Why does Kiwami 2 look so different?

[The.Spaz.]

Okay, I just finished Kiwami and fired up Kiwami 2 for a test run. I am sort of stunned at how different of game it is compared to 0 and Kiwami 1. Kiwami 2 seems have a lot more modern sensibilities like fluid combat animations, fully detailed and seamless transition to interiors that make both 0 and Kiwami 1 feel a bit antiquated. It makes sense with Kiawmi 1 since its an update of an older PS2 title but 0 is a new game from scratch. Why does Kiwami 2 look so different or rather why does 0 feel so antiquated being a newer title? Was it a stylistic choice to keep to similar style of gameplay to Kiwami 1? Kiwami 2 feels like a different game entirely with a different engine.

Anyone know if they are going to give a similar treatment to Yakuza 3 and onwards? I have played a little bit of Yakuza 4 back on the PS3 and I don't remember it being that much different than how 0 and Kiwami played. Is this the black sheep of the series?

[Lar Dass]

Kiwami 2 is a remake of 2 and released in 2017 which is when the studio started using their new dragon engine, so they made kiwami 2 on that new engine (which they started with 6) and released all future games (judgment too) on that engine alongside its new ragdoll physics and gameplay changes
3-5 only got remasters because they wanted to focus on making new games or bringing unlocalised games (ishin) to the west

[The.Spaz.]

Originally posted by Lar Dass:

Kiwami 2 is a remake of 2 and released in 2017 which is when the studio started using their new dragon engine, so they made kiwami 2 on that new engine (which they started with 6) and released all future games (judgment too) on that engine alongside its new ragdoll physics and gameplay changes
3-5 only got remasters because they wanted to focus on making new games or bringing unlocalised games (ishin) to the west

Thanks for the speedy response. So does that mean they will never update the other game in the series the same way they did the first 2? Its going to be hard to get back to the older gameplay style after Kiwami 2...

[Erone]

Originally posted by The.Spaz.:

Thanks for the speedy response. So does that mean they will never update the other game in the series the same way they did the first 2? Its going to be hard to get back to the older gameplay style after Kiwami 2...

Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 were re-released as "remasters" which are just ports of the original games with HD resolution, updated translations and some improvements here and there. I don't think they will remake these games any time soon because of this. But yeah, switching from Kiwami 2 to Yakuza 3, a straight port of a 2009 game can be pretty jarring. But I find its dated graphics still charming in a clunky way.

But don't worry, the latest games in the series (Yakuza 6, Yakuza Like A Dragon, Judgment and Lost Judgment) all run on the same engine as Kiwami 2 and have even more improved graphics, animations and gameplay.

As for them remaking their back-catalog, they will release a remake of one of their spinoffs in February called Like A Dragon: Ishin! However for some reason they're using Unreal Engine for this game. The graphics still look amazing, though.

[Lar Dass]

Originally posted by The.Spaz.:

Originally posted by Lar Dass:

Kiwami 2 is a remake of 2 and released in 2017 which is when the studio started using their new dragon engine, so they made kiwami 2 on that new engine (which they started with 6) and released all future games (judgment too) on that engine alongside its new ragdoll physics and gameplay changes
3-5 only got remasters because they wanted to focus on making new games or bringing unlocalised games (ishin) to the west

Thanks for the speedy response. So does that mean they will never update the other game in the series the same way they did the first 2? Its going to be hard to get back to the older gameplay style after Kiwami 2...

not for me, i played 0-k2 then started 3 and am 100% ing through the remastered (on 5 rn) and i dont think the gameplay going back to the old engine ruined things at all, sure the combat was back to how 0 and kiwami were but i didnt mind that, of course graphics are older but still the same yakuza charm which i enjoy
i guess im trying to say ill play and enjoy any yakuza game whether its the 0 engine or the dragon engine

[The.Spaz.]

Originally posted by Lar Dass:

Originally posted by The.Spaz.:

Thanks for the speedy response. So does that mean they will never update the other game in the series the same way they did the first 2? Its going to be hard to get back to the older gameplay style after Kiwami 2...

not for me, i played 0-k2 then started 3 and am 100% ing through the remastered (on 5 rn) and i dont think the gameplay going back to the old engine ruined things at all, sure the combat was back to how 0 and kiwami were but i didnt mind that, of course graphics are older but still the same yakuza charm which i enjoy
i guess im trying to say ill play and enjoy any yakuza game whether its the 0 engine or the dragon engine

Well I only had the first three games in my library, which was a smart move on my part as I am getting to that exhaust point where I need to switch things up and play something else for a while. Kiwami is different enough to keep things fresh enough for me to get through it but after that I will likely want to take a break from the series. Might be a good way for me to reset and adapt back to the original formula once i purchase the rest of the series. There are other games on my list which I have been putting away for far too long like Rise of the Tomb Raider or Wolfenstein 2. Need to stop the hemorrhages. Thanks for the input BTW at least now I know what to expect going into the rest of the Yakuza series at a later date.

[Lar Dass]

Originally posted by The.Spaz.:

Originally posted by Lar Dass:

not for me, i played 0-k2 then started 3 and am 100% ing through the remastered (on 5 rn) and i dont think the gameplay going back to the old engine ruined things at all, sure the combat was back to how 0 and kiwami were but i didnt mind that, of course graphics are older but still the same yakuza charm which i enjoy
i guess im trying to say ill play and enjoy any yakuza game whether its the 0 engine or the dragon engine

Well I only had the first three games in my library, which was a smart move on my part as I am getting to that exhaust point where I need to switch things up and play something else for a while. Kiwami is different enough to keep things fresh enough for me to get through it but after that I will likely want to take a break from the series. Might be a good way for me to reset and adapt back to the original formula once i purchase the rest of the series. There are other games on my list which I have been putting away for far too long like Rise of the Tomb Raider or Wolfenstein 2. Need to stop the hemorrhages. Thanks for the input BTW at least now I know what to expect going into the rest of the Yakuza series at a later date.

thats what i did, i took a break after each yakuza game and it made coming back to it that much better
the remastered collection wasnt on pc when i finished kiwami 2 so i had a long break, i guess that helped me enjoy 3 way more and going back to square 1 for combat, not spamming x x y and instead using skill to get behind enemies

[xBGLx狂犬]

Originally posted by Lar Dass:

not for me, i played 0-k2 then started 3 and am 100% ing through the remastered (on 5 rn) and i dont think the gameplay going back to the old engine ruined things at all, sure the combat was back to how 0 and kiwami were but i didnt mind that, of course graphics are older but still the same yakuza charm which i enjoy
i guess im trying to say ill play and enjoy any yakuza game whether its the 0 engine or the dragon engine

same for me, don't care about the engine

though I am not trying to 100% Kiryu games, too hard for me xd but I am trying to complete every game on legendary with all substories and in full japanese(voice and subtitles)