A step up from the last game with a better skills system, giving you more freedom on what to unlock. Being able to play as 4 different characters with distinct fighting styles makes it all the more fun, specially with the different kinds of heat actions and abilities they each have. I will say that the mechanic they introduce during Saejima's chapter is very annoying and just makes it a drag to move around town.

The plot is pretty good, although with some twists repeating themselves so much that it becomes comical at some point, but the many twists and turns makes it very engaging. Where the writing really stands out is with the characters, we already know who kiryu is, but delving into these 3 new characters is great, all of them have great personalities that lead to great moments during the plot and they're all very likeable. Personality-wise i liked Akiyama the most, but Saejima and Tanimura don't fall behind either. I specially loved everything that happened with Saejima in Purgatory (his speech + his meeting with a certain character).

Overall, another great entry in the Yakuza series, and i can't wait to keep following Kiryu and Haruka's story now with a new cast of amazing characters, surely none of these characters' VAs got caught using drugs and we will never see their character again.