Going to this after yakuza 0 feels worse in every point. Less playable characters, less cities, less side content, less playing time. I know this is a remake but it feels too damn rushed. I don't think the development team didn't even tested the progression upgrade system themselves(it's really bad). This is not the only problem, the new content really clashes with the original ones tone. Why? Because story tries to show you how dark the kamurocho and it's people is, but then every step of the way game forces you to see new majima antics even in the damn main story missions. Because of that I thought story is damn boring, but actual thing is story have messy pacing because of that I felt bored. Story isn't bad it's actually pretty good! It's tells story about, how kiryu gets punished all over because of his desicion to escape from his fate, but newly added tonal shift makes you forget that it's a redemption story and in the end only thing you will remember is funny majima wants to fight you again in a hostess outfit.
Also gameplay feels worse in my opinion, because for some reason every style is nerfed? In yakuza 0 one beast combo is enough to destroy a 3 person group. In this one same move only takes quarter of their health bar. Yakuza 0 had some unbalancing issues about styles yes, but I really didn't like how even the open world enemy encounters takes longer now. People try to justify this with "there is speed upgrades, unlock it and everything becomes a breeze". But it's at the end of the unlock cathegory? When I unlock it, at that point I am already at the end game, how does this makes my experience better?
Also there is new Nishikiyama cutscenes that are actually really good. But like I said, they are pace breakers like all the other new content in this game. For example you are trying to save your loved one from a mafia and bam a nishiki cutscene that have nothing to do with what you are doing?? It just breakes the pacing. Rather than filling them into the story randomly, just make a seperate campaign for nishiki? Too much work I guess.
Also every new location, or old locations that comes from the og game looks worse somehow? It's like they just did it in 2 days. That's also a really bad look in my opinion.
After playing this, I struggled to choosing continuing or not. But after hearing yakuza 2 is the best game in the franchise I did it and I am glad I did. Also other thing I am glad I did is playing the og release with the newly done undub mod that changes every voice back to japanese dub.
Also gameplay feels worse in my opinion, because for some reason every style is nerfed? In yakuza 0 one beast combo is enough to destroy a 3 person group. In this one same move only takes quarter of their health bar. Yakuza 0 had some unbalancing issues about styles yes, but I really didn't like how even the open world enemy encounters takes longer now. People try to justify this with "there is speed upgrades, unlock it and everything becomes a breeze". But it's at the end of the unlock cathegory? When I unlock it, at that point I am already at the end game, how does this makes my experience better?
Also there is new Nishikiyama cutscenes that are actually really good. But like I said, they are pace breakers like all the other new content in this game. For example you are trying to save your loved one from a mafia and bam a nishiki cutscene that have nothing to do with what you are doing?? It just breakes the pacing. Rather than filling them into the story randomly, just make a seperate campaign for nishiki? Too much work I guess.
Also every new location, or old locations that comes from the og game looks worse somehow? It's like they just did it in 2 days. That's also a really bad look in my opinion.
After playing this, I struggled to choosing continuing or not. But after hearing yakuza 2 is the best game in the franchise I did it and I am glad I did. Also other thing I am glad I did is playing the og release with the newly done undub mod that changes every voice back to japanese dub.