Game of the Month #59 (December 2019) - Yakuza Kiwami

Yakuza Kiwami



In 2005, a legend was born on the PlayStation 2 - the legend of Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, in his video game debut with Yakuza. Now, 11 years after that release, a new generation of players will be able to experience the incomparable action and drama of the Yakuza series with the rebuilt-from-scratch HD remake exclusive to PlayStation 4, Yakuza Kiwami. "Kiwami" means Extreme, and the game takes that concept to heart. It's not an HD-remaster or up-rezzing of PS2-era textures. Yakuza Kiwami was recreated from the ground up exclusively for the PlayStation 4.

While this is a remake of the first Yakuza game it is highly recommended to have played Yakuza 0 as there are some plot points from 0 that are continued here and get a proper conclusion.

To those that have played Yakuza 0: Kiriyu gets a cellphone and you can now save everywhere. No more annoying phone boxes (at least until Yakuza 3)!

Also if you don´t like Majima you´re in for a rough time because the Majima Everywhere System that Kiwami introduced is exactly that. He is literally everywhere. Every place he could possibly be he is.

I think I fought him about 55 times. I love Majima to pieces and fighting him is required to upgrade the dragon fighting style and you want to do that to make your life during one of the boss fights easier, but was I tired of seeing him at the end.
He gets really tough, he hits like a truck during the later fights and his heath bar becomes ridiculous. It is still worth it to persevere, because the dragon fighting style can do some serious damage after a few upgrades.

Expect to hear Kiriyu-chan a lot.

Nice, This was was just in the monthly bundle so I can start this right away. That cell phone sounds like a godsend!

While this is a remake of the first Yakuza game it is highly recommended to have played Yakuza 0 as there are some plot points from 0 that are continued here and get a proper conclusion.

To those that have played Yakuza 0: Kiriyu gets a cellphone and you can now save everywhere. No more annoying phone boxes (at least until Yakuza 3)!

Also if you don´t like Majima you´re in for a rough time because the Majima Everywhere System that Kiwami introduced is exactly that. He is literally everywhere. Every place he could possibly be he is.

I think I fought him about 55 times. I love Majima to pieces and fighting him is required to upgrade the dragon fighting style and you want to do that to make your life during one of the boss fights easier, but was I tired of seeing him at the end.
He gets really tough, he hits like a truck during the later fights and his heath bar becomes ridiculous. It is still worth it to persevere, because the dragon fighting style can do some serious damage after a few upgrades.

Expect to hear Kiriyu-chan a lot.

I cannot explain how grateful I am for the cellphone to save anywhere. I liked Yakuza 0, but knowing that it could be literally an hour before I was able to save just killed me.

I already started the game and I'm on chapter 2. The story i starting to pick up way faster that it did with 0.

Had my first playthrough of the game:

I'm in chapter 2. I've just entered the host club Stardust.

I'm not sure atm . The first chapter kinda of annoyed me (it had me at one point running back a forth for a worthless fetch quest) and the melodrama annoyed me as well. But it's thrown me a few hooks in the plot and it seems I'm at least out of the tutorial so hopefully it'll pick up for me the further I go along.

I played through Kiwami without playing any other Yakuza games and even though I'm sure there are some plot points I missed - I didn't feel like i missed anything at the time. They do a good job of filling you in with everything you need to know, so dive on in even you're a newbie like I was.

Plus, bathe in the greatness that is Majima-everywhere, as it will be the blessing you deserve this Xmas =)

Yes, you have to fight him a million times, but accept that half the game is fighting Majima, while the other half is running around until you run into Majima.

YOU CAN'T PET THE DOG!
I repeat
YOU CAN'T PET THE DOG!



I'm refunding the game right now.
On a more serious note: I'm currently in chapter 6, thoroughly enjoying the cheesy melodrama.

I've been intrigued by this series for a while, especially with the recent releases/ports to PC. I've never participated in GotM so seems like a great time to start!

Currently on chapter 11. Having a blast, and the story is really going at full speed now.

At some point I got bored on the combat, so I set the game to easy. I did the same when I played Yakuza 0, I just wanna get to the next story beat as fast as I can!

While this is a remake of the first Yakuza game it is highly recommended to have played Yakuza 0 as there are some plot points from 0 that are continued here and get a proper conclusion.

To those that have played Yakuza 0: Kiriyu gets a cellphone and you can now save everywhere. No more annoying phone boxes (at least until Yakuza 3)!

Also if you don´t like Majima you´re in for a rough time because the Majima Everywhere System that Kiwami introduced is exactly that. He is literally everywhere. Every place he could possibly be he is.

I think I fought him about 55 times. I love Majima to pieces and fighting him is required to upgrade the dragon fighting style and you want to do that to make your life during one of the boss fights easier, but was I tired of seeing him at the end.
He gets really tough, he hits like a truck during the later fights and his heath bar becomes ridiculous. It is still worth it to persevere, because the dragon fighting style can do some serious damage after a few upgrades.

Expect to hear Kiriyu-chan a lot.

While this is a remake of the first Yakuza game it is highly recommended to have payed Yakuza 0 as there are some plot points from 0 that are continued here

A lot of the side stories refer back to 0 as well, often as amusing one liners.

Eow Update:

I'm in episode 4. Been spending most f the week doing the substories.

Okay I've got into this game a bit more. The weirdness of the substories has really pulled me. While most end up being Kiryu fighting off shake downs there ones which open you up to the minigames in the end. I really enjoyed messing around with the pocket circuit races. While it definitely has the pay to win coursing through the minigame it doesn't take away the fact you need to customize your car to suit the circuit which you are on so sticking to the most powerful itmes doesn't always work. The other main minigame is the mesuking which is a pervy childrens card game based around rock, paper, scissors. It's striking contrast to skimpy women fighting each other for the amusement of children to me is bizarrely amusing

Finally got to play for a few hours and made it to the start of Chapter 4. The city has really opened up, and I've enjoyed trying some of the side quests and activities. I am already pretty drawn in to the story and world, so I think I will enjoy this game and series!

Has anybody noticed the Christmas cheer in the game? I was in a beef bowl shop and heard Christmas music, and there was a wreath on the door at Serena. The game must check your system clock - nice touch!

Finally got to play for a few hours and made it to the start of Chapter 4. The city has really opened up, and I've enjoyed trying some of the side quests and activities. I am already pretty drawn in to the story and world, so I think I will enjoy this game and series!

Has anybody noticed the Christmas cheer in the game? I was in a beef bowl shop and heard Christmas music, and there was a wreath on the door at Serena. The game must check your system clock - nice touch!

The Yakuza games are all set during the time they initially released and in this case that would be December 8, 2005 the release date of Yakuza 1.
It is Christmas time in the game because it was Christmas time in the real world and it is just a nice coincidence that you´re playing Yakuza Kiwami during this time of year.

Eow Update:

I'm in episode 4. Been spending most f the week doing the substories.

Okay I've got into this game a bit more. The weirdness of the substories has really pulled me. While most end up being Kiryu fighting off shake downs there ones which open you up to the minigames in the end. I really enjoyed messing around with the pocket circuit races. While it definitely has the pay to win coursing through the minigame it doesn't take away the fact you need to customize your car to suit the circuit which you are on so sticking to the most powerful itmes doesn't always work. The other main minigame is the mesuking which is a pervy childrens card game based around rock, paper, scissors. It's striking contrast to skimpy women fighting each other for the amusement of children to me is bizarrely amusing

Note:Mesuking is a self parody of Mushiking, hence the children’s focus and the use of the insect theme. It would have been popular during the time the game is set leading into Eries’s point.

Ahh majima-san I love you.

@lowdefal didn't know that. That's interesting. Still i find the whole amusing

The Yakuza games are all set during the time they initially released and in this case that would be December 8, 2005 the release date of Yakuza 1.
It is Christmas time in the game because it was Christmas time in the real world and it is just a nice coincidence that you´re playing Yakuza Kiwami during this time of year.

Neat! Thanks for the knowledge.

Eow week 2# update

I've just started chapter 6. Doing some of the side quests first before dropping back into the story.

The gameplay is very samey unfortunately but the story is really picking up.

Purgatory had a really impressive introduction and there seem to be some interesting plot lines forming and it seems not as simple as it first set itself of at. My big question atm is if the majima everwhere is a new introduction to Yakuza Kiwami as his actions seemed much more playful in the everywhere sections compared to the more sinister boss battle at the end of chapter 5

I never played the original but its definitely something that was added based on his popularity.

I finished Yakuza Kiwami, so here are my two cents:

-The story was cool. Certainly the best part of the game, I've been a bit spoiled by how good Yakuza 0's was but Kiwami was still good
-I am not too crazy about the combat system, but it's ok. I'm in the game for the story and characters
-DO THE POLICE MAJIMA MISSION EARLY. I left it for later and that meant no Majima Everywhere missions where unlocking. I eventually did it, but way later in the game, so I feel like I didn't get as many Majima encounters as I should have. So I missed up on our boy :(

Sow update cause i missed yesterday:

I'm about part way through chapter 7. I'm also now the POCKET CIRCUIT KING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay i'm still enjoying the game but some of the side stories can be tedious. I'm finding the arena rather tedious atm still i'll get through the game by the end of December

Sow update cause i missed yesterday:

I'm about part way through chapter 7. I'm also now the POCKET CIRCUIT KING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay i'm still enjoying the game but some of the side stories can be tedious. I'm finding the arena rather tedious atm still i'll get through the game by the end of December

yeah the arena suuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks
but it's worth doing at least for the fighting upgrades from the dude standing outside Purgatory by the fountain

Right just completed Yakuza Kiwami. I have to say I did enjoy the game especially the story where it slowly starts building and hits you with more twists and turns throughout the whole game. It's biggest problem it's rather repetitive gameplay loop which could do with being more fleshed out if i'm honest. Still it fills the world out with some fun mini-games and funny little sub stories.

I'll try and write a full review shortly

Yakuza Kiwami
Date Completed: 26th December 2019
Time Completion: 49h 57m 18s
Notes: 69.79% completed. All substories. Normal difficulty

+Excellent Story with many twists and turns in it’s plot
+A very deep and filled open world
+Some really fun and silly sub stories fill out the open world
-The fighting in the game quickly becomes repetitive.
-A weak first chapter
-The coliseum is a grindy bore fest

Overall: Yakuza Kiwami is a fantastic remake of the original Yakuza game while I’ve not played the original I thoroughly enjoyed this game. The open world is a tightly managed and deeply filled world filled with a many different mini games and silly side stories. It’s main story never the less is a fantastic story with many twists and turns. The main weakness for the game is that the fighting gets repetitive really quickly which holds the game back a bit.

8/10

I just finished it - what a ride! I will write a full review tomorrow on my modern backlog thread. My reaction after finishing though is that it's a 9/10. My only gripes are that the combat got somewhat stale by the end, and the end of the story got a bit convoluted. Otherwise this was an awesome experience and I'm excited to continue the series.

Stats
Time: 39:19
Completion: 71%
Majima Everywhere Rank: SS
Substories: 74/78
Difficulty: Normal