Yakuza Kiwami 2

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a top-to-bottom remake of the original 2006 release of the second game in the franchise, Yakuza 2. It is chronologically the third game in the series and again follows series stalwart Kiryu Kazuma. Kiryu, even after relinquishing his title as the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan and stepping away as a Yakuza, again finds himself entangled in a web of violence and underhanded dealings in the gritty streets of Kamurocho and Sotenbori. Overall, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a fantastic game. It serves as an excellent remake of Yakuza 2, has an engaging story, enhanced combat, and a plethora of side activities to keep you busy.

Taking place one year after the events of Yakuza Kiwami, the story picks up right where that game left off, as Kiryu tries to lead a peaceful life with Haruka away from crime. However, during a visit to the grave of Shintaro Kazama, Kiryu’s deceased father figure, a deadly conflict between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance draws the Dragon of Dojima back into the fold to protect the innocent and confront his troubled past. From the start, the story of Yakuza Kiwami 2 is captivating and adrenaline-filled. There are very few moments of reprieve in this fast-paced installment in the franchise, and despite an insane amount of side activities available, it is likely players will want to plough through this story to see how the power struggle for Kamurocho comes to an end. While I am being obviously vague here, there are so many twists, turns, and surprises that to say anymore would ruin the plot. Just rest assured that the story of Kiwami 2 is one to be experienced and is easily one of the best this franchise has to offer.

Jumping straight into Kiwami 2 after finishing Yakuza Kiwami was a bit of a shock. Both the graphical and mechanical leap from between the two games is massive. This is partly due to the new Dragon Engine developed and introduced in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, but it is impressive nonetheless. Thanks to this new engine, the combat in Kiwami 2 had quite an overhaul from Kiwami 1. No longer bridled by the outdated engine, the combat flows effortlessly, combos are incredibly easy to perform, and Heat Actions explode on the screen and activate without delay. All of this coalesces to make Kiwami 2 one of the best Yakuza games, mechanically, I have ever played. This new engine also enhanced the graphical fidelity Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio was able to achieve, leading to cleaner particle effects and character models, along with a Kamurocho and Sontebori that feel more vibrant, more alive, and more crime-ridden than ever. The best representation of this increase in graphical fidelity is during a particular rainy night scene in Sotenbori. The rain and glare effects present on Kiryu’s character model and the streets of Sotenbori are graphically stunning and still hold up years later.

Aside from the incredible main story, Kiwami 2, like every Yakuza game, offers an inordinate array of side activities. The player can engage in everything from darts to batting cages, cabaret club management, photography, and a near-endless supply of side quests and sub-stories. There are three new additions to Kiwami 2 that were not present in the prior Yakuza games - Street Bosses, Bouncer Missions, and Majima Construction. Street Bosses and Bouncer Missions are essentially combat encounters that increase in difficulty as you complete them - just something to keep you playing longer than you otherwise would. Majima Construction, on the other hand, is a pretty competent mini castle defense game built within Kiwami 2. Instead of having a one-on-one brawl, Majima Construction has the player positioning up to 9 different Majima Construction employees as they use their unique skills and abilities to defend the various construction equipment owned by the company. Keeping the equipment safe is the primary goal of each of these mini-game stages, and completing the mini-game in its entirety yields a fantastic story revolving around Majima and his pseudo-construction business.

Speaking of Majima, included with Kiwami 2 is The Majima Saga. This three-chapter prelude to the events of main game has the player control the Mad Dog of Shimano himself as he seeks to combat an internal power struggle plaguing the Tojo Clan after Kiryu’s departure as the Fourth Chairman. While there is little to do other than fight in these three chapters, they do provide some much needed closer for Majima after the events of Yakuza 0.

In conclusion, Yakuza Kiwami 2 successfully revives a classic with improved graphics, refined gameplay, and a gripping storyline that will keep the player on the edge of their seat from start to finish. The seamless blend of emotional storytelling, intense combat, and an expansive open world along with the enhancements made thanks to the Dragon Engine, makes Kiwami 2 one of the best Yakuza games I have played.