YAKUZA 6
We go hands-on with another of Japan’s future hits
So far 2017 has been an absolutely cracking year for Japanese games. Everyone’s buzzing about titles such as Nier: Automata (reviewed over on p80) or our latest 10/10 (and social life ruiner) Persona 5. For many, however, the year kicked off with the bold Yakuza 0.
This prologue for the long-running series captured the imaginations of players new to the adventures of the hardest man in Japan. Want more? You won’t have to wait long, with ‘extreme remake’ Yakuza Kiwami due this summer and, more importantly, the release of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life in 2018.
And while that feels miles away, there are plenty of reasons to stay excited about this open-world action-adventure PS4 exclusive. The first thing we notice in our hands-on is how smooth everything feels, seamless in ways the older games couldn’t deliver. The series has been building to this, and now this iconic setting feels truly real.
Alongside this, the combat has gone through a major physics overhaul. In the new ‘Ultimate Heat Mode’ your attack power is boosted, and you’re suddenly able to use massive objects as ridiculous weapons. It’s all beautiful, stars Japanese superstar Takeshi Kitano, and the mini-games include Puyo Puyo, OutRun and Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown. VF5 will even be playable online at launch, which we can’t wait for.
Packed with distractions and accessible to newcomers, Yakuza 6 is shaping up to be another Tokyo love story. Kudos, Japan.
Excited for the Yakuza remake? Check out our most anticipated remakes on p58.
USE MASSIVE OBJECTS AS RIDICULOUS WEAPONS.