Yakuza 0

Yakuza 0

The glitz, glamour, and unbridled decadence of the 80s are back in Yakuza 0.

Fight like hell through Tokyo and Osaka with protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and series regular Goro Majima. Play as Kazuma Kiryu and discover how he finds himself in a world of trouble when a simple debt collection goes wrong and his mark winds up murdered. Then, step into the silver-toed shoes of Goro Majima and explore his “normal” life as the proprietor of a cabaret club.

Switch between three different fighting styles instantaneously and beat up all manner of goons, thugs, hoodlums, and lowlifes. Take combat up a notch by using environmental objects such as bicycles, sign posts, and car doors for bone-crunching combos and savage take-downs.

Fighting is not the only way to kill time in 1988’s Japan: from discos and hostess clubs to classic SEGA arcades, there are tons of distractions to pursue in the richly detailed, neon-lit world.

Interact with the colourful denizens the red light district: help a budding S&M dominatrix learn her profession, or ensure a street performer can make it to the bathroom in time – there are 100 incredible stories to discover.

A major innovation of Yakuza 0 is the addition of fighting styles for both Kiryu and Majima that can be switched in the middle of battle. Kiryu utilizes the balanced Brawler style, similar to that of previous entries; the powerful but slow Beast style, which allows him to use heavy weapons; and the fast boxing-based Rush style, which emphasizes mobility. Conversely, Majima uses the balanced Thug style; the weapons-oriented Slugger style, primarily focused around a baseball bat; and the tricky dance-based Breaker style. Completing Kiryu and Majima’s side businesses will unlock an additional “Legendary” fighting style for the characters, the “Dragon of Dojima” and “Mad Dog of Shimano” styles, respectively.

Yakuza 0 Review

Yakuza 0 is like a fusion between the open-world gameplay of Grand Theft Auto and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, complete with all the absolute absurdity that implies. Opponents can and will be impaled with daggers, have their faces crushed underfoot, be pulverized with a baseball bat, or have their necks snapped, and walk away after the fight completely fine, with nothing to show for the life-ending punishment they have undergone but a few bruises.

Contrary to what one might expect, though, this doesn’t detract from the game at all. The game is a master-class at the uniquely Japanese story-telling practice of juggling dramatic tension with over-the-top insanity. Because of the atmosphere this lends it, the practice of having actual fights be mechanically no-holds-barred without anyone actually dying as a result doesn’t feel out of place.

Paradoxically, for the same reasons, it doesn’t become jarring when you go from pounding a street hooligan into the dirt with a bicycle to progressing through the game’s much more serious, grounded story. The game has something for everyone; whether you’re looking for a satisfying beat-em-up, an open world that’s packed full of distractions to a ridiculous degree, or a tense and thrilling gangster drama, Yakuza 0 will not disappoint, as long as you’re willing to tolerate, or outright enjoy, the game’s rapid-fire juggling of tones.

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Summary
Unless you have a strong aversion to violence, sex, or middling graphics, you owe it to yourself to give Zero a chance. Its story will surprise you, its inhabitants will make you laugh at every turn, and its ambitious scope will redefine how you think about open-world games. It's a fascinating adventure no matter how you approach it, and it’s proof positive that a game can be wildly inconsistent yet remain a great experience.
Good
  • Gripping story
  • Relentlessly absurd humor
  • Generous selection of fun minigames
Bad
  • Combat becomes formulaic
8.1
Great
Gameplay - 8.1
Graphics - 8
Audio - 8.1
Longevity - 8.2

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