Considering how small the audience is for this game, not sure why he's expecting it to look cutting edge. I guess if the game is priced the same as the high budget titles, its a fair thing to point out.

Seems like a review to me.

" Considering how small the audience is for this game, not sure why he's expecting it to look cutting edge. I guess if the game is priced the same as the high budget titles, its a fair thing to point out. "

Okay I agree, the Yakuza games are horribly dated, the reviewer has a point. He clearly wants to like it, but I can understand his issues with it. 
 
Me? An outdated Yakuza game is EXACTLY what I want. I don't know why, there's something refreshing about it's shittiness. 

it looks bad but from what ive heard the gameplay is what holds it all together, as for the angry mob just look at dragon age, its always a minority making a big stink

I think I'll invest in Yakuza 3 instead, it's really really cheap and it looks quite interesting to me, and I'm not one of those guys who loves everything Asian.

Yakuza 4 does improve significantly over the faults of 3. Sega even kept all the content(save for that Japan Quiz mini-game) this time. So far I'm loving it. 
IGN also gave God Hand(one of the best brawlers in years) for the PS2 a 2.2 
 
EDIT: 
The reason why it's dated is because it came out in March 2010 in Japan. Of course the visuals don't look on par with 2011 game(well, save for Dragon Age 2, which doesn't look that great to be honest) 

Lucky for me, I stopped caring about what IGN had to say about games years ago. Yakuza 4 seems to be, so far, an improvement upon everything in Yakuza 3. I can certainly see why someone would make the argument of it looking a little dated but I sincerely doubt that's an issue with you if you actually shelled out the money for it, considering it's niche audience. 
 
Ugh, not to mention Miller reviewed it. How does he still have the privilege to post articles. :/ 
 
@ahaisthisourchance said:

" IGN also gave God Hand(one of the best brawlers in years) for the PS2 a 2.2 "  

I played the PS3 demo and enjoyed the fighting.  I think fans of Yakuza pretty much know what to expect going in.  We know the formula.  At least Y4 included what 3 didn't.  It's kind of like those already complaining about Zelda SS.  It's a formula people absolutley love.  The same people complaining it feels dated... would be the same people complaining they ruined the game by changing the formula.  I'm definitley checking out Yakuza 4.

that review was fucking terrible IMO

I'm very fond of Yakuza, but everything the dude said in that review is legit. Don't see why people can be upset about that.
 

@JacDG

" I think I'll invest in Yakuza 3 instead, it's really really cheap and it looks quite interesting to me, and I'm not one of those guys who loves everything Asian. "

Another bizarre IGN review. Granted, last time I visited the site was after the Dead Space 2 review. I find it a bit depressing that my only real form of interaction with IGN these days, are people linking and complaining about their reviews on other websites. 
 
There are certain parts of this review that I can agree with:

• There are still issues regarding the combat that has plagued the series since inception.
• Way-point's would be nice, and it's kinda silly that they still haven't been included.

Hardly surprising review, generic and non-specific video waffle.
 
As previously stated, comparing it to GTA is farcical, as is omitting mention of it's Shenmue inspired roots instead. Also, the combat is pretty sickly, but the waypoint/map system is fine. The kamuro-cho area is so small/well proportioned that you can pretty much memorise it after the first couple of hours, unlike a bigger GTA or Just Cause-esque land mass.
 
Anyways, hopefully Yakuza 4 features some Orphanage action, otherwise I'll be mildly dissapointed.

" Okay I agree, the Yakuza games are horribly dated, the reviewer has a point. He clearly wants to like it, but I can understand his issues with it.  Me? An outdated Yakuza game is EXACTLY what I want. I don't know why, there's something refreshing about it's shittiness.  "  

He puts the game down and complains for the entire review, yet it still ends up getting a 6.5. 
 
lol modern review scores

He really goes on about the graphics.  Is that all that a game is nowadays?

I like the guy's voice

I don't think it looks bad.
I have also been playing Yakuza games for like 5 years.

" I don't think it looks bad. I have also been playing Yakuza games for like 5 years. "

The review does make some reasonable criticisms, and I've been thinking for a while that it all looks to be Yakuza 3.5. It's is a damn shame for how the series keeps perpetrating its faults. This guy is still a pretty terrible reviewer, on the writing side of things, and realising it's the same guy who done that atrocious Dead Space 2 review, it's difficult to take very little of what he says seriously. I'm sure he'd like it a lot more if he could PIMP OUT his weapons.
 
Certainly can't wait for my copy to arrive in any case!

I'm sure people who play the series will expect what to get in another Yakuza games so reviews seem almost necessary. I can see why some people may not like it but it's got a certain personality and quirkiness to it that really appeals to me. They just don't make games like this anymore. Maybe for good reason but I still hella enjoy the series.

See Yakuza games are games I think I'd really like because of the cool open world aspect it has. I've played 3 briefly and while I liked what I was seeing I can definitely see it as becoming old very, very fast. 
 
Haven't played 4, but I knew that 3 felt horribly dated at the time.

Greg Miller is a dingus.  Every negative in Yakuza can be said about SvR. But that doesn't stop him from giving that a good score.

" This reminds me that I really need to finish Yakuza 3.  I was enjoying all the stuff you could do in it but put it on the backburner for some reason. "

So basically, more Yakuza? Sign me up!

I got Yakuza 4 a few days ago.It doe's feel like Yakuza 3.5.But the game is pretty damn fun so far.There's lots of stuff to do,the combat is fun and the story is interesting.

Ugh Greg Miller. I love you but. Dude its a fangame it cant be perfect. its for the fans. 

"

                    Okay I agree, the Yakuza games are horribly dated, the reviewer has a point. He clearly wants to like it, but I can understand his issues with it.  Me? An outdated Yakuza game is EXACTLY what I want. I don't know why, there's something refreshing about it's shittiness. 

                   

                "

Huh...strange opinion. The same guy gave 3 a much better score but pretty much every Yakuza fan agrees that 4 just blows three out of the water in every way...

I don't like it, but it's good, but I don't like it. Blap blap blap

" Am I the only one who thinks the graphics actually look pretty good? "

I've never played a Yakuza title, so I can't criticize too heavily. Dude's voice is off putting though. 

" @kingzetta said:

" I don't think it looks bad. I have also been playing Yakuza games for like 5 years. "

The graphics aren't bad, they just aren't that great.  They are a little dated, but no big deal.  The game more than makes up for it in story and depth.  But for whatever reason, he's so stuck on the graphics in the review. "

I've never played a Yakuza game in my life. Would this be worth getting?

" @ttocs said:

" @kingzetta said:

" I don't think it looks bad. I have also been playing Yakuza games for like 5 years. "

The graphics aren't bad, they just aren't that great.  They are a little dated, but no big deal.  The game more than makes up for it in story and depth.  But for whatever reason, he's so stuck on the graphics in the review. "

Well the reason it looks dated is because it is. This game came out a year ago in japan and Yakuza 3 came out 2 years ago. "

It just seems like someone who wants a bit more out of the game.  
 
But I'd rather hear someones opinion who has never played yakuza and just see how they react to it, and that is the vibe I'm getting from  this review. Wants to like it, but something can be modernized and raised to this gens standards. yes it's not GTA, but it wouldn't hurt to use some of the mechanics that GTA had.

Gamespot's Yakuza 4 review is kinda nice.

I don't understand the whole "this is for niche fans anyways so the points are moot" argument some comments have. 
 
A big site like IGN doesn't cater to small niche fans and the review should keep in mind the general audience. 
 
 
And the only GTA complaint was the way point option. Which I think is totally valid.

" Considering how small the audience is for this game, not sure why he's expecting it to look cutting edge. I guess if the game is priced the same as the high budget titles, its a fair thing to point out. "

for some reason after watching that, im gonna pass on my Yakuza 4 purchase o_o

If his complaint is that its a lot like the third game, i'm happy to give it a try... i haven't played any of the other games so i should be good on that front.

I disagree.