Yakuza Kiwami 2 demo lets players return to Japan ahead of schedule

The wait for the game's late August release date just got a little bit easier.

You won't be able to take home the English version of Yakuza Kiwami 2 until August 28, 2018, but that doesn't mean you can't hang out with Kiryu ahead of that point. As it did for Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, SEGA has released an expansive demo to whet your appetite for the main course, well ahead of the final build's arrival on store shelves on August 28.

The city of Sotenbori will be your playground as you participate in a variety of mini-games. You can play darts, show off your astounding karaoke skills, golf your way to an amazing score, and much more, just as you will in the full game. The Yakuza titles have always excelled because of the attention they pay the cities that exist around all the brawling and nefarious deeds, so it's smart of the developers to make much of that experience available as they try to entice players to put their money toward a pre-order.

Speaking of pre-orders, SEGA is offering incentives to jump in early. A "Dragons" theme is available when you pre-order the digital copy (now available), and you'll also receive the "Special Item Pack" that is apparently available for a limited time only. It includes the Demonfire Blade (a weapon), Hostess Ono Michiyo, 1 million yen, two clan cards and the Comedian Suit outfit.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 takes place one year after the events in the previous game, and finds Kiryo attempting to enjoy a peaceful life with Haruka Sawamura. However, an assassination has occurred, and that could mean war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance unless someone wise and powerful--that would be Kiryu--interferes and establishes peace. A journey to Sotenbori is in order, but a fellow known as Ryuji Goda (the Dragon of Kansai) isn't necessarily interested in a calm resolution.

The game sounds like it is packed full of enticing content, and SEGA also promises an "extreme localization" that will be faithful to the original Japanese release that arrived in Japan late last year. The physical edition is available now for pre-order from numerous online merchants, and first-run editions will come in a collectible steelbook case (as did the first run of Yakuza Kiwami) at the standard $49.99 USD MSRP.

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Staff article by Jason Venter (July 06, 2018) Jason Venter has been playing games for 30 years, since discovering the Apple IIe version of Mario Bros. in his elementary school days. Now he writes about them, here at HonestGamers and also at other sites that agree to pay him for his words.