Yakuza Kiwami 2

About Yakuza Kiwami 2

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a remake of the second entry in the legendary Japanese crime series. Released in late 2017 by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios and published by Sega, this title lands on PlayStation 4, Xbox consoles, PC, and even Nintendo Switch 2. The game drops you into the shoes of Kazuma Kiryu as an ex-yakuza trying to stay out of trouble. Trouble finds him quickly though when a murder forces his return to Kamurocho. You navigate a bustling open world filled with side quests, mini-games, and brutal street fights. It is a massive action-adventure RPG that feels like a love letter to fans who want more story depth and better combat mechanics than the original release offered.

Gameplay

You move through Tokyo districts on foot or by bike while managing a health bar and energy meter. Combat relies on chaining together punches, kicks, and grabs with special attacks triggered at specific moments. The Majima Saga mode lets you switch control to Goro Majima for his own story chapters that run parallel to the main plot. Between fights you visit arcades, host clubs, or hunt for rare items in hidden shops. The game offers a single-player campaign with no competitive multiplayer modes. You spend hours completing sub-stories that range from helping lost cats to running pachinko parlors. Controls feel responsive during brawls but the camera can struggle when fighting multiple enemies at once in tight spaces.

What Players Think

Critics and players have been very kind to this remake. Metacritic gave it an 85 out of 100 while IGDB shows a solid 84.6 average across 171 ratings. Players on PlayPile report high engagement with an average playtime that often exceeds 40 hours for main story completion. The community mood leans heavily toward nostalgic appreciation mixed with excitement for the improved combat system. Only 40.4% of players have unlocked all 59 achievements available in the game. The rarest badge is "YAKUZA KIWAMI 2" which only 3.70 percent of the player base has earned. Review snippets frequently mention the perfect balance between serious crime drama and absurd side content that keeps sessions fresh.

PlayPile's Take

This title is worth your time if you enjoy long RPG campaigns with deep narratives and active combat. You can pick it up for around 10 dollars at Green Man Gaming right now which is a steal compared to its historical low of nearly 19 dollars. The achievement data suggests most people stop after the main story since the completion rate for max unlocks sits below half. It is not a game for those who want quick sessions or competitive play. The price point makes it an easy buy for anyone looking to dive into this specific series without paying full retail. Grab it while the discount lasts.

Storyline

A year after leaving his former life in the Tojo Clan behind, ex-yakuza Kazuma Kiryu is called back into action when the clan's Fifth Chairman, Yukio Terada, is murdered by assassins from a rival organization, the Omi Alliance. Returning to Kamurocho, Kiryu must find a new chairman for the Tojo Clan and prevent an all-out war between the Tojo and the Omi, bringing him into conflict with Ryuji Goda, the legendary "Dragon Of Kansai" of the Omi Alliance.