Review Roundup: Yakuza Kiwami on Nintendo Switch
Let’s take a look at what other critics have to say about Yakuza Kiwami on the Nintendo Switch. Here are some highlights from different reviews:
RPG Site Review
RPG Site awarded the game 8 out of 10, praising it as an “excellent entry” in the series. They mentioned how it serves as a “very good entry point for newcomers” to the franchise.
“Revisiting it in 2024 on Nintendo Switch played handheld has been a fun experience…This conversion bringing in some quality of life features like auto-save and licensed music including Receive You [Reborn] is also great to see. While there are noticeable cutbacks to visuals and performance, Yakuza Kiwami is an easy recommendation to play on the go on Nintendo Switch with its low asking price.”
God Is A Geek Review
God Is A Geek also gave the game 8 out of 10, describing it as a good port of a great game. They highlighted the smooth gameplay in combat and minigames, along with the overall familiarity of the audio.
“Yakuza Kiwami on Switch still holds up, despite some visuals showing their age and movement not feeling particularly smooth. Controlling Kiryu in combat and via minigames feels good, not skipping a beat as you play through the story. The audio is good too, and it feels much like the original Kiwami that game out seven years prior. If you’ve never dabbled in the series, this is a great way to play the game that started it all, and if you’re after a game that blends drama with the occasional touch of humour, you cannot go far wrong with this one.”
CGMagazine Review
CGMagazine gave the game a rating of 6.5 out of 10, considering it a “serviceable port of a solid remake.” They mentioned that despite some shortcomings, the future potential on newer hardware might enhance the gameplay experience.
“Yakuza Kiwami is a good enough way to get your toes wet in the ever-expanding beat-em-up series. With whatever will eventually supersede the Nintendo Switch in the near future, it is more than likely legacy Switch games will be compatible with the new hardware, meaning, despite a lacklustre port, the future for Yakuza Kiwami on Nintendo hardware may still have room to improve.”
Gaming Bible Review
Gaming Bible rated the game 7 out of 10, recommending it especially for Switch players looking to start their journey in the Yakuza series. They also emphasized how exciting it is for long-time fans to finally experience the game on-the-go.
“If you’re exclusively a Nintendo Switch gamer, then this port is an ideal place to begin your journey in the series. That being said, if you’re a returning fan who has been desperate to play this series on the go, Yakuza Kiwami is a dream come true – especially if you thought this day would never come. Now if you excuse me, I’m off to sing some karaoke with Kiryu and his friends.”
Noisy Pixel Review
Noisy Pixel, despite recognizing some flaws, still enjoyed the game and gave it a score of 7.5 out of 10. They highlighted the engaging combat mechanics and character progression as standout features, albeit with some technical issues.
“Yakuza Kiwami is a terrific opening to the fan-favorite series that is an absolute must-play for newcomers and players of the other games alike. It is bolstered by an effectively layered combat and growth system where you genuinely do sense Kiryu growing stronger as you progress. Yet, if you have any other modern platform available to you, this release simply isn’t worth it. The sloppy framerate can make the action experience underwhelming and frustrating, even if it’s relatively ironed out in handheld mode. Ultimately, if you only have a Switch, you could undeniably enjoy this port, but just be aware that every other version is more worthwhile.”