Game Review: "Yakuza 4 Remastered" – Four Stories, Four Fighting Styles, and Kamurocho in the Spotlight

 

Yakuza 4 Remastered is another step in SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s effort to bring classic entries to modern consoles. Released as part of the Yakuza Remastered Collection, the game allows players to experience the full story of the series from Yakuza 3 to 5 on a single platform, now with improved graphics, stable 60 FPS, and higher resolution. While it’s not a ground-up remake like Kiwami, the remaster gives both new players and veterans a chance to return to Kamurocho and revisit a story that set new standards for narrative-driven action games when it originally released on PS3 in 2008.

Four Stories, One World

For the first time in the series, Kazuma Kiryu is not the sole protagonist. Yakuza 4 introduces three new playable characters: Shun Akiyama, an unconventional loan shark; Taiga Saejima, a former criminal and prisoner; and Masayoshi Tanimura, a detective investigating a long-standing case. Each character receives four chapters, culminating in a joint finale.

The story opens with a spectacular explosion atop the Millennium Tower, showering Kamurocho with yen. This event pulls Shun Akiyama into a series of chaotic adventures and leads him to establish his loan company, Sky Finance, where his lending methods are… unusual. Instead of standard credit checks, Akiyama evaluates the moral fiber of potential borrowers. His story is one of the most engaging in the game funny, dynamic, and compelling thanks to its ties with the local yakuza and a variety of absurd Kamurocho scenarios.

Through flashbacks to 1985, we meet Taiga Saejima, whose prison-centered story introduces a darker, more dramatic tone. Saejima, a former yakuza, becomes entangled in an elaborate escape plan involving Goh Hamazaki and, of course, the ever-present Goro Majima.

Tanimura, as a new police character, provides a fresh perspective on Kamurocho. His investigation mixes criminal cases with a personal family mystery, and his story feels reminiscent of what would later appear in Judgment. Finally, Kiryu returns, advising and getting drawn into Tojo Clan conflicts, tying all four stories together in the finale.

This parallel storyline approach ensures that each story is interesting on its own while subtly interweaving into the larger narrative of Kamurocho and the Tojo Clan. New players may feel slightly lost without knowledge of previous games, but long-time fans will enjoy the numerous callbacks and connections.

Gameplay: Four Fighting Styles and Classic Brawling

Combat in Yakuza 4 Remastered is based on the system from Yakuza 3, with tweaks for the four characters. Each protagonist has a unique fighting style:

Akiyama – Focused on kicks and quick combos, reminiscent of Lee Chaolan from Tekken.

Saejima – Strength and heavy attacks, slower but devastating.

Tanimura – Defensive style based on blocks and counters.

Kiryu – Classic Dragon of Dojima style, balanced with strong punches and combos.

The inability to switch styles on the fly isn’t a problem here, as each style feels complete and distinct. The Heat system, environmental weapons, and cinematic Heat Actions keep fights dynamic, though not always frustration-free. Saejima, in particular, features challenging scripted fights in the first half, which may surprise newcomers.

Substories return with a total of 64 (16 per character), offering the series’ trademark mix of absurd, funny, and occasionally touching mini-stories from caring for cats to helping former yakuza reintegrate. These side stories effectively break up the intensity of the main plot.

Kamurocho and Side Activities

Kamurocho gains a few new areas: rooftop paths, underground malls, and expansive sewers with parking lots and an old theater. Even for returning players, these additions make exploration feel fresh.

Classic mini-games return: Hostess Maker, Fighter Maker, Karaoke, Coliseum, massage parlor, baseball, and more. While some are simpler than in later entries (e.g., no visible stats in Hostess Maker), they still add life to the city and variety to gameplay.

Visuals and Sound

The remaster improves character models and the city, delivering 60 FPS and 1080p, making Kamurocho feel vibrant. However, visually it’s not stunning by modern standards characters remain blocky, and animations are somewhat stiff.

The Japanese voice acting with English subtitles works well, and the music though sometimes a little dated or oddly stylized (70s saxophone solo in 2010!) fits the action.

Verdict

Yakuza 4 Remastered is a game of contradictions. On one hand, it offers engaging narratives, four distinct perspectives, and fresh characters. On the other, it struggles with plot inconsistencies, some unclear mini-games, and slightly dated combat mechanics. Still, it allows players to experience the Yakuza universe from new angles, showing that the series can survive without Kiryu while weaving a complex, rewarding story.

Fans of the series should not skip this entry it offers an expanded structure, memorable characters, and a finale that ties everything together. Newcomers may find it harder to follow without playing previous games, but it remains accessible enough.

Score: 7/10

Pros:

+Four playable characters with unique fighting styles

+Expansive plot told from parallel perspectives

+New locations in Kamurocho and expanded underground areas

+Large number of substories and mini-games per character

+Improved animation and stable 60 FPS

Cons:

-Plot can be chaotic and over-the-top at times

-Some mini-games lack clarity (Hostess Maker)

-Saejima’s fighting style requires time to adapt

-No quality-of-life features like save-anywhere or style switching on the fly

-Visuals are somewhat dated compared to modern titles

My Gameplay: