm not sure it would make a lot of sense if I looked too closely. It was good fun and emotionally affecting at times.

It was good to see the weird, silly side-missions, even in the first game. I guess that's been a trademark of the series since the beginning. And Kiryu's personality hasn't changed since Yakuza 0. Nishki sure did. He turn a dark turn. You'd think he'd be a little grateful, but no...

Combat was good. Heat moves are always fun. I kept combat pretty simple, stuck mostly to the Brawler style. As I mentioned earlier, I played with combat on Easy mode, which made the game more enjoyable for me.

I'll probably fool around in the city for a little while longer. I've got some side missions to complete, still.

Anyhow, another great Yakuza game. I will take a pause for a while, then play Yakuza Kiwami 2 next year sometime.
 
Plugging away at this, although I have to admit, I've lost my enthusiasm. I just don't enjoy the brawling gameplay. I am just playing it strictly for the story at this point. The side missions are occasionally funny, but I don't know. I went a couple weeks without feeling the urge to play at all. I think I'm losing my enthusiasm for the series. It just feels like a way to pass the time. I do like Kiryu as a character, but I'm not sure it's worth playing through, just for the story. The fighting -- which of course is the main gameplay element -- just doesn't interest me.

I've been losing interest in videogames generally, though, so I'm not sure if it's specific to Yakuza or just part of an overall pattern.
 
Plugging away at this, although I have to admit, I've lost my enthusiasm. I just don't enjoy the brawling gameplay. I am just playing it strictly for the story at this point. The side missions are occasionally funny, but I don't know. I went a couple weeks without feeling the urge to play at all. I think I'm losing my enthusiasm for the series. It just feels like a way to pass the time. I do like Kiryu as a character, but I'm not sure it's worth playing through, just for the story. The fighting -- which of course is the main gameplay element -- just doesn't interest me.

I've been losing interest in videogames generally, though, so I'm not sure if it's specific to Yakuza or just part of an overall pattern.

I haven't been playing as much lately either but there are a few games I'm really looking forward to that are coming out in the next few months. I think with Spider-Man, AC: Odyssey and RDR2 I spent a little too much time gaming during the holidays and kind of needed to step back a bit. Once MK11 and Days Gone come out though I'm likely going to be right back into it.
 
I haven't been playing as much lately either but there are a few games I'm really looking forward to that are coming out in the next few months. I think with Spider-Man, AC: Odyssey and RDR2 I spent a little too much time gaming during the holidays and kind of needed to step back a bit. Once MK11 and Days Gone come out though I'm likely going to be right back into it.

It's been a mood I've been in for about six months now, since after the E3 hype faded. I was heavily into games then, although that was because I got hold of some weed. Weed always makes me get into videogames, maaaan, and play them for hours a day, maaaaan. But after the weed runs out, I am back to feeling ho-hum about games. The feeling has intensified lately. Not sure why. Could be because I'm very conscious lately about how I spend my time, and maybe also because I don't feel the need for stress relief/escape as much as I did in the past, because life has gotten better and easier (thank goodness).

I bought an X during that little June heyday. Seemed like a good idea at the time, though I really need to learn to stop making videogame-related decisions when stoned. They never work out, lol. I ended up selling it a week ago. I've also been going through my house, room by room, on a minimalizing juggernaut -- tossing out everything I don't use or need anymore. Many trash bags full. X was something that had to go, too. Not interested in all the streaming stuff, cloud initiative stuff, gamepass subscription "Netflix of gaming" angle, Play Anywhere, or any of that stuff, especially when it's combined with releasing one mediocre game after another. I much prefer Sony's focus on home console gaming and fewer but quality games. My time is much more valuable than my money. I'm not interested in a bunch of mediocre titles for $10/month. I've got better things to do. And I feel like having 2 consoles under my TV is excessive. I'm not so into videogames that I need two consoles. And Sony deserves the spot.

(heh, that was a bit of a ramble. I figure it's better here, where only you and maybe two other people will read it.)

I'm not sure what game will pull me back in. I've cooled on Days Gone. This is a commonplace observation, but it seems like "just another open-world zombie game" to me, and I'm not a big fan of the gorey and grey aesthetic. I might end up giving it a chance, just based on my affection for Syphon Filter, but I'm not feeling real positive about it. I'm wondering how Dreams will turn out. I'll probably get Ghost of Tsushima, when it comes out -- and certainly Death Stranding and TLOU2, too, although those might not come until 2020. I've got some other smaller games I'm curious about, but nothing I'm chomping at the bit for.

p.s. Majima has made his entrance in Kiwami 2, so things are looking up. :)


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It's been a mood I've been in for about six months now, since after the E3 hype faded. I was heavily into games then, although that was because I got hold of some weed. Weed always makes me get into videogames, maaaan, and play them for hours a day, maaaaan. But after the weed runs out, I am back to feeling ho-hum about games. The feeling has intensified lately. Not sure why. Could be because I'm very conscious lately about how I spend my time, and maybe also because I don't feel the need for stress relief/escape as much as I did in the past, because life has gotten better and easier (thank goodness).

I bought an X during that little June heyday. Seemed like a good idea at the time, though I really need to learn to stop making videogame-related decisions when stoned. They never work out, lol. I ended up selling it a week ago. I've also been going through my house, room by room, on a minimalizing juggernaut -- tossing out everything I don't use or need anymore. Many trash bags full. X was something that had to go, too. Not interested in all the streaming stuff, cloud initiative stuff, gamepass subscription "Netflix of gaming" angle, Play Anywhere, or any of that stuff, especially when it's combined with releasing one mediocre game after another. I much prefer Sony's focus on home console gaming and fewer but quality games. My time is much more valuable than my money. I'm not interested in a wide selection of mediocre but titles for $10/month. I've got better things to do. And I feel like having 2 consoles under my TV is excessive. I'm not so into videogames that I need two consoles. And Sony deserves the spot.

(heh, that was a bit of a ramble. I figure it's better here, where only you and maybe two other people will read it.)

I'm not sure what game will pull me back in. I've cooled on Days Gone. This is a commonplace observation, but it seems like "just another open-world zombie game" to me, and I'm not a big fan of the gorey and grey aesthetic. I might end up giving it a chance, just based on my affection for Syphon Filter, but I'm not feeling real positive about it. I'm wondering how Dreams will turn out. I'll probably get Ghost of Tsushima, when it comes out -- and certainly Death Stranding and TLOU2, too, although those might not come until 2020. I've got some other smaller games I'm curious about, but nothing I'm chomping at the bit for.

p.s. Majima has made his entrance in Kiwami 2, so things are looking up. :)


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Ah so you were high when you were starting to get back into Xbox, that explains it! lol jk. I get ya, I regret buying the One X myself now, games look good enough on the Pro that I could have been just fine without the One X, it's proven to me I don't need two consoles so I doubt I'll ever buy another Xbox again unless they really do a 180 on first party, and I don't see them doing that based on their current strategy. That Netflix of gaming model is going to kill any incentive for spending a large amount on non GAAS games, people may dispute that but when you look at Netflix and the issues they'll be facing when it comes to their financials I don't see this model working well for gaming long term. We'll see, never say never but unless Sony craps the bed and ruins things with he PS5 I'm pretty sure that'll be the only place I'm gaming next gen.
 
Ah so you were high when you were starting to get back into Xbox, that explains it! lol jk. I get ya, I regret buying the One X myself now, games look good enough on the Pro that I could have been just fine without the One X, it's proven to me I don't need two consoles so I doubt I'll ever buy another Xbox again unless they really do a 180 on first party, and I don't see them doing that based on their current strategy. That Netflix of gaming model is going to kill any incentive for spending a large amount on non GAAS games, people may dispute that but when you look at Netflix and the issues they'll be facing when it comes to their financials I don't see this model working well for gaming long term. We'll see, never say never but unless Sony craps the bed and ruins things with he PS5 I'm pretty sure that'll be the only place I'm gaming next gen.

I'm not sure how the "Netflix of gaming" model will work out for them financially. All I know is, as a gamer, it does nothing for me. I've got no interest in it. I much prefer Sony's emphasis on fewer and high-quality games, games that are worth spending my time and money on, rather than a cheap subscription or streaming service.

I agree about games looking good enough on the Pro. I notice and appreciate good visuals, but they aren't the main event in gaming, the way they seem to be for a lot of people. I suppose I might pick up a used X a couple of years from now, when they've built up a library of games I want to play. They don't have seem to have anything interesting lined up until late 2020. We'll see.
 
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Just finished Kiwami 2. I'd give it an 8. The story was very convoluted for the first third, started to get good in the middle, and then became good but absurd at the end. I'd give Zero a 9, Kiwami an 8.7, and Kiwami 2 an 8. Kiwami 2's melodrama didn't hold up as well as in the other two games.

I'm going to give the series a rest, because I'm Yakuzad out for now.
 
Looking forward to giving these a shot, people rave about them and if I'm being honest I've always been a bit skeptical.
 
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