Customer Reviews

Yakuza 2

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When Sega's Yakuza for the PS2 finally came stateside a while back, it offered up a decently entertaining brawler at best that just didn't do too much to seperate itself from the rest of the pack. Yakuza 2 thankfully, and surprisingly, improves on much of what the first game offered in terms of gameplay, graphics, and story; and is a pretty satisfying brawler that will keep you entertained for some time. Playing once again as Kazuma, you traverse through a nicely detailed Japan, and are still looking to put an end to your days with the mob. The game looks solid for a late-in-life PS2 game, offering up some nicely detailed characters and environments, while gameplay-wise the moments of brawling are easy enough to pick up and get into, and other elements bear more in common with the gameplay of the classic Shenmue. There's a lot of secrets and extras to find and uncover as well, and as a whole, Yakuza 2 will keep you busy for a while at the very least. The game's story is also nicely crafted, and offers up some memorable moments and characters. The only real flaws with Yakuza 2 is that there isn't too much here you haven't seen done before, and while for a PS2 game it looks great, there are some noticeable graphical hiccups. Flaws aside however, Yakuza 2 is a surprisingly good improvement on the first game that ends up being an enjoyable and even more surprisingly immersive experience that PS2 owners should definitely check out.

Yakuza 2 is a fantastic game, and it's really a shame it has taken so long for Sega to bring this to the US.

The story follows ex-yakuza Kazuma Kiryu as he tries to prevent an all-out clan war between his old clan, the Tojo and their rivals, The Omi. Throw in a bit of Korean mafia and you've got yourself a thrilling asian gangster story. To make things even better, the combat (of which you'll be doing a lot) is incredibly brutal and satisfying. This is really the meat of the game, although you'll have lots of sidequests and minigames (golf, arcade games, hostess club, etc) to partake in if you feel up to it.

The world itself where the game is set is based upon real locations, such as Tokyo and Osaka and it looks and feels great. The areas are very populated with people carrying out their own tasks and having their own conversations. The environmental detail seems only hampered by the power of the hardware.

Over all, I'd say this is a definite purchase if you're the slightest bit interested in brawling games, RPGs or Japanese crime stories. We're all hoping Yakuza 3 will be coming for PS3 to us in the West at some point, but for now this is the closest we can get, and it's worth every penny.

This game is in essence one of the greatest gems of Sega. It's one of those games that you never hear about, but once you play it, you're happy that you gave it a chance.

A direct sequel to Yakuza, this follows the story of Kazuma Kiryu once again as he takes on Korean mafia members.

Although this is an amazing brawler with tons of fun extras and gameplay, this is NOT your typical beat'em up. Yakuza 2 has a very deep story with tons of intricate relationships between a multitude of characters. Some characters are reappearing from the first game (Majima, Haruka, Date, etc.) and there are alot of newer characters as well.

Pros:
1) The gameplay is definitely revamped and the fighting system is alot smoother than before. No longer do you have to deal with clunky battle mechanics and you can truly enjoy the fights. Plus there are newer finisher and grappling moves with even more weapons at your disposal (but my favorite is still around: the caution cone. lol)

2) The story stays true to everything set out in the first game but also expands and introduces new elements to keep the whole experience fresh.

3) The environments are both familiar and new. The city of Kamurocho is the main setting once again but Kiryu visits two more lush and complex cities with plenty of side missions and mini-games to play.

4) Re-play value is way up for this one. This game isn't over as soon as you complete the story because there are tons of side-missions and mini-games to play within the actual game.

Cons:
1) To some, the story can be a little long-winded or confusing. While the game does have an optional "flashback" in the begininning to explain the events of the first game, playing the first Yakuza truly does help you understand everything that's going on in this one.

2) Although this was a plus for me, some may not like that the game only has the Japanese dialogue with English subtitles. There is no English dub for this game.

Altogether Yakuza 2 is everything you'd expect from a sequel and more. To anyone with any interests in Japanese culture or just a genuinely good game, Yakuza 2 is definitely worth a look.

The Yakuza games are probably the most underrated games of all-time (much like it's maker, Sega). This game has great graphics, fantastic control & a really great story that keeps you playing. I haven't had this much fun playing a game since the Metal Gear Solid on the PS1. Get Yakuza 1 & 2 on the PS2. You'll be hooked and won't be able to resist getting a PS3 for Yakuza 3&4. It really is that good.

Here's the catch. Buy this game at Gamestop. I picked up Yakuza for $7.99 & Yakuza 2 for $19.99. You can get them cheaper than that if you have a gamestop card. Trust me, I'm not a big fan of Gamestop, but I hate getting ripped-off worse. I wish Amazon would do research on it's marketplace seller's and put an end to screw-jobs such as seller's like this. $50 to $100 for $20 games? Seriously??????

The first one was a classic, and this sequel is just as good story-wise, but it has a better and faster fighting game system. Although, I prefer subs over dubs, I miss the amusing dub from part 1.

...if you know certain things. This one is in Japanese, compared to the first one, which came in English. I don't mind-I'm learning Japanese, so it sits well with me. Not to mention that in pretty much every translated piece of media you come across, there will be numerous mistakes or inadequacies. The subtitles are fine, don't get me wrong. But there's always little cultural things that can't quite be translated...which wasn't a problem for me, since I'm learning the language. I actually found that part to be quite fun.

I always love the story lines of games like these. I played and loved the first one...but the cool thing is, you don't HAVE to play the first one to understand this one. The beginning has a nice, optional flashback. That way, you can see what happened in the last game without playing it. Though, I'd say you should play it anyway, cause it rocked.

The gameplay is a bit better in this one. Kazuma is faster and has more cool moves. The item system is the same, but there's a new batch to try out. And, as a cool bonus, if you have Yakuza data from the first game on your memory card(not sure if you had to beat it or not. I did several times) you get a cool bonus item!

The storyline seems pretty cool so far. I always feel so bad for Kazuma...he's always stuck helping these people. He feels obligated even though he isn't. He always gets mixed up in it! It makes me think of Die Hard...just the wrong guy, at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Yikes. So far there's no Haruka to follow you around because she goes elsewhere. So at least that's one less thing to worry about...for now. She may appear. I mean, c'mon. Where she went is no secret. Take a guess. Honestly. This plot involves other cultures, too. Korean being a major one. I think that's pretty cool, too. I dipped my toes into Korean because I was watching one of their TV dramas-it was really good! Darn good story lines...they just suck you in...

If you liked the first Yakuza, there is even more to love in the second. If you are new to the series, give it a shot. There are few games that manage to transport you to a time, place, and into a character so well as Yakuza 2. You are the main character, a bad but honorable gangster fighting for what he believes in. You are in Japan, roaming the streets, shopping, and visiting the entertainment district. All that is missing is the smell of stale cigarette smoke. You are a kick behind fighter, using your fists and objects lying in the street to do brutal damage to those who are foolish enough to a)mess with you or b)mess with your friends or c)mess with the weak under your protection.

First thing's first: Yakuza is not a "Japanese GTA clone." Just because there's a GPS radar does not mean it is a GTA clone. If anything, its more along the lines of River City Ransom, except more adult (and not necessarily in a sexual way). One could even say that its an action-RPG (role playing game), as it has random encounters, stats, and character building.

The Yakuza series is really meant for the older crowd, or just anyone who enjoys a good gangster/mafia/cop story. The protagonist is Kazuma Kiryu, a former Yakuza member, and a man of complete integrity and badass-ness. The story follows the previous entry, which you can get caught up on in-game, as there's an entire flashback sequence that you can either watch or skip. The story begins with Kiryu and Haruka, his more-or-less adopted daughter, visiting a cemetery, only to eventually get caught up in a mafia war that spans two decades between the "Jinguon" Korean mafia and the Tojo yakuza clan. Crime drama intrigue ensues.

Its definitely a series to pick up and check out for anyone who wants something different out of their games, instead of the same old juvenile and/or satirical games. Its also worth mentioning that its worth checking out the first game before getting this, as I personally find the story in the first game to be a little better, but some disagree. This game only features Japanese dialogue with English subtitles, while the first entry was completely dubbed in English.

Any fan of the original Yakuza (PS2, 2006) will be happy with this worthy sequel. Any one who missed out on that phenomenal Shenmue-esque adventure should purchase it alongside this original while supplies last, which they won't for long. Support the games and developers you love!

If you liked God of War, Grand Theft Auto, and you are into Japanese culture, then this is the perfect game for you. Yakuza 2 has a Very rare combination of sensational graphics and gameplay; ESPECIALLY for the Playstation 2. You can do pretty much anything in Yakuza 2 that you could actually do in the streets of japan. and just like being in the metro of tokyo. Money is everything, and you can spend a million yen in a single night.The Story of the game involves a lot of hand-to-hand combat, but also features the use of knives, katanas, and the occasional gun. But like i said, the more exciting part of the game is just walking the streets. You can do anything from bowl with a friend, to own your own club, from gambling the night away at blackjack to getting druck at the local bar. Another cool thing about bars in yakuza is that they sell actual brands of the real world. Caption, Jose, SmirNov, Danials, you name it, and the cool thing is eating and drinking gives you experince points. The only constructive critisism i could give would be the camera system. Its for the most part, a stationary camera. If you have ever played Fatal Frame, or any other authentic japanese videogame, you know exactly what im talking about. However, I cant really describe how good this game really is without actually getting you to play it. So what are you waiting for? Pick up a copy of Yakuza 2 and get lost in the culture and life of japan.