Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Reviews

Yakuza 6 is an incredible title. While in certain moments it remains so over the top it’s hard to take seriously, Kiryu’s story of evolving as a person despite his sordid history makes for a relatable protagonist. Knowing that a real member of the Yakuza has played a game in the series and found it to be more accurate than he anticipated just adds to the authenticity of Yakuza as a title. Every part of the game was a delightful surprise and I’ve found myself absolutely addicted to the game, even post-story. Every time I come back to Yakuza 6, I find something else absolutely charming about it.

Yakuza 6 has some teething troubles with the new game engine, mostly in combat, but it still runs well on the Steam Deck

If you’ve spent hundreds of hours with Kazuma Kiryu over the years, then the conclusion to his sprawling arc in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life won’t disappoint. And if you haven’t played a Yakuza game before, you’ll still get a whole lot out of this. Yakuza 6 is a sensational game.

Yakuza 6 is an excellent final chapter for Kiryu, and it runs wonderfully on PC.

Back when I first covered Yakuza 6: The Song of Life on PS4, I found it to be a worthy swan-song for one of gaming’s most badass antiheroes. And now, 2 years later I’ve been pulled back in to Kiryu’s world one last time for the Xbox version and with all due respect to current series protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, it’s been a great homecoming.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life looks and feels like the next-gen Yakuza that we've been waiting for. Taking the developer's Dragon Engine out for its first drive, this is the sixth (or seventh, if you count the fantastic Yakuza 0) mainline entry in SEGA's crime drama action role-playing game series, and it's bloody brilliant. The much needed lick of paint makes fictional red light district Kamurocho feel more real than ever before. The countless neon lights reflect in pavement puddles, and bustling crowds sweep across the streets looking for their next fix of adult entertainment. It's glorious.

Ultimately, I walked away from Yakuza 6 feeling good about the direction it went in. Like previous releases, it’s densely presented and has a tendency to hook you in pretty quickly with everything it brings to the table. From the serious plotline to the usual avalanche of side activities, I can definitely say that this is one swan song that pulls its weight and is easy to recommend. Not only does it stay true to what people love about these titles, but it’s a goodbye to one of the most ...

Sega's long-running open world organized crime series finally has a new sequel. Kazuma Kiryu is back but this time around, he's more interested in protecting his actual family instead of his crime family. However, that doesn't mean that he forgot how to kick ass!

Ryū ga Gotoku (like a dragon) is a phenomenon in Japan. Although in the west we simply know the series as Yakuza. I’ve had the opportunity to play the latest game in the series, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, from end to end. And whilst I have a lot of thoughts to share, we should first cover some background details. Much like how Sonic defined Sega throughout the 90’s, Yakuza is beginning to feel like the new flagship franchise for the 2000’s and beyond. For those that have not played it...

Kazuma Kiryu's story finally comes to a close, though there's still time for him to get an additional family member. Are his adventures in babysitting worth the wait?

A masterpiece in terms of storytelling, Yakuza 6 is the most fitting sunset to the Kazuma Kiryu saga. Every little feature of Yakuza 6 is enjoyable from beginning to end, and it seems like the team made a point not to make the game feel slow in any way, even with the amount of exposition that this game has. There are moments where you’ll laugh your head off and others where you’ll be held in suspense, but it keeps it fresh throughout the game. Even the mini-games and sub-stories keep you coming back, increasing the replay value.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life’s gripping and emotional storyline delivers on all levels while being set in a beautiful looking game that takes a few steps back in some places.

Yakuza 6 is a beast of a game, and it sends Kiryu off in style. The graphical upgrades are mouth-watering, and the seamless interior exploration makes an already immersive world even more engrossing. Combat feels very different from any other Yakuza game, and while it’s a little sluggish and unsatisfying at first, upgrades and stat buffs help make Kiryu feel like as much of a bruiser as he’s always been. While some important side-characters don’t get their moment in the sunset here, Kiryu Kazuma gets one last heart-breaking journey that parallels the highs and lows of his previous adventures. Kiryu may be gone, but with a new engine and flashy new combat, the Yakuza series is nowhere close to going away.

If you were to tell me even three years ago that I’d finally get to play another Yakuza title in English, I would’ve told you to stop getting my hopes up. As a slice of life in modern Japan with a crime storyline running through each story, the Yakuza series has grown to be among one of my favorite RPG series to be released on the PlayStation. Unfortunately, new releases in the trials and tribulations of Kazuma Kiryu were often delayed or simply never localized into a language I could understand (Yakuza Kenzan! still eludes an English release). Whether by lack of word of mouth and advertising, the sales figures just weren’t there for the first seven titles. It wasn’t until Sony’s Gio Corsi announced a proper localization of Yakuza 5 that hopes were renewed for taking a deeper look into Kiryu’s life. The past dozen years have woven a narrative unlike any other JRPG that’s come before it and it’s all coming down to a final wrap in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life wraps up the story of Kazuma Kiryu with the same sense of style and attention to quality the series has always maintained. By alternating erratically between deadly serious crime stories, and wildly goofball side activities, Yakuza strikes an entertaining sweet spot that few other series manage. Players should set aside a lot of time before engaging with Yakuza, because like the mob, this is a game that will keep pulling you back in.

The Yakuza franchise is a much-beloved series of games that explore the darker sides of the Yakuza, whilst simultaneously introducing players to the lively and colorful culture of the East. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life builds on every asset of the franchise, and improves it without sacrificing the games character and individuality. Whether you're a first-time player or a long-time veteran, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is arguably the greatest Yakuza game to date.

Debates about whether or not Yakuza 6 is the best game in the franchise will probably rage on for a long time to come- but if nothing else, The Song of Life represents a franchise, a developer, and most of all, a character, at the peak of their talents.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life brings a satisfying end to Kazuma Kiryu's story, but it's not quite the send off I expected. Between its convoluted systems and cut content, it didn't feel like the saga ended with a roar, but with a whimper.

No summary available

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life presents the most detailed virtual chunk of Japan the series has managed to date, and its story provides a satisfying end to the Kazuma Kiryu saga. However, as far as gameplay goes, Yakuza 6 doesn’t make enough of an effort to break new ground, making it weaker overall than last year’s Yakuza Zero. In a way it’s a good place to jump in if you’re new to the series because its overly simplified combat system is easy to learn, but anybody who learns the ropes here might not return for more because they may be burnt out on the repetitive nature of the fights. Series stalwarts, meanwhile, will no doubt be hoping that whatever comes next will feel less like a watered-down retread of what’s come before.

When the issues of a game are minor and stomped on by its greatness.

When the title credits roll, you’ll be hard pressed not to feel bittersweet to know this is the end of Kiryu’s long tale. Where the series goes next is anyone’s guess, but it’s hard to imaging it without our scarlet-shirted protagonist. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is not only a great game, but a fitting closure for the long and turbulent story of Kiryu Kazuma. There’s a reason the Yakuza series is often called Japan’s GTA. You don’t drive cars in Yakuza, but the same sort of soci...

Yakuza 6 is a great game because it's a Yakuza game, but it's not a great Yakuza game. It still has the great brawler action the series is known for, and a tight put together story. However, the tightening of the narrative in no ways makes up for all the great things I missed out on from the previous game.