Review for Yakuza Kiwami. Game for PlayStation 4 and PC, the video game was released on 29/08/2017
The porting of the Yakuza on PC it is a tangible evidence of the feverish passion, exponentially increasing, that the Western public has for Japanese culture. A culture opposite to ours, made up of burning contradictions of disarming beauties, perfectly represented by the cross-section of society represented in Yakuza, emblem and flag that tells - in an obviously fictional way - what the land of the Rising Sun is in some of its facets.
Thus, following in the footsteps of the Yakuza 0 series prequel, it arrives on our computers too Yakuza Kiwami, remake of the first chapter - Yakuza - released in 2005 for PlayStation 2 has become the forerunner of a successful series at home and beyond.
Initially climbing the ranks of Kazuma Kiryu seems to proceed tirelessly, with its name (Dōjima no Ryū, or the Dragon of Dojima) and his fame that precede him in every corner of the night Kamurocho, arousing fear in the opponents and trust in his person by the Clan Tojo, who sees in Kiryu a capable and responsible figure, worthy of coming - one day not too far away - to have his own family. Everything collapses like a house of cards when Kiryu is accused of the murder of the violent boss Dojima and sentenced to spend 10 years in prison for his - alleged - crime.
Returning to the streets of Kamurocho once the sentence is served is not easy: the neighborhood has remained the same, but this time Kiryu's role staggers and is challenged by some changes of the cards on the table, in a game of chess where, however, it is not clear who is moving the various pieces. The Dragon of Dojima will have to open the way to the truth by kicking and punching, waiting to find its place in a society kneeling before the weight of the underworld. The main story lives on high quality moments which also leave room for some interesting twists, unraveling a dense plot full of events with a great scenic and emotional depth, perfectly highlighted by the charismatic characters we will meet in our long wanderings.
Along the lines of what Shenmue accustomed us to in his time, Kiryu's frenzied runs through the streets painted by the light of the dazzling signs, find pleasant intervals within the buildings in which the player can enter, as per the canon of the series. Restaurants and bars for refreshment o shops from which to shop in case of need will not be lacking along the streets of the crowded neighborhood; to top it all too numerous secondary activities, often stratified and able to challenge the player on multiple levels. The longevity of the title also benefits from the ease with which one can be captured by the density that pervades those that, at least in this case, it seems simplistic to call only mini games.
But the nature of Kiryu is not only that of a man who loves to have fun, so moments of leisure do not lack occasions in which it is necessary to use the brute force of Kiryu to get rid of the opponents who stand in our way, which is one of the numerous side quests or a main mission. Fights are a constant presence in the game, with variations consisting of boss fights (technically more skilled and clearly more tough than standard opponents) and from ability to change fighting style. We often find ourselves in one-against-all situations and, at least in this situation, the optimal use of controls and camera is essential for a successful match. Precisely for this reason - as recommended in the initial title screen - the use of a pad is recommended for Yakuza Kiwami, otherwise it would be too difficult to dodge and move Kiryu in the right direction.
Technically the PC version of Yakuza Kiwami is really solid, frame rate drops are rare and the game is optimized for the 4K. The system requirements are not too onerous and allow you to play optimally even for those in possession of machines not exactly up to date in terms of hardware, thus certifying a great job in the PC port of Yakuza Kiwami. From the title menu it is also possible to make a wide range of customizations from a graphic and control point of view, also adaptable to those who want to experience Yakuza Kiwami using mouse and keyboard.
The dubbing, obviously in Japanese language, is of the highest quality, for the benefit of the on-screen rendering of the work which can combine a discreet graphic rendering with a respectable sound sector. The soundtrack itself features memorable music tracks that well underline the various moments lived by Kiryu in his long and intricate epic. A small obstacle for some users could be the lack of Spanish translation of the game, whose texts are in English. However, the work can, in its general events, also be understood by those who do not properly chew the Anglo-Saxon language.
Yakuza Kiwami on PC is a greedy opportunity, both for those wishing to enter the series for the first time, and for those who have had the opportunity to try and appreciate the Yakuza 0 prequel (also available on PC), which will find a familiar formula in the its foundations but able to amaze from a narrative point of view. Furthermore, the affordable selling price is a pretty good business card for those who have not yet had the opportunity to unleash the fury of the Dōjima no Ryū.
► Yakuza Kiwami is an Action-type game developed by Sega and published by Deep Silver for PlayStation 4 and PC, the video game was released on 29/08/2017
