Hints and Tips

Master Yakuza Kiwami 2 with essential hints and tips on saving, XP upgrades, combat strategies, and using Heat Actions effectively.

Saving:

• There is only one way to save: go into the Pause Menu and select Save.
• Unlike Yakuza 6, there is no autosave.
• Unlike previous Yakuza games, there are no save points in the environment.
• Remember to save before big battles.

Experience (XP) and Upgrades:

• You get XP for fighting, eating, and completing Substories.
• Keep up with upgrading your Abilities.
• The most handy upgrades are the direct Stat increases on the first page of the Abilities menu.
• These stat increases can feasibly be maxed halfway through the game.
• XP Gain Skills can hasten growth, but direct stat increases are more impactful.

Combat Strategies:

• Remember to use your Heat Actions. They almost always cause major damage to one or more enemies and can make the difference between a quick victory and a long slog.
• Extreme Heat, once unlocked, provides a big buff, allows you to hammer enemies down more quickly, and gives access to very large weapons.
• For crowd control, grab an enemy (Circle button), then throw him by pressing Circle again. This will spin the foe and cause everyone nearby to experience knockdown.
• Charge Attacks are useful; a connecting charge attack stuns an enemy, and a blocked one breaks their guard.
• You can charge attacks while performing other actions like blocking or dodging, so keep one charged at all times.
• For high HP enemies, check the area for weapons like bikes, couches, or big signs to pick up and use. These cause a lot of damage even with normal strikes. Your own carried weapons are also helpful.

Item Management and Health:

• Vending machine drinks can give you a buff before a fight.
• Unlike Yakuza 6, you can store vending machine drinks in your inventory.
• Restore health by eating at restaurants or consuming recovery items like energy drinks (Toughness or Staminan).
• Always have a few energy drinks on hand, especially before tackling story objectives.
• Watch your Hunger Gauge; once full, you can still gain health from eating but won't get other benefits like experience bonuses.