Sega and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio are seemingly on a mission to bring as many Yakuza games to the Switch 2 in as short a time span as possible. With Kiwami and Kiwami 2 joining Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, we’re already at three within five months of the console’s release. Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties next February will make it four. Damn, Sega – keep going!
Kiwami 2 was originally released in 2017, and while that seems like a lifetime ago at this point (just ask Metroid fans), the underlying Dragon Engine makes it comfortably the most technically demanding entry on Switch 2 yet. I’m thrilled to confirm, then, that it’s a joyous experience from start to finish. It’s easily one of the best entries in the series, one that comes dangerously close to the highs of Yakuza 0.
So once again, you step into the shoes of protagonist Kazuma Kiryu who, after a short period of peace and quiet, is brought back into the criminal fold following a growing conflict between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. Kiwami 2 features the familiar sights and sounds of the Tokyo-inspired Kamurocho, but a good chunk of the game also takes place within the Osaka-inspired Sotenbori.
Wielding the might of the Dragon Engine, which made its debut in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, both main locations look absolutely incredible. Neon lights shine brighter than ever, buildings reflect accurately off Sotenbori’s main river, and streets are filled to the brim with well-rendered residents going about their day.
By keeping the literal size of these cities in check, RGG Studio is able to pack them with things to see and do, and in combining this with realistic diegetic sounds like distant arcade music and the casual chatter of NCPs, it makes for one of the most vividly alive settings I’ve ever seen in a game. Take note, Game Freak.
The notable improvement to visuals does come with one potential drawback: 30fps performance. Both Yakuza 0 and the original Kiwami reach a stable 60fps with the previous engine on Switch 2, and while moving directly from Kiwami to Kiwami 2 did make the drop much more apparent at first, it didn’t bother me at all once I actually started playing properly.
It remains stable throughout, even during effects-heavy action sequences, and the improvements elsewhere more than make up for any initial disappointment. Not only does Kiwami 2 look much better, but transitions into fights and (most) interior locations are seamless, making for a significantly more modernised experience.
General gameplay is a familiar mix of exploration, minigames, and melee combat, with a sprinkling of RPG mechanics thrown in for good measure. Yakuza games have a remarkable ability to distract you from completing your primary objectives at every turn. So one moment you might be laying the smackdown on a formidable boss before watching the dramatic aftermath in a couple of sumptuous cutscenes, and two minutes later you’ll somehow find yourself in the men’s toilets having a literal peeing contest. It’s absurd, and I love it.
That’s just one of the many minigames. You can play darts, win prizes on claw machines, master mahjong, sing karaoke, clean up in a game of poker, and more. A true highlight was stumbling upon a Club Sega arcade joint, which houses fully playable versions of Virtua Fighter 2 and Virtual On: Cyber Troopers.
The authenticity really helps the overall setting sing, and you can also buy real-life beverages like The Yamazaki and Hibiki, or dine in at a real-world eatery like Zuboraya. Stocking up on food and drink is encouraged to maintain your health, but I hardly need the excuse to browse Kiwami 2’s extensive, hunger-inducing range.
Watching your health is vital, mind you, since you’ll be getting into fights left, right, and centre. Naturally, a lot of scraps will take place as you progress through the main story, but the streets of Kamurocho and Sotenbori are also riddled with gangs of thugs who won’t hesitate to start wailing on you at any given moment.
Unlike previous entries, Kiwami 2 doesn’t feature multiple fighting styles to switch between. You’ve only got the one here, but as someone who never really bothered with the Beast style much in the first Kiwami, I appreciate the more streamlined approach. You still have melee weapons like knives and baseball bats, while upgrades add whole new abilities to your arsenal.
Each fight grants a bunch of experience points, which you can spend on general stats, battle skills, heat actions, and life skills. Overall, it feels far less fiddly than previous entries' overwhelming upgrade paths, and you’ll find yourself purchasing upgrades at frequent intervals. Once you’ve added a few new moves to your belt, powered up your heat meter, and unleashed a blistering flurry of combos, you’ll feel just like a dragon.
Of course, none of this would matter one lick if it weren’t for the story at Kiwami 2’s core. It’s full of wild twists and turns, but the exceptional performances from Takaya Kuroda, Aya Hisakawa, Satoshi Tokushige, and more wonderful voice actors help keep everything grounded. RGG Studio's team are masters at storytelling, and they're only getting better with each new entry.
Finally, if you’re particularly fond of the fan-favourite Goro Majima, you can play as the character once again with a short but sweet side campaign accessed via the main menu after a certain point in the main game. This covers what Majima was up to after the first game, and it proves to be a strong, albeit inessential detour.
Conclusion
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a wonderful experience on Switch 2. The improved visuals and streamlined mechanics make for a delightful gameplay experience bolstered by a compelling narrative at its core.
There are so many ridiculous minigames to keep you entertained, and exploring Kamurocho and Sotenbori remains enjoyable five or even fifty hours into the game. It stands alongside Yakuza 0: Director's Cut as one of the finest entries in the series.
Comments 44
I'd bought it anyway but that solidified my decision
Sorry to be that person, but you have written "within the Osaka-inspired Sotenbori" This should be Dotonbori
Edit. I have read that is what they call the area in the game!!!! sorry!
Great review thanks, not played Yakuzu before so have been thinking about getting this one.
Will sadly skip this and K1 on S2 for now, but definitely picking up the PS5 releases! Will grab when they go on sale in the future. Saddens me that it can’t hit 60fps on S2. Hopefully the PS5 version has no such limitation, which I’ll be getting on disc next month!
I am a bit of a Yakuza fan.
So it's confirmed 30 frames then. Interesting, the trailers had some bits that seemed to be running unlocked. I guess they couldn't nail a consistent 60 and went with the cap. Fair enough.
Glad to see it turned out well. Yakuza 0 is one of my favorite games of all time, and 1&2 (Kiwami) are excellent games as well. I’ve yet to play 3-6, but I can’t wait to finally dive into those games at some point soon.
@dskatter PS5 should have no issue with 60fps, all the others hit that target and push the engine more. it just leaves Yakuza 6 as the only entry on PS with a 30fps cap (until that gets it's Switch 2 port and they get around to doing a PS5 conversion shortly after as with this game).
@Orpheus79V I figured S2 would have no problem hitting 60fps so I take NOTHING for granted anymore!
It will be so nice playing the eventual enhanced Y6 at 60fps someday!
Thanks for the review, looking forward to this even more than I already was (doubt anytime soon considering that I'm currently playing 0 and I'll then play the first Kiwami before it, but still) - glad the wealth of stuff to do including but not limited to side activities has been highlighted this time since it's a signature feature of the series based on what I've always heard and now also experienced to an extent myself!
Will eventually spring for the (DRM-free) versions on PC in the absence of proper physical releases on Switch 2.
Unless of course LRG pulls through with the goods, but who knows when that will be.
I absolutely love and adore this series ever so much. I have most of them on my PS5 but I will be downloading them onto my Switch 2 as well! So happy to see these ports continue to get high praises!!
30 fps is jarring at first AND permanently. I‘m a 60 fps snob now. My experience with TotK in 2023 was poor (on Switch 2 it’s so much better!), and maybe I will accept it for GTA6.
But I won’t play a game with 30 fps on Switch anymore if I can also play it with 60 fps on PlayStation.
I've only played Zero, K1, K2, 3 and Judgment, but Kiwami 2 was far and away the best of them so far, for me. Adding this to my list for a sub-£10 sale pickup.
Sorry, what's the best order to start this series again? 0 first?
...hmmm, is there no physical option for this in Euroland? (even if key card)
Releasing at a budget-ish price for such a full-featured game is also a plus (yes I know it's been around elsewhere). Ryuji Goda is still yet to be topped as a villain in this series.
@AussieMcBucket Zero first is what most people (including myself) would recommend. There is an argument for going 1-5 then zero as that was the release order but the remake of the first one specifically fleshed out some stuff that wasn’t in the original in response to zero (the remake was the next game after it) so I think that way makes the most sense. It was the way I got into the franchise back in 2017 anyways.
Excited for everyone about to experience Kiwanis 2! Going from the old engine to this had me very hyped after 0 and first Kiwami and it did not disappoint.
@dskatter from what I heard it might be 30fps on PS5 as well because some stuff in the game goes haywire rendering at 60fps even on PC.
Dragon Engine is also pretty demanding in this game as it cant reach 60fps on a Steam Deck or Rog Ally no matter how much you tinker with the settings even at their lower 800p. At best they can go up to 40fps.
So what is the very best Yakuza game? I've been playing Yakuza zero and I'm honestly not feeling it with that one. It's okay i guess.
@Solid_Python That would be very disappointing if true. Let’s hope it isn’t the case with the PS5 release!
Wow! It's already here! I made my game purchase this month already as my partner and I want to play Split Fiction, but at least I definitively know what I'm getting next month. Let's FREAKING go.
Nice! And what about Kiwami 1? Is it good as well?
I'm planning on getting into the series as soon as I find some time between releases, and I'll start with 0. I hope I'll like it!
@Solid_Python @dskatter The PC port had some issues with some minigames and combos being harder to perform, some of them are fixed by a mod. You would hope a new console release would allow the opportunity to fix the issues, they figured it out with later Dragon Engine titles. I guess we'll find out in a few weeks...
@Truegamer79 That's interesting. I would say 0 was considered the best (though I cannot vouch for the director's cut). I guess the real question is what specifically is not enjoyable for you. If the gameplay is the problem, I would say give Yakuza 7 (Yakuza Like a Dragon) a try. Otherwise, not sure what else to recommend without more info.
@Olliemar28 £24.95??? Oh god. I don’t need another Switch 2 game just now but I love this series!!!!
@the_beaver We'll have a review for the Switch 2 release of Kiwami later today. Thanks!
@Olliemar28 Ah awesome! I found it strange that we got the Kiwami 2 review before the first, and then I realised the first one is on the Switch 1 already lol. So I guess you'll just release a mini review of the first one, just to know how the Switch 2 version looks and runs, which makes sense. Thanks!
Only key card? Bye
@Glassneedles Awesome! Thank you so much!
@DarkCoolEdge Bye! Thanks for stopping by!
@MS7000
Well Zero is my first Yakuza game. Not really sure why I'm not loving it yet. Maybe it's just kinda repetitive and the cutscenes drag sometimes. I like a story but they go on and on at times. Maybe it's just because I'm still in the early part of the game.
At the pace the yakuzas are releasing on switch 2, makes me think a collection would be imminent.
One of the most fun entries, but a the same time, the entry with the worst writting(main story).
@Solid_Python Not to mention the aliasing is horrible on the PC port
@Shiryu Yes there’s a GKC in EU for all three K1, K2 and 0. K3 is coming in February also as a GKC.
@the_beaver @AussieMcBucket
Most will tell you 0, but I’ve found starting with Kiwami 1 the best, the story and twists hit much harder, it’s perfect because 0 is a direct prequel but it’d be a bit like watching SW Episode 1before the original trilogy, it works but it’s hardly the best way to experience the series imo.
So yeah, I’d recommend Kiwami 1, then Y0, then Kiwami 2 (and 3 later) for the best experience, but you can go either way it’s by no means a dealbreaker starting with 0.
Nice review and great to hear that it runs so well on Switch 2, looking forward to picking this up and finally getting into the series.
@Truegamer79 early game is a little slow, it definitely picks up, persevere a bit longer!
@DashKappei Oh, interesting. That does make sense. Much appreciated!
@DashKappei its very odd I am not finding it at any of the local retailer stores. I will keep diggin', thanks.
@Shiryu it seems they’ve been delayed, Kiwami 1 and 2 GKC are coming out December 8th. Check your local Amazon.
@DashKappei eh, had to be something like that. December is becoming quite the month. :x Thanks again!
@BaldB3lper78 That was a pleasant surprise for me, too! Puts it in ‘perhaps I can forgive it for being a key-card (but I’d still rather it wasn’t)’ territory.
@Maxz lol. I’d rather they weren’t key cards but I’m not as bothered by them as some
@AussieMcBucket 0, then kiwami, then kiwami 2, then 3, so on.
@TheWokesterGamer Thank you!
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