Nearly 20 years later, playing with the use of mods (which is nearly mandatory for stable experience), I can see how this game aged more clearly. In certain aspects, is dated, AI behavior is one of these aspects, they're amazing for the time the game was launched, though. Still, in combat allies act in unproductive ways, sometimes, even getting in the way. Content-wise, has a good variety.

At least for me, none of the activities of "100% checklist" is evaluated as bad, some of them can be volumous, but not bad. Story-wise, has some minor inchoerences, about Ryder's situation that was a bit managed as far as it could be, making it strange. All in All, a good and reccomendable expirience; justifying why it still has its 5 stars.

Well, it ins't bad at all, but, at least for me, it has shown throughout the development of its narrative that the formula of a big plot revolving around Kiryu, and now his comrades, needed a oxygenation.

Partly, that's because the way the game treats certain things. It's not as if it is rushed, it's more like it didn't use the space that looked ideal to me. For example: not giving to some aspects of history, the time they could have, to become a more valuable element, as in the development of certain characters, looking a bit short for a characters that take a big roles in the story.

Apart from that aspect, some minor conveniences here and there, but nothing that isn't in the standards of the franchise. Now, talking about the good aspects, some characters that were introduced are very likeable, their developments are well rhythmized (could that be at cost of the little issue I've mentioned before? Maybe), it's a shame that some of them had no more time in the main branch of the franchise.

Gameplay-wise, playing on NORMAL, wasn't challenging all the time, but it didn't reach the boredom. As said before, just the standard, most part of the fights are squashes and, when it comes to story battles there is some good fights. Just in few moments the game has some bigger leaps of difficulty, but nothing that tarns the experience.

Apart from it, the extras didn't have the personal appeal that attracted me to do a big part of its activities. Training, Side Stories, Sub-stories were the ones which I've focused the most in completing and they all proved rewarding; aside from that, nothing to say. It's a reccomendable game and, although it didn't hit me the same way 3 did, still a game which a regard as good.

As a new breath to the franchise, this one inovated by making the so charismatic characters playable, and, for me, it's as well done as the (maybe) biggest refference in multi main characters, GTAV, of course, Yakuza 4 has its peculiarities, isn't as simultaneous as the previously mentioned, but it does, because of its difference when it comes to develop characters and story, which, continues being well-made.

The story is a characteristic big plot entangled with present and past events that is conduced with some events happening at the same "time-space", all of it driving to a big conclusion. The combat gameplay continues the base that Yakuza 3/Kenzan brought and improved the aspects that were considered issues that made the gameplay more pleasurable, the evolution system was improved as well, giving a sense of balance in the relation challenge+viability=ejoyment (in my opinion was unbalanced in the last game) that turns the game's proposal of combat well executed, that only has the liberty of increasing the challenge for the sake of it, for example, a greater fighter that proves to be a big hardness in the way.

Secondary content, as always, a lot of things to do, as always, I couldn't experience everything of it, but what I've done was good, nothing bad to say. In general, a great game, bold in its inovations and that deserves a lot of credit for it.