The Yakuza series has gone in an interesting direction since reaching the conclusion of Kazuma Kiryu’s story in 2018’s release of Yakuza 6. In 2017 Yakuza 0, a prequel to the entire series, was released just before Yakuza Kiwami, a remake of the first game in the series. These games served as an accessible starting point to the Yakuza series on current gen consoles.

   The new game engine, called the Dragon engine, was introduced in Yakuza 6 and this same engine was implemented in the latest release, Yakuza Kiwami 2, the remake of Yakuza 2 which released in 2008 in the US. This new system, along with all the advantages of the PS4 over the PS2, makes for a much better game than the original.

   A major change from the original western release is the full Japanese voicing along with ridding the game of all localization that pulls a player out of the intended environment of the game. Yakuza 2 begins with a flashy cutscene, picking right up where Kiwami left off, displaying the improved graphics and physics of the Dragon engine.

   Like every other Yakuza game, the main game is a series of fights and cutscenes and not much else. All Yakuza games follow the simple formula of cutscene, fight,cutscene. These cutscenes carry the plot while the fights put you in it, almost like watching a movie but getting to be in all the important parts.

   The open world of Kamurocho and Sotenbori is what truly makes this game special. A player can go from doing a closest to the pin challenge at the golf center to defending themselves from thugs in the streets in seconds. In the cities, one can do almost anything they could think of.

   A new feature Kiwami 2 gives is the two cities the story goes between as Kiryu fights his way through the conflict of the Kansai region Yakuza and the Kanto region Yakuza. Players find themselves immersed in an organized crime war along with intergenerational feuds between the largest organized crime syndicates in Japan. The new system makes for a much better experience in the cities, as as a player can go in and out of buildings with no loading screen.

   The new combat system is also much different, but more fluid than the prior entries. Forgone are the four fighting disciplines of Yakuza 0 and Kiwami, but as always there is an upgrade system. This time, players upgrade Kiryu’s stats with points earned from fights and completion of different tasks. Another improved combat feature is the ability to pick up enemy weapons and hold them for a later fight. Fan favorite Goro Majima, aka The Mad Dog of Shimano, makes a return along with Detective Makoto Date. The underground city of purgatory also returns with all the same minigames and side entertainment.

   Overall, Yakuza Kiwami 2 delivers well by developing the climax of the story with new generation technology to improve the entire game. From graphics, to voices, to more minute in game mechanics, the remake does everything the original did right but in a modern way. For anyone already into the Yakuza series this game is highly recommended, but for those that are not, Yakuza 0 or Kiwami are great starting points.