Now that the distraction's out of the way, it's time to finish this fucking game lmfao. Kiwami 1 was a solid remake, but remaking the first one was bound to have some problems attached. It's Yakuza 1. After it dropped, RGG didn't know if they were gonna even make another one, and you could tell at the end. But, we actually got another one, and here we are with Kiwami 2, the remake of the second one, this time coming in on the brand spanking new dragon engine. I think Kiwami 2 is one of the better games in the series, whether that's a hot take or not idk, it feels like any take with this series is hot to someone.
Kiwami 2's story has some batshit dumb twists (cough secret korean cough) but goddamn I'd be lying if I said I wasn't engaged. It's another "Tojo clan is about to freaking collapse Kiryu help us bro" type of plot, but involving an old grudge and a bloodline bound by fate. First off, I love the new cast of characters here, Karou rocks and Ryuji is an all timer antagonist. Old characters return here too, Haruka, Date, the Florist, Majima, etc. Yakuza really has such an interesting and wide cast that it can get away with any goofy ass plot twist or rugpull and still take itself seriously. Yakuza has some dumb fuck rugpulls in the series, but a part of me fucking loves it. I guess I'm a sucker for dumb shit twists. Granted, here some twists you knew from the first minute but at the end it was supposed to be a big eye revealing twist, but hey, it's okay cuz Gary Buster Holmes is here again. There's also a new little storyline for Majima, for people who love Yakuza 0. I love Yakuza 0, and I love this (plot wise at least). Kiwami 2's story is endearing and great, but fucking batshit, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Hoo boy the gameplay. Remember how I said this game is on a new engine? Well, the dragon engine was a bit rough at first, and goddamn, it can be rough. Granted, Kiwami 2 is fun to play 90% of the time. It's not godawful combat that I've seen others say, but it's jank. It is undeniably jank. Sometimes enemies will be on the ground, and the new engine lets you swat at em from the ground, but Kiryu will just fucking miss. And of course, the most infamous thing about the engine: the ragdolls. Oh. My. God. 90% of fights for me the ragdoll will start jumping all over the place, and it was always entertaining. It's actually insane with how janky the ragdolls are. Fights also happen in real time, so you can take fights inside establishment, and have the worker there get pissed at you and not sell you shit. It's pretty cool. Now, Kiryu is fun to play, but the Majima Saga's gameplay fucking sucks. It's only three chapters so there wasn't a whole lot put in there, so Majima feels so limited, and it's so jank to play. You still got your side stuff too, golf, baseball, the arcades actually have arcade games here unlike Kiwami 1 with that stupid fucking mesuking shit. Kiwami 2 is junk food gameplay, it's bad for you but it's fun.
I like a lot of the side stuff here. Substories here are so much better than Kiwami 1's, you got some iconic ones like the mommy milkers fetish guy (it's as weird as it sounds), you got faux kiryu, and some others. Fun stuff. But outside of substories, you got some other things as well. Clan creator is here too, a little sidepiece about Majima Construction, glory be to it. I think it's fun and goofy but the last mission can go fuck itself. Cabaret Club Czar is also here, with some more 0 fan service too. It works basically the same, and it's a fun distraction from the main plot, if you liked the 0 club czar missions you'll like it, the gooners will like it, I liked it. Alas, no buff dudes and tough guys to hire to beat the shit out of other dudes, so it pales to the construction subplot.
Yakuza game with a good OST I'm shocked. The jazzy battle theme in Sotenbori (Outlaw's Lullaby) has so much sauce, the Majima Construction anthem is so goddamn catchy too. Update with Gunfire is a jam too. The Sound of Breath is a decent track too, it's used in a lot of scenes though lmfao. Karaoke is fun here too, you got Like a Butterfly from 6 which is just so fucking funny his glasses man it's fire. Majima has a song here too which breaks my heart. The OST is good. Thumbs up.
This is one of the better Yakuza games I'd argue. From it's batshit but captivating plot, the cast, the music, the side content, and fuck it I'll say it, even the gameplay at points, it all just works nicely. Now it's time to replay 3.
wonder whats inside of sexy pub prison tho
Kiwami 2's story has some batshit dumb twists (cough secret korean cough) but goddamn I'd be lying if I said I wasn't engaged. It's another "Tojo clan is about to freaking collapse Kiryu help us bro" type of plot, but involving an old grudge and a bloodline bound by fate. First off, I love the new cast of characters here, Karou rocks and Ryuji is an all timer antagonist. Old characters return here too, Haruka, Date, the Florist, Majima, etc. Yakuza really has such an interesting and wide cast that it can get away with any goofy ass plot twist or rugpull and still take itself seriously. Yakuza has some dumb fuck rugpulls in the series, but a part of me fucking loves it. I guess I'm a sucker for dumb shit twists. Granted, here some twists you knew from the first minute but at the end it was supposed to be a big eye revealing twist, but hey, it's okay cuz Gary Buster Holmes is here again. There's also a new little storyline for Majima, for people who love Yakuza 0. I love Yakuza 0, and I love this (plot wise at least). Kiwami 2's story is endearing and great, but fucking batshit, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Hoo boy the gameplay. Remember how I said this game is on a new engine? Well, the dragon engine was a bit rough at first, and goddamn, it can be rough. Granted, Kiwami 2 is fun to play 90% of the time. It's not godawful combat that I've seen others say, but it's jank. It is undeniably jank. Sometimes enemies will be on the ground, and the new engine lets you swat at em from the ground, but Kiryu will just fucking miss. And of course, the most infamous thing about the engine: the ragdolls. Oh. My. God. 90% of fights for me the ragdoll will start jumping all over the place, and it was always entertaining. It's actually insane with how janky the ragdolls are. Fights also happen in real time, so you can take fights inside establishment, and have the worker there get pissed at you and not sell you shit. It's pretty cool. Now, Kiryu is fun to play, but the Majima Saga's gameplay fucking sucks. It's only three chapters so there wasn't a whole lot put in there, so Majima feels so limited, and it's so jank to play. You still got your side stuff too, golf, baseball, the arcades actually have arcade games here unlike Kiwami 1 with that stupid fucking mesuking shit. Kiwami 2 is junk food gameplay, it's bad for you but it's fun.
I like a lot of the side stuff here. Substories here are so much better than Kiwami 1's, you got some iconic ones like the mommy milkers fetish guy (it's as weird as it sounds), you got faux kiryu, and some others. Fun stuff. But outside of substories, you got some other things as well. Clan creator is here too, a little sidepiece about Majima Construction, glory be to it. I think it's fun and goofy but the last mission can go fuck itself. Cabaret Club Czar is also here, with some more 0 fan service too. It works basically the same, and it's a fun distraction from the main plot, if you liked the 0 club czar missions you'll like it, the gooners will like it, I liked it. Alas, no buff dudes and tough guys to hire to beat the shit out of other dudes, so it pales to the construction subplot.
Yakuza game with a good OST I'm shocked. The jazzy battle theme in Sotenbori (Outlaw's Lullaby) has so much sauce, the Majima Construction anthem is so goddamn catchy too. Update with Gunfire is a jam too. The Sound of Breath is a decent track too, it's used in a lot of scenes though lmfao. Karaoke is fun here too, you got Like a Butterfly from 6 which is just so fucking funny his glasses man it's fire. Majima has a song here too which breaks my heart. The OST is good. Thumbs up.
This is one of the better Yakuza games I'd argue. From it's batshit but captivating plot, the cast, the music, the side content, and fuck it I'll say it, even the gameplay at points, it all just works nicely. Now it's time to replay 3.
wonder whats inside of sexy pub prison tho