Summary
- Yakuza Kiwami revamped an outdated classic, offering a modernized experience for fans.
- New items like the Locker Key Watcher make gameplay more intuitive and enjoyable.
- Accessories like the Hercules Gloves enhance combat mechanics, making it easier to control and punish enemies.
Yakuza Kiwami lets players jump into an adventure in the series that was in dire need of an overhaul. While the original game has its charms, there's no denying that the dated gameplay and a lack of familiar Yakuza elements meant that RGG Studio would always be in the right if they decided to give this game the remake treatment it deserved.
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With a suite of new items, features, and gameplay elements that do a great job of modernizing the experience, it's easy to see why Yakuza Kiwami should be held in high regard as one of the best games in the series and a perfect entry point for fans who want to follow the series' plotline based on their release dates as opposed to plot chronology. As players explore Kamurocho, they'll get their hands on some valuable items that do a great job of helping players customize Kiryu in their image.
1 Locker Key Watcher
Let's Players Know When They're Near A Locker Key
- Cost: 3 CP
- Where to Find: Shrine
The lockers in Kamurocho house a bunch of impressive equipment and items, compelling players to keep an eye out on anything that's twinkling in the city. However, there are only so many locker keys players can find using their senses before they need something to nudge them in the right direction.
The Locker Key Watcher is a perfect accessory for players who don't want the act of locker key hunting to become too much of a headache. If players are in the general vicinity of a key, then this accessory starts pinging. It's a simple and great way for players to avoid the hassle of having to pick out every locker key without a sixth sense of sorts.
2 Card Watcher
Let's Players Know When They're Near A MesuKing Card
- Cost: 5 CP
- Where to Find: Shrine
The female wrestling matches that players could gamble on in Yakuza 0 were a fun distraction, but they didn't feel all that fleshed out. This changed in Yakuza Kiwami by using the framework of this auto-battling system and integrating it with a card collection minigame to make for a delightful combination.
MesuKing is a great side activity for players to be invested in, especially if they find some powerful cards scattered around in Kamurocho. The Card Watcher accessory makes this hunt easier, and players will sport a deck of strong fighters in no time with this item equipped.
3 Collateral Damage Belt
Enemies Also Fall If They Knock Kiryu Down
- Cost: N/A
- Where to Find: Gambling Hall
There's nothing more frustrating than watching Kiryu fall after an enemy lands a lucky combo or a large foe imposes his presence. However, these enemies can be punished with an accessory that makes them topple over too for daring to humiliate the Dragon of Dojima.
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It's funny to see enemies flail helplessly on the ground after landing a major blow on Kiryu, preventing them from taking advantage of the player's vulnerability. It may be a pain to go through the Gambling Hall to gain the Collateral Damage Belt, but it's well worth the effort once Kiryu can make the most of its special effect in combat.
4 Stone Of Enduring
Kiryu Survives A Fatal Blow With 1 Health Remaining
- Cost: 30,000 Coliseum Points
- Where to Find: Substory #47 (Crisis on the Crapper), Locker G5, and the Coliseum Shop
With the sheer amount of restoratives at a player's behest, it's easy to see why one wouldn't care about an accessory that saves them from the brink of death. However, it's always possible for players to not pay attention to Kiryu's health bar in combat, making for an embarrassing occasion when the Dragon falls in combat to some unworthy mooks.
This can be avoided with the Stone of Enduring, an accessory that breaks after Kiryu's health is depleted and lets him survive with 1 HP. It's a warning call to the protagonist that gives them one final chance to heal up before dying a humiliating death.
5 Goddess Of Children Amulet
Enemies Don't Rush Kiryu
- Cost: 1,000 CP
- Where to Find: Substory #42 (The Cell Phone Plan) and the Coliseum Shop
Most people may assume that Yakuza Kiwami is as easy as they come, but these people will be singing a different tune after being mobbed by a truckload of enemies. It becomes incredibly frustrating to try and get a hit in when enemies are constantly landing cheap shots and combos on Kiryu.
Players who don't want to succumb to the numbers game can use a simple accessory that does a great job of quelling an enemy's rage. Now, Kiryu has all the time in the world to try out new combos and build up enough Heat to take out multiple enemies in one fell swoop.
6 Hercules Gloves
Enemies Find It Harder To Escape A Grab
- Cost: N/A
- Where to Find: Gambling Hall
Grabs are integral to Yakuza's combat, letting players engage in effective crowd control and unleash powerful Heat Actions from this position. This makes it important to find ways to prolong these grabs so that enemies can be dragged into position and punished.
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The Hercules Gloves can be found after grinding in the Gambling Hall, allowing players to make it easier to grab enemies and manipulate them as players see fit. Given how powerful grabs are in this game, it's easy to see why Kiryu would benefit a ton from this accessory.
7 Sacrifice Stone
Kiryu Survives A Fatal Blow And Restores Full Health
- Cost: N/A
- Where to Find: Substory #24 (Prodigal Son) and Locker B1
One of the rarest and most valuable accessories in the game, players who want an edge against a particularly tough opponent should come equipped with the Sacrifice Stone. It's an item that one should use sparingly, given that it breaks after use.
If players drop to zero health, then this accessory will restore Kiryu in combat at once with full vitality. It's an incredible item that allows players to weather the storm of particularly tough bosses and catch them off-guard with an impressive Second Wind.
8 War God Talisman
Passive Heat Regeneration
- Cost: N/A
- Where to Find: Complete all Ultimate Battles from the Climax Battles section
The best accessory in Yakuza Kiwami is the one that lets players enjoy a huge benefit in combat. Such is the case with the War God Talisman, which allows players to generate Heat in combat without having to remain active and expose themselves to enemy attacks.
This means that players are never going to experience a situation where their Heat is depleting after being too passive in combat. However, acquiring this accessory is easier said than done, since players have to endure some tough fights in the Climax Battles section before unlocking this item.
Yakuza Kiwami
- Released
- August 29, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
