Yakuza 4 Remastered review

Exceptional

by Ketan

Honestly just not worth it at all. Combat is only (very) marginally improved from Yakuza 3, largely due to how they designed the new characters to work so differently and how trivial it is to level up. The additional playable characters create this unfortunate structure that's simultaneously long-winded and moves around erratically, only coming together like 25 hours into an ending that is almost a retread of Yakuza 0, 1, and 2. Saying nothing of the chapters that are long cutscenes leading into single fight sequences and then move on to the next chapter. The final boss fights are mostly ok except for the very last one. Good substories but, because the game is so stilted and long-winded, it makes them kind of a drag to get through.

In other words, this game is saved solely by the number "4" at the end of its title and how much better every other game in the series has been so far and how much it continues afterwards.

Great overall combat, great storytelling, great ost.

Only complaints are regarding big/fat enemies that can’t be knocked down and have a lot of defense.

Having said that, it is maybe the best (or second best) Yakuza game between 0, Kiwami 1, Kiwami 2, 3 Remastered and 4 Remastered.