When Yakuza Kiwami was released on the previous generation of consoles, we said it was a great remake of an already great game. I stand by that review, and I would even say that this Switch 2 upgrade is the best version of the game that started the franchise — the true ‘Kiwami’ (Japanese for ‘pinnacle’). After all, what game could make better use of the Switch 2’s hybrid features and upgraded visuals than a massive RPG?
A brief history
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the game in December, Sega decided to release the Yakuza games Kiwami 1 and 2 for Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox series systems. Both games were previously released on the last generation of consoles in 2016 and 2017 respectively, but given the growing popularity of Yakuza these titles deserve another moment in the spotlight. We gave the original Kiwami a 8.5/10 when we reviewed it on Gamingboulevard as it was released, and I was given the massive task of reviewing the newest version of both Kiwami games. But I have a confession to make: I have never played one of the Yakuza games, except for a couple of hours of Like a Dragon (No. 7), which didn’t hook me. My friends kept telling me that the series would be perfect for someone with my taste in games, so I gave in to peer pressure and played both games. Given the size of both titles, Yakuza Kiwami 2 will be the subject of a separate article. So for now, this is my review of Yakuza Kiwami.
The dragon and the koi
Yakuza Kiwami is an action RPG set in the streets of Kamurocho, which is based on the real-life Kabukicho nightlife district in Tokyo. Playing as Yakuza lieutenant Kazuma Kiryu of the Dojima family, you are on the verge of establishing your own Yakuza family. However, Kiryu takes the blame for one of the mafia’s worst crimes, the murder of his patriarch, to protect his lifelong friend, Akira Nishikiyama. After serving ten years in prison, Kiryu is released on parole just as the head of his former organisation, the Tojo clan, is murdered and 10 billion yen is stolen from their accounts. At the centre of this conflict, Kiryu finds a young orphaned girl who holds the key to the fortune and is searching for her long-lost mother. What starts as a mafia-related crime escalates into a thrilling conflict between Kiryu and Nishiyama. Nishiyama was once his blood brother, but now he harbours a great grudge against Kiryu.
The story is split into thirteen chapters focusing on Kiryu, interspersed with cutscenes showing how Nishiyama became the embittered family patriarch he is today. It’s a gripping story that weaves the plot points together so well that I was hooked after the first hour of playing. However, those familiar with the Yakuza series will not be surprised to learn that I quickly became distracted while travelling the streets of Kamarocho.
Hit the streets
Kamarocho isn’t the biggest open world. Keep in mind that Yakuza was originally a PS2 game. However, there is a lot to do. On your way to your next objective, you may be challenged by rival gangs or thugs who want to take down the legendary Dragon of Dojima. Battles are played in a beat ’em up style where you must defeat the opposing gangsters using one of four battle styles: Rush, Brawler, Beast and Dragon. Hitting your enemies fills up a heat bar, which lets you unleash devastating heat attacks on weakened enemies once it’s full. Beating enemies earns you points that can be used to unlock skills in a skill tree, allowing you to access extra moves in certain styles or upgrade health and heat. However, this core beat ’em up is just the tip of the iceberg. You can also earn skill points by completing side quests. This is the most time-consuming aspect of the game.
Kiryu crosses paths with NPCs who have side quests to offer. These side stories occur randomly while travelling the streets, and I have to say, they are what elevate Yakuza from good to great. I expected to be distracted by them a lot, but each character they introduced felt well-integrated into the overworld. Granted, they aren’t all that deep. Some are pretty straightforward, such as catching a pickpocket or giving alcohol to a homeless man. But there are some true gems among them. Let me give you an example:
There is a minigame in Yakuza called Pocket Car Racer, which involves racing miniature remote-controlled cars on an indoor track. The venue’s main mascot is getting married and wants to find a ‘real job’ to make enough money to provide for his family. However, he can’t leave without finding a successor. What follows is a side story about young adults who grew up racing each other reuniting over this basic minigame. Despite the basic premise, the storytelling is emotional. Yakuza Kiwami is filled with moments like this. If you follow your instincts and move between the wacky side stories and the high-stakes main story, the game becomes a unique blend that few other games manage to achieve.
Hybrid theory
And this only scratches the surface — there are many more activities in Yakuza, ranging from crane games and batting cages to standard casino games and a card game where you battle girls in bug-themed bikinis. There’s also karaoke. If you want to complete the game 100%, you will have to play a lot. That’s where the Switch 2’s hybrid console comes in handy. While I was completing the main story, I played on my TV. But when I wanted to complete a few sidequests or play minigames, I switched to handheld mode so I could watch a show at the same time. This is the first game where I felt that buying a Switch 2 was worthwhile. I usually play graphically taxing games on the PS5, but the upscaling in the Switch 2 version of Kiwami is excellent, so you won’t miss any of the stunning visuals, even in handheld mode. That said, I experienced two minor glitches where my Switch 2 went into sleep mode after leaving a fight. It’s nothing major though; I haven’t lost any progress because of it. In fact, I would say that the Switch 2 version is the best way to play Yakuza Kiwami, offering the full gameplay experience.
Conclusion
Yakuza Kiwami is the best version of an already excellent remake. All the content from the original 2016 release is present, and the Switch 2’s hybrid features make it easier to enjoy this game’s vast amount of content. Whether you’re taking down rival gangsters in story mode or playing minigames and sidequests in handheld mode, you’re sure to have a great time exploring Kamarocho. If you don’t have a Switch 2 yet, you can also play Yakuza Kiwami on PC, Xbox One and PS4, and from 8 December, on Xbox Series X/S and PS5.
If you already own the Switch version of Yakuza Kiwami, you can claim a free Switch 2 upgrade from the eShop.
