| Platform | OVERALL |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | 7.60 |
| Overall | 7.60 |
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Its probably been a good 6 years since I played the first Yakuza all those years ago when it first came out. Since it's release nearly a whole new generation of games have come out and 3 more sequels to the series has hit. I really enjoyed the first game for its odd mix of old school brawling with a open albeit small world to explore. There is simply nothing like Yakuza, even the source material is rarely covered in gaming. All these elements came together to make what I considered a cult classic for the PS2. Now I finally play the sequel, many years later, obviously coming into this game with a totally different perspective having gone through a new gen. I don't care about the graphics, what bugged me most was how Yakuza 2 was as a by the book sequel as you can get. More CoD update than full sequel. The majority of Yakuza 2 takes place in the same city as the original. Only a few areas have changed, most of the game world is the exact same as you experienced before. There is a new city to explore but this one is only half the size as the first one, and in the end you basically do the same things you do no matter where you are located. The combat system is identical with only minor tweaks added such as battles where you have a partner, which allows for double attacks. There are a few new mini games, my favorite being this fake video game called YF, a tron like VF like game. All in all though the game feels like a Yakuza 1 expansion, just a new story told in almost the same location with the exact same gameplay. The strength of Yakuza 2 is in the way it tells a very interesting story involving multiple Yakuza's fighting for power with a bit of a love story thrown in to boot. The story is played out through some long cutscenes as well as text dialogue, those not a fan of long cutscenes should stay far away. In between the story you are allowed to explore the streets of Japan often times getting into all sorts of odds side missions. Like the first game many people on the street will decide to fight you for no reason, almost creating a sort of JRPG like random battle. Almost every side mission involves beating some one up. What I love the most about this series is how the story goes from crime drama in the main story to straight up weird psuedo comedy in the side missions. Most side missions are straight up hilarious, especially one involving a certain fetish. Part of why I enjoyed exploring so much is to see what kind of weird shit will happen next. In terms of side quests the biggest new additions involve managing a hostess club or being a hostess yourself. They aren't the most fun side missions but if you decide to invest yourself fully they could add hours to an already gigantic game. This game is MASSIVE. I spent over 30 hours and I only completed 60% of side missions. Now many of those missions involve running from one place to the next and beating someone up, still the strange situations that come up make it worth your while. Also every fight and completed quest gets you more exp to unlock more skills. Hidden locker keys liter the streets and there are hidden easter eggs all over. Many mini games are full fledged games of their own with an entire Japanese chess simulator and full majong game. I have no clue how to play them, the game doesn't teach you well but I assume in Japan its pretty cool to have all those distractions to play with. There is a giant fighting arena, full casino, about 10 different girls to date each with their own side mission. There is so much to do that its a wonder you ever get back to the main story. While I absolutely love games that let you do a variety of side quests and give you loads to explore I wish this game had a proper side quest log. Many times you start a side quest and totally lose track of who or what you were supposed to do. The only hit is the name of a side quest on a menu (though some quests do have map markers, most don't). Your character Kazuma has to run all over the map making navigating this world a chore. Too many quests involve going from one place to the next meaning you will be running up and down the same streets so many times you will be sick of them well before the game ends. The in game fast travel is far too spaced out to provide any sort of meaningful help. It felt like so many of these elements are remnants of last gen, I understand this is a last gen game so I hope things get a bit easier to navigate, with better menus in Yakuza 3. All the action in Yakuza 2 revolves around melee combat. This remains unchanged from the first game. You have basic combos that lead into a strong attack which fills a power bar. Once filled that bar allows for all kinds of context sensitive cinematic attacks. It is still a blast getting a bike/trash bin/bat/chair/sofa and bashing an enemy with it. Most of the basic battles are extremely easy meaning you can get by with simple mashing of buttons. The harder boss battles require you to use your defensive measures and your heat gauge to get by. There is a surprising amount of depth to this rather basic combat system, sadly it only comes out when you battle the bosses. These days brawlers have made a comeback with games like Batman; their fighting systems leave Yakuza in the dust. Yakuza still feels unique enough to be fun to play but it is clearly lacking in depth when compared to the newer titles (again unfair criticism since I am playing this game late but oh well). The Yakuza series is definitely an acquired taste. I can totally see many people try this game and wonder how any one can think it is a good game. It is so weird on many levels from the way it is structured, to how the story is presented, to so many mechanics stuck in very old school conventions that most games have evolved from. And yet all those things sort of add to the charm of this beautifully odd series. What other game allows me to get into a giant Yakuza battle in a funeral and moments later lets me do batting practice with an alien. There is nothing like it, as much as it frustrated me it made me want to see what else was around the corner just as badly. |
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Posted by Dvader Sat, 08 Jun 2013 02:38:27
Four is... amazing. Suggested for anyone who even wants to start without any knowledge of the prior games.