Weapon pickup is a welcome improvement to the combat system. Unless you need to restore health, there’s little to interrupt the action, and Kiryu’s Dragon style in Kiwami 2 eventually integrates many of the moves from his three distinct combat styles. You can unlock basic skills that feel very much in keeping with the older Brawler and Rush styles, while Ultimate Heat Mode is, for all intents and purposes, the couch-heaving Beast style. Unless you need to restore health, there's little to interrupt the action, and Kiryu's Dragon style in Kiwami 2 eventually integrates many of the moves from his three distinct combat styles. More importantly, once I beefed up Kiryu's skills a bit, the revamped Dragon Engine combat felt more nimble and seamless than it had when I played the demos. The newer engine also opens up new environments to explore, like rooftops, alleys and basements, and it's easier to run and jump over objects while sprinting through town. Even playing on a standard PS4, the glittering signs and dingy puddles of Kamurocho look more vivid and realistic than ever, with impeccably detailed lighting and textures. Kiwami 2 runs on the Dragon Engine, an enhanced version of the one introduced for Yakuza 6. Expect about 25 hours for a story-focused playthrough, and easily double that time (or more) if you love digging into all the optional content. Kiwami 2 also features some of the most memorable battle sequences in the series, including one set in a majestic historical landmark that had me yelling with surprised delight at the television. There's a greater focus on police involvement this time around, and the connection between Kaoru and Kiryu adds a bit of charm and romantic intrigue to the whole affair. It's one hell of a fun, if convoluted, ride. Like previous Yakuza games, the story is full of twists, betrayals and secret identities. Ryuji Goda, originally of Kansai's Omi Alliance, is Kiryu's rival in "Yakuza Kiwami 2." Sega (There's more to sate Mad Dog fans with the game's self-contained Majima Saga chapters, but more on that later.) Getting to see these two face off and work together, however briefly, is one of the games biggest treats. Kiryu forms an uneasy alliance with Detective Sayama Kaoru, known as the "Yakuza Huntress" from Osaka's organized crime division, and his old frenemy Goro Majima, who's currently spearheading the Kamurocho Hills redevelopment project. Kiryu hightails it to Osaka, where rogue douchebag Ryuji Goda seeks to spark a war between the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan so he can be the top dog in Japan. If you played the demo, which takes place in the game's second chapter, you'll find yourself in familiar territory rather quickly. Early on, you'll have the option to view a handy refresher of the key events of Kiwami, and there's plenty of flashbacks and references dotted throughout the game. While you don't need to have played Kiwami to enjoy this game, there's a lot of connective tissue between the two. Kiryu's still dealing with the repercussions of the Tojo Clan's stolen ten billion yen, while also trying to whip some sense into young Daigo Dojima, next in line to the leadership. The events of Kiwami 2 begin a year after the first game. While the tale of Kiryu's battle against the Dragon of Kansai doesn't quite hit the heights of Yakuza 0, it's a stellar jaunt through Japan's weird, wild criminal underworld nevertheless. Yakuza Kiwami 2 improves upon virtually everything that was already fun about the Yakuza series, while leaving some fiddly aspects of gameplay in the rearview.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |