Yakuza 5, the latest installment of the action adventure game series, has been released, but how well does it stack up to its predecessors?

Fans of the long running series will recognize that Yakuza 5 returns to its roots by giving players a highly immersive open world that translates into Japanese crime drama. Once again, Kazuma Kiryu takes the lead in this story, picking up not too long from where the last entry left off.

Here's the general consensus on the new title.

GameSpot

Gamespot feels that longtime fans will know what to expect with this title. The developers kept to their strength: a highly engaging open world.

"While playing the prior games isn't a prerequisite, loyal fans who have followed the Yakuza series up to this point will feel rewarded with every throwback, whether it's the return of a supporting character or a revisit to a ramen shop that has remained in business for multiple games. Even if melee combat lacks the sophistication of modern action games, Yakuza 5 makes up for its modest shortcomings with enthralling diversions and eye-popping settings that compel one to look at travel deals to Japan. Come for the stories, but stick around for Yakuza 5's world; it's unconventional in the best way possible."

GamesRadar

GamesRadar feels that it is worth overlooking some of the game's shortcomings for its attention to detail.

"It's worth putting up with Yakuza 5's flaws just to see where it goes -- and Yakuza 5 goes to some magical places. It's a game that lets you order a CD of Out Run's 'Magical Sound Shower' from your cellphone; a game that lets you try to win a Hatsune Miku doll from a UFO catcher; a game that lets you play a sidescrolling beat-em-up on a virtual reality headset crafted by a Japanese Doc Brown. It's the kind of game that gives as much as you put in, and it has a hell of a lot to give."

Examiner

While Examiner is impressed with the overall package, the reviewer is less enthusiastic about the lack of innovation to the series.

"Yakuza 5 has been a long time coming and the feeling is mixed. A lot of gamers have turned in their consoles for newer systems and without backwards compatibly on the PS4, or even a physical version of the game on PS3, Yakuza 5 may be left undetected. Gripes aside, it's a really good game that's marred down by pacing problems and an aura of been there done that. Hopefully Yakuza 6 will try and reinvent the franchise for a new generation because as it is, the series is starting to feel stale."

Metro

Metro is impressed with the game's authentic crime drama feel and its ability to tell a full story.

"But for new players and old this still has the greatest variety of any of the games, in terms of both gameplay and story. Games like Grand Theft Auto claim to be crime dramas but they tend to excel only in terms of specific plot points or missions. Yakuza 5 is much better at telling a complete story, with a proper structure and a meaningful ending. There really isn't much else like it in gaming, and Yakuza 5 is a story that deserves to be experienced by everyone."

Eurogamer

Eurogamer finds the overall content in Yakuza 5 overwhelming, making the world a lot more immersive.

"Yakuza 5 is all about refining what was already a great series, and delivering the ultimate version of it. There's just so much of it to do and, unlike many 'content-rich' games, almost none of it feels like filler. You can go hunting and fishing, play baseball or golf, darts or pachinko, take on NPCs at Shogi or Mahjong, cook noodles, have snowball fights, dabble in chicken racing or flutter it all away at the casino. It's an imaginary world of such richness that, once you're in, the Yakuza are the least interesting thing about it."