#YAKUZA KIWAMI MAJIMA OF THE DEAD SERIES#
#YAKUZA KIWAMI MAJIMA OF THE DEAD PSP#

When not chasing down the case of a missing ten billion yen or finding Haruka’s long lost mother, there’s still plenty to keep Kiryu’s spirits up and the sheer amount of distractions match that of previous Yakuza titles. Even as times change, so much of the city of sin remains the same and players should instantly recognize the parallels even after decades apart. Much of the city feels the same as it did during Kiryu’s first adventure in the 80’s, with phone booths slowly being phased out from their once great prominence on every corner of Kamurocho. With Yakuza Kiwami’s release trailing so closely to 0’s dual cities, the glitz and glamour of Kamurocho don't shine as brightly.

That extended length of time was enough to create a fondness for the neon lights and roving groups of drunk ruffians. Before that, Yakuza games were lucky to be localized and released in English every one or two years. It’s barely been half a year since the last time I had the chance to set foot in Kamurocho. Kiryu’s ultimate abilities as the Dragon of Dojima are unlocked in a different way, requiring Majima’s tenacity and fights to unlock once more.

Instead of infusing Kiryu’s abilities through the emergency infusion of cash like the previous adventure, the only way to regain those fighting skills is by using your two fists as the tutor. Kiryu’s prowess as a one man army hasn’t lost its edge, although that edge has been slightly dulled with the ten years spent away from the yakuza life.

#YAKUZA KIWAMI MAJIMA OF THE DEAD SERIES#

Much like Yakuza 0, Kiwami is still an amazing JRPG and either title can serve as a great starting point for newcomers to visit Kamurocho and see why the series has developed such a cult following. By the time Kiryu is released from prison, the bubble economy of 80’s Kamurocho has burst, cell phones have hit the mainstream, and what was once an empty alley at the focus of a gang war has developed into the Millenium Tower, the source and focus of Kiryu’s current troubles.ĭon’t let the promise of a thrilling crime drama or a small-scale open world scare you off from approaching Yakuza Kiwami. Kiwami doesn’t bother with forcing the player to experience those ten years of imprisonment, a worthy change from the slow and plodding chapters as Saejima in Yakuza 4. Once on the path to head his own family under the Tojo conglomerate, instead, Kiryu is sentenced to ten years in prison and exile from his yakuza life, both fairly tame punishments given his crime. Yakuza Kiwami opens with long running series protagonist Kiryu Kazuma taking the fall for the murder of his Yakuza patriarch at the hands of his sworn brother, Nishikiyama. Built upon the same engine that powered Yakuza 0, it’s time to see Kamurocho in a modern light in Yakuza Kiwami. To mark this milestone, the Yakuza team decided it was time to revisit Kiryu Kazuma’s first adventure and completely rework it for the current generation.

#YAKUZA KIWAMI MAJIMA OF THE DEAD PSP#

The Yakuza series is finally celebrating its 10th anniversary, having been a part of the PlayStation ecosystem across three platforms (four, if you count the PSP spin-offs).

Yakuza kiwami majima of the dead