Yakuza 4 Remastered

About

Yakuza 4 Remastered is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and was released on January 28, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Yakuza 4 Remastered" is an action-packed single-player game with a good story, amazing mechanics, and spectacular visuals. Play as multiple protagonists in 1080p and 60fps, experiencing the fourth chapter of Kazuma Kiryu's saga as the fates of four men intertwine in a tale of passion, violence, and human desire. With a wonderful soundtrack, plenty of humor, and emotional depth, this game offers a complete experience with tons of grinding.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,760 reviews

story820 positive mentions

grinding56 negative mentions

story
2,908 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The story of Yakuza 4 is a complex and ambitious narrative that intertwines the arcs of four protagonists—Akiyama, Saejima, Tanimura, and Kiryu—each with their unique backgrounds and fighting styles. While the initial chapters are engaging and filled with intriguing plot twists, many players find the latter half convoluted and riddled with inconsistencies, leading to a mixed reception regarding its coherence and pacing. Overall, the game is seen as an improvement over Yakuza 3, offering a rich character experience despite its narrative flaws.
- “The game starts out slowly but as you progress through the chapters, the pace picks up and the story gets more interesting as it unfolds.”
- “The story picks up about halfway through and the ending was great.”
- “The four protagonists are all unique both in fighting style and personality, and the story is pretty good, though a bit hard to follow and with a lot of unnecessary plot twists.”
- “After playing 0, K1, K2, I am starting to notice a pattern of recycled story beats.”
- “It's like they have to write a worse story with every game.”
- “The story is a convoluted, complicated mess.”
gameplay
674 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
6%
The gameplay in Yakuza 4 is widely regarded as a significant improvement over its predecessor, Yakuza 3, with enhanced mechanics, smoother controls, and the introduction of four distinct playable characters, each offering unique fighting styles. While some players appreciate the variety and depth this brings, others find the pacing and character-switching mechanics can disrupt immersion. Overall, the game is seen as a fun experience, though it retains some dated elements and a mixed reception regarding its story.
- “Yakuza 4 fixes a lot of issues that were in Yakuza 3 and keeps the series gameplay fresh with 4 playable characters, each with their own unique quirks.”
- “The gameplay really starts to improve in this entry to the series, with a significant upgrade from Yakuza 3.”
- “The gameplay is a huge improvement over the previous entry, featuring distinct fighting styles for each character that adds depth and variety.”
- “The game also has obvious laziness to it, as Saejima and Tanimura both have chapters in their story which consist of video clips, except for 30 seconds of gameplay that consists of moving from point A to B and interacting with an object.”
- “The story and core gameplay are a mess, and the final boss segment was so laughable that I lost all immersion entirely.”
- “Yes, I love the characters as much as the last guy, however, when I beat it I wasn't thinking 'wow, what a cool ending!' I was instead thinking, 'I finally beat this game.' If you do want to play the Yakuza series for the story then play this game, if you're playing for the gameplay, I would skip it.”
music
264 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the diverse and memorable soundtrack, particularly highlighting its jazzy elements and character-specific themes. While some tracks are considered standout favorites, such as "Machine Gun Kiss" and "For Faith," a few critics noted that not every song resonates equally, leading to mixed opinions on the overall quality. Overall, the soundtrack is regarded as one of the best in the Yakuza series, enhancing the game's atmosphere and immersion.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic as always, and the gameplay feels much better than Yakuza 3.”
- “I loved the music, some of the best in the series.”
- “The music is the best part of this game, to me.”
- “It's rare you see this but the music is underwhelming, and I feel like it plays a huge part when it comes to immersion.”
- “The soundtrack easily has the most generic and worst soundtrack out of all the other Yakuza games I've played.”
- “Still, the lack of music in most dialogues is still an issue for me.”
graphics
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The graphics in Yakuza 4 Remastered show noticeable improvements over Yakuza 3, with enhanced detail and smoother animations, although they still feel somewhat dated by modern standards. While the visuals are generally praised for their atmospheric qualities, particularly in rainy scenes, some textures and character models remain inconsistent. Overall, the remaster offers a solid graphical upgrade that enhances the experience without completely modernizing the visuals.
- “The graphics look stunning and got a big upgrade since Yakuza 3.”
- “Yakuza 4 remastered is a game that delivers on all fronts: engaging storyline, immersive gameplay, stunning visuals, enhanced graphics, improved combat system, and attention to detail.”
- “The graphical detail everywhere got a huge bump in quality making it all better to look at.”
- “Great game to enjoy casually if you don't mind the aged gameplay and graphics compared to the newer games.”
- “Story is good but gameplay and graphics feel so outdated.”
- “Graphics aren't great, performance is weird at times, there's severe pop-in and culling with the pedestrians, the leveling system is bland and boring.”
humor
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in Yakuza 4 is a mix of absurdity and charm, with players finding joy in the game's over-the-top antics, funny side stories, and memorable characters like Akiyama. While some reviews note that the humor may not reach the heights of previous installments, the game still delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, particularly through its quirky substories and unexpected plot twists. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's entertainment value, making it a delightful experience for fans of the series.
- “What a beautiful and incredibly funny game.”
- “Yakuza 4 has a hilariously bad story that has you sit back and wonder what the hell they were thinking, but it's very entertaining.”
- “The substories littered throughout Kamurocho for each character are funny, wholesome, and each contributes to add personality to Yakuza 4's main casts.”
- “The entire series is just one big unfunny meme.”
emotional
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of Yakuza 4 is a mixed bag, with many players experiencing profound moments that evoke tears and heartfelt connections to the characters, particularly during key scenes involving Saejima and the final boss. However, some critics argue that the emotional impact is inconsistent compared to earlier entries in the series, citing shallow climaxes and plot twists that detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game still manages to deliver memorable and touching moments that resonate with players, making it a compelling, albeit uneven, emotional journey.
- “His death may very well have been the most emotional scene in Yakuza history and drove Kiryu out of hiding knowing such a charitable soul had been extinguished to bait him out.”
- “Although the story ends up being a huge mess, it still has some really incredible and heartfelt moments that are on par with some of the best moments of the series in my opinion.”
- “Yakuza 4 is able to stay emotionally driven to the very end, introducing some really good characters and really bringing a full connection to the first game.”
- “The character Tanimura is incredibly dull, with a personality that fails to engage and a storyline that drags on without any excitement.”
grinding
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
5%
93%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly when juggling multiple characters and completing side quests. While some appreciate the variety of protagonists and the engagement it brings to the story, others feel that the leveling system lacks depth and can lead to a frustrating grind, especially for completionists. Overall, the experience can feel unnecessarily prolonged, detracting from the enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It was tedious, that's all it is.”
- “Each character's part feels too small to fully use each character's moveset properly unless you're willing to complete all the side stuff, which is pretty tedious.”
- “I stopped completing substories halfway through the game because moving around and finding the right spots got extremely tedious.”
optimization
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
46%
18%
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with reports of high CPU usage and various performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, particularly on lower-end hardware. While the graphics have been improved and some players experience stable performance at 60 fps, many still encounter significant bugs and performance problems that detract from the overall experience. Patches and community fixes like the silentpatch may help, but the game remains a mixed bag in terms of optimization.
- “Graphics are great and the game runs smoothly.”
- “The graphics have been overhauled and the performance was also amazing, 60 fps unlike 30 on the original PS3 port.”
- “Edit: definitely not fixed all issues, many are still there, but the main ones, being performance ones, are mostly resolved (check the silentpatch if you want even better performance), and since it is the only way to play Yakuza 4 on PC, it's a playable remaster.”
- “The game isn't as optimized as it could be, and depending on your hardware you might have some high CPU usage.”
- “Horrendous performance with stuttering that makes the game almost unplayable.”
- “Cannot recommend until these issues have been addressed, and patches/fixes have been released that improve the performance.”
character development
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
Character development in Yakuza 4 is a mixed bag, with some protagonists like Saejima receiving meaningful arcs, while others, such as Akiyama, lack depth despite being enjoyable to play. The game attempts to innovate with its multi-protagonist structure, offering unique fighting styles and character interactions, but many players feel that overall character development is insufficient and uneven across the cast. While the story may falter in the latter half, the game still manages to deliver engaging moments that enhance character growth, particularly for Goro Majima.
- “I like how Yakuza 4 Remastered branched out and has four different playable protagonists, each with their own unique fighting styles, and it helps build the story and character development of those around the four protagonists. It may have had some rather dull plot twists and some achievements are very buggy, but overall a great experience.”
- “I might be tempted to say that after playing the first five games, I'm starting to feel a bit 'Yakuza-fatigued', so trying to keep things fresh with the individual chapters and the multi-angle story was much appreciated. Character development was on point for all four protagonists, and the game felt way 'fresher' than in Yakuza 3.”
- “Full of tiny little details and seemingly insignificant actions, this cutscene achieves so much in the character development department where an hour of boilerplate dialogue wouldn't even scratch the surface, and it does so in this mesmerizing, ocean-breeze fresh way that wins you over instantaneously.”
- “Story is pretty trash after about halfway through and ruins the entire character development of 1/4 main characters as well as being stupid for everybody else.”
- “Akiyama doesn't have that much character development, Saejima's part is unnecessarily slow, while Tanimura and Kiryu's parts are the only fun parts in my opinion.”
- “The four characters all have too little screen time and too few character developments.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its unique blend of gritty noir aesthetics and a playful tone, setting it apart from previous entries in the Yakuza franchise. Players appreciate the immersive open world of Kamurocho, enhanced by well-written characters and a compelling soundtrack that enriches the overall experience. The ability to explore the city through the perspectives of different protagonists adds depth and variety to the atmospheric experience.
- “The atmosphere in this game is a cut above the rest; no other Yakuza game has this feel, this presence. It embraces a 1940's noir film aesthetic, feeling gritty and mysterious, yet also a bit goofy, as expected from the mainline franchise.”
- “Experiencing the city of Kamurocho from the eyes of four different people helps create a similar, yet distinct atmosphere, as each character engages in different side activities and meets unique characters only available to them.”
- “The story is dramatic and full of twists and turns, the combat is fun (much better than in Yakuza 3), and the atmosphere is gripping.”
- “The story is dramatic and full of twists and turns, the combat is fun (much better than in Yakuza 3), the atmosphere is gripping.”
- “Still, what the story does achieve is to create the typical Yakuza atmosphere – including some surprising ties to previous entries in the franchise.”
- “Experiencing the city of Kamurocho from the eyes of four different people helps create a similar, yet different atmosphere, as each character will have different side activities and meet different characters only available to them.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The game offers strong replayability due to the inclusion of four playable characters, each with unique combat styles and story arcs, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While it reuses some assets from previous titles, the improved combat system, additional minigames, and varied sidequests provide enough content to encourage multiple playthroughs. Overall, players find the enhancements over Yakuza 3 make it a more engaging and replayable experience.
- “There are more minigames and activities, more mechanics and substories, and more playable main characters--a total of four, with different weapons options, sidequests, and fighting styles.”
- “Overall, the story is not bad and the overall content I feel is good enough to be replayable.”
- “Better than Yakuza 3 in every way with better combat, more playable characters, and more depth (literally) to the usual Kamurocho area.”
- “On par with Yakuza 3, it has 3 more playable characters and only a single fully roamable location.”
- “It reuses most of the assets like most of the Yakuza games, but it does have more playable characters so the fighting gameplay at least gets mixed up; also, the chase system from 3 returns in full force, sadly.”
- “There are more minigames and activities, more mechanics and substories, and more playable main characters--a total of four, with different weapon options, side quests, and fighting styles.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and stiff controls that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the graphics and character development, the persistent technical issues have left many feeling frustrated and disappointed.
- “That means it's still janky as hell, buggy, and extremely stiff to control.”
- “It is horrible, irritating, terrible, no words to describe that battle, and how buggy it is.”
- “Great game but man is this game buggy.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
67%
The game is praised for its lack of monetization tactics such as DLC, microtransactions, or loot boxes, which sets it apart from many modern titles. However, some users express frustration that anti-gambling laws may inadvertently impact games that do not engage in these practices. Overall, the absence of monetization strategies is seen as a positive aspect.
- “This game, unlike a lot of modern and mobile games, doesn’t have any kind of DLC, microtransactions, or loot boxes.”
- “The absence of DLC and microtransactions makes this game a refreshing experience.”
- “I appreciate that this game focuses on gameplay rather than pushing for additional purchases.”
- “But, if it’s truly because of anti-gambling laws that emerged (thankfully, don’t get me wrong) because of all the lootboxes and microtransactions that are plaguing the modern video game industry, then it’s even more frustrating that this game, which has absolutely none of that, gets affected because of that issue. I really despise lootboxes and microtransactions even more now.”
- “This game, unlike a lot of modern and mobile games, doesn’t have any kind of DLC, microtransactions, or lootboxes.”
- “It's frustrating that this game, which has none of the modern monetization issues, is still impacted by the fallout from the industry's problems with lootboxes and microtransactions.”