Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Reviews

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is ranked in the 93rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10
Mar 15, 2018

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life tells a truly gripping tale – a story that blows most games out of the water. Combine that with a refined combat system and a new engine capable of making the game's world feel more alive than ever, and you've got a stellar Yakuza title. Although the experience does feel a little stunted in places outside of the main plot, this is still a fitting final chapter. Yakuza 6 is a gloriously dramatic send off for one of the greatest characters in modern gaming.

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8 / 10
Mar 15, 2018

The story of Kazuma Kiryu comes to a dramatic and ultimately satisfying close.

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9 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

It's taken me a long time to experience the Yakuza series, but Yakuza 6 makes me so thankful that I finally have. The insurmountable badass Kazuma Kiryu is surrounded by a fantastic cast of characters and some gripping drama—it's just a shame that the "game" portion of this video game isn't quite what it could be. Still, this is a superb adventure from beginning to end, and further proof of the magic that Japanese developers can weave when they put their minds to it.

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GamingBolt
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

Debates about whether or not Yakuza 6 is the best game in the franchise will probably rage on for a long time to come- but if nothing else, The Song of Life represents a franchise, a developer, and most of all, a character, at the peak of their talents.

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Mar 15, 2018

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life might be the end of Kazuma Kiryu's story, but it represents a new step in the series.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

Yakuza 6 is a solid entry in the franchise. It's carried by a strong story and excellent visuals that make up for the fact that it's a fairly bare-bones Yakuza title that has less content than other titles in the series. Fans of the franchise should find a lot to like in Yakuza 6. It's not the best entry for a newcomer due to it being the end of Kiryu's story, but it's a solid and enjoyable game.

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Gamers Heroes
Captain Camper
Top Critic
9 / 10
Mar 15, 2018

The Yakuza franchise is a much-beloved series of games that explore the darker sides of the Yakuza, whilst simultaneously introducing players to the lively and colorful culture of the East. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life builds on every asset of the franchise, and improves it without sacrificing the games character and individuality. Whether you're a first-time player or a long-time veteran, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is arguably the greatest Yakuza game to date.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

Yakuza 6 delivers the series' signature poignant story, and is probably the best Yakuza has been narrative and production-wise. However, the game's trademark diversions have been trimmed back.

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9.5 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

A rip-roaring conclusion to Kiryu's tale and the best entry in the Yakuza series to date, Yakuza 6 is a triumph that effortlessly cements its place in the pantheon of all-time JRPG greats.

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4.5 / 5.0
Mar 15, 2018

Aside from the most nitpicking of complaints, Yakuza 6 is but another declaration to the well-documented notion that Sega's decade-long series remains one of the finest, most consistent outings in the medium.

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8.5 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

It’s a new era for Yakuza, both in game and out. Yakuza 6; The Song of Life may not be the grandiose send-off that some fans may have wanted, but it’s a fitting conclusion to Kiryu’s story and thanks to the new engine one that not only makes old favourites feel new again but make me look forward to the future.

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Stevivor
Top Critic
Unscored
Mar 15, 2018

The in-combat effects and camera work really make what could be a relatively basic combat cycle into something that feels dynamic and empowering every time you get to button-mash to truly kick the stuffing out of a goon's face.

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89%
Mar 15, 2018

Overall, Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life is a feature-length absurdity-laden romp that is the perfect silly antidote for first-timers and a pleasing development of the series for fans. With a multitude of systems, meaningful progression and side quests to fill your boots with, you will struggle to get bored and always find yourself craving your next knockout fix.

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75 / 100
Mar 15, 2018

Yakuza 6 has an ambitious narrative, alternating between lighthearted and dramatic. Unfortunately, it doesn't give its characters enough love and care to truly pull off the pathos. But its sense of humor is impeccable. Its protagonist is lovable. And Sega has created a world with plenty to do.

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7.5 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

Yakuza 6 is a great game because it's a Yakuza game, but it's not a great Yakuza game. It still has the great brawler action the series is known for, and a tight put together story. However, the tightening of the narrative in no ways makes up for all the great things I missed out on from the previous game.

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Mar 15, 2018

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is a wonderful crime thriller that embraces everything that made the series great, refining it further with new technology – it blew me away. I'm not ashamed to say that the closing minutes of Kazuma Kiryu's final chapter brought me to tears, acting as the culmination of a story in which I've lost myself for more than a decade.

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IGN
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life presents the most detailed virtual chunk of Japan the series has managed to date, and its story provides a satisfying end to the Kizama Kiryu saga. However, as far as gameplay goes, Yakuza 6 doesn't make enough of an effort to break new ground, making it weaker overall than last year's Yakuza Zero.

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Mar 15, 2018

If you've played Yakuza in the past, I think you'll get a tremendous amount of enjoyment out of this game. If you haven't, do yourself a favor and grab Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami and play through both of them, then grab Yakuza 6 when it comes out

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82 / 100
Mar 15, 2018

This may be the Dragon of Dojima's last kick at the franchise, but he leaves on a high note that will satisfy the yakuza in all of us.

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8.8 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2018

. Yakuza 6 is easily the most immersive video game I have ever played, and is just a lot of fun. The amount of times I couldn't help but smile while playing this game is a testament to the fact of how much I enjoyed myself. While the game does has its flaws, SEGA has once again delivered a fantastic game that is easily one of the best games currently out this year.

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