Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

Yakuza 6 serves as the conclusion to the main Yakuza story, and man does it show. This game feels more like a movie with how cinematic it is, which I personally don't mind but some scenes do go on for quite a bit. After playing through Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5, it is very satisfying going back to just playing as Kiryu alone through this story. Graphically it's a huge step up from Yakuza 5, and the game is extremely pretty and gorgeous to look at. The combat feels a bit slower than previous games since this is a new engine, but it's satisfying nonetheless. And since this is a new engine, mechanically it's a massive improvement from previous games, as you can now save wherever and enter buildings without load screens. The minigames are fun, and compared to Yakuza 5 it doesn't feel bloated at all. Very emotional game overall, and it was satisfying going through the end and seeing all the characters we've come to love across the other games have some form of closure in regards to their goals ...

As a long time Like A Dragon/ Yakuza fan, to go back and play the finale of Kiryus story and see it come to a head was a emotional ride. Villians were great, stakes were great, 10/10 would have a little cry again.

Eh, boring story I can't be bothered to finish

Yakuza 6 is easily the weakest game in the series. combining the worst parts of the previous games, like the block spamming enemies from Yakuza 3, and the terrible plot twists from Yakuza 4 and 5. It also has the worst Kamurocho map in the entire series, where one half of the map is blocked off permanently. Like the Purgatory, Champion district, and Park blvd. Which also means all the mini games related to those areas are gone as well. The drug store where you usually go for healing items is also removed for no reason. If you played this series from 0 to 6 at the current day, you already experienced the only good thing in here way back in Yakuza 2. That being the game's "new" engine.

The suspense, the action and heartbreaking story. All quite a tribute to the legend of Kiryu Kazuma. Mechanics upgrade is really something made the game and fighting really interesting. If you have started from Yakuza 0 then this becomes cherry on top.

[h1]⚔️ [i]Yakuza 6: The Song of Life[/i] - Kiryu's Emotional Odyssey[/h1] [b]What I Played:[/b] I immersed myself in the streets of Kamurocho, diving into Kiryu's quest for truth while beating down thugs and playing arcade games. [b]The Good:[/b] [list] [*]The emotional rollercoaster of Kiryu's final journey hit me hard, man. The storytelling and character arcs were top-notch. [*]The side content is like a surprise bento box - packed with mini-games and sub-stories that never felt stale. [/list] [b]The Bad:[/b] [list] [*]Sometimes the pacing felt like waiting for ramen to cool down - a bit slow, you know? [*]I encountered a couple of glitches that pulled me out of the experience, breaking the immersion. [/list] [b]Verdict:[/b] [b]Recommended[/b] - Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is a moving finale to Kiryu's saga, filled with heart, unforgettable moments, and a boatload of charm. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a newcomer, this game is a must-play for any action-adventure lover.

This is an interesting game, because, thanks to the new engine, in parts, it is a huge step back from the previous two games - a somewhat needed one, even, since those games were great, but felt somewhat bloated at times. Of course, this being a reset content-wise means not everything works perfectly - and some of the experiments done here didn't work that well - but, well, this is the very first "modern yakuza" game, and so much of what is on those games the last few years are introduced here. The combat in particular is both better and worse than the previous games, in different ways. The physics make some things kinda weird, but there are also some good improvements here, and the attacks still feel weighty. The plot is also a classic Yakuza plot, but somewhat more straightforward, due to the focus on one main character. Once again, not a bad thing at all! In the end, this is not my favorite Yakuza game, but it's still a great game!

peak fiction

the real yakuza 6 the song of life was the friends we made along the way

Unfortunately, this is the weakest game in the series. I still recommend it to get familiar with the story if nothing else, but on sale. The new combat is half baked, Onomichi is tiny, and Kamurocho is literally under construction through the entirety of the game. The game suffers from trying to be revolutionary more than evolutionary. Spoilers ahead. For combat, the lock on is at its worst. It never feels reliable. The new fighting style feels unnecessary and variety feels shafted when a lot of heat actions are locked behind Extreme Heat. Not being able to have your own weapons is a major step back. XP orb gains are atrocious and the cycle of Gym -> Eat -> Fight -> Gym with side stories mixed in is far more tedious than just fighting enemies with side stories mixed in for an XP bar. Kiryu needing to go to jail to atone spits in the face of what happened in Yakuza 5 when he was at his lowest in part from not being able to take care of the orphans. For a game that was initially tout...