4/5 ★ – DaysposableHero's review of Yakuza Kiwami 2.

Another remake in the Yakuza series, this time of the second game, Yakuza 2, Yakuza Kiwami 2 builds on the previous remake in ways that are significant improvements. Not having played the original editions of these games, I don’t know which aspects are true to the 2006 game, and which are new to the remake. What I can say, is that all the systems in Yakuza Kiwami 2 seem significantly streamlined compared to the previous Kiwami title. Having only a single fighting style, and a more free-form upgrade path felt like significant improvements to the gameplay. And the story of Yakuza Kiwami 2 is just as good as its predecessor. I still really like the character Kiryu, despite his significant unbelievability. Kiryu is an easy character to get behind, the good guy trying to get by in a bad situation. His honor and honesty is matched only by his incredible gullibility, and I can’t help but laugh every time Kiryu very innocently gets himself involved in one incredibly obvious scam after another. Everything in the Yakuza narrative is very serious, sometimes bordering on melodrama, and yet everything is downright silly outside of it. Extremely impactful story missions about preventing all-out war in a gangland powder keg will be broken up by side missions where you have to fetch someone a clean pair of underpants, or buy a diaper-wearing man a convenience store snack. In other games it might be jarring, but in Yakuza, for some reason, I enjoy the contrast. This remake, like the first one, still has the hallmarks of its 2006 version. It still feels like an old game, but a very, very good one.