Info about Yakuza 4 Remastered:

Official game description:
Experience the fourth chapter of the Kazuma Kiryu saga in 1080p and 60fps.  
2010, Tokyo. A shooting incident one night in a red-light district sets the city swirling with human desires and clamor. It was supposed to be a ""common incident"" for this town... until the appearance of one woman burdened with sorrow. As if drawn to a flame, men of the city's dark underground are gathered, one after another, at the door of the ""legendary yakuza"" Kazuma Kiryu.  
As the fates of these four men overlap, the story of a miracle created by the passionate and violent way of life begins to takes shape.  
Take control of multiple protagonists, a first for the series, allowing for unprecedented story depth and battle action. Three new protagonists, each with a rich personality, will leave their impact before the story concludes.  
Complete The Dragon of Dojima’s journey.

Release date: Jan 28, 2021

Categories: Open-World Exploration, Character Development, Narrative Adventure, Mini-game Collection, Action-Adventure, Multiple Playable Characters, Story-driven Gameplay

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals several key themes. Performance issues, particularly frequent crashes, are a significant concern for many users. Control and gameplay have mixed reviews, with some users finding it smooth while others encounter difficulties, especially with keyboard and mouse. Language support, specifically the lack of Portuguese subtitles, is also noted as an issue. Compatibility and performance on the Steam Deck are generally positive, but there are reports of unplayable experiences, indicating some underlying issues.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging story with multiple protagonists (weight 0.97): The game features a compelling and intricate narrative that is easy to follow and rich in detail. It introduces four distinct protagonists, each with their own unique storylines that eventually intertwine, adding depth and variety to the gameplay experience.
- Rich side content and mini-games (weight 0.93): The game is packed with a variety of side activities and mini-games that add depth and enjoyment to the overall experience. These include karaoke, golf, gambling, and hostess clubs, among others, providing a well-rounded and immersive gameplay environment.
- Character development and unique abilities (weight 0.79): The game introduces well-developed characters, each with their own unique combat styles and abilities. This not only adds variety to the gameplay but also allows players to connect more deeply with the characters and their individual story arcs.
- Enhanced graphics and technical improvements (weight 0.49): Yakuza 4 features improved graphics, character models, and technical enhancements over its predecessor. The remastered version includes better lighting, animations, and a smoother combat system, contributing to a more polished and visually appealing game.
- Expansive and immersive world (weight 0.4): Kamurocho, the game's primary setting, has been expanded with new areas such as rooftops and underground sections. This verticality adds a new dimension to exploration, making the world feel more alive and immersive.
- Memorable soundtrack and audio (weight 0.39): The game features an awesome soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The music, along with high-quality voice acting and sound effects, contributes to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- Nostalgic and classic vibe (weight 0.05): The game retains a classic Yakuza vibe, bringing a sense of nostalgia to long-time fans of the series. This familiar feel, combined with new elements, makes the game both comforting and exciting.
- Introduction of new characters (weight 0.05): The introduction of new characters brings a fresh vibe to the series. These characters are well-developed and add new dynamics to the story, making the game more engaging and interesting.
- Final showdown and boss battles (weight 0.04): The final showdown and boss battles are particularly memorable and well-executed. These climactic moments provide a satisfying conclusion to the game's narrative and gameplay.
- Unique and humorous scenarios (weight 0.04): The game includes unique one-shot cutscenes and humorous scenarios that add a layer of entertainment and unpredictability. These elements make the game more enjoyable and memorable.
- Better pacing and gameplay (weight 0.04): Yakuza 4 is better-paced compared to other games in the series, offering a more balanced and enjoyable gameplay experience. The improvements in combat and overall gameplay mechanics contribute to a smoother and more refined experience.
- Character-specific substories (weight 0.04): Each protagonist has their own unique substories that add depth to their characters and provide additional context to the main narrative. These substories are well-integrated and enhance the overall storytelling.

Common complaints:
- Confusing and convoluted story (weight 0.73): The story is often criticized for being overly complex, convoluted, and difficult to follow. Many players found the plot to be confusing with too many twists and betrayals, making it hard to understand and enjoy.
- Poor combat mechanics (weight 0.67): The combat system is frequently described as clunky, monotonous, and frustrating. Enemies often execute infinite combos, and the targeting system is not as precise as in previous games, leading to a less enjoyable gameplay experience.
- Frustrating boss fights (weight 0.66): Boss fights are often cited as being overly difficult, unfair, and frustrating. Many players found the final boss fights to be particularly annoying and poorly designed, with significant difficulty spikes.
- Repetitive and boring mini-games (weight 0.59): Mini-games are often criticized for being repetitive, unexciting, and sometimes frustrating. The hostess maker mini-game, in particular, is mentioned as being tedious and monotonous.
- Tedious and lengthy gameplay (weight 0.55): The gameplay is often described as tedious, lengthy, and sometimes painful. This includes long cutscenes, excessive dialogue, and a lot of backtracking and running around.
- Poor pacing and structure (weight 0.54): The game's pacing is often described as poor, with some parts of the story feeling rushed while others drag on. The narrative structure, with multiple protagonists, can make it difficult to bond with any single character.
- Unimpressive soundtrack (weight 0.47): The soundtrack is often described as unimpressive and not particularly memorable. Some players found the music to be hit or miss, with a lack of major innovations.
- Lack of innovation (weight 0.19): The game is criticized for not bringing enough new elements to the series. Many aspects, such as mini-games and side quests, feel recycled from previous entries without significant improvements.
- Weak character development (weight 0.18): Characters are often criticized for being poorly written, boring, and lacking depth. Some characters are described as having less brain cells than the average brick, and their actions are sometimes illogical and frustrating.

Gameplay feedback:
- Open-world exploration (weight 0.44): The game features an expanded open world with new areas to explore, including rooftops and underground sections. This adds variety and enhances the overall exploration experience.
- Camera and UI issues (weight 0.04): Some players have reported issues with the camera and user interface, which can affect the overall gameplay experience. These issues may include navigation difficulties and lack of certain controls like a run button.
- Challenging boss battles (weight 0.04): The game features tough boss battles that can significantly reduce the player's health with one-shot attacks. These battles add a layer of difficulty and excitement to the gameplay.
- Hard difficulty setting (weight 0.03): Playing on Hard mode offers a more challenging experience, which can be painful but rewarding for players seeking a greater test of their skills.

Performance notes:
- Improved graphics and performance (weight 0.19): The game features improved graphics over its predecessor, with better lighting, smoother character models, and animations. It also runs smoothly at 60 frames per second with enhanced resolution and performance.
- Camera and graphical issues (weight 0.14): The camera struggles in tight or crowded areas, and there are some graphical glitches and visible pop-in of pedestrians. Additionally, the game is considered heavy and hard to run by some players.
- Outdated engine and graphics (weight 0.04): Some players feel that the game uses an outdated engine, leading to rudimentary and outdated graphics. This is seen as a drawback despite other improvements.
- Volume imbalance in Chapter 1 (weight 0.01): There is a noticeable volume imbalance in the background music during Chapter 1, which can affect the overall audio experience.
- Reduced loading times (weight 0.01): The game features reduced loading times, contributing to a smoother and more seamless gaming experience.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for story and series fans (weight 0.22): The game is frequently recommended for its engaging story and as an essential experience for fans of the series. It is praised for its gripping storytelling, well-developed characters, and suitability for both new players and long-time fans.
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.06): Many reviews suggest waiting for a sale or buying the game at a steep discount to get the best value for money.
- Play previous games first (weight 0.05): Several reviews suggest playing previous games in the series, particularly Yakuza 3, for better context and understanding of the story.
- Worth playing for gameplay and side content (weight 0.05): The game is considered worth playing due to its engaging gameplay and side content. Players are advised to do side content early for money and XP and to play on easy to avoid frustration.
- Engaging narrative and diverse gameplay (weight 0.04): The game is praised for its engaging narrative structure and diverse gameplay, offering a variety of activities and an improved gaming experience.
- Save often due to difficulty spikes (weight 0.02): Reviews mention unexpected difficulty spikes and advise players to save often. Some suggest playing on hard mode if difficulty is a concern.
- Richly layered continuation (weight 0.01): The game is noted for its richly layered continuation of the series, providing a deep and engaging experience for players.
- Hope for future Kiwami treatment (weight 0.01): Some players express hope for a future Kiwami treatment, indicating a desire for remastered or enhanced versions of the game.
- Do not skip the game (weight 0.01): Reviews suggest not skipping the game, indicating that it is an important part of the series and worth playing.
- Experimentation with new elements (weight 0.01): The game is noted for its experimentation with new elements, adding fresh and innovative aspects to the gameplay.

Other player notes:
- Ads for real online casinos (weight 0.01): The game contains advertisements that direct players to real online casino websites. This can be concerning for some players due to potential gambling risks.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.44): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's combat mechanics and boss battles, which are often described as difficult, unfair, and poorly designed. The final battle, in particular, is frequently mentioned as frustrating and poorly designed. Additionally, the story and character development are criticized for being confusing, convoluted, and lacking credibility. Other sources of frustration include repetitive and tedious gameplay elements, such as the hostess mini-games and grinding, as well as technical issues like outdated combat systems and translation problems.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.2): Players enjoy the game for its engaging story, great characters, and fun gameplay. The multi-character design and unique fighting styles add variety and depth to the experience. The improved combat mechanics, cool soundtrack, and varied mini-games also contribute to the overall enjoyment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.17): Players express disappointment mainly due to the game's story and plot, which are criticized for falling apart, having poor writing, and being confusing. The combat system is also a source of disappointment, described as outdated, unexciting, and awkward. Additionally, some players feel that the characters are underdeveloped and the game lacks significant improvements in visuals and mini-games.
- Excitement (weight 0.16): Players are excited about the game's engaging story, character development, and the variety of playable characters with unique fighting styles. The detailed open world, character interactions, and the potential for future installments also contribute to the excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players feel satisfied with the game's strong character development, new combat styles, and overall improvements in gameplay and story. The engaging narrative, cool soundtrack, and varied gameplay elements also contribute to a satisfying experience.
- Joy (weight 0.08): Players experience joy from the game's well-written characters, excellent soundtrack, and engaging character development. The unique combat styles, improved gameplay mechanics, and enjoyable story and humor also bring joy to the players.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's blend of gripping storytelling, intense combat, and heartfelt humanity. The narrative and character depth, along with improvements from previous games and the music, are also highly appreciated.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.04): Players feel nostalgic due to the returning characters, familiar mini-games, and the evolution of Kamurocho over time. The OST is also mentioned as phenomenal and tangibly nostalgic.
- Amusement (weight 0.04): Players find amusement in the game's unique blend of drama and comedy, as well as humorous and critical descriptions of the characters. Specific lines and scenarios in the game are also found to be amusing.
- Satisfied (weight 0.04): Players are satisfied with the game's combat feel, story, and overall improvements over previous installments. The enjoyable main characters and the desire to achieve high scores and play other games in the franchise also contribute to satisfaction.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Players are interested in the game's compelling narrative, fresh breath in the series with different characters, and complex and intertwined storylines. The character arcs and the exploration of Kamurocho also spark interest.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players feel anger due to the game's plot, combat mechanics, and boss fights. Specific boss fights, such as the Munakata boss fight, are mentioned as particularly frustrating and poorly designed.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Players experience boredom due to repetitive mini-games, boring gameplay, and a forgettable story. The combat is also described as monotonous and boring, with poor AI making it simple and unengaging.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Players express hope for potential improvements and new characters in future installments. The desire for a Kiwami treatment and the introduction of new characters contribute to this hope.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game's character representations and their symbolic meanings. The diverse professional life and success of characters, particularly Akiyama, are also highly admired.
- Disappointed (weight 0.02): Players feel disappointed with the overall quality and issues with the game, including repetitive missions and character choices. Specific disappointments include the cabaret girl system and the inability to play with certain character combinations.
- Frustrated (weight 0.02): Players are frustrated with the old Yakuza game's style, difficulties, and ambiguity, which are described as annoying and not fun or challenging. Combat and navigation are also mentioned as stressful.
- Affection (weight 0.01): Players express喜爱 for the game's character interactions and specific moments, such as the machine gun kiss in karaoke. The unique and endearing themes, as well as heartwarming character development, contribute to this emotion.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players feel confusion due to the story being disorganized, especially towards the end. Starting with the fourth game in the series also contributes to some confusion in the story.}