Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Feature Scores
Explore all 71 feature scores for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, organized into pros and cons.
Scores by Feature
Summary
71 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.03 (4%)
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Positive 3.5-4.438 (54%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.428 (39%)
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Negative 1.5-2.41 (1%)
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Very negative below 1.51 (1%)
Pros
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Despite the controversy around the remake, most reviewers still find the package genuinely fun, especially its brawling, orphanage activities, and standout side modes.
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Combat is the clearest upgrade: faster encounters, two versatile Kiryu styles, and Mine’s aggressive moveset make fighting far smoother and more satisfying than Yakuza 3.
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Inputs and style transitions are repeatedly praised as fluid and responsive, especially when chaining Ryukyu weapons, counters, and crowd-control attacks.
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Kiryu’s fatherly side and Mine’s colder perspective both land well for many reviewers, giving the package two distinct protagonists with strong appeal.
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The ensemble remains a major strength, with Kiryu, Mine, Rikiya, Daigo, and the Okinawan cast frequently singled out as memorable or engaging.
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Writing is strongest in intimate character moments and parts of Dark Ties, but some new plot decisions and exposition-heavy scenes weaken an otherwise engaging script.
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The soundtrack remains a consistent strength, mixing energetic battle music, jazzier pieces, remixes, and nostalgic Sega tracks.
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The core Yakuza 3 drama remains compelling for many reviewers, but altered late-game events, Dark Ties choices, and uneven additions make the overall narrative divisive.
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As a remake, the package meaningfully modernizes combat and expands side content, but its cut material, recasting, visuals, and canon changes keep it from being a universally accepted definitive edition.
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Recaps and a faster route into exploration help newcomers, although several reviewers still think this is a difficult entry point because of its accumulated series history.
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Most value-focused comments see substantial content for the price, especially with Dark Ties included, though a few reviewers question whether the remake or its shorter campaign justifies full-price expectations.
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The visual overhaul is divisive: environments can look vibrant and attractive, but dated textures, harsh lighting, and uneven character rendering keep it from feeling fully current.
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Switch 2 is widely considered a strong portable way to play, with stable performance and only modest visual softness or longer loads compared with more powerful systems.
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Performance is a strength on current hardware, with smooth console play and strong Switch 2 results, though isolated technical problems prevent a spotless record.
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Frame-rate performance is usually smooth on PS5 and Xbox Series X, while Switch 2 generally holds its target with occasional drops in heavier scenes.
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Modernized mechanics improve the feel of both combat and side activities, though Dark Ties and some recycled systems can still seem mechanically limited.
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Fresh combat ideas and Mine’s perspective add novelty, but repeated minigames and familiar structural beats leave some reviewers feeling the series formula is wearing thin.
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The remake substantially reduces Yakuza 3’s notorious block-heavy enemy behavior, though a few reviewers still found defensive enemies irritating.
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Okinawa is repeatedly welcomed as a refreshing setting that contrasts with Kamurocho, though some lighting and remake choices reduce the distinction between the two.
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The new fighting tools are generally intuitive and easy to grasp once their button combinations click, keeping the expanded combat approachable.
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Voice acting is highly uneven by language and character: several performances are praised, while Kiryu’s English delivery and certain recast roles draw substantial criticism.
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The Dragon Engine brings welcome refinement to combat and presentation, but rough animation, lighting, and content decisions keep the remake from feeling uniformly polished.
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Okinawa and Kamurocho are often praised for lively streets, richer detail, and attractive coastal scenery, even when texture quality is inconsistent up close.
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Substories remain a major source of humor and character, but the reduced count and uneven replacement quests make their overall quality more inconsistent than expected.
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The revised upgrade structure is more streamlined and convenient than before, although simplification reduces some of the depth found in other entries.
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There is a huge spread of minigames, management modes, substories, and diversions, though the abundance can feel recycled or overwhelming rather than consistently fresh.
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Playing from Mine’s villainous perspective and expanding large-scale combat feel fresh, but much of the package still repurposes familiar Yakuza systems.
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Boss encounters benefit from the faster combat and dramatic QTE flourishes, with several reviewers finding the big fights more rewarding than before.
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Modern particle effects and flashy combat flourishes give fights more spectacle, even when the broader visual overhaul remains inconsistent.
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The brighter, more colorful presentation suits Okinawa for some players, while others feel the palette and lighting dilute the original’s grittier identity.
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Dialogue can deliver strong character moments and humor, yet long exposition-heavy conversations occasionally test patience.
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Money is generally easy to earn and upgrades stay affordable, which keeps progression moving but can also reduce resource pressure.
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Dark Ties fills in parts of Mine’s background and Tojo Clan context, but it does not answer every lingering question or fully transform his role in the main story.
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QTEs add cinematic punctuation to stronger boss encounters, but simpler uses can feel shallow rather than mechanically meaningful.
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Sound design complements the action and city atmosphere well, with the strongest praise coming from current-console presentation.
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Completionists have plenty to return to, especially Survival Hell, orphanage progression, gang modes, collectibles, and optional challenges that can extend playtime well beyond the story.
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The accessibility suite is described as comprehensive, with remappable controls, QTE assistance, text sizing, camera options, and color-vision support.
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Kiryu’s movement is described as noticeably more fluid than in the older version, helping the faster combat feel more modern.
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Technical bugs appear limited overall, with several smooth playthroughs, though isolated glitches and NPC oddities were still reported.
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The streets feel more interactive through shops, NPC activity, social connections, and small discoveries, making exploration feel busier and more rewarding.
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The compact open-world areas feel dense and rewarding rather than huge, with optional restaurants, minigames, substories, collectibles, and fights packed into each district.
Cons
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Recasting is the most consistently criticized non-gameplay decision, with objections focused on the Hamazaki choice and mixed reactions to how redesigned characters fit their original roles.
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Grinding is one of the most repeated drawbacks, especially when mandatory side-mode ranks, fetch tasks, or repeated battles interrupt story progress.
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Difficulty is inconsistent: the new tools make combat more accessible, but powerful Ryukyu options and abundant upgrades can reduce challenge more than some reviewers wanted.
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Dark Ties is intentionally compact, which some reviewers appreciate, but others find its few-hour runtime too slight or artificially padded by required side activities.
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Animation quality is uneven: combat and many cutscenes look smooth, but stiff or reused-looking character motions remain noticeable in places.
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Motorcycle-related play adds variety, but the actual riding mechanics were described as somewhat stiff.
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Stability is platform-dependent: some playthroughs were crash-free, while one PC account reported repeated crashes later in the game.
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Navigation is functional but not universally praised; compact maps and quick travel help, while trimmed areas and some layout changes disappoint returning players.
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The large side modes are sharply divisive: Baddies battles and Survival Hell can be addictive, yet repetition and mandatory progression often wear out their welcome.
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Mission variety is inconsistent: the best side chains mix combat, humor, and investigation, while some modes recycle the same encounters too often.
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Customization is a playful extra, especially Kiryu’s phone, gang presentation, and wardrobe unlocks, though Dark Ties offers noticeably less flexibility.
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Some new systems deepen the sense of living in Okinawa, while others feel tonally out of place and reduce the immersion of the original story.
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Skill progression is easy to understand but can feel shallow or too quickly completed, especially in the shorter Dark Ties campaign.
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Autosaves were credited with preventing most lost progress during a crash-prone playthrough, making the save system a useful safety net.
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The opening teaches a lot of systems, but at least one reviewer found the early tutorialization excessive and disruptive to the game’s initial pace.
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The interface is praised for fitting Mine’s calculating personality and presenting his systems in a thematically coherent way.
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Pacing is one of the package’s most contested traits: optional orphanage content helps, yet mandatory Baddies and Dark Ties tasks can stall urgent story beats.
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Loading is fast on current consoles and often nearly invisible during ordinary encounters, though Switch 2 can show more noticeable waits between larger scenes.
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Arena and dungeon layouts vary in quality: Survival Hell can be compelling, while repeated warehouses and recycled battle spaces make other modes feel monotonous.
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Okinawa’s sunny change of scenery gives the game a distinctive mood, but some remake additions and visual choices weaken the atmosphere for purists.
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Exploration benefits from dense optional activities and rewarding discoveries, although a few versions or previews feel more constrained than the best series entries.
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The familiar Yakuza brawler-and-side-content formula still works for many players, but franchise fatigue and repeated systems make the loop feel stale to others.
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Facial work is mixed: some scenes show improved capture, while other expressions look stiff, subdued, or less expressive than the original.
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Cars, taxis, and especially the Street Surfer make moving through the compact cities quicker and reduce downtime between activities.
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Progression can be satisfying and generous, especially in side modes, though abundant Training Points and forced rank requirements sometimes make growth feel poorly balanced.
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The remake keeps much of Yakuza 3 intact but makes contentious changes to canon, character presentation, and removed content that divide longtime fans.
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Supporting characters often supply the game’s heart, especially the orphans and Okinawan allies, although reactions to Kanda and the redesigned Rikiya are much more divided.
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Dark Ties adds meaningful context to Mine and several relationships, but some reviewers felt the extra backstory still leaves his characterization underdeveloped.
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Individual tasks range from charming household activities and varied Damage Control jobs to menial fetch work that feels like filler.
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Kiryu’s life with the orphans provides many of the package’s warmest moments, while controversial story changes blunt some of the original ending’s emotional force.