— Yakuza Kiwami taglineAn Extreme Remake of the classic Yakuza
Yakuza Kiwami (龍が如く極, Ryū Ga Gotoku: Kiwami, lit. "Like a Dragon: Extreme") is a remake of the original 2005 Yakuza. While the main story is largely the same, the new features of Yakuza Kiwami include: the graphics, engine and combat system of Yakuza 0; rerecorded voice acting; and new story elements not present in the original Yakuza, most prominently flashback scenes that chronicle the main antagonist's descent into darkness. Because of how the game runs on Yakuza 0's engine and makes much reference to it (unlike the original Yakuza), Yakuza Kiwami can be seen as a sequel to Yakuza 0.
The game was released on January 21, 2016, in Japan and worldwide as Yakuza Kiwami on August 29, 2017. The game was released on the PC via Steam on the 19th of February 2019. The game was released on Xbox One on April 21, 2020. The game will be released on Nintendo Switch on October 24, 2024. The disc version can be purchased in either a Standard or Steelbook Edition, which is only available in Western regions. The Western versions of the game do not have an English dub, unlike the original Yakuza.
Synopsis[]
Setting[]
Like the first Yakuza, the game is set in the fictional district of Kamurocho, designed after the real-life district of KabukichoWP in Shinjuku, Japan. The events start in 1995, seven years after the events of Yakuza 0. From the second chapter onwards, the game takes place in December 2005.
Chapters[]
There are 13 chapters in this game:
- Chapter 1: October 1, 1995: Fate of a Kinslayer
- Chapter 2: December 5, 2005: 10 Years Gone
- Chapter 3: Funeral of Fists
- Chapter 4: An Encounter
- Chapter 5: Purgatory
- Chapter 6: Father and Child
- Chapter 7: The Dragon and the Koi
- Chapter 8: The Scheme
- Chapter 9: The Rescue
- Chapter 10: Shape of Love
- Chapter 11: Honor and Humanity
- Chapter 12: Reunited
- Chapter 13: The End of Battle
Gameplay[]
Players can switch between fighting styles for Kazuma Kiryu, the main character, but because he has been in prison for a long time, he will seem weak at first. His strength will come back over time as the game progresses and Kiryu fights more. The game uses the same three battle styles used in the prequel Yakuza 0, alongside Kiryu's moveset which can also be selected. Each battle style has gained a Kiwami essence move, which can be used to counter enemies regenerating their HP. This can be done if the color of Kiryu's heat aura matches with the color of a enemy's heat aura whilst they regenerate.
Yakuza Kiwami features a new Majima Everywhere system. This mechanic allows Kiryu to fight Majima Goro nearly anywhere in the game. The only way to power up the Dragon of Dojima style is through these battles, and the resulting bond it creates. Majima will not always be easy to recognize, however, and he has sworn to challenge Kiryu at every turn.
To help expand the story, Nishikiyama has additional cutscenes throughout that explore the events that occurred during Kiryu's time in prison.
There are additional hostesses of Kamurocho to romance. Yui Hatano of Club Jewel has no interest in the flirting and courtship that often comes with the Hostess territory. Rina Rukawa of Club Shine prefers women, and the beauties of the hostess business are the reason Rina took the job.
Mini-games[]
New to Kiwami is MesuKing: Battle Bug Beauties. A variant of the catfighting mini-game from 0, it is an arcade battle game featuring scantly-clothed insect women who battle for dominance of the forest. Pocket Circuit Racing returns from 0 as well.
- MesuKing: Battle Bug Beauties (Club Sega)
- UFO Catcher (Club Sega)
- Photobooth (Club Sega)
- Pocket Circuit Racing
- Bowling (2-Player)
- Pool (2-Player)
- Darts (2-Player)
- Shogi
- Karaoke
- Hostess Club
- Batting Cages
- Mahjong
- Dice Games
- Baccarat
- Roulette
- Poker
- Blackjack
Trivia[]
- An edited version of Kazuto Arase's boss fight theme, "Virtical Point" is used as the opening for the western release of Yakuza Kiwami.
- Yakuza Kiwami is the last Yakuza game to be available for the PlayStation 3, and also the last game to use the engine used for Yakuza 0, Yakuza 5 and Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin!.
- Yakuza Kiwami uses the same cutscene animations that were used for the first Yakuza game, this has resulted in some wrong facial expressions in Yakuza Kiwami.
- A side by side Youtube video compares both facial expressions in both the original Yakuza game and Yakuza Kiwami, and also mods the facial expression seen in Yakuza Kiwami to represent the original PlayStation 2 facial expressions seen in the first Yakuza game.