While Yakuza 7 was released on all platforms a few months ago, Yakuza 6 was still waiting on PC and Xbox One. This affront, which dates all the same from 2016 or 2018 depending on whether we refer to the Japanese or European PS4 release, is now repaired! We will not go into the details of the gameplay and the scenario here because, on the merits, the game is strictly identical to the PlayStation version. If necessary, our test of the time is still available! Today, we will content ourselves with recalling that this sixth episode marks the end of the adventures of Kazuma Kiryu and that it is as good, if not better, than the previous parts. The 3D beat'em up combat system is, for example, easier to understand than that of the first episodes. We still prefer the turn-based one that appeared with Yakuza 7, but that remains a pure question of taste. The most action-oriented players will be delighted to find the dynamism of the Dojima Dragon, the combo recipe and QTE not lacking in efficiency. With more than fifteen years of licensing experience, the Ryū Ga Gotoku studio masters its subject like the back of its hand. The storyline skilfully mixes humor, action and emotion, while numerous mini-games and other sub-quests are available to distract the player between two main missions. The semi-open world of Yakuza 6 is all the more pleasant to browse as it offers us a plural vision of Japan. As usual, our hero has the opportunity to roam the urban, modern, multi-neon lit streets of the fictional yet Tokyo-like district of Kamurocho. But several chapters also take place in the provinces, especially in the prefecture of Hiroshima. The atmosphere is more peaceful there (even if the street fights are still in the game), and the player can thus discover another facet of Japan.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
Surprisingly, more than four years after its initial release, the game still manages to seduce us graphically. The characters' faces are extremely expressive and detailed, while the backgrounds are modeled carefully enough to be believable. Only some animations may seem a little too rigid, but there is nothing really shocking, even in 2021. If the Xbox One version is naturally very close to the PS4 version, the PC version allows for greater graphical finesse . You can push the resolution and the refresh rate as high as your screen allows, while unlocking the framerate in order to benefit from the maximum frames per second achievable by your configuration. In addition, the numerous options allow, among other things, to adjust the field of vision, to customize the controller for each phase of the game (exploration, combat and each type of mini-game) or even to deactivate the Windows key. The only "downside" of this port comes from the impossibility of reading certain elements of lore displayed during the loading screens, because these disappear in a few moments thanks to the speed of modern SSD disks. Yes, in reality it is almost more of a quality than a defect. Especially since the game multiplies the opportunities to take possession of its universe anyway. A menu allows for example to review each of the (many) cinematic scenes that weave the plot of the scenario.
At the start of the game, a dreamlike sequence offers us a presentation of the different main characters. And a summary (in text and images) of the first five episodes is also available, which gives fans of the saga the opportunity to refresh their memories, while allowing novices to take the adventure on the road. Quite honestly, new players would still do better to start with Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2, the remakes of the first two installments, and then move on to episodes 3, 4, 5 and 6. Lucky Game Pass owners can moreover, to do all this very easily, since the whole saga is now present there. Finally, the only real defect of this Yakuza 6 comes from a shortcoming which already tarnished the table in 2018: the total absence of French subtitles. Listening to Japanese voices while reading English text has its charm, even its usefulness, but Sega could still have made an effort, especially after several years of waiting!
