IGN reviews Yakuza 2

**ShadowLegend** · 09-11-2008, 06:50 PM

Yakuza 2 doesn't really do a whole lot to break from the formula that the original game came up with, which is to say there's a twisty, damned interesting story at the heart of this little beat 'em up. Yes, the game is a fairly straight punchy, kicky affair, but the impact of delivering the kind of story that Yakuza 2 offers can't really be overstated; it transforms a simple little brawler into something more, something teeming with atmosphere and characters that you actually give a crap about. Honestly, when was the last time any beat 'em up did that?

It really is a fantastic story, one that regularly invites themes of honor and respect and good old-fashioned crime drama to the party. Though much of the core game hasn't changed since the previous entry, the way the writers were able to weave together the events of that first outing with a prologue that blows the story out into a decades-wide tale of deception and buried pasts is absolutely fantastic. By going back and tapping the same characters and setting of the first game, but building on it, Yakuza 2 simultaneously gives newcomers something to chew on, but fans of the series will have even more to digest as the story unravels.

It's likely that there will be more than a few of you who do that, too, given the amount of... stuff that's been included in the game. Don't feel like finding out the secrets of that oh so attractive new female cop buddy that Kaz is running around with? Fine, take a break and go chat up some girls at a club -- or better still, become a host yourself and tend to women in search of a little male companionship for a few hours. The game regularly gives you options rather than forcing you down one path, and it really does help thicken up the whole experience.

Plenty of that comes down to the game's absolute insistence on giving anyone playing it plenty of reason to want to get sucked into this world. The characters are wonderfully defined, both in terms of their facial animations and clearly motion-captured actions, and in how they're painted through dialogue and plot reveals. The ambient tracks that play on the streets are pepped with city noise and the din of dozens of conversations happening at once. Even just running down the street packed with people will have you catching bits of conversations -- some of which lead to side quests if you pay attention.

If the graphics are good, however, the audio is superlative. It's been a long, long time since I've heard a game -- let alone a PS2 one -- that paid this much attention to a cinematic-level amount of foley work. Footsteps crunch on gravel, the sound of unscrewing the top off a bottle is crystal clear, ice cubes clink away in glasses, and, of course, the game is delivered entirely in Japanese (and, at times, Korean). It may seem like a bunch of small things, but when a game is as cutscene-driven as this one, it really does make a huge difference. Plus, it's always fun to hear some dude's neck whip back by a huge hit with the complementary sounds of a little celery snapping. The music, too, which threatens to become a little repetitive during fights, is varied enough to include more electronic, industrial sounds right alongside speedy little jazz notes.

Closing Comments

While Yakuza 2 isn't vastly improved or even all that different from the first game (that will likely happen when the PS3 continuation finally hits), but what it does offer is a fantastic story that is actually interesting, sports characters that you can grow to love or hate, and plenty of twists to keep all those disparate parts fresh. Go buy this game. Seriously. SEGA needs to be rewarded for cranking out an experience like this, and doing it on the anniversary of the Dreamcast's launch is just icing on the cake.

8.5 Presentation
Absolutely fantastic stuff, from the cinematic camera angles that actually give some Hollywood flicks competition to the attention to detail in the audio.

9.0 Graphics
It's a solid-looking game, if a little prone to seaming and the odd bit of aliasing, but the atmosphere of running down a neon-lit street teeming with people is undeniable.

9.5 Sound
Absolutely fantastic. Only the music grates, and even then is only for a short time. The rest of the audio is some of the best on the PS2. Yes, really.

8.5 Gameplay
You'd think that caving in Generic Punk with "FART" on His Back #5456773 would get old after the 50th time, but nope, it's just as satisfying to lay waste to a group of enemies.

8.0 Lasting Appeal
There is a TON of stuff here to find, explore and uncover, from the return of locker keys to side quests to just chatting up virtual ladies.

8.5
Great OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/909/909571p2.html

lol tough luck, Nuckles. For the rest of us, though.....this is going to be an amazing game and I can't wait to play it.

**Nuckles87** · 09-11-2008, 07:43 PM

lol tough luck, Nuckles. For the rest of us, though.....this is going to be an amazing game and I can't wait to play it.

What are you going on about? Tough luck? This is the game I've been anticipating.

Is it because they said "it wasn't vastly improved"? Because every preview I've read, including the one on IGN, said the game's battle system has been improved considerably.

In any case, great score. Hopefully this reflects the rest of the media's opinion.

**ShàrkySN** · 09-11-2008, 08:46 PM

Fantastic! Just what I wanted to hear!

I was worried it might get a lower score for being 'dated' but I'm glad they reviewed it as a PS2 game...

**ShadowLegend** · 09-11-2008, 09:45 PM

While Yakuza 2 isn't vastly improved or even all that different from the first game

That was something I thought you'd be concerned with, Nuckles. No complaints here because I thought the 1st game was bloody fantastic...but I'd be interested to see your reaction to part 2.

Anyway, hopefully this will put down for good the BS myth started by some here that the media intentionally underrates Sega games.

This is an 8.5 vs the 8.2 that IGN gave the first game. I'd too be interested to see the media score, although I don't think that's going to be a reality, unfortunately. Yakuza 1 was reviewed by a ****-load of critics (check all the reviews on Metacritic) and so far 2 doesn't have a metacritic or gamerankings page with critics on it....I don't think this will be widely-reviewed, which is too bad because it deserved hype that it was unfortunately denied by its publisher. Hopefully it at least outsells the 1st game.

**Nuckles87** · 09-11-2008, 10:09 PM

That was something I thought you'd be concerned with, Nuckles. No complaints here because I thought the 1st game was bloody fantastic...but I'd be interested to see your reaction to part 2.

I wouldn't know, since I won't have the money to buy it for a few more days. Going by what previews have said about the games IMPROVEMENTS over the first game, I'd I may like it a lot more.

**MadeManG74** · 09-11-2008, 10:30 PM

I may just buy this game and the first over the holiday season, then pick up a PS2 as soon as I have the time to play them all through.

The game sounds really really great! Then I'll have to eventually get a PS3 for the rest :P