Yakuza: Kiwami is a Action-Adventure game for PS4 and PS3 (Japanese release), was developed and published by SEGA, while the game was distributed by Deep Sliver for western release. It is a remake of the 2005's original game for PS2.
Last year I really enjoyed playing Yakuza 0 for PS4 due to fantastic storyline, memorable cast of characters, epic brawling gameplay, and wicked cinematic design that made the game fun to play. I've finally got Yakuza: Kiwami to play it on my PS4 to see if this remake actually plays better than the original PS2 version, the answer is yes of course because this game definitely improves over the original game such as presentation sequences and resolving the plot points of the game which allowing the remake of the first game keeping more refreshing and updated from the PS2 version, while gameplay style and graphics design retains the similar assets from the Yakuza 0. The game is slightly a bit shorter than the previous game which is fine to me depending on the each chapters in the game. While this game has great presentation, impressive open-world exploration, excellent gameplay and incredible graphics, it does shares with fewer problems such as requirements to upgrade new moves for dragon style and not being able to play your favourite SEGA's classics from the SEGA club, but the game is still entertaining to keep the series more interesting.
So without go further do, lets start the review.
Presentation
The game has similar plot from the original game, the story follows Kazuma Kiryu, a former Yakuza of Dojima's Clan, had discovered his boss Sohei Dojima was murdered by his fellow Akira Nishikiyama who saves Yumi's life, which Kiryu forcing Nishiki and Yumi to escape from the crime scene, while he is being arrested by the police. After being released from the prison for ten years, he find out that ten billion yen has been stolen from the Tojo Clan's bank. After he learned from his adopted father Shintaro Kazama about Yumi's disappearance, his quest is to find stolen ten billion yen and the missing girl Yumi, while he protecting the orphaned girl named Haruka, who is being targeted by the clan.
So far the story had becoming very interesting to know why Yakuza's rivalry been after the ten billion yen that belongs to Tojo Clan's bank. Omi Alliance is one of the Tojo Clan's biggest rivalry that they wanted a ten billion yen to become a successful business clan in Japanese organisation which puts Tojo Clan into trouble after they losing their income salary. Kazuma Kiryu is still badass in the game where he spents time going through hell to deal with Yakuza's gangs. I was pretty surprising that Akira Nishikiyama is no longer becoming Kiryu's side instead he is now becoming villain and slowly betrayed him which I finding Nishiki quite more aggressive than he was from previous game. I really liked the cutesy little girl Haruka which I finding her quite interesting regarding her story about searching her lost mother whereabouts in the city. She had her pendent on her hand that her mother gave it to her long ago in her orphanage days which I've believe that Yakuza's gangs is been after her and claims that her pendent is the key of the missing ten billion yen. I also liked Goro Majima as the character because I finding him very funny and has crazy sense of humor that annoys the hell of the Kiryu by putting him into fight because he's loves being jackass with him all the times, but still he's very entertaining person at the same time.
The game's presentations still retains a fantastic cinematic design during the cutscene with great use of motion capture for character's dialogue and facial animation. The action sequences of the game is still just great as the previous installiment with intense action and has serious moment that puts the game in magnificent level. I'm very glad that the game's development team have added the plot point of the game to resolve the confusing plot from the original game which keeps the story more easier to follow for the remake version of the game.
Overall, it has interesting storyline, memorable characters, and well designed cinematic designs.
Gameplay
Similar to previous game where you can explore the city, your goal is to complete the mission throughout the story scenario which can be marked with the pink symbols on the map screen.
You may be encountered by groups of Yakuzas which you are being forced to fight them during the battle gameplay. In battle gameplay, you'll start with three basic moves such as weak attack, strong attack and grabbing, while you have the health bar and heat power bar at the top-left corner which representing character's health and heat. The weak attack are pretty much quicker to attack enemies, while the strong attack can also give bit of damage. The grabbing can allow you to grab the opponent which lets you smash them into the objects if the heat power are fully increased and there are some different kinds of weapons to pick-up such as katana-swords, pistols, bins, bicycles, crates and more of them are very useful during the combat gameplay. You have three sets of fighting styles such as brawler which is more balanced fighting styles, the rush is pretty much more fast-paced figthing style which is quite good for performing faster combo moves, and the beast is pretty slow but more powerful fighting style with brutal fighting moves can give more heavy damage to the enemies. You can unlock the new moves in each three fighting style sets through the abilities options which allowing you to perform more variety of fighting moves, so you need to earn enough experience points in order to unlock moves which is sounds better than spending money to unlock moves from Yakuza 0. The game also introduces new fighting style called dragon that uses unique traditional moves which is nice edition to the game, but the issue is that in order to unlock the new moves you need to meet the requirements by completing the scenarios such as Majima's everywhere where you're being forced to battle with Majima will increase the player's Majima Everywhere rank and unlock new abilities in Kiryu's Dragon style after beating with him, but I always prefer unlocking new moves with experience points which I find it more easier than just completing scenarios. The battle gameplay does also sometime involves quick time event is where you have to hit the right button which can be appeared on the screen. You can also earn completion points by beating the challenge which you can spend these CP points to person who dressed up as clown which gives you ability to run longer and more useful CP unlockables.
Besides the story mission, you can also do the side-missions depending on which area you went on. You can visit any places in the city such as convenience store where you can purchase the variety of items and the restaurant or fast food is the place you can enjoy eating the amount of food and drinks which helps increases the character's health and heat power. Unfortunately you won't able to play your favourite SEGA's arcade classics from the SEGA's club which is kinda shame, but instead you have a mini-game called Mesu King which is card-based fighting game where you get to play as female fighters depending which Mesu King's card you have it on your inventory items which is kinda like Dead or Alive with rock, paper and scissors battle system. You can also play different kinds of mini-game like Karaoke, Pool, and Darts which can be found in different places in map area. So far the gameplay is just plays good as the Yakuza 0 because it uses same battle gameplay mechanics and open-world exploration area, and I also liked the driving rail-shooter mission where you are in the car and shooting down Yakuzas. I really enjoyed the boss battles of the game that adds up the game's challenge which is by far one of the best part of the game.
Overall, it has epic brawling gameplay, nice open-world exploration, and entertaining boss battles.
Graphics
The graphics is just like the previous game which still retains fantastic character's animation with the use of facial expressions and body figures that adds up the character's personality and the cinematic design is well professionally done which adds the overall atmospheres of the game. The open-world area is fairly just like the series because I really liked the details on the buildings with stunning textures, it has great use of backgrounds areas with no slow downs pop-ups at far-distances and it has numerous of crowded people in whole cities. I loved the gory effects of the game for in-game battle and the cut scene which is looking pretty well done. So far it looked so much better than the grinny looking original PS2 game which the developer team did a spectacular job to make the remake looked fresh and updated because it did improve the use of frame-rate and resolution over the original game.
Overall, it has excellent character animation, decent open-world area, and awesome use of special effects.
Music and Sounds
The soundtrack in the game is quite epic which fits really well for the in-game battle and cutscenes which adds the mood and atmospheres of the game. I love the sound effects of the city background sounds and in-game sound works which is quite awesome and the Japanese voice cast did a perfect job with their characters with fitting voices that adds the right tones of chraracter's voices. The game speaks in original Japanese languages but offered with English subtitles which helps the western audiences to understand the storyline of the game.
Overall, it has epic soundtrack, excellent sound effects and stunning voice cast.
Special Features
This game has new game plus with cleared data which adds the replay values, the platinum adventures mode allows player freely walk around the city without focusing on story, it has 2-player local mini-game mode which contains Karaoke, Pool, and Darts. It has climax battles mode where you have to fight the enemies to complete the challenge. This game also have trophy achievements and leaderboards.
Overall, it's has a decent features, but it's kinda shame there's no SEGA's arcade classics from the SEGA club.
Advantages
Interesting storylines
Memorable characters
Epic brawling gameplay
Entertaining boss battles
Nice open-world exploration
Excellent graphics
Cool music
Perfect voice acting
Disadvantages
No SEGA's arcade classics from SEGA Club (WTF???)
Unlocking new moves by completing scenario instead of using experience points for Dragon fighting style.
Final Verdict
Presentation 9/10 - interesting storyline, memorable characters, and well designed cinematic designs.
Gameplay 9/10 - epic brawling gameplay, nice open-world exploration, and entertaining boss battles.
Graphics 9/10 - excellent character animation, decent open-world area, and awesome use of special effects.
Music and Sounds 9/10 - epic soundtrack, excellent sound effects and stunning voice cast.
Special Features 8.5/10 - decent features, but lacked SEGA's arcade classics.
Overall 9/10 - It's by far one of the best looking video game remakes that never disappoint at all. I'm very glad that Deep Sliver did a right decision to release this game at outside of Japan to make fan of the series from the western happier. With the great story, cool characters, epic battles, intense action packed presentation and many more to offer is just worth for buying this game for your PS4 collection. I'm hoping for Yakuza: Kiwami 2 in the future and Yakuza 6 for this year.
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