Yakuza Kiwami 2 (Legacy)

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is widely praised for its significant graphical improvements and engaging, emotionally layered story that explores themes of legacy, violence, and survival. The game features a seamless open-world design with minimal loading screens and a rich, immersive world set in Kamurocho and Sotenbori. Combat has been revamped into a heavier, more fluid system centered around the "Dragon" style, offering satisfying heat actions and weapon use. The inclusion of numerous side activities, minigames, and a well-received Majima Saga adds depth and replayability. However, some players find the main story weaker compared to previous titles and criticize certain gameplay elements such as physics and combat depth. The game is also noted to be more demanding on hardware, with some performance issues on PC. Despite these criticisms, the overall experience is highly enjoyable and recommended, especially for fans of the series or beat-em-up adventure games.

Highlights

Players especially appreciate the upgraded graphics using the Dragon Engine, which deliver beautiful, seamless transitions and realistic environments. The combat system is praised for being fluid and satisfying, with powerful heat actions and a natural feel to fights. The story is considered emotionally intense and one of the best in the series, with well-developed characters and meaningful themes. Side quests and minigames, including the return of the cabaret club and new management gameplay, add variety and entertainment. The Majima Saga is highlighted as a touching conclusion to previous story arcs, enhancing the overall narrative experience.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the combat being somewhat shallow compared to earlier entries, with overpowered light attacks reducing challenge. The game suffers from occasional physics issues, such as flimsy environmental interactions and awkward ragdoll effects. Some players find the story less compelling or the antagonist underutilized. Optimization problems on PC lead to performance drops, and the lack of a frame rate cap is frustrating. Additionally, certain side quests contain uncomfortable themes, and some minigames like golf and karaoke are seen as less engaging. The game’s pacing and chapter lengths also drew mixed reactions, with some feeling segments were too short or disjointed.