Yakuza 4 Remastered

Yakuza 4 Remastered is a remastered version of the fourth installment of the Yakuza series developed by Sega.

Story

The action of Yakuza 4 Remastered begins when a gang member Ueno Seiwa dies in the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho, controlled by the Tojo clan. This event becomes the beginning of a struggle for power over the criminal underworld of the whole district and an important element of the intrigue in which the four heroes of the game are involved. In addition to Kazuma Kiryu, known from earlier installments of the series, during the game we also play as the owner of the Sky Finance loan company, one Shun Akiyama, a prisoner sentenced for the assassination, named Taiga Saejima and detective Masayoshi Tanimura. Their stories, often intertwined, are revealed in the subsequent chapters of the story.

Mechanics

In Yakuza 4 Remastered the action is observed from behind the back of the character. The Kamurocho district has an open structure and compared to Yakuza 3, the devs have expanded it with, among other things, a canal system, underground car park, and shopping center, roofs of buildings and Rojiura, an area located at the back of the district. The driving force behind the game again are not only the story tasks, but also a number of different side activities. Among the latter, we can note clubbing with hostesses, where the protagonist can flirt with one of the three girls, ordering meals and drinks, carefully answering her questions and finally giving her various gifts. In addition, more than twenty mini-games such as karaoke, bowling, table tennis, billiards, pachinko machines, golf or even poker are waiting to be tested. The devs have also prepared a number of side tasks presenting the fate of random residents of Kamurocho and several challenges for fans, in which they can test their reflexes in unusual tests, train warriors in the dojo or employ and teach new hostesses in the club.

One of the most important elements of the gameplay are battles with encountered opponents. Each character has a unique fighting style and their own strengths and weaknesses. Akiyama enjoys quick attacks with his legs and provoking adversaries, Saejima has the greatest power and can lift heavy objects and use spectacular throws, Tanimura has a defensive style based on aikido, and Kiryu eliminates opponents with a series of boxing and karate blows. Each warrior has his own finisher, which can be executed by charging a special bar with spectacular combos. As the protagonists progress, they gain experience points and increase their combat potential by expanding the range of available moves and skills.

Technical aspects

Compared to the original version of the fourth installment of Yakuza, Yakuza 4 Remastered boasts improved visuals; the title runs in 60 frames per second and in 1080p resolution. The fictional district where the action takes place is inspired by the real-life Kabukicho.

Last updated on 29 January 2021