Yakuza 0: The Beginning
- I've heard a lot about the Yakuza series before starting up Yakuza 0, it was kinda of overdue, but I think it's been in my backlog for a year or two. I've heard about the over-the-top comedic gameplay, the praise of Yakuza: Like A Dragon and more. I decided to pick up Yakuza 0 since it was first in the timeline, and since it was cheap on sale including Kiwami 1 & 2, as well as 3, 4, 5, and 6. The neon-lit streets of 1980s Japan, glowed with irresistible charm, it was the opportunity to immerse myself in a world with a rich narrative with depth and compelling characters. As I fired up Yakuza 0 for the first time, I did not expect to have the curiosity to uncover the world hidden within Kamurocho and Sotenbori. I did not know that what awaited me, the world of the Yakuza, where honor, betrayal, and redemption intertwine amidst a bygone era.
Yakuza 0: Gameplay
- One thing I have to say is that I love the setting of this game, The neon-lit streets of 1980s Japan just suit the game so well, it truly feels like you're experiencing what it was like during those times as you play as Kiryu. And speaking of Kiryu, he is the the stoic yet endearing protagonist, but he's also kind of a quiet protagonist yet one of the most likable protagonists I've felt in a game in a while, He's just an absolute Chad. There is also Majima as the second protagonist, with his own distinct combat style and story arc, adding depth and variety to the gameplay experience to make it different from Kiryu, and it works out to him being as good as Kiryu. Both of them have their own different areas of Japan to themselves, as well as their own different move set, and the game does a great job setting the two apart, both feel unique enough and are fun to play regardless of who. Yakuza 0's combat system is a masterpiece of fluidity and depth, the gameplay and combat is the main piece of meat when it comes to Yakuza, it rewards you for experimenting with its combat system, it rewards you for using different combat styles and learning different combos. When I was first starting out on my first playthrough, I mainly used the Rush style as Kiryu throughout because I thought I could just be fine with using Rush as my main, that was until I got to the first boss fight with Kuze. He beat my ass multiple times, and I realized to utilize Kiryu's other combat style Brawler, and then I changed the boss fight in my favor and then beat his ass. I realized that Yakuza's combat was similar to a fighting game, easy to learn, and hard to master. I translated this knowledge into myself throughout the rest of my playthrough, and as I kept unlocking more skills in my skill tree for both Kiryu and Majima, it just gets more rewarding beating the shit out of people in the most out-of-pocket way. Speaking of which, the finishers in this game are so funny for no reason! There's one where Kiryu somehow gets a boiling hot teapot and pours it down onto a guy. Like, first of all, how tf did you get a teapot, Kiryu? And second, when did you have time to heat it up to a boil!? Of course it doesn't make sense and I love Yakuza 0 for that. The Yakuza series is kinda like Japanese GTA, well a more comedic GTA. The side quests in this game aren't dull at all, they're always filled with some interesting plot line or some funny plot line. Each encounter is a miniature narrative gem, brimming with humor, intrigue, or heartwarming moments. There are a lot of side quests you can pull up here as examples, to which I can't because they all do such a great job of keeping me engaged. However, as my journey progressed, I found myself feeling that the side quests just kinda dragged, and sometimes I fell behind on doing side quests because of that. Another one of the best things about Yakuza 0 are the minigames, they're pretty cool, and fun timekillers to do, but my favorite was the karaoke minigame, it was just funny to play a little mini-game as Kiryu poured his heart out onto the microphone. To be honest, Kiryu is surprisingly a good singer, it made me wonder why he didn't consider being a pop idol?
Yakuza 0: Story
- As for the main story, it's just as a highlight as the gameplay. Yakuza 0's main story unfolds at a slow pace, immersing players in the web of 1980s Japanese underworld politics. It's slow, but it takes it's time to get you into the world of 1980s Japan and get you acquainted with Kiryu, Majima, and all of Dojima. While Kiryu takes center stage as the series' iconic protagonist, Majima's equally compelling narrative elevates him to a co-lead role, offering a nuanced perspective on the yakuza world. The game's narrative richness lies not only in its plot twists and betrayals but also in its exploration of themes such as loyalty, honor, and redemption. Yakuza 0 has brilliance with its character development. Kiryu and Majima's journeys, though distinct, merge seamlessly, being a display of two men navigating the treacherous waters of the criminal underworld. As their paths converge and diverge, it stands to witness their evolution from mere pawns in a larger game to formidable forces in their own right. Alongside them, a colorful cast of supporting characters adds depth and dimension to the overarching narrative, each with their own motivations and agendas. One of my favorite side characters was Nishiki, he's bond with Kiryu, as brothers just sold me on him as a character. He's just an great addition to the series, and just adds more to what's to come in Kiwami 1, and to Kiryu's character. The same applies to Majima too. Majima was an interesting character to play as he was introduced randomly at the start of chapter 3, it was bizarre playing as a different person other Kiryu at first, but Majima just grew to be a compelling character, and seeing how he is as a character after the events of Yakuza 0 just puts a lot of new details about him to light. Beyond its compelling characters and intricate plotlines, Yakuza 0 excels in its ability to immerse players in the tapestry of 1980s Japan. From the streets of Kamurocho all the way to Sotenbori, every area is crafted well, providing an aura of authenticity that transports players back in time. Whether navigating the underbelly of the yakuza or indulging in moments of quiet introspection within the story, the game's immersive atmosphere serves as the perfect backdrop for its gripping narrative. At its core, Yakuza 0 is a tale of redemption, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds of brotherhood as Kiryu, or facing dilemmas as Majima. As I went and delved deeper into Kiryu and Majima's respective journeys, they were confronted with moments of triumph and tragedy, joy and sorrow. Whether forging bonds with other characters within the story or kicking the shit out of people, the emotional resonance of Yakuza 0's story leaves a mark on the player long after the credits roll.
Yakuza 0: Thoughts and Complaints
- As much as I enjoyed my time with Yakuza 0, I do have minor issues with it, such as how the side quests get repetitive over time, I couldn't shake the feeling of them feeling repetitive creeping in me as I progressed further into the game. While each quest had its own charm, they all just kinda felt the same after completing numerous amounts of similar tasks, just slightly weighing down the overall experience. Although Yakuza 0 excels in its storytelling and gameplay, I found myself occasionally grappling with some issues I felt with its pacing, particularly in the later stages of the game. As the main narrative reached near its climax, I felt that the main story was starting to go faster, and it caused some parts in the later half to feel kinda rushed. In addition to the previously mentioned gripes of mine when it came to Yakuza 0, I encountered a few minor gripes during my time with Yakuza 0. Certain gameplay mechanics, such as inventory management or navigation, felt slightly clunky at times, and felt dated, having to sort items felt like a chore. Also, I found most of the items and melee items to be useless in my playthrough. I didn't use any other healing items in combat other than the ones that restored my health and heat up to a large amount. Those were 99% of my inventory most of the time, anything else was useless to me, and buying melee weapons doesn't matter since beating people up with Kiryu's or Majima's fists is already enough, especially if you learn their combos and attacks well enough.
Yakuza 0: Conclusion
- Yakuza 0 was a blast, despite everything I've said, I still enjoyed myself with the gameplay, story, side quests, and bonus content it offered. Yakuza 0 is a game I could see myself returning to, kinda as like a time-killer game, to do, either by completing side quests I haven't done yet, or goofing off in the mini-games, there is just a lot of stuff to do in Yakuza 0. It delivered a captivating blend of engaging gameplay, compelling storytelling, and an abundance of content. Despite minor issues I've felt with Yakuza 0 with repetitive side quests and occasional pacing issues, the game's strengths far outweigh any shortcomings. Yakuza 0 stands as a testament to the series' appeal and is the perfect stepping stone for getting into the series like it did for me. I can't wait to make my way through the rest of the games, to see where Kiryu and Majima will be throughout.
Stats:
6th game I've completed in 2024
Played on PlayStation 5 (via PS4 backwards compatibility)
Hours into Game: 34 Hours
Score: 9/10 (4.5/5)
- I've heard a lot about the Yakuza series before starting up Yakuza 0, it was kinda of overdue, but I think it's been in my backlog for a year or two. I've heard about the over-the-top comedic gameplay, the praise of Yakuza: Like A Dragon and more. I decided to pick up Yakuza 0 since it was first in the timeline, and since it was cheap on sale including Kiwami 1 & 2, as well as 3, 4, 5, and 6. The neon-lit streets of 1980s Japan, glowed with irresistible charm, it was the opportunity to immerse myself in a world with a rich narrative with depth and compelling characters. As I fired up Yakuza 0 for the first time, I did not expect to have the curiosity to uncover the world hidden within Kamurocho and Sotenbori. I did not know that what awaited me, the world of the Yakuza, where honor, betrayal, and redemption intertwine amidst a bygone era.
Yakuza 0: Gameplay
- One thing I have to say is that I love the setting of this game, The neon-lit streets of 1980s Japan just suit the game so well, it truly feels like you're experiencing what it was like during those times as you play as Kiryu. And speaking of Kiryu, he is the the stoic yet endearing protagonist, but he's also kind of a quiet protagonist yet one of the most likable protagonists I've felt in a game in a while, He's just an absolute Chad. There is also Majima as the second protagonist, with his own distinct combat style and story arc, adding depth and variety to the gameplay experience to make it different from Kiryu, and it works out to him being as good as Kiryu. Both of them have their own different areas of Japan to themselves, as well as their own different move set, and the game does a great job setting the two apart, both feel unique enough and are fun to play regardless of who. Yakuza 0's combat system is a masterpiece of fluidity and depth, the gameplay and combat is the main piece of meat when it comes to Yakuza, it rewards you for experimenting with its combat system, it rewards you for using different combat styles and learning different combos. When I was first starting out on my first playthrough, I mainly used the Rush style as Kiryu throughout because I thought I could just be fine with using Rush as my main, that was until I got to the first boss fight with Kuze. He beat my ass multiple times, and I realized to utilize Kiryu's other combat style Brawler, and then I changed the boss fight in my favor and then beat his ass. I realized that Yakuza's combat was similar to a fighting game, easy to learn, and hard to master. I translated this knowledge into myself throughout the rest of my playthrough, and as I kept unlocking more skills in my skill tree for both Kiryu and Majima, it just gets more rewarding beating the shit out of people in the most out-of-pocket way. Speaking of which, the finishers in this game are so funny for no reason! There's one where Kiryu somehow gets a boiling hot teapot and pours it down onto a guy. Like, first of all, how tf did you get a teapot, Kiryu? And second, when did you have time to heat it up to a boil!? Of course it doesn't make sense and I love Yakuza 0 for that. The Yakuza series is kinda like Japanese GTA, well a more comedic GTA. The side quests in this game aren't dull at all, they're always filled with some interesting plot line or some funny plot line. Each encounter is a miniature narrative gem, brimming with humor, intrigue, or heartwarming moments. There are a lot of side quests you can pull up here as examples, to which I can't because they all do such a great job of keeping me engaged. However, as my journey progressed, I found myself feeling that the side quests just kinda dragged, and sometimes I fell behind on doing side quests because of that. Another one of the best things about Yakuza 0 are the minigames, they're pretty cool, and fun timekillers to do, but my favorite was the karaoke minigame, it was just funny to play a little mini-game as Kiryu poured his heart out onto the microphone. To be honest, Kiryu is surprisingly a good singer, it made me wonder why he didn't consider being a pop idol?
Yakuza 0: Story
- As for the main story, it's just as a highlight as the gameplay. Yakuza 0's main story unfolds at a slow pace, immersing players in the web of 1980s Japanese underworld politics. It's slow, but it takes it's time to get you into the world of 1980s Japan and get you acquainted with Kiryu, Majima, and all of Dojima. While Kiryu takes center stage as the series' iconic protagonist, Majima's equally compelling narrative elevates him to a co-lead role, offering a nuanced perspective on the yakuza world. The game's narrative richness lies not only in its plot twists and betrayals but also in its exploration of themes such as loyalty, honor, and redemption. Yakuza 0 has brilliance with its character development. Kiryu and Majima's journeys, though distinct, merge seamlessly, being a display of two men navigating the treacherous waters of the criminal underworld. As their paths converge and diverge, it stands to witness their evolution from mere pawns in a larger game to formidable forces in their own right. Alongside them, a colorful cast of supporting characters adds depth and dimension to the overarching narrative, each with their own motivations and agendas. One of my favorite side characters was Nishiki, he's bond with Kiryu, as brothers just sold me on him as a character. He's just an great addition to the series, and just adds more to what's to come in Kiwami 1, and to Kiryu's character. The same applies to Majima too. Majima was an interesting character to play as he was introduced randomly at the start of chapter 3, it was bizarre playing as a different person other Kiryu at first, but Majima just grew to be a compelling character, and seeing how he is as a character after the events of Yakuza 0 just puts a lot of new details about him to light. Beyond its compelling characters and intricate plotlines, Yakuza 0 excels in its ability to immerse players in the tapestry of 1980s Japan. From the streets of Kamurocho all the way to Sotenbori, every area is crafted well, providing an aura of authenticity that transports players back in time. Whether navigating the underbelly of the yakuza or indulging in moments of quiet introspection within the story, the game's immersive atmosphere serves as the perfect backdrop for its gripping narrative. At its core, Yakuza 0 is a tale of redemption, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds of brotherhood as Kiryu, or facing dilemmas as Majima. As I went and delved deeper into Kiryu and Majima's respective journeys, they were confronted with moments of triumph and tragedy, joy and sorrow. Whether forging bonds with other characters within the story or kicking the shit out of people, the emotional resonance of Yakuza 0's story leaves a mark on the player long after the credits roll.
Yakuza 0: Thoughts and Complaints
- As much as I enjoyed my time with Yakuza 0, I do have minor issues with it, such as how the side quests get repetitive over time, I couldn't shake the feeling of them feeling repetitive creeping in me as I progressed further into the game. While each quest had its own charm, they all just kinda felt the same after completing numerous amounts of similar tasks, just slightly weighing down the overall experience. Although Yakuza 0 excels in its storytelling and gameplay, I found myself occasionally grappling with some issues I felt with its pacing, particularly in the later stages of the game. As the main narrative reached near its climax, I felt that the main story was starting to go faster, and it caused some parts in the later half to feel kinda rushed. In addition to the previously mentioned gripes of mine when it came to Yakuza 0, I encountered a few minor gripes during my time with Yakuza 0. Certain gameplay mechanics, such as inventory management or navigation, felt slightly clunky at times, and felt dated, having to sort items felt like a chore. Also, I found most of the items and melee items to be useless in my playthrough. I didn't use any other healing items in combat other than the ones that restored my health and heat up to a large amount. Those were 99% of my inventory most of the time, anything else was useless to me, and buying melee weapons doesn't matter since beating people up with Kiryu's or Majima's fists is already enough, especially if you learn their combos and attacks well enough.
Yakuza 0: Conclusion
- Yakuza 0 was a blast, despite everything I've said, I still enjoyed myself with the gameplay, story, side quests, and bonus content it offered. Yakuza 0 is a game I could see myself returning to, kinda as like a time-killer game, to do, either by completing side quests I haven't done yet, or goofing off in the mini-games, there is just a lot of stuff to do in Yakuza 0. It delivered a captivating blend of engaging gameplay, compelling storytelling, and an abundance of content. Despite minor issues I've felt with Yakuza 0 with repetitive side quests and occasional pacing issues, the game's strengths far outweigh any shortcomings. Yakuza 0 stands as a testament to the series' appeal and is the perfect stepping stone for getting into the series like it did for me. I can't wait to make my way through the rest of the games, to see where Kiryu and Majima will be throughout.
Stats:
6th game I've completed in 2024
Played on PlayStation 5 (via PS4 backwards compatibility)
Hours into Game: 34 Hours
Score: 9/10 (4.5/5)