Yakuza Kiwami SteelBook Edition - PlayStation 4

I never had the opportunity to play this game when it first came out, but I've always heard about the Yakuza series in passing. Finally decided to give this game a try and wow; I was not disappointed. The story is incredible and the graphics are incredibly detailed and immersive. Hours packed with gameplay (finished the game in 38 hours and still there's more sub-stories to complete). The box is sleek and has great artwork, but the game is what's focal about this product.

I had always wanted to get into the Yakuza series back when the third and fourth game came out in the PS3 era, but didn't really want to skip the story bits for the first few that had come out on PS2. Unfortunately since the PS2 games had gotten so expensive over the years I had just assumed it was a series I just wouldn't have the wallet to get into. Flash forward to today and I was able to pick up the complete remake of the first game for a mere $9.99. For that price I got what I would gladly have paid $60 just because of the sheer amount of content and the quality of it. For those that are looking to get this game know that it holds a riveting story full of strongly-written characters and high stakes. The main storyline keeps a very serious tone but the numerous side quests are more mixed. Occasionally there will be a serious story such as helping out a prizefighter who's being blackmailed by a bunch of thugs into losing the next match and then the next sidequest will involve getting toilet paper for a man in a park. The core gameplay of the game is a 3D brawler. You'll engage enemies in all sorts of places, especially with the Majima Everywhere system this game has, and you'll have four forms you can use to fight. In addition to all this, there is plenty more you can do in this game such as bowling, karaoke, and Pocket Racers. Overall I would greatly recommend you pick it up just know that the game is entirely in Japanese with English subtitles.

I can't say enough good things about this series. Kiwami is a remake of the original Yakuza 1 game (originally out on the PS2). This is an actual remake not a remaster. Everything has been remade from the ground up, new graphics and updated game mechanics. You can definitely start with this game as it is a remake of the first released Yakuza game. There is a prequel that was made and released recently, Yakuza 0, and I definitely recommend playing it, but it is not required and it's story does not directly tie into this game. If you do like this game and want to continue with the series here's a breakdown (listed in terms of series continuity not release date): -Yakuza 0 (PS4, the prequel to the series) -Yakuza Kiwami (PS4, the Yakuza 1 remake) -Yakuza 2 (only available on PS2, but recently announced they're making Yakuza Kiwami 2 which like this game will be a total remake of the second game for PS4, no US release date announced yet though) -Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, and Yakuza 5 (these are all PS3 games, note Yakuza 5 was only given a digital release in the US, no physical copies) -Yakuza 6 (last game in the series coming to the US sometime next year) -Yakuza: Dead Souls (PS3 only, technically this takes place sometime after Yakuza 4, but this is a zombie apocalypse game so it's not part of the official series canon and is just for fun, unlike all the other games this is a shooter and the controls can be a bit frustrating at times, you can safely skip this one if you wish, but worth a play if you like Yakuza's goofy humor)

I've always heard the Yakuza series was fantastic but I never gave it the time of day until now. I was itching for something different and the price point of Kiwami ultimately drove my decision. I had some expectations going in. I was under the idea that it would be a more story driven smaller scale GTA clone. Though that is in some ways true, Yakuza has a certain charm that separates it from GTA. In this remake of the first game, you are in the small fictional city Kamurocho. As Kazuma Kiryu you will run around doing small fetch quest, fighting goons, collecting secrets, and diving into the multiple mini games Yakuza Kiwami has to offer. The story is filled with mystery and intrigue around a little girl somehow tied to a large amount of money stolen from one of the families. The gameplay and controls are solid. Combat is simple at first but as you unlock abilities it becomes a complex but satisfying dance. Unlike GTA, you cannot steal vehicles but instead you are on foot at all times unless you use one of the taxis placed at specific locations. The map is small enough to get around and with plenty to encounter in the street so it doesn't feel arduous to get around the city. Tons of sidequest and random encounters are around every corner so it is hard to get bored. I also want to bring up that Yakuza introduced me to one of my favorite characters of all time, Majima. I will not go into depth but Majima brings so much levity to the game that was unexpected in all the right ways. This game is a blast and I cannot recommend Yakuza Kiwami enough.

This was my first game in the Yakuza series and I now know what I've been missing. This game is a ton of fun and I'm glad I got it. The combat is satisfying and I like that you can switch between four different combat styles to mix it up a bit. There's the brawler style, which is a mix of fast and powerful attacks. Then there's the slow and powerful beast style. Next up is my personal favorite, the rush style, that is great for quick punches and still packs a powerful punch. Lastly, there's the dragon style; dragon style is similar to brawler, but it's more powerful and a little slower, but not quite as slow as beast. The mini games in Yakuza Kiwami are arguably its strongest (and, at times, quirkiest) feature. The mini games are a blast to play and there is a great variety, from bowling and billiards to more obscure things like pocket car racing with little kids and rock paper scissors in the form of bikini clad women dressed as bugs. No matter what you like, Yakuza Kiwami probably has a mini game that suits you. Great features aside, Yakuza Kiwami isn't perfect. First, there's the Majima Everywhere system; at first it's kind of fun and it's quirky enough to give the game some extra life, but after a while it gets annoying having to fight Majima, your rival, so often. Another weak point of this game is the way that most missions and sub stories end up feeling like fetch quests, where you find yourself running all over the map from point A to point B and back to point A again. The in-game city of Kamurocho isn't all that big when you compare it to other games such as Grand Theft Auto V's Los Santos, but it can take a while to get from one end of the map to the other. Overall, I highly recommend this game. While it isn't perfect, it brings some charm to the table and has an interesting story that's rifled with betrayal and plot twists. The mini games can keep you busy for hours if you get interested in them and they offer a fun, light hearted escape from the serious story.

This game continues or "starts" the Yakuza series depending if you played 0 first. I recommend starting with this game first before 0. Even though the timeline will be flipped, it's better to start on this first because 0 spoils you with the feature it gives. Kiwami will feel barebones in features compared to 0. It took me about 30 hours to beat Kiwami. I still have yet to beat 0 and I'm at 65 hours right now. Overall Kiwami is a great remaster for the continuation or "start" of the Yakuza series.

So first off, the steel case is beautiful! The game itself? This game is a remaster from a PS2 classic. All re-done voice acting too. It looks great, especially coming from the old school game haha. It also plays great! If you're like me, you may have played Yakuza 0 first. Well, this game is like that! So if you finished Yakuza 0 and want more, then this is a great way to go! Plus you get to see more story after the prequel. If you haven't played Yakuza 0 but want this game, definitely play Yakuza 0 if you want the backstory!

The Yakuza series has been an overlooked game franchise for years... if you're not familiar, get on board!