Takes steps to expand the scope of the whole Yakuza series 'thing' with mixed results. Most notably it introduces three new playable characters in addition to Kiryu who range from pretty well-sketched (Akiyama) to dull (Saejima) to totally unlikable (Tanimura). The expanded Kamurocho map is a bit of a miss as well, with the rooftops, underground areas, and especially Little Asia being more confusing than anything. They probably should have just done another all-new map instead. Coinciding with the new characters and areas are some new minor gameplay focuses -- stuff like stealth sections and forced gambling sequences -- that are weird at best, tedious at worst. They deploy these to try to make the new characters' chapters feel unique, but that ends up not being a positive -- you'll just miss running around as Kiryu.

So, if the new stuff is meh, does it at least get the old Yakuza standards right? For the most part, yes. There's tons of stuff to do and all of the Kamurocho charm and humor is present and accounted for. The plot is less impactful than YAKUZA 3 because it's more convoluted, weirdly paced, and largely revolves around all these new characters we don't really care about, but Kiryu and Akiyama's best character moments hold things together.

Definitely in the lower tier of Yakuza games, but of course, that places it well above just about everything else by default.