Yakuza 4

About Yakuza 4

Yakuza 4 arrives as the fourth entry in Sega's crime drama saga, dropping players back into Tokyo one year after the previous events. Released in 2010 on PlayStation 3, this title marks a bold shift for the series by splitting the narrative between four distinct protagonists instead of following just one hero. You navigate the gritty streets of Kamurocho as different characters involved in a deadly power struggle within the Tojo Clan. The game blends adventure and role-playing elements with intense beat-em-up combat and mini-game variety. It stands out as a large crime epic that dives deep into themes of honor, betrayal, and money without losing its focus on character-driven storytelling.

Gameplay

Each session involves switching between four different playable characters to uncover various plot threads in the city. You engage in over-the-top hand-to-hand combat using heavy punches, kicks, and environmental weapons against waves of enemies. Between fights, you explore districts to trigger cutscenes or accept side quests that range from helping locals to running a restaurant or playing arcade games. The control scheme feels responsive for both fighting and walking, though the camera can get cramped in tight spaces. You will spend hours chasing down leads, managing resources like money and health items, and solving puzzles that tie the separate storylines together.

What Players Think

Critics loved this entry with a Metacritic score of 78 and an OpenCritic rating of 86 where 95.36% of reviewers recommend it. Game Revolution gave it a perfect 100, calling the series better than it has any business being. Players often cite the four-protagonist structure as the main draw, allowing for a broader view of the underworld. Average playtime hovers around 40 hours for a single run through all stories. Community moods lean heavily toward nostalgic appreciation for the characters and their distinct voices. Review snippets frequently mention how accessible this game is for newcomers despite the long history behind it.

PlayPile's Take

This title is worth your time if you want a deep story with multiple perspectives rather than just one hero. The price on secondary markets varies but remains reasonable for the amount of content you get. There are no major achievements to chase since this was a console-only release without an achievement list, so focus on finishing all four campaigns. It offers 40+ hours of gameplay that feels substantial for a 2010 release. Do not expect tight controls in every mini-game, but the narrative payoff makes up for any clunky moments. Play it now if you want a complete crime drama without needing to finish three other games first.

Storyline

Yakuza 4 picks up the story of Yakuza 3 one year later and takes the player back to Tokyo. The story starts when a man is shot to death in the ruling territory of the Tojo Clan, the organization that has featured in all games in the series to date. A small gang which belongs to Tojo Clan try to establish what happened and their leader is soon found stabbed to death. These events cause a heated battle between four men over money, power, status and honor. The truth becomes apparent as the lies, betrayals and entwined stories are revealed and when these 4 unflinching men get together, the new legend of Kamurocho is born.