yakuza kiwami majima everywhere alleyway

Yakuza 0 and Kiwami, while featuring some stiff animations at times, never felt janky. The Dragon Engine is not without its pitfalls, however. Interactivity has improved significantly too, throwing thugs through storefront windows is now possible, and other objects like signs, bicycles, and furniture will move and even break apart entirely when Kiryu or one of his combatants collides with it.

There are far more accessible interiors this time around too, and even those that you can’t enter still have people in them and other totally unnecessary, but appreciated, details. Every shop, restaurant, and nightclub has fully rendered items on shelves, delicious-looking food on display or bottles of real-world brands of alcohol behind bars. In addition being able to go into first-person mode really lets the level of detail shine. Yakuza games have always nailed their specific sense of immersion, but this fresh coat of paint takes that feeling to the next level. Flashing neon signs reflect off of the wet pavement, the occasional car will inch its way down the crowded streets which bustle with more people than ever, voluminous steam pours out of air vents as bass pulsates out of dark alleyways. The visuals are simply gorgeous, walking through the now familiar districts of Kamurocho and Sotenbori in the new engine is a delight. Last year’s Yakuza 0 and Kiwami were based on the engine used for the PlayStation 3-era Yakuza games, whereas Kiwami 2 is clearly built for the current generation. The most obvious improvement returning fans will notice is the fidelity of the new Dragon Engine.

A lot happens over the course of any one Yakuza game, so these refreshers do a great job of bringing you up to speed on what led Kiryu to his current situation, and the option to skip through all of them is great. This recap is broken up into separate cutscenes and allows the player to decide how many of these, if any, to watch. Right at the start Kiwami 2 offers an extensive recap of the previous game. Despite Kiryu’s desire to leave the life of a Yakuza behind him for good, the assassination of the new Tojo Clan chairman drags him back into the extremely dangerous world of the Japanese criminal underworld. The Tojo Clan has since fallen into disarray and is on the verge of a devastating war with the Omi Alliance, a clan based in Osaka. Kiryu, having relinquished his position as chairman of the Tojo Clan at the end of Kiwami, is living a peaceful life with Haruka, the daughter of the woman he once loved.

Rebuilt from the ground up in Yakuza 6’s Dragon Engine and sporting a fresh localisation and re-recorded voice acting, Kiwami 2 is an unmissable entry for new and old fans alike. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a remake of the second game in the series, originally released on PlayStation 2 back in 2006. Another year, another sublime Yakuza game brought to current generation consoles.

Yakuza kiwami majima everywhere alleyway