Yakuza Kiwami (Legacy) Review Summary

Engaging and emotional story: The game features a strong and emotionally impactful story with themes of honor, friendship, sacrifice, and betrayal. Players appreciate the well-written narrative, character development, and the mix of drama and comedy.

High-quality visuals and presentation: The game is noted for its improved graphics, visuals, and cinematography. Players appreciate the detailed world, vibrant environments, and high-quality visual presentation.

Variety of enjoyable activities: The game offers a wide range of side activities, mini-games, and substories that are both fun and engaging. These include karaoke, mahjong, bowling, and various side quests that add depth to the gameplay experience.

Improved combat mechanics: The combat system is praised for its fluidity, variety of fighting styles, and satisfying mechanics. Players enjoy the dynamic and engaging combat, which includes different styles and heat actions.

Well-designed side content: The game includes a variety of well-constructed side quests, mini-games, and activities that add depth and enjoyment to the gameplay experience.

Shorter and less engaging than Yakuza 0: The game is frequently compared to Yakuza 0, with many players noting that it is shorter and less engaging. The main storyline is considered brief, and the overall content, including side quests and mini-games, is seen as less substantial and entertaining.

Frustrating and poorly designed boss fights: Boss fights are a significant point of frustration for players. They are described as difficult, unfair, and poorly designed, with some fights being lengthy and irritating. The final bosses, in particular, are criticized for being overpowered and not fun.

Majima Everywhere system issues: The Majima Everywhere system is seen as repetitive and annoying. Players find the frequent encounters with Majima disruptive and tedious, and the system can prevent progression if certain encounters are missed.

Story and character issues: The story is criticized for being weak, lacking logic, and having flawed twists. Character development is seen as unsatisfactory, with some characters lacking depth or having inconsistent motivations.

Grinding and language support issues: Grinding is seen as excessive and tedious, with some players finding it necessary to progress. There are also issues with language support, including incomplete patches and audio bugs.

Rich side content: The game offers a plethora of side activities and mini-games, including karaoke, bowling, mahjong, and arcade games. These activities complement the main storyline and provide additional entertainment value.

Diverse combat system: The game features a variety of combat mechanics, including multiple fighting styles such as Brawler, Rush, Beast, and Dragon. Players can switch between these styles smoothly, adding depth and variety to the combat experience.

Engaging storyline: The game features a compelling main storyline with well-developed characters and interactions. The narrative is enriched by numerous side quests and substories that add depth to the game world.

Mix of humor and serious tones: The game balances serious and comedic elements, with a dark and engaging main story complemented by humorous and sometimes irrational substories.

Majima Everywhere system: The Majima Everywhere system introduces random encounters and surprise duels with the character Majima, adding an element of unpredictability and excitement to the gameplay.

Optimization and performance issues: The game has mixed reviews regarding optimization. Some players experience good performance and smooth gameplay, while others report optimization problems, frequent lagging, and crashing issues.

Positive performance on Steam Deck: Players report that the game runs well on Steam Deck, achieving 60fps and running great even at max settings.

Supports ultrawide aspect ratios: The game supports ultrawide aspect ratios, which is appreciated by players for an enhanced gaming experience.

Item glitch causing freezes: There is a specific item glitch that causes the game to freeze, which is a notable issue reported by players.

Frequent saving issues: Players have reported issues with the game's saving functionality, which can be problematic for progress and gameplay.

Highly recommended for story and gameplay: The game is praised for its engaging story, well-developed characters, and enjoyable mini-games. It is recommended for both fans of the franchise and newcomers, especially those interested in experiencing a gripping crime saga with a richly detailed setting.

Play Yakuza 0 first: Many players recommend starting with Yakuza 0 for better context and understanding of the series. It is considered a good entry point and provides additional backstory that enhances the overall experience.

Wait for sale to purchase: Some players advise waiting for a sale to purchase the game, indicating that it might not be worth the full price. This suggestion is for those who are budget-conscious.

Play on easy or normal difficulty: For a more enjoyable experience, players suggest starting on easy or normal difficulty. This is especially recommended for new players to get accustomed to the game mechanics.

Use specific strategies for combat: Players recommend using CP points to unlock specific armor and acquiring all dragon skills to make combat more manageable. These strategies help mitigate difficulties in gun combat and enhance the fighting experience.

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals a mix of positive and negative aspects. While many users reported good performance and stability, there were significant issues with controller inputs and technical barriers that required extensive troubleshooting. The gameplay experience was generally positive, although some initial boss fights were frustrating. Overall, the user experience is impacted by both the seamless performance and the need for tinkering to resolve certain issues.

Mod recommendations mentioned: Players discussed mods and provided recommendations about their use.