The Yakuza game series has a major history with Sony and PlayStation, starting out on the PS2 with its original release and continuing on all the way through the upcoming PS5 version of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Sony played a part in bringing the later Yakuza games to the West when its popularity was relatively low outside of Japan, further cementing the partnership with the developer. However, this has left much of the gaming community out in the cold, as the games were originally limited to PlayStation consoles. Things are changing, though, and this includes the release of the Yakuza Remastered Collection for Xbox consoles and PCs.
The Yakuza Remastered Collection, which was previously released on PS4, features Yakuza 3, 4, and 5, making up the mid-point in the long-running story of Kazuma Kiryu. The three games, which originally launched on the PS3, have been remastered with improved textures, and are now playable in 1080p on the Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PCs.
For those not in the know, the Yakuza series is in a bit of an unusual place when it comes to touching up the series classics. Yakuza Kiwami 1 and Kiwami 2 are full remakes of the original two games of the series, with Yakuza 3 directly following the events of Yakuza 2/Yakuza Kiwami 2. While the first two entries (which originally premiered on the PS2) have been given the remake treatment, the PS3 titles have been remastered, instead.
All three of the Yakuza Remastered games feature the series’ traditional beat ’em up formula. Players engage in random fights on the street as well as intense boss battles using everything from the playable character’s fists to acquired weaponry to random objects located in the area. While all three games feature Kiryu as a playable character, Yakuza 4 and 5 also introduce additional playable cast members, which should help to keep the formula fresh for players who are experiencing the entire series for the first time.
The performance of all three games is remarkably smooth. Loading times are relatively short, though there is a slight delay in engaging in fights in all three titles. Despite the increasing ages of the titles, the three games all manage to produce some cinematics that still look impressive, as does the gameplay in Yakuza 4 and 5. However, there may be some basic barriers to entry for new fans of the series that are coming from either Yakuza Kiwami 2 or Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Yakuza 3, the first title of the collection, is the most obviously aged. The original launch was back in 2009, just over two years into the PS3’s life cycle. As one might expect, in comparison to the most recent beat ’em up mechanics featured in Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza 3 is a fairly rigid experience, with stiffer animations, some dated visuals, and clunkier fighting mechanics. Gamers who have played Yakuza Kiwami 2 (or even the PS2 original version) should be at home being dropped right into the events following that game, but those who have only tried Yakuza: Like a Dragon are highly encouraged to continue the Yakuza experience with the series elsewhere to not only see what was produced during the PS4 era, but to get a better sense of the overall story, as Yakuza 3 doesn’t provide much of a recap as to the events of the prior games.
Yakuza 4 and 5, on the other hand, offer a slightly more modern gaming experience and are less obviously aged, as the development team took further advantage of what the PS3 could do as the years went on. Fans who push through Yakuza 3‘s older beat-’em-up gameplay style should feel more at home in these two games. Combat is faster and more fluid, and the presence of multiple playable characters provides a bit of variety after playing solely as Kiryu for the first 3 games of the franchise.
The Yakuza Remastered Collection looks incredibly smooth thanks to running in 60 FPS, whether simply roaming a town or engaging in combat, and the overall world still looks quite good. However, this is ultimately a graphical remaster, and not one that seeks to adjust or alter the gameplay. Certain quality of life improvements that have come to the series over the years, like the ability to view a dynamic map with waypoints and saving the game via the character’s cellphone are not present in these titles.
With that said, fans of the series who have come to appreciate the characters and ongoing storyline of Kazuma Kiryu are likely to find enough here to remain thoroughly engaged. While it’s clear that the visuals and gameplay of the series have been further refined over time since these three games initially released, the stories, voice acting, and music are excellent, and in keeping with what fans have come to expect, regardless of which game they started out with.
Players who have previously played the original PS3 releases of these Yakuza games may also find something to enjoy here. Some content that was previously cut from the original western releases has been restored to the Remastered version. All three games also feature a refined translated script, though there is no English dub available as with later games in the franchise.
The Yakuza Remastered Collection also has no shortage of odd and amusing side quests and features scores of optional mini-games, as with the other more recent series entries. Players can, if they so choose, breeze past the majority of these. While many side quests open up new abilities, items, and money that can be helpful, they’re also not a necessity to enjoying the main story. Players who are already fond of the series’ formula, however, are likely to enjoy these additions, as they provide levity, while the main stories tend to be wrought with drama and conflict.
Though rumors still abound regarding the potential development of a full-fledged Yakuza 3 remake with Yakuza Kiwami 3, no official confirmation or even hints have been provided by the development studio that the game is being worked on or is even planned, though the next Yakuza is in development. For now, at least, this is the best place for gamers to continue the story from Yakuza Kiwami 2 or Yakuza 2. While those who have grown accustomed to – or only experienced – the graphical capabilities of the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S generations will need to keep an open mind and may take some time to adjust, the Yakuza Remastered Collection ultimately offers a polished and enjoyable experience that series fans shouldn’t skip out on.
The Yakuza Remastered Collection is available now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided with an Xbox One code for this review.
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