Yakuza Kiwami Review for Switch – A Flawless Comeback to Kamurocho

Yakuza Kiwami has finally made its way to the Nintendo Switch, allowing fans to enjoy Kiryu Kazama’s first adventure on a portable device. As one of my favorite titles and a remarkable reimagining of the original PlayStation 2 game, it brings significant quality-of-life improvements to the table. Considering the game’s mature and violent themes, I was initially surprised to see it released on the Switch, but here we are!

The pressing question, however, is how well does Yakuza Kiwami perform on the Nintendo Switch? Over the last few weeks, I’ve immersed myself in the vibrant streets of Kamurocho, engaging in combat while helping everyday citizens navigate their struggles. Despite a few minor hiccups, I am overall quite satisfied with its gameplay on the handheld console.

Experience Kiryu’s Journey on the Nintendo Switch

Yakuza Kiwami chronicles the origins of Kiryu Kazuma and his entanglement in the Ten Billion Yen incident. While we won’t divulge major plot points, the storyline is a captivating mix of drama, heartache, and tragedy, complemented by humorous sub-stories that balance the narrative.

Set primarily in 2005, newcomers to the series will encounter plenty of nostalgic elements. That’s what I appreciate about the Yakuza franchise – it serves as a time capsule of its respective era. With each new release focusing on a distinct year, players witness the evolution of Kamurocho, which draws inspiration from Tokyo’s real-life Kabukicho district.

If you’re a newcomer to the Yakuza series and own a Nintendo Switch, this is the perfect opportunity to jump in. Yakuza Kiwami delivers an unforgettable narrative filled with extreme highs and lows, providing an emotional ride that few games can rival. But how does it fare in terms of gameplay on the Switch?

Loading Times and Gameplay Performance on Switch

When I first launched Yakuza Kiwami on the Nintendo Switch, I was concerned about loading times. The initial loading screen took longer than expected. However, much to my relief, that was an isolated incident. All subsequent loading screens were quick and snappy.

If you’re anticipating 4K resolution at 60 FPS, you might be let down—after all, it’s a Nintendo Switch. The game runs smoothly at about 30 FPS, providing a solid experience.

I thoroughly tested Yakuza Kiwami, throwing Kiryu into numerous fights and scenarios with multiple characters on screen all at once. I only noted a couple of very minor frame rate drops during the initial stages. Performance-wise, the game ran exceptionally well on the Nintendo Switch, regardless of whether I used docked or handheld mode. While I mostly played through a capture card on my monitor, I did also enjoy some gaming sessions in handheld mode.

No matter if I was decimating foes in a fiery Coliseum or taking down wannabe thugs in Nakamichi Alley with a neon sign, I encountered no significant lag or crashes.

A Diverse Range of Activities in Yakuza Kiwami

For those unfamiliar with Yakuza Kiwami, prepare for an array of activities that extend beyond the gripping main storyline. Kiryu can engage in a multitude of side activities—like collecting Locker Keys for rewards or gathering MesuKing cards to participate in a captivating “Rock Paper Scissors” arcade game.

Pocket Circuit racing is also available, allowing you to customize and race small cars on tracks—along with Karaoke, although I find the karaoke mechanics in Yakuza 0 and Kiwami somewhat lacking. The introduction of a single line system for notes in Kiwami 2 was a game-changing improvement.

Kamurocho is a sprawling urban landscape filled with activities to explore. Whether you’re in the mood to visit a cabaret club, go bowling, or try your hand at the batting cages, there’s an abundance to discover.

A feature not present in the PlayStation 2 version is the “Majima Everywhere”system, which has Majima popping up in outrageous locations, all in pursuit of an exhilarating showdown with Kiryu. He can surprise you in the most unexpected places, from spinning on stripper poles to hiding behind traffic cones, making for hilariously entertaining encounters.

Visually, Yakuza Kiwami shines on the Nintendo Switch when played in handheld mode, delivering sharp graphics. However, some players may notice slight blurriness when docked. While my capture card had minimal issues, I did see some graphical lag during instances with numerous on-screen characters.

This problem was also present during Kiwami’s original release on PC, where players had options to tweak graphical settings. Unfortunately, the Switch version lacks such features.

All cutscenes are visually impressive regardless of the mode, although idling in Kamurocho may lead to minor blurriness around NPCs. Nevertheless, it’s not a detrimental experience; everything remains legible, merely lacking in 1080p or 4K clarity. The audio presentation is top-notch, as expected from Yakuza Kiwami.

Final Thoughts

Playing this title on the Nintendo Switch exceeded my expectations. While it doesn’t quite measure up to the experience on my PS5 or PC, I didn’t anticipate that level of quality. I was simply hoping for smooth gameplay, good visuals, and manageable loading times, all of which Yakuza Kiwami delivered.

It had been years since my last playthrough of Yakuza Kiwami, making my return a delightful journey filled with emotional highs and lows. Whether it’s battling diverse enemies, racing Pocket Racers, or engaging in MesuKing, there’s an abundance of joy to be found here. Even veterans of the series will find something to appreciate in the Switch edition.

Yakuza Kiwami

Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch

Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch (Code provided by SEGA)

Release Date: October 24, 2024 (original release: January 21, 2016)

Developers: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, SEGA, Lab42

Publisher: SEGA

Source