Yakuza 4 Review

Stand in front of the mirror and look yourself up and down. Is your finely ironed business-wear smattered with the dried blood of rival crime syndicates? No? Then perhaps Yakuza 4 can fix that for you.

Sega's yearly plunge into the criminal underworld of Japan is back once again and whilst this years model may not stray too far from the original recipe of face grinding and neck snapping - it's a well crafted addition to a solid series.

Set in the red light district of Kamurocho, a fictional town in Tokyo, Yakuza 4 presents a gritty and authentically Japanese portrayal of Japan's criminal underworld. During the course of the story the player is introduced to four strikingly different characters who's paths become intertwined after a string of murders and revelations of corruption that's embedded deep in the Yakuza's operations. These are:
Shun Akiyama, a money-lender who can mysteriously charge no interests on his loans.
Taiga Saejima, a convict on the run from the law after being convicted of killing 18 members or a rival yakuza family single handedly
Masayoshi Tanimura, a cop with his own sense of justice seeking answers for the death of his father.
Kiryu Kazuma, Star of the previous titles - the famed 'Dragon of Dojima' and former head of the prestigious yakuza branch known as the Tojo Clan.

First and foremost your enjoyment of this game will largely depend on whether or not you've experienced previous Yakuza titles, namely Yakuza 3. A lot of content is recycled from this previous instalment and not much has been done to expand on the gauntlet that Yakuza 3 threw down. If you enjoyed Yakuza 3 and wouldn't mind playing an extremely similar sequel then this game may very well be for you however. If you're new to the series then this shouldn't be a problem. Newcomers are also welcomed with an introduction to the series, revealing the plot of the previous three Yakuzas and bringing you up to date with a narrated cut-scene laden synopsis. Think of it as like speed-dating, but instead of a forty-something desperate accountant telling you about her cats it's a forty something mob boss telling you all the details of one of the most brutal and chaotic crime organisations on the planet. Also you don't have to buy him dinner.

In regards to gameplay, Yakuza's combat stands out as its most engrossing feature. I don't know about you, but I've always felt members of the Japanese mafia have too many teeth. This game is willing to change that. The player can perform brutal combos on swarms of mindless thugs easily and in style. Most importantly combat is handled  in a manner that's completely satisfying. You may get a sick sense of fulfilment from throwing a lit cigarette into the eyes of an arrogant ragamuffin, but that doesn't make you a bad person. Right? As you progress you'll also gain experience that can be used to obtain a number of unlockable combat techniques for each character, most of which involve some variation of stomping your opponents face into the ground with your foot. However, though combat is ultimately an enjoyable experience it may grow tedious as the player is forced into street fights every few seconds whilst going about their daily business. There are apparently a lot of people who don't like you in Tokyo and they aren't afraid to show it. Don't worry though, I think you're lovely. Sometimes.

There are actual batting cages in Kamorucho but batting thugs is far better.

 Though players are given the option of roaming around town to do as they please Yakuza is mainly a story driven game and it is this that can be seen as a double-edged sword. Whilst many of the characters are charming and likeable the story is somewhat convoluted. For example, often rival families will have grudges against each other but you wont necessarily be able to tell what families derive from which clan and which clan is led by who. Whilst there is an option to bring up a chart showing how each character is connected from the menu this doesn't excuse the fact that some revelations in the plot can leave you confused as to what just happened. Especially later in the game. There are however some stand-alone moments in the story that are really powerful and though the plot can cause confusion story-telling is consistently dramatic.

The way in which the story is presented is also simultaneously both a strong and weak point in Yakuza - often the game will switch between fully voiced (entirely in Japanese) cut scenes, which are rendered superbly, to voiceless text-box orientated scenes with canned animations. Sometimes the switch is seemingly random as well, with conversations starting off in cut scenes - switching to in game silent models - then going back into cut scenes. Scrolling through boxes of text waiting for the next portion of gameplay also subtracts from the pacing of more dramatic moments.

Pacing in general can be seen as an issue for Yakuza in fact, the player is given a plethora of different side-quests and mini-games but the urgency of the story never really makes it feel like you should take the time out to enjoy them. The fact that you can spend hours singing Karaoke when you're meant to be running to save someone in dire need can take away from the engrossing nature of the story. However, the variety and sheer amount of things to do in Tokyo's pleasure district is one of the games strongest assets. The player can visit gambling halls, restaurants, massage parlous, golf courses, hostess bars and arcades (to name just a few) and engage in copious amounts of activities. Some side-quests can be a bit tedious as you progress however, as most them culminate in brawl with generic thugs, the same generic thugs that you have been beating up for the entire game. None the less the city of Kamurocho feels bustling and alive with so many things to do. So put on your best shoes and paint the town red. With the blood of your enemies. Actually, it's probably best not to wear your best shoes for that.

Yakuza 4 delivers an odd package, it manages to portray a gritty and authentic portrayal of Japanese culture and crime whilst maintaining an aura of the surreal humour that Japan is known for. Whilst the story may be hard to follow you're sure to be drawn in by likeable characters and satisfying combat, and with so much to do in Kamurocho you'll be able to play for hours on end and lose yourself in it's world.