Yakuza 1&2 HD Edition

Yakuza 1&2 HD Edition, released on WiiU and PS3, consists of the first two parts of the popular Yakuza series. It was called by gamers and industry journalists as the spiritual successor of the cult Shenmune released on the Dreamcast console, and also as the Japanese version of Grand Theft Auto. Both games found in the collection debuted in Japan on PlayStation 2 in 2005 and 2006 respectively. They were also released on the Western markets after a certain delay. The games were developed and published by SEGA, which has been successfully expanding the series with new releases and side games, such as Yakuza: Dead Souls.

Plot

The plot of the first and second parts of Yakuza draws on ideas and patterns from the cinema and gangster novels depicting the backstage of the Japanese mafia. The main character is Kazuma Kiryu, a member of the yakuza who leaves prison after spending several years of his life in that place. Soon, he learns that his former friend has fled with the 10 billion yen he stole from the Tojo clan and is being sought by the whole criminal underworld. While he tries to trace the stolen money and the old friend, Kazuma unexpectedly has to take care of Haruka, an orphaned 10-year-old daughter of his old love.

The second part takes place a year after the events of the first game. Kazuma has to face the powerful Omi family and the son of its leader, Ryuji Goda. Most of the action of both titles take place in Kamurocho, a fictional district of Tokyo, full of bars, game rooms, clubs, and karaoke outlets. Players also have the opportunity to visit Osaka.

Mechanics

The gameplay model hasn't changed at all. The developers decided not to introduce any significant improvements to it. The camera is located behind the hero's back. During the game, we take part in dozens of hand-to-hand fights, mini-games and we visit the streets and suspicious city lanes, performing various orders and missions.

Technical aspects

The developers have significantly improved the graphics of both titles, adapting them to support widescreen and high-resolution screens. Textures and character models have been improved and enriched with new details. The port also allows for a full installation of games, which significantly reduces the loading times. The games also feature trophies.

Last updated on 11 September 2012