It solely appears like yesterday that Yakuza Kiwami lastly made its manner onto the Swap, and but right here we’re with a beefed-up Swap 2 model. This new launch is successfully the identical sport, however Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have taken benefit of the newer console’s specs for a a lot smoother, crisper expertise.
Crucially, the body price has been enormously improved right here, sticking to 60fps that (to my eyes, not less than) by no means falters. It makes exploring Kamurocho all of the extra gratifying, and even the busiest scraps with Yakuza thugs run easily. The decision has been bumped up significantly in docked and handheld, bringing it extra according to launch title Yakuza 0: Director’s Minimize. It appears great.
And sure, the sport itself remains to be the identical, which, in my view, is an effective factor. There’s actually nothing else fairly like Yakuza, besides perhaps, properly… different Yakuza video games. You’ve acquired this super-compelling narrative at its core involving backstabbing criminals, corrupt politicians, and devoted buddies that succumb to darkness, and it does an excellent job at protecting you engaged with very good Japanese voice performances (no Western dub right here, although).
It’s filled with totally ridiculous moments that, in anything, would undoubtedly detract from the overarching plot, nevertheless it simply works so properly right here. You may play bowling, pool, darts, and even sing karaoke. The juxtaposition between the intense narrative and the ludicrous sidequests is elegant – it’s simply such a online game.
Lots of the main focus is on melee fight, and with the mix of a number of distinct preventing types with the choice to buy a plethora of upgrades all through, it by no means fairly loses its edge. Swapping between Rush, Brawler, Beast, and Dragon types offers ample selection, and in case you don’t fancy utilizing your fists, you’ll be able to all the time simply decide up a bicycle and smash it into your foes’ faces. Beautiful stuff.
Some features is usually a little grating, for positive. Boss fights go on for slightly too lengthy at instances, whereas the general pacing isn’t fairly as satisfying because the aforementioned Yakuza 0. That is essentially a 2016 remake of a 2005 sport, and the builders have taken nice strides in subsequent years to shine the sequence additional and ditch the options and mechanics that don’t fairly work.
With that in thoughts, I’d nonetheless advocate beginning with Yakuza 0 in case you’re utterly new to the sequence, however Kiwami is a superbly positive place to dive in, too. It doesn’t really feel fairly so bloated as a few of the later entries, but it nonetheless flexes a peerless sense of favor at each alternative. Taking part in Kiwami portably on Swap 2 is a pleasure, and I sincerely hope Sega brings all the sequence to the console. It’s discovered itself an excellent house.
