Yakuza 0
" Immersive action RPG with rich 1980s Japan setting and deep combat, but plagued by bugs "
Yakuza 0 Review
Yakuza 0 is widely acclaimed as a compelling and emotional prequel to the Yakuza series, blending a gripping narrative with diverse gameplay mechanics. Players control two protagonists, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, whose intertwining stories explore the 1980s Japanese underworld with depth and nuance. The game excels in storytelling, character development, and capturing the era's atmosphere, offering a perfect mix of serious crime drama and lighthearted side content.
Gameplay features multiple fighting styles per character, engaging beat-em-up combat, and a rich assortment of mini-games and side quests that provide levity and variety. The game’s open-world design includes detailed recreations of Kamurocho and Sotenbori districts. Despite some technical issues on PC, such as bugs and camera problems, and occasional combat frustrations, the overall experience remains highly praised for its emotional impact, humor, and replayability. It’s recommended both for newcomers and series veterans.
Highlights
Players praise the deep, emotional storyline with well-written characters and surprising plot twists. The dual protagonists provide engaging perspectives, enhancing narrative immersion.
The gameplay mechanics with multiple fighting styles and fun beat-em-up combat are lauded, alongside a vast array of entertaining mini-games and side quests.
The graphics and setting effectively recreate 1980s Japan, immersing players in a vibrant, stylized world. Voice acting and soundtrack also receive strong commendations.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include combat annoyances such as enemy hitboxes feeling unfair, enemies hitting through evasion, and the rush style being frustrating.
Technical issues like camera glitches, occasional lag, and significant bugs on the PC version—especially save corruption—are noted as detracting from the experience.
Some players find the pacing challenging due to constant story and location shifts, and the money system can feel unbalanced. Additionally, certain mini-games have clunky controls or physics.
Pros
- • The story is emotionally gripping with memorable, well-developed characters throughout.
- • Multiple unique fighting styles per character add depth to combat mechanics.
- • Vibrant recreation of 1980s Japan immerses players in a rich atmosphere.
- • Side quests and mini-games provide humor and variety to balance the serious plot.
- • Excellent voice acting and a memorable soundtrack enhance the experience.
- • Dual protagonists offer diverse perspectives and engaging narrative duality.
- • The game balances serious crime drama with lighthearted, creative side content.
Cons
- • Enemy hitboxes and combat mechanics can feel unfair and frustrating at times.
- • Camera occasionally clips or gets stuck, impairing navigation in some areas.
- • PC version suffers from game-breaking bugs, including save corruption issues.
- • The money system can be unbalanced, making some gameplay loops less meaningful.
- • Some mini-games have awkward controls or unsatisfying physics implementations.
- • Frequent story shifts and numerous characters may confuse players early on.
- • Certain cutscenes rely on text-only dialogue without voice acting.
Rating Criteria
SEGA’s legendary Japanese series finally comes to PC. Fight like hell through Tokyo and Osaka as junior yakuza Kiryu and Majima. Take a front row seat to 1980s life in Japan in an experience unlike anything else in video gaming, with uncapped framerates and 4K resolutions. A legend is born.
