Yakuza Kiwami

The majority of the critics agree that the story of Yakuza Kiwami is one of the game's strongest aspects. Many praised the engaging and thrilling plot, with some calling it one of the best stories in the Yakuza series. Critics such as 4Players.de and GameStar noted the emotional depth and well-motivated characters that add to the story's engagement. AusGamers and God is a Geek appreciated the additional cutscenes that fleshed out the narrative beats and character motivations. The Games Machine and CGMagazine found the story to be epic and engaging, with the latter calling it one of the game's driving forces. However, some critics did have negative opinions about the story. IGN found the time jumps and flashbacks confusing and the sidetracking frustrating. Video Chums felt that the story lacked levity and humor, making it too serious in tone. Push Square noted glaring plot holes and pacing issues, although they still found it above and beyond what most video games have to offer. GameSpew felt that major plot advances often felt rushed. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Yakuza Kiwami is a thoroughly engaging and well-told crime drama, with complex characters and emotional depth. The attention to detail and authenticity of the Yakuza series is praised by Trusted Reviews, while We Got This Covered appreciated the energy and number of characters in the story. The negatives mentioned by some critics do not detract from the overall positive reception of the story.

The gameplay of Yakuza Kiwami was generally well-received by the critics. Many praised the combat system, which was updated from the original game and similar to Yakuza 0. The game features four fighting styles that players can switch between, and each style has its own strengths and weaknesses. Critics such as Gaming Age and Impulsegamer appreciated the versatility of the combat system, while PlayStation LifeStyle noted that the fighting felt raw and unrefined, fitting for a criminal underworld. The game also offers various mini-games and side content, as noted by 4Players.de and NZGamer, which provide good entertainment for players. However, there were some criticisms of the gameplay. Some critics, such as Push Square and GameSpot, found that the combat could be repetitive, with tedious story mission filler and repetitive fights against Goro Majima. Game Revolution and We Got This Covered also noted that the enemies had unnecessarily aggressive A.I. and that the game dragged on with extended brawls. Additionally, Metro GameCentral and App Trigger criticized the game's lack of variety in the main campaign and sub-stories, which were truncated compared to previous titles. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of Yakuza Kiwami is a significant improvement from the original game. The combat system is versatile and enjoyable, and the game offers a lot of content for players to explore. However, there are some criticisms regarding the repetitive nature of the combat and the lack of variety in the main campaign and sub-stories. Despite these criticisms, the game is generally well-received and provides a satisfying experience for fans of the Yakuza series.

The critics generally agree that Yakuza Kiwami has impressive graphics and visual design. Many critics praised the game's vibrant and detailed depiction of Kamurocho, the neon-lit Japanese city in which the game takes place. Digital Chumps, for example, noted that the game's atmosphere is its best feature, with staggering detail in the various shops, street signs, and music. GameStar also praised the graphics, stating that the streets of Kamurocho are detailed and vibrant, with lighting and weather effects adding to the overall look. App Trigger noted that the game shows a stark production upgrade over the original PS2 classic, and CGMagazine stated that it would be difficult to tell that Yakuza was once a PlayStation 2 game. However, some critics did note some negatives regarding the graphics and visual design. Trusted Reviews, for example, noted that while the game does a phenomenal job of remaking an aging classic, it falls victim to the archaic restrictions of its own technology. The same engine that powered Yakuza titles back on PS3 is used, and thus its visual quirks are all the more obvious on PS4. The game features muddy textures in many environments that players will see time and time again. Metro GameCentral also noted that while the character models and textures have been improved, the game's roots on the PlayStation 2 are always obvious, and it's clear from the visuals that this hasn't been recreated from scratch. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Yakuza Kiwami has impressive graphics and visual design, despite some minor flaws. Many critics praised the game's updated graphics and visual design, with some stating that it would be difficult to tell that the game was once a PlayStation 2 title. The game's depiction of Kamurocho was also widely praised, with many critics noting the vibrant and detailed atmosphere. While some critics did note some negatives, such as the use of an older engine and muddy textures, the overall consensus is that the game's graphics and visual design are impressive and well-done.

The majority of the critics who reviewed Yakuza Kiwami praised the game's sound design and music. Digital Chumps, CGMagazine, COGconnected, GameSpot, Impulsegamer, PlayStation Country, and Trusted Reviews all commended the game's voice acting, particularly the Japanese dub. They noted that the voice acting was well-done and helped to create an immersive experience for the player. Additionally, Digital Chumps praised the game's music, stating that it was varied and added to the game's overall setting. Game Revolution, however, felt that the music did not retain the original mix of funk and rock from the original game. On the negative side, App Trigger criticized the game's soundtrack, stating that it was not as varied as the original game's. They also noted that the original game received a terrible dub from some legitimate voice acting talent, which was not the case in Yakuza Kiwami. GameSpace did not provide any information about the sound design or music, which could be seen as a negative point in terms of their review's completeness. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Yakuza Kiwami has excellent sound design and music. The game's Japanese voice acting was particularly praised, with several critics noting that it helped to create an immersive experience. While some critics noted that the music could have been better, the majority felt that it added to the game's overall setting. Overall, Yakuza Kiwami seems to be a game that is well worth playing for its sound design and music, particularly for those who enjoy Japanese voice acting.

The majority of the critics agree that the voice acting in Yakuza Kiwami is well done, with some even commending the effort put into re-recording the dialogue by the original Japanese cast. GameStar, Game Informer, and Impulsegamer all praise the updated Japanese dub, with the latter stating that it "matches the tone expertly and is superbly acted throughout." Trusted Reviews also notes that the voice acting is "stellar throughout." The use of subtitles instead of an English dub is also seen as a positive by App Trigger and Gaming Age. However, CGMagazine points out that there are no English voice options, which may be a negative for some players. Additionally, Game Revolution notes that while the voice acting has been completely redone, it may not be to everyone's liking as it deviates from the original release. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Yakuza Kiwami is a positive aspect of the game. The use of the original Japanese cast and the effort put into re-recording the dialogue is commended by many, with some noting that it matches the tone of the game expertly. While the lack of an English dub may be a negative for some, the use of subtitles is seen as a positive by others.

The PC version of Yakuza Kiwami seems to have received positive feedback from most of the critics. GameSpace praises the game's optimization for PC with 4K resolutions, uncapped framerates, customizable controls and ultra-widescreen support. The Games Machine also agrees that the PC version is virtually identical to the PlayStation 4 version, with improved textures and the ability to customize graphics and filters. Additionally, GameStar notes that the game has no major technical issues, with few loading screens and smooth transitions between areas. On the other hand, the PlayStation 4 version of Yakuza Kiwami seems to have faced some issues. Trusted Reviews mentions that the current engine is showing its age, while PlayStation Country notes slight issues with the camera controls. Impulsegamer also mentions that sometimes the lip-syncing is pretty dire, which can be a minor gripe for some players. Overall, the critics seem to have a positive opinion about the technical performance of Yakuza Kiwami. The game seems to be optimized for both PC and PlayStation 4, with some minor issues on the latter. The game's seamless transitions between areas and battles, as well as the ability to customize graphics and filters, are some of the highlights of the game's technical performance. We Got This Covered notes that the game runs at a slick 60 FPS, with new mini-games, cutscenes and the original story laid out in stunning detail. Therefore, despite some minor issues, the technical performance of Yakuza Kiwami seems to have met the expectations of most of the critics.

The majority of the critics agree that Yakuza Kiwami has a good amount of content, with some even stating that it offers over 40 hours of gameplay. The side missions and mini-games are often mentioned as a highlight of the game, with some critics praising the humor and bizarre nature of the substories. GameSpace and COGconnected both mention the variety of side activities and the hours of exploration that the game offers. App Trigger also notes the inclusion of New Game + and Premium Adventure, providing players with even more content to play through. However, some critics mention that the game has less content than Yakuza 0 and can feel repetitive at times. Digital Chumps notes that the side missions can be frustrating and less engaging than the main story. Metro GameCentral mentions the outdated feel of the game compared to newer entries in the series and the excessive backtracking. Push Square mentions that the game offers little replay value as the potential of the dragon style can only be maximized near the end of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Yakuza Kiwami is a solid addition to the series, offering a good amount of content and enjoyable side activities. However, it may not have as much content as some of the newer entries in the series, and the combat and open world can feel limiting at times. Despite these criticisms, the game is still recommended for both fans of the series and newcomers, with Easy Allies stating that the game is a great way for newcomers to get into the series. Game Revolution also notes that the game is a great value at its lower price point of $30.