''Yakuza Kiwami 2'' is an
action-adventure
The action-adventure genre is a video game hybrid genre that combines core elements from both the action game and adventure game genres.
Typically, pure adventure games have situational problems for the player to solve to complete a storyli ...
video game developed by
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
is a video game developer housed within the Japanese video game company Sega as part of its division. It is known for developing the games in the ''Yakuza'' series, which the studio is named after, since '' Yakuza 5''.
The studio's origins can ...
and published by
Sega
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
. It is a remake of the 2006 video game ''
Yakuza 2
is an action-adventure game by Sega, the sequel to ''Yakuza''. It was released on December 7, 2006, for the PlayStation 2 in Japan and in September 2008 in North America and Europe. The game focuses on the former ''yakuza'' Kazuma Kiryu who recei ...
'' for the
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
, and is the ''
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the ter ...
'' series' second remake title following 2016's ''
Yakuza Kiwami
''Yakuza Kiwami'' is an action-adventure video game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. It is a remake of ''Yakuza'', the first game in the '' Yakuza series'', originally released on Sony's PlayStation 2. ''Yakuza Kiwami'' w ...
''. It was developed using the Dragon
game engine
A game engine is a software framework primarily designed for the development of video games and generally includes relevant libraries and support programs. The "engine" terminology is similar to the term "software engine" used in the software i ...
from ''
Yakuza 6''. The game was released for
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...
on December 7, 2017 in Japan, and worldwide on August 28, 2018. It was released for
Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
worldwide on
Steam
Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization ...
on May 9, 2019 and released for
Xbox One
The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third base console in the Xbox series of video game consoles. It was first released in North America, parts of ...
on July 30, 2020.
''Yakuza Kiwami 2'' was followed up by the spinoff titles ''
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise'' and ''
Judgment
Judgement (or US spelling judgment) is also known as ''adjudication'', which means the evaluation of evidence to make a decision. Judgement is also the ability to make considered decisions. The term has at least five distinct uses. Aristotle s ...
'' in 2018, and the next mainline installment ''
Yakuza: Like a Dragon'' in 2020.
Gameplay
''Yakuza Kiwami 2'' is a remake of ''
Yakuza 2
is an action-adventure game by Sega, the sequel to ''Yakuza''. It was released on December 7, 2006, for the PlayStation 2 in Japan and in September 2008 in North America and Europe. The game focuses on the former ''yakuza'' Kazuma Kiryu who recei ...
'', and is an
action-adventure
The action-adventure genre is a video game hybrid genre that combines core elements from both the action game and adventure game genres.
Typically, pure adventure games have situational problems for the player to solve to complete a storyli ...
game set in an
open world environment and played from a
third-person perspective
Narration is the use of a written or spoken commentary to convey a story to an audience. Narration is conveyed by a narrator: a specific person, or unspecified literary voice, developed by the creator of the story to deliver information to the ...
. Similar to the previous remake title, ''
Yakuza Kiwami
''Yakuza Kiwami'' is an action-adventure video game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. It is a remake of ''Yakuza'', the first game in the '' Yakuza series'', originally released on Sony's PlayStation 2. ''Yakuza Kiwami'' w ...
'', ''Kiwami 2'' follows the same plot structure of ''Yakuza 2'' while adding new gameplay features and enhancements from later titles, as well as new story elements to resolve confusing plot points in the original release and tie the game more closely to other titles in the series. The player controls series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as they explore the fictional Japanese districts of Kamurocho, Tokyo and Sotenbori, Osaka, based on the real life locations of
Kabukicho and
Dōtonbori, respectively. Combat is based on that previously seen in ''
Yakuza 6'', though with a variety of new moves and special cinematic 'Heat Moves'. A new story scenario, entitled "The Majima Saga" features recurring series anti-hero
Goro Majima
Goro Majima ( Japanese: 真島 吾朗, Hepburn: ''Majima Gorō'') is a major recurring character in Sega's ''Like a Dragon'' video game series, previously known as ''Yakuza'' outside of Japan. He is one of the main playable protagonists of '' Y ...
as a playable character.
The Cabaret Club minigame from ''
Yakuza 0
''Yakuza 0'' is an action-adventure game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. It is the sixth main entry in the '' Yakuza series'' and a prequel to the original game. It was released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in J ...
'' returns, as does the Clan Creator from ''
Yakuza 6'', bringing in
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano, Tokyo. Founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, the promotion was sold to Yuke's, who later sold it to Bushiroad in 2012. TV Asahi and Amuse, Inc. own minority shares ...
stars
Keiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestler and professional wrestling executive currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah), where he is a former GHC Heavyweight Champion. He is best known for his work as in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and N ...
,
Masahiro Chono
is an American-born Japanese-American retired professional wrestler and actor best known for his 26 year stint with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). As the leader of nWo Japan, Team 2000 and Black New Japan, he was the promotion's top heel for ...
,
Riki Choshu
, better known by his ring name , is a Japanese retired professional wrestler who is best known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as both a wrestler and a booker. He is considered one of Japan’s most influential wrestle ...
,
Genichiro Tenryu, and
Tatsumi Fujinami
(born December 28, 1953) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to WWE on a legend's contract. Fujinami is most well known for his long tenure with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a six-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion. ...
.
Plot
A year after leaving his former life in the Tojo Clan behind, ex-
yakuza
, also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the ter ...
Kazuma Kiryu
is a fictional character and the protagonist of Sega's action-adventure beat'em'up Japanese role-playing game series ''Yakuza''. He is popularly known as due to the tattoo of a dragon on his back and him originally being a fearsome member of t ...
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
is a fictional character from Sega's action-adventure game '' Like a Dragon'' series, previously known as ''Yakuza'' outside of Japan, first appearing in 2006's ''Yakuza 2''. Goda also appears as one of the main characters in a spin-off title of ...
, the legendary "Dragon Of Kansai" of the Omi Alliance.
A new scenario, entitled "The Majima Saga" exclusive to ''Kiwami 2'' explains how Majima came to leave the Tojo Clan following the death of his patron, Futoshi Shimano, a year earlier and form a legitimate enterprise, "Majima Construction", between ''Yakuza'' and ''Yakuza 2''. The scenario also features the return of Makoto Makimura, a major character of Majima's story in ''
Yakuza 0
''Yakuza 0'' is an action-adventure game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. It is the sixth main entry in the '' Yakuza series'' and a prequel to the original game. It was released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in J ...
''.
Majima Saga
In February 2006, Tojo Clan's Fifth Chairman Yukio Terada announces a reformation plan for the clan, which requires a replacement for the clan captain position. Up in the run for the position were newcomer Akinobu Uematsu, Kei Ibuchi and
Goro Majima
Goro Majima ( Japanese: 真島 吾朗, Hepburn: ''Majima Gorō'') is a major recurring character in Sega's ''Like a Dragon'' video game series, previously known as ''Yakuza'' outside of Japan. He is one of the main playable protagonists of '' Y ...
, who were making the most profits among the clan. Having no interest in the position and only participating to ensure the other families can band together to keep the newcomers from seizing power, Majima returns to Kamurocho, where he finds himself ambushed by several assassins. After quickly dealing with them, Majima returns to his family office, where he finds his men beaten supposedly by the Uematsu Family. Majima heads to Uematsu's office, but finds Uematsu himself shot dead. After reporting the incident to Tojo Clan members, Majima is tipped by Kazama Family patriarch Osamu Kashiwagi to find the Florist of Sai, who can provide him information. Upon meeting with the Florist, he agrees to help Majima in exchange for the latter's agreement in running the Florist's old base in Purgatory. Majima learns that one of his subordinates, Ryota Kawamura, was last seen at the crime scene. He travels back to Sotenbori to track down Kawamura, and eventually learns that he's a regular gambler who frequents the massage parlor Hogushi Kaiken. While at the parlor, Majima receives service from a woman named Tateyama, who turns out to be Makoto Makimura, who Majima saved from the Tojo Clan
18 years prior. Majima, while attempting to hide his identity, learns that Makoto still kept her old watch as a memento of her savior.
Majima later picks up a tip that Kawamura murdered an Omi Alliance officer at the Cabaret Grand. He heads there and confronts Kawamura. The latter is easily defeated, but is then shot dead by Ibuchi, who exploited Kawamura's debt to use him to get rid of Uematsu, in order to spark a war between the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan, which would lead to their eventual merging and Ibuchi seizing power from Terada. Majima defeats Ibuchi, but the latter commits suicide rather than allowing himself to be arrested to incite conflict between both sides. In the aftermath, Majima and Terada come to an agreement to disband his family, as a gesture of apology for Kawamura's action against the Omi Alliance. Majima and the remnants of his family then form Majima Construction, and begin work on the Kamurocho Hills complex. Some time later, Makoto leaves the country with her family; she receives an anonymous gift prior to her departure, which turns out to be a replacement strap for her watch. Realizing that her customer was her savior from 18 years as only those who lived back then would have known the original design, Makoto finally finds comfort knowing she has no regrets leaving Japan.
Development
''Yakuza Kiwami 2'' was initially leaked on August 24, 2017 via a listing on the Taiwanese PlayStation Store. The title was officially announced two days later alongside ''
Yakuza: Like a Dragon'', ''Yakuza Online'', and ''
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise''. The game runs on the Dragon Engine which was previously used in ''
Yakuza 6''. Several characters were recast for the remake, including
Hakuryu as Ryo Takashima,
Houka Kinoshita
is a Japanese actor who was formerly represented by the talent agency, Cast Power. He graduated from Osaka Prefectural Nozaki High School and Osaka University of Arts.
Biography
In 1980, Kinoshita auditioned for the film, ''Gaki Teikoku'', whi ...
as Wataru Kurahashi, and Yuichi Kimura as Tsutomo Bessho. The in-game arcade features playable versions of ''
Virtua Fighter 2
is a 1994 fighting game, fighting video game developed by Sega. It is the sequel to 1993's ''Virtua Fighter (video game), Virtua Fighter'' and the second game in the ''Virtua Fighter'' series. It was created by Sega's Yu Suzuki-headed Sega AM2, ...
'' and ''
Virtual On: Cyber Troopers''.
Music
Japanese rock band
SiM provided theme song in Kiwami 2. The first song "A" serves as opening theme while the second song "Sound of the Breath" serves as an insert song. Both of these themes are also featured in the ending credits of the game.
Reception
''Yakuza Kiwami 2'' was well received by critics.
It was the best selling game in Japan during its debut week, selling 131,931 units; this was the lowest debut for a ''Yakuza'' game, which was noted as expected due to being the first stand-alone
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...
title that is not a new main entry. The PC version was among the best-selling new releases of the month on
Steam
Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization ...
.
''
Famitsu
formerly ''Famicom Tsūshin'', is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly formats as well as in the fo ...
'' liked the seamless transitions when entering shops or starting battles, and enjoyed being able to use various items in the city as weapons.
The game was nominated for the Freedom Tower Award for Best Remake at the New York Game Awards, and for "Animation, Technical" and "Game, Classic Revival" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.
Notes
References
External links
*
{{Yakuza series
2017 video games
Action-adventure games
Open-world video games
PlayStation 4 games
PlayStation 4 Pro enhanced games
Sega beat 'em ups
Sega video games
Video game remakes
Video games about revenge
Video games set in 2006
Video games set in Osaka
Video games set in Tokyo
Windows games
Xbox Cloud Gaming games
Xbox One games
Xbox One X enhanced games
Yakuza (franchise)
Zainichi Korean culture
Video games developed in Japan