The Yakuza franchise is
one that has fascinated me for some time, but I never dove into it until the
promising Yakuza
0was released. This game promised to be a great introduction to the
Yakuza universe – newcomer-friendly and filled to the brim with side activities
as well as a detailed series of storylines. Having invested many, many hours
into the serious but also often wacky universe of Yakuza 0 I can say that the game delivers all of that and more.
Yakuza 0 is a prequel
to the main series of titles. It features separate storylines looking at how
Goro Majima and Kazuma Kiryu rise to infamy as they navigate the perils of
Tokyo on the wrong side of the Yakuza they once called family. The game
alternates between the characters every couple of chapters and allows you to
play as each character as you explore their very different lives and
experiences.
Kiryu is an up-and-coming Yakuza who is framed for murder and forced to
make hard decisions as he walks away from the only family he knew. Majima
is also ex-Yakuza but is allowed to be free; he runs a cabaret called the
Grand as a way to pay back his previous debts to the Yakuza. Both
characters get involved in situations larger than themselves. At the heart is a
real estate venture that is incredibly contested in Tokyo. Majima and
Kiryu also get business interests in their regions, which puts them at
odds with other underworld figures who are competing for the same
resources.
One of the things I enjoyed most about Yakuza 0 is how the game effortlessly flips between the frankly
deadly-serious storylines of the two main characters and the often silly side
quests and mini-games. The core game is deep enough with its varied
fighting mechanics (more on that later), depth of mission types, and storylines
that are a joy to discover, but the extra stuff is so very good. Everywhere you
go there are people with problems. Sometimes it’s a little girl who wants
stuffed animals, other times a weird guy who wants to cross a bridge in a
controversial jacket; in all cases they need your help.
What I liked about these side missions is that they show a softer side
to the two heroes. These are men who crack necks and break bones without
breaking a sweat, but when you stumble on a crying child they have the best
reactions and dialogue with them. All of these missions are completely
optional, but they have instant rewards and additional perks when you start
your businesses, so not only are they entertaining and add depth to the
characters, they confer deep bonuses too.
There are also heaps of mini-games: Disco Dancing, Darts, Pool, Bowling
and Sega arcade games to name a few. They all play very differently and
are uniformly incredibly entertaining. The Karaoke is by far the most
hilarious, as midway through the song your imagination takes over and you end
up starring in a music video. The mini-games also confer monetary bonuses and
further benefits when you play locals in tournaments.
What impresses me most about these diversions is how amazingly well they
are constructed. Pool feels like a true pool simulation, Disco is a
fast-paced rhythm game, and Karaoke is an even faster-paced mini-game with tons
of graphical flair and polish. For simple diversions these games add a whole
lot of depth, as well as silliness. Just look at my video on the Dancing and Karaoke mini-games
to see how crazy they get.
While there are a lot of side quests and mini-games with different
mechanics, the combat in Yakuza 0 is the true
star of the game, and there is a depth to it that keeps scaling as the
game progresses. Both characters learn a variety of martial arts styles (sometimes
in veryunconventional
ways) and you can switch between the styles at will during the many fights you
get involved in. The styles can be upgraded with extra moves and techniques by
spending money you gather. Each style has its own ability screen and can be
upgraded independently.
This results in a huge variety of options when battling your enemies.
Some styles are defensive, others are fast or aggressive, depending on what is
needed. The result is a very satisfying deck of options when combat is engaged,
and it comes in handy as you will fight a lot. From roaming bad guys, to
bullies on the street and thugs in your way on missions, all the way up to boss
battles, you will need to fight with all your skill to survive. Some fights are
relatively easy, others are with large groups or powerful bosses, but in all
cases it will be enjoyable. Have a look at a Let’s Play I did looking at
the game and its fighting system.
Yakuza 0 could have
been an unmitigated disaster, with all the different game types and fighting
styles, the mix of serious and silly elements, and the multiple storylines. But
the developer found a way to distill all of those pieces into a cohesive and
enjoyable experience. The storylines are dark and brooding at times,
but in many ways also very human and real with emotional and physical conflicts
that resonated with me. The side quests and and silly stories added a
surprising depth to the characters and showed the odd (at least to this
westerner) cultural differences between the West and Japan. All in
all Yakuza 0 is a
fantastic experience featuring characters I grew to truly care about and a host
of diverse but engaging experiences and systems that pulled the game together
in a way that truly surprised me. This is a great entry point into the Yakuza universe and just a great game in general.
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