Yakuza

Play Magazine

A long and riveting story, plenty of freedom and a fantastic battle system have earned it a spot on my all-time Playstation 2 top 10 list. [Sept 2006, p.52]

GameBrink

Unlike 99% of games, in Ryu Ga Gotoku you play as a guy who is pretty much the coolest, most badass, most likeable character in the world. He's the ultra strong guy with a heart of gold; the suave guy whom everyone wants to be friends with. So following Kazuma through his adventure tends to be extremely satisfying since he's such a great character. [JPN Import]

Game Over Online

Despite a few flaws, Yakuza is the most enjoyable game I’ve played all year. It’s got a deep plot that keeps you guessing and features a deeper cast of fleshed-out characters than any other game I can recall.

Gaming Age

Yakuza presents a pretty large storyline, and quite a few lengthy cut scenes. The story is generally straight forward, and most of the “twists” are predictable, but it’s still very enjoyable to work your way thru.

GamePro

The gameplay may be a little convulsive but Yakuza more than makes up for that through engrossing story and attention to details.

Gamezilla!

Yakuza isn’t the cleanest title I’ve ever seen, but it is well executed and fun. I’d call this game an unqualified success.

GameZone

Diving into the Japanese criminal underground in Yakuza makes for an interesting, violent and stylish adventure that blends fighting and exploring a living world a complete joy.

ZTGameDomain

I highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys an incredible story, a good brawler, and isn't upset by load times here and there. The story here is topnotch, the direction and presentation of the story is executed superbly.

Deeko

I still enjoyed this game, for the character development and good storyline kept things interesting. I enjoyed the battles too, though they could have used some variety. It's almost too linear in its presentation, which makes it feel like 95 percent of the game falls under the "beat the hell out of thugs and go from point A to point B" scenario. [JPN Import]

PSM Magazine

With its compelling characters and story, Yakuza is still a remarkable game. [Oct 2006, p.72]

Games Master UK

It should have been slicker, but there's no denying the entertainment value on offer. [Oct 2006, p.76]

1UP

Yakuza is a wonderful foundation for a new fan-favorite series. And as an entry into the ever-growing criminal underground genre, Yakuza is a wholly unique, high-quality package that, while possessing as many flaws as it does triumphs, is a crime drama worth mentioning in the same breath as "The Godfather" (the movie, not the game).

GamerNode

Gamers may become frustrated at the time it takes to travel throughout the city, framerates are jittery at times, and save areas are sometimes too far and too few. In spite of these shortcomings, the tremendous work on the plot of the game is where this title shines.

Pelit (Finland)

A story-driven action game with an extremely dark atmosphere. The storyline is interesting, cutscenes are well made and the city is full of temptations. However, the battles are a bit too repetitive and the camera behaves strangely at times. [Sept 2006]

eToychest

The action comes fast, the plot is exciting, and you couldn’t ask for a better brawler near the end of the PlayStation 2's life cycle.

IGN

Yakuza tells a good story. Not only that, it backs it up with a satisfying combat system and one of the most atmospheric gameworlds so far this year.

PSX Extreme

It’s not a must-play gem due to too many easily noticeable flaws, but Yakuza’s positives greatly outstrip any negatives. And if you’re a fan of a good story, look no further.

Jolt Online Gaming UK

It's a violent, cinematic and mature experience that will keep you hooked, even if the characters do use the word 'f..k' like they’re in a Tarantino film.

Sydney Morning Herald

A captivating, story-driven fighting adventure with great characters, but not everyone will enjoy the violence and repetition.

GamingExcellence

The Japanese culture and rich storyline do a lot to draw players in just like an RPG would. The fighting mechanics are extremely fun and breaking a bicycle on some Yakuza guy’s head never gets old.

Boomtown

If you hanker after some great fights with an equally good story to carry things along then you really can’t pick a better game and it’s one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played on the Playstation 2 this year.

Gamestyle

What we have in Yakuza is a highly effective Japanese gangster story crammed into a PS2 game, and a visually impressive one at that.

GameCritics

Yakuza is the best example I’ve seen in a long time of just how much a great story can elevate a good game.

Eurogamer

Definitely more than the sum of its parts, and a rare case of a game getting there before Hollywood.

DarkStation

Fast unarmed combat system and lush visuals complete the package.

GameTrailers

There’s always something to do and it’s always going to yield action, reward or at least someone with a bad case of Tourettes.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

A very glib way to describe Yakuza in terms of other games would be to say that it's "Shenmue" done right. [Oct. 2006, p.80]

games(TM)

Ultimately, Yakuza should be praised for overreaching, rather than criticized for what it doesn’t achieve. It’s rare to see a game so ambitious in terms of story and scope. [Oct 2006, p.112]

Edge Magazine

For some, Yakuza will feel dangerously dumb, due to its unrefined and relentless combat, but it's just as dangerous to risk overlooking its capacity to be fiercely capable and loveably playful in plenty of other ways, always aiming to provide captivating entertainment. [Oct 2006, p.84]

Games Radar (in-house)

Yakuza's story has the intensity of a page-turner - not surprising, as it was penned by a novelist - and the gameplay backs it up. Kazuma Kiryu's tale is an addictive blend of mystery, suspense and brutal violence.

PSM3 Magazine UK

Some of the collision detection is a bit off and it doesn't have the big-budget heavyweight feel of "GTA," but it's an enjoyable, robust crime yarn. [Oct 2006, p.70]

Play UK

More "Final Fantasy" than "Grand Theft Auto," Yakuza doesn't do exactly what it says on the tin, foregoing the trappings of the sandbox in favour of the more linear nature of the RPG. [Issue 144, p.74]

Armchair Empire

Yakuza is a top notch beat ‘em up with enough extras to flesh out the genre, and breath new life into it for a new generation.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Yakuza delivers a superbly paced, mature, and well-acted narrative in the spirit of classic Japanese gangster flicks. [Oct. 2006, p.112]

Gaming Target

Yakuza’s a thoroughly enjoyable game that carries the burden of the usual flaws. A fighting system hurt by the camera and faulty lock-on, long loading times, and no real innovation.

PALGN

Yakuza is quite a decent game. Several components, especially the voice work let it down and detract from its immersive elements. Had these been improved upon it would have been great.

DailyGame

A good story, decent length and immersive gameplay make the game shine, but lots of loading, vague subquests and camera control hold it back somewhat.

GameSpot

Yakuza vividly portrays modern Japan and its organized crime families, but it pulls its punches before delivering a truly great action game or a completely satisfying story.

Play.tm

It's just a case of proportions - too much storyline and too much random battling - and if we're going down the route of size comparison, hands and shoulders need attention too.

Worth Playing

This game is what the phrase "close, but no cigar" was made for.

PSW Magazine UK

The story can weigh things down, but generally it drives the game along well enough. It's just a shame there isn't more to do in Tokyo itself.

GameSpy

The game has its weak points, and there's nothing strikingly original about the gameplay, but it's definitely an interesting experience for action gamers looking for a unique atmosphere and story.

Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

No threat to "GTA," but it's not meant to be. Instead it's an absorbing role-playing adventure with plenty to keep you busy. [Sept 2006, p.74]

Cheat Code Central

A good game that never seems in danger of being great. It’s like exploring a slice of life in another culture; you’re not quite sure what you’re going to get but you keep trying to get something.

Digital Entertainment News

The battle system had some potential, but is hampered by technical issues.

GameShark

But the core mechanics of Yakuza – fighting and futzing around in this collection of city bits – are simply too disjointed to bear up under the fifteen or so hours it takes to reach the payoff.

G4 TV

If you're a sucker for Japanese gangster cinema, you'll likely be able to forgive Yakuza's many flaws long enough to get caught up in the riveting story line and cast of complex characters. But long before the end, you'll be sick of the repetitive combat that takes up far too much of Yakuza's gameplay time.

VideoGamer

It's just that while being a competent and perfectly enjoyable pick'n'mix of some of the best games of the last 10 years, Yakuza doesn't excel at any aspect it borrows. It isn't greater than the sum of its parts.

Yahoo! Games

Yakuza also features one of the worst stealth-based sequences in all of video game history.

Game Informer

Please, someone put a hit out on this one before it commits more crimes against gaming. [Sept. 2006, p.93]

GamerFeed

Killing bad guys is very boring thanks to the lackluster mechanics, which never evolve past mindless button mashing, and the cheap AI doesn't help matters. I still appreciate Yakuza for what it is, but I can't justify spending $50 for it.

RewiredMind

The attention to detail in Yakuza is extraordinary but the overall effect is like getting everything you wanted for Christmas and not being allowed to play with it.

AceGamez

I'm just supremely disappointed that it failed to capitalize on its intriguing premise.

NTSC-uk

With Yakuza, Sega has once again shown the gaming world that, when it comes to establishing new concepts, they aren’t totally out of their element.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Yakuza’s intricately plotted yarn is so lovingly rendered that sloppy action and shoddy localization only bring moderate dishonor.

Entertainment Weekly

The only things that are shamelessly exposed are the game's feckless fisticuffs.

Game Revolution

Load times slow things down, and long digressive missions and lame mini-games seem to prolong what should be a short, violent romp.

Times Online

Roam around Tokyo, find some bad guys, see some load screens, a couple of cut-scenes, some more load screens, press some buttons in fight mode and so on.