Yakuza Kiwami 2 was a more ambitious remake compared to its predecessor. It used the newest version of the Dragon Engine, the same one later used for games like Like A Dragon: Yakuza and others. The game also pushed its visuals further, offering a polished look that later became a standard for titles from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Because of this, the performance takes a hit, and moving from the first game to the second with a drop to 30 FPS feels disappointing.
While Yakuza Kiwami 2 looks stunning, even when docked on a big screen, its performance is still underwhelming. The story remains strong, with a great villain who stands shoulder to shoulder with the legendary Dragon of Dojima, Kazuma Kiryu. The game features fun side stories, and the series’ trademark humor returns as well. There are long cutscenes one after another that lay out the narrative. The story still feels fresh today, with the threat of another war between different Yakuza factions. This time, the main antagonist is Ryuji Goda, who clashes with Kiryu several times throughout the story. The boss battles in this entry are some of the best among the three games available on Switch 2.
The combat system has been revamped, and while it keeps its core elements, the streamlined styles make it more appealing to me. The game is also quite ambitious with its lack of loading screens, even though it features a large city to explore. Heat moves remain the highlight of the combat system, and pulling them off is still satisfying. I also liked how heat moves change depending on your location and the surrounding environment. Some of them are very well done.
The progression system has been revamped, making it ideal for players who want more customization. Skills are divided into categories like battle, heat, and life, and you can invest in them to improve your combat performance. Being able to shape Kiryu based on your playstyle is a welcome change and avoids the old linear progression approach. There are plenty of minigames to try as well, along with side stories scattered across the map. Even some arcade games, like Virtua Fighter 2, are playable. I am not much of a retro gaming fan, so I saw them more as a pleasant bonus.
The world map has been expanded from the first game, adding a second location, Sotenbori, alongside the usual Kamurocho. The busy NPCs, bright neon signs, and sheer amount of content make it easy to lose track of time. The visuals really stand out on the Switch 2 and now look much closer to the PS4 version. Because the game is more demanding visually, the performance drops to 30 FPS, and it takes some time to adjust. While 30 FPS could have been acceptable, the inconsistent frame pacing holds it back, and that really hurts the experience for me. I noticed slight stutters during both exploration and combat, and they were hard to ignore.
Coming off Yakuza 0 and Kiwami 1, both of which run at 60 FPS, the 30 FPS combat does feel a bit jarring. This was also the case on PS4, and sadly, it carries over to this port. On the positive side, the visual upgrade is great, and the environments look beautiful with their neon lights, busy NPCs, and overall density. Load times are fast, so you are never waiting long. It is a solid port overall, but I do hope the performance is improved so it can hold a steady 30 FPS without frame pacing issues.
As for the bigger picture, I am hopeful that these ports will open the door for more Yakuza games on Switch 2. We already know Yakuza Kiwami 3 is planned, but there is still a long list of titles that could follow. While the newer games may end up limited to 30 FPS, I am fine with that as long as they keep the same strong visuals as their console versions. The portable appeal of the Yakuza series, while still offering high-quality visuals, is a big draw for me. I also have a Steam Deck and can play these games on it, but that usually comes with visual compromises.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 Game Information
- Price: $29.99
- Publisher: Sega
- Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
