This remake clearly has problems, but you can't fault it for making this game a hell of a lot more accessible to an audience hungry for more Yakuza content. While I can't confirm myself, I understand why others feel that it's a downgrade over the OG, and in my time playing I noticed a couple of scenarios where I feel it absolutely falters, but regardless it still is the most convenient way to play a highly sought-after Yakuza title, and at its core lies said game so I can't hold that against this edition.
On the subject of issues with this version though... The balancing is all over the place however when it comes to XP drops, enemy strength, differences in power between weapons... it's a mess. The changes in casting are too dull as well. While it's really cool to see these actors return, the entire cast serves as this huge gateway into a character's soul because "oh he was bad in the original so he must be against us here" and in almost every scenario this is true. The original castings left in tact leave a real mystery surrounding them as to their true intentions, vastly contrasting with the new picks who wear their true colours all over in the most flashy, obvious ways. Add to that the visual bugs introduced due to the shift from Unreal Engine and the unnecessary retooling of the combat engine and you have a clunky remake of a top-notch RGG game, an opinion that I'd say is way more generally agreed than the divisiveness of Kiwami 1 and 2's changes.
As for the game underneath... it's really another RGG classic with a fresh flavour as a result of the period drama nature of the game. Despite effectively "removing features" over other titles due to the time period this takes place, Ishin manages to make up for that in droves as it bleeds style and attention to detail from every crevice, with fresh assets throughout as the setting doesn't allow for it, so you get a really thoroughly handcrafted experience here. Even if you think the setting and the heavy emphasis on Japanese political history will put you off, it really won't. And to the remakes credit, it's very helpful at easing complete outsiders into the story and laying the groundwork for foreigners to understand the situation and the landscape this story takes place around.
No matter how you play it (maybe we'll see the new translation backported to the PS3/PS4 one day, who knows), Ishin is a brilliant time and a completely unique flavour VS other RGG games and really the majority of games available to a western audience. The deal's sweetened if you already like Yakuza/Like a Dragon, but I'd still give it a hearty recommend no matter that.
On the subject of issues with this version though... The balancing is all over the place however when it comes to XP drops, enemy strength, differences in power between weapons... it's a mess. The changes in casting are too dull as well. While it's really cool to see these actors return, the entire cast serves as this huge gateway into a character's soul because "oh he was bad in the original so he must be against us here" and in almost every scenario this is true. The original castings left in tact leave a real mystery surrounding them as to their true intentions, vastly contrasting with the new picks who wear their true colours all over in the most flashy, obvious ways. Add to that the visual bugs introduced due to the shift from Unreal Engine and the unnecessary retooling of the combat engine and you have a clunky remake of a top-notch RGG game, an opinion that I'd say is way more generally agreed than the divisiveness of Kiwami 1 and 2's changes.
As for the game underneath... it's really another RGG classic with a fresh flavour as a result of the period drama nature of the game. Despite effectively "removing features" over other titles due to the time period this takes place, Ishin manages to make up for that in droves as it bleeds style and attention to detail from every crevice, with fresh assets throughout as the setting doesn't allow for it, so you get a really thoroughly handcrafted experience here. Even if you think the setting and the heavy emphasis on Japanese political history will put you off, it really won't. And to the remakes credit, it's very helpful at easing complete outsiders into the story and laying the groundwork for foreigners to understand the situation and the landscape this story takes place around.
No matter how you play it (maybe we'll see the new translation backported to the PS3/PS4 one day, who knows), Ishin is a brilliant time and a completely unique flavour VS other RGG games and really the majority of games available to a western audience. The deal's sweetened if you already like Yakuza/Like a Dragon, but I'd still give it a hearty recommend no matter that.