Yakuza Kiwami - The Boys Are Back In Town

The Yakuza games are one of kind. I couldn't be happier that they are making their on regular basis now to NA and getting a proper localization. What makes the Yakuza games what they are, is that the way they're developed doesn't shy from the fact that it is a game. They don't try too much to make the player delve into the game's world by making it strict to the narrative, rather they embrace the ludo-narrative dissonance. And what's the result? A bundle of genres crossing from Drama, Comedy, Action, Horror, and even B-Movie horror wrapped together in one awesome game.

Since we just got Yakuza 0 this year, and now Kiwami, what's unfortunate is that playing them close to each other, showed me how similar the games are. First, you should know that Kiwami is a remake to of Yakuza 1, but the engine they are using is the same engine used in Yakuza 0. But the problem is that the similarities are too close when it comes to the mechanics that is. The combat system is basically the same with four combat styles. The new addition is a Heat action called Kiwami. Kiwami is a move that is executable only on the boss or sub-boss characters. At first, I thought it would be a unique move to each boss, but unfortunately, they also repeat from boss to boss. There is also a couple of new moves in the upgrade tree, but still, none that truly evolve the mechanics in any way, shape or form.

So, why should you play Yakuza Kiwami? The story, and the fact that the combat system, even without much difference from the Yakuza 0, is still one of the

most fun, polished, and satisfying combat systems in gaming. But back to the story a bit. My main issue is how many themes and set-pieces repeated from other games in the series. You will fight the Chinese Triad boss, you will escape on the same highway shooting just as many cars and bikes, storm a building filled with Yakuza, etc.

I won't delve more into the game mechanics or story since most of it is point-to-point similar to Yakuza 0, and you can read my review of it on the blog. But I'll say this in closing. If you don't mind playing in the same mechanics as Yakuza 0, and a story and writing that a tad lower in quality, then go ahead and enjoy the fuck out of it, I know I did. And in the case that you didn't play Yakuza 0 and thinking of getting into the series, I would recommend going through 0 first.