Since its debut on the PlayStation 2 in 2006,
the Yakuza series has released several sequels, prequels, and spin-offs.
While earlier entries maintained enough popularity
to warrant continued releases in the West,
the series got a major boost in notoriety with last year’s release of Yakuza 0.
Now, despite being more popular than ever,
Yakuza 6 promises to be the final chapter in Kazuma Kiryu’s legendary journey.
The story begins shortly after Yakuza 5 as Kazuma recovers from his injuries at a local hospital.
The police arrive to arrest him
as he willingly accepts responsibility for his past transgressions
in the hopes of finally breaking free from the shackles of a life he desperately wants to leave behind.
Three years pass, and upon release, he quickly discovers that his surrogate daughter Haruka has gone missing.
His search inevitably leads him back to Kamurocho where he discovers
that not only is Haruka in a coma after a botched assault,
but she now has a newborn son.
The colorful cast of newcomers, the return of fan-favorites,
and the slow unraveling of a sinister conspiracy
all contribute to a consistently absorbing narrative,
although it does lose some steam before the climax.
Yakuza 6 is undoubtedly Kazuma’s most personal story,
bringing The Dragon of Dojima’s 28-year journey to a fitting conclusion.
Fans familiar with Yakuza will immediately recognize the city streets of Kamurocho,
a staple since the original game.
Yakuza 6 is the first entry in the series to be built from the ground up for the PlayStation 4,
and the visual benefits are immediately noticeable.
The biggest improvements are the seamless transitions between combat,
exploration, and entering buildings.
While there are still loading screens between chapters and some activities,
the lack of loading in most areas
helps to create one of the most immersive environments in recent memory.
Walking into a noodle shop and watching the city outside is a tranquil experience
that never gets old over the course of the 30 hour adventure.
In addition to Kamurocho, there’s the small town of Onomichi
which serves as a stark contrast to the bustling metropolis,
not only adding visual variety,
but offering insight into different characters’ perspectives.
In addition to the main storyline,
over 50 side-quests provide many of the most emotional and rewarding encounters.
They tell a wide assortment of self-contained stories
that range from bizarre to hilarious.
A fisherman’s daughter vows revenge against the giant shark that ate her father,
while a man obsessed with making it big on social media playfully confronts Kazuma about his age.
There’s also a bar in Onomichi that Kazuma can visit to build relationships with certain patrons
which unlocks additional quest lines.
While most of the sub-stories are small, independent affairs,
there are a few that can span your entire playthrough.
A struggling baseball team offers a full-fledged sim-management game
and even goes one step further by having you play critical at-bats.
The most publicized addition comes in the form of the Clan Creator mini-game
that features legendary New Japan Wrestlers like Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito.
Each clan battle is presented from a top-down perspective of the clashing armies.
Your rivals come forth with a set number of fighters,
while your team is summoned using points determined by your clan’s power.
Each of these extensive side activities
not only has its own unique storyline and payoff,
but there are separate side stories to recruit baseball players and fighters,
adding a connective layer to Yakuza 6 that pulls you deeper into the world.
Between missions, stopping by the local eateries is essential.
There are five aspects of Kazuma’s skills to level up.
Strength, agility, spirit, technique, and charm can all be gained by completing quests,
winning fights, reaching various milestones, and most importantly, by eating.
Food items require a certain amount of stomach space to consume,
and simply running around town and getting in fights makes Kazuma hungry again.
Combining the right items grants a bonus, encouraging you to order food in a realistic way.
Like everything else in Yakuza 6, you can choose to completely ignore this as eating isn’t required, but
it helps to develop The Dragon of Dojima
into an unstoppable beast, especially in the early portions of the game.
Unfortunately, combat remains largely unchanged from previous entries.
Kazuma is back to one fighting stance as opposed to the four he had in Yakuza 0 and Kiwami.
You can save heart orbs to enter extreme heat mode
which boosts attack and defense, or
you can use an orb to activate a heat action,
which usually involves smashing someone’s face into a wall or bashing them with a large object.
While it remains spectacularly flashy and brutal, it never evolves or pushes back.
It’s easy to take down nearly every enemy, including bosses, with the same attacks.
While contextually, it makes sense for such a hardened fighter to destroy any opponent in his path,
some threatening boss encounters could have helped to make fighting feel more rewarding.
If you just want to take a break, the Sega Arcade features a handful of classic games
like Out Run, Super Hang-On, Space Harrier, and Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown.
Kazuma can also pass the time with karaoke, darts, batting cages, hostess clubs,
and deep-sea diving sessions reminiscent of light-gun games.
None of the activities feel tacked-on,
and they all reward you with XP or side-quest integration.
They’re never just senseless distractions.
Yakuza 6 is undeniably one of the best entries in the long-running series.
Memorable side quests and engaging mini-games
offer countless diversions and emotional encounters.
The combat becomes routine,
but the personal struggle of Kazuma Kiryu brings a satisfying and remarkable conclusion
for the legendary Dragon of Dojima.
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