Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praise the story for its emotional depth, compelling narrative, and exploration of themes such as family, legacy, and sacrifice. Critics like Critical Hit, Cubed3, FANDOM, Game Informer, GameCritics, Gameplanet, Gaming Age, GamingTrend, Guardian, IGN Italia, Polygon, Press Start Australia, Push Square, RPGamer, PlayStation Country, PlayStation LifeStyle, and Worth Playing all express admiration for the story, highlighting its gripping nature, intense moments, and surprising twists. They appreciate the way the story focuses on the relationship between the protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu, and his adopted daughter, as well as the exploration of Kiryu's criminal past and the consequences it brings. However, there are a few criticisms mentioned by some critics. Cubed3 mentions that the impact of the story is slightly diminished due to a major antagonist taking time to appear. TheSixthAxis points out that the story seems more concerned with wrapping up the series for long-time fans rather than creating an easy entry point for newcomers, leaving some important side-characters without closure or development. Metro GameCentral and Gamer.nl also mention that the story falls slightly short as the conclusion to Kiryu's storyline. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is highly engaging, emotionally impactful, and satisfying. It is praised for its well-composed crime narrative, intriguing plot twists, and exploration of complex themes. The majority of the critics find the story to be a fitting conclusion to Kiryu's saga and a strong entry in the Yakuza series. The positive opinions of critics such as Critical Hit, FANDOM, Push Square, and Xbox Achievements further support the overall sentiment that the story of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is very good.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life are varied, with some positive and negative aspects highlighted. Several critics, such as Cubed3 and Game Informer, appreciate the satisfying combat system and the inclusion of various side activities and mini-games. They find the combat enjoyable and the side missions to be delightfully strange, providing humorous and weird distractions from the main plot. Additionally, Easy Allies and Gameplanet mention that while the combat may become routine, the side quests and mini-games offer countless diversions and emotional encounters. On the other hand, there are critics who express concerns about the gameplay of Yakuza 6. Critical Hit and FANDOM mention that the combat feels lackluster and repetitive, with only one fighting style available for the protagonist. They also note that the controls can be confusing and sometimes result in attacking the environment instead of enemies. Gamer.nl and Metro GameCentral highlight the limitations and lack of variety in the combat system compared to previous entries in the series. They also mention that there are fewer combat styles and combos available, which may disappoint fans. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that while the gameplay of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life has its strengths, such as the satisfying combat system and the inclusion of numerous side activities and mini-games, there are also some drawbacks. The combat system, although enjoyable, can become repetitive and lacks the complexity and variety seen in previous Yakuza games. However, the inclusion of cinematic special moves and the ability to use the environment as a weapon adds some excitement to the gameplay experience. Despite the mixed opinions on certain aspects of the gameplay, it is evident that Yakuza 6 still manages to provide engaging and entertaining gameplay for fans of the series.

The graphics and visual design of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the majority of critics. The game was praised for its solid visuals, stellar world-building, and immersive environments. Critics such as Critical Hit and Easy Allies commended the seamless transitions between combat, exploration, and entering buildings, which contributed to the overall immersive experience. The bustling district of Kamurocho was particularly highlighted as looking better than ever, with improved visual fidelity and attention to detail, as mentioned by FANDOM and Game Over Online. The neon lighting in Tokyo was also praised by Gamer.nl and Press Start Australia, adding to the overall impressive visual experience. However, there were some minor technical issues and criticisms raised by a few critics. Cubed3 mentioned issues with screen tearing, flickering, and lower frame rates in certain areas, particularly inside buildings. GameSpew and RPGamer noted instances of aliasing and lackluster character models, respectively. Additionally, Gameblog.fr and COGconnected highlighted performance issues on the Xbox version, such as framerate drops during cutscenes and the Dragon Engine struggling to maintain optimal performance. Overall, the consensus among critics is that the graphics and visual design of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life are very good. The majority of critics praised the game's impressive visuals, detailed character models, rich tonal color palettes, and improved environments. The use of the new Dragon Engine was particularly commended for its realistic lighting, shadows, and attention to detail on characters' hair and faces, as mentioned by TheSixthAxis. The game successfully captures the flavor of Japan, with authentic and immersive city backdrops, as noted by PlayStation Country and Polygon. Despite some minor technical issues and criticisms, the positive feedback from critics indicates that the graphics and visual design of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life greatly contribute to the overall enjoyment and immersive nature of the game.

The opinions of the critics regarding the sound design and music of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life are overwhelmingly positive. Several critics, such as Gamer.nl and Press Start Australia, highlight the contribution of the sound design and music to the atmosphere and immersion of the game. They mention that the game benefits from a convincing cast of actors and a well-crafted game world, with the sound design and music rivaling the best moments in other popular games. GamingTrend also praises the sounds of the city, stating that each zone, building, or section of the town has appropriate audio. The fully voice-acted side quests and sharp script, as mentioned by GamesRadar+, enhance the overall sound design of the game. The karaoke and other arcade experiences are also highlighted as standout features by GamesRadar+ and Press Start Australia. While the majority of the critics have positive opinions, there are a few who do not specifically mention the music or have any negative remarks. TheSixthAxis, for example, does not make any specific mention of the music, focusing more on the fully voiced side-stories. RPGamer states that the music is ambient and mellow, but nothing stands out as a memorable track. However, it is important to note that these critics do not necessarily have negative opinions about the sound design and music, but rather do not provide specific comments on them. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the sound design and music of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life are very good. The Japanese voice acting is consistently praised by multiple critics, including IGN Italia, RPGamer, Worth Playing, and Windows Central. The soundtrack and sound design are also commended for contributing to the mature and grounded drama of the game, as mentioned by Windows Central. The positive opinions of the majority of the critics, along with the specific praises for the voice acting, karaoke experiences, and overall atmosphere, indicate that the sound design and music of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life greatly enhance the overall gaming experience.

The voice acting in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the majority of critics. Many reviewers praised the performances of the voice actors, highlighting their ability to bring the characters to life and add depth to the narrative. Critics such as Cubed3 and Gamer.nl specifically mentioned the well-written characters and the talented cast, including famous actors like Beat Takeshi and Takeshi Kitano. The voice acting was described as "terrific" and "stellar" by IGN Italia and RPGamer, respectively. The performances were also commended for capturing the emotions and personalities of the characters, with Guardian mentioning Takaya Kuroda's portrayal of Kiryu's restrained anger and Hiroyuki Miyasako's warmth and humor as Nagumo. The voice acting in Yakuza 6 was seen as a significant positive aspect that enhanced the overall experience of the game. While the majority of critics praised the voice acting in Yakuza 6, there were no specific negative comments or criticisms mentioned by the reviewers. The absence of negative feedback suggests that the voice acting was generally well-received and did not have any major flaws or issues. However, it is worth noting that TheSixthAxis did not provide specific details about the voice acting quality, focusing more on the side-stories being fully voiced. This lack of specific mention could indicate that the voice acting may not have stood out as a particularly exceptional aspect of the game for this particular reviewer. Overall, the consensus among critics is that the voice acting in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life was very good. The majority of reviewers praised the performances, describing them as fantastic, stellar, and well-done. The voice acting was seen as a significant positive aspect that added to the authenticity, emotional impact, and relatability of the characters. The inclusion of an A-list cast from the Japanese entertainment scene, as mentioned by Critical Hit, further solidifies the overall positive sentiment towards the voice acting in Yakuza 6. With no specific negative feedback mentioned, it can be concluded that the voice acting in Yakuza 6 was a strong and well-executed element of the game, contributing to its overall quality.

In terms of the technical performance on the PlayStation 4, the critics have mixed opinions. Cubed3 mentions some technical issues such as screen tearing, flickering, and lower frame rates in certain areas. However, they also highlight that the exploration and battles are seamless, with no loading screens. PlayStation Country also praises the new engine for retaining environmental details and providing a seamless experience, with no loading screens when entering buildings and quick fight initiations. Push Square provides more specific details, stating that the game runs at 30 frames per second on a standard PlayStation 4, with occasional frame rate dips during hectic gameplay moments. However, PlayStation 4 Pro users experience a solid 30fps with minor dips. Overall, the PlayStation 4 version seems to offer a relatively smooth experience with some minor technical issues. On the other hand, the Xbox One version of Yakuza 6 seems to have more noticeable technical problems. COGconnected mentions framerate dropping issues, particularly during cutscenes. Gameblog.fr criticizes the technical performance on Xbox One, stating that the Dragon Engine struggles and lacks 60fps. These reviews suggest that the Xbox One version may have more significant technical issues compared to the PlayStation 4 version. Taking into account the opinions of the critics, the overall consensus regarding the technical performance of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is that the PlayStation 4 version fares better in terms of technical stability and performance. While there are some minor technical issues mentioned by critics like Cubed3 and Gaming Age, the PlayStation 4 version is generally praised for its seamless exploration and battles, as well as the absence of loading screens. However, the Xbox One version seems to suffer from more noticeable technical problems, including framerate drops and struggles with the Dragon Engine. It is important to note that the overall sentiment is more positive for the PlayStation 4 version, with critics like Gameplanet highlighting the improvements in technical quality and production values.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life are generally positive. Many critics highlight the game's variety of side content and activities, such as mini-games and side quests, which provide additional gameplay and rewards. Critics like Cubed3 and Game Informer specifically mention that the game offers numerous mini-games and surprises, making it enjoyable to replay. Easy Allies and GameCritics also praise the game for its abundance of side content and activities, providing replay value for players who want to explore everything the game has to offer. PlayStation Country mentions that while the game may not be as packed with side content as previous installments, there is still plenty of content to engage with. Worth Playing and COGconnected also note the variety of mini-games, side-quests, and activities that keep players engaged. However, there are a few critics who express some negative aspects regarding the replay value of Yakuza 6. FANDOM mentions that there are fewer distractions compared to previous games in the series, and the game can feel repetitive, especially in the quiet seaport town of Onomichi. Polygon states that the side missions range in quality and can be tedious, with the reviewer wanting to skip most of them by the halfway point. Gameplanet mentions that Yakuza 6 is half the length of Yakuza 0 and has fewer side stories, which may impact the overall replay value. Additionally, Gamer.nl notes that while the game world is immersive and offers plenty of content to explore and enjoy, the overall gameplay time is less compared to previous games in the series. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Yakuza 6: The Song of Life offers a good amount of replay value. The game provides a variety of side content, mini-games, and activities to keep players engaged and entertained. Critics like Critical Hit, GameSpew, Gaming Age, Press Start Australia, Video Chums, and Xbox Achievements all appreciate the game's abundance of activities and side quests, which contribute to its replay value. While there are some criticisms regarding repetitive elements and fewer distractions compared to previous games, the overall sentiment is positive, with the majority of critics acknowledging the game's replay value and the enjoyment it brings to players.