This is probably an objectively better game than the first one, but I do believe that the first one had more "soul" in it. The atmosphere was much more bleak, more mysterious. It was like everything had this "veil" of unknowns and metaphors. Like watching a painting that you would need to analyze in order to understand it beyond the surface.
As for the game per se, it's probably better: better movement, better and more straight forward progression/upgrades and itemization, bosses where up to par (second to last boss was memorable) and this time the last boss was fine, unlike in the first one.
The only thing I didn't like was the anime/animated cutscenes. I don't think the match the game, and I'd have preferred an static pixel image than these very out of place animations.
All in all, a gorgeous game that grips you with lavish art and tight gameplay.

Mixed feelings about this. It feels like a step down from previous Yakuza games. Combat is better than on Like a Dragon, but that's mostly it (it's still not great, really). Story-wise, it just has too much up and downs and the pacing feels off, something that Yakuza games always nailed, with some exceptions.
I was afraid that the Hawaii thing was going to feel very "non-yakuza", as the Japan setting is half of what makes the series, but it ended up the other way, feeling "too much like Japan". It really feels like Okinawa 2.0. Everyone speaks Japanese, most people look Japanese, there is no language barrier, no cultural differences... Characters come and go from Hawaii like it's a bus stop away... They could have done so much with it, but it felt like just another location with different food.
Characters are also a bit problematic here, they are not really expanded, and other that the street small talk, there is not much to them (contrary to prior Like a Dragon). Also, I would have liked that they took more chances, story-wise, with Kiryu. It felt too safe.
Ichiban is a great character, but I think he destabilizes the usual yakuza balance of serious/silly that the series is known for, leading much more in the the silly side, and giving these fun/stupid moments less weigh overall.
Despite all this, I loved the game, but (and this might be just me) I feel that the series is feeling a bit both stale and with declining writing quality since Ishin, Gaiden and now this one.