Wow.
It's been years since a new game has gripped me like Yakuza 0 did; rarely anymore do I fall in love with one in every way. But Y0 is something incredibly, undeniably special.
It's debated amongst fans of the series whether 0 is a valid point of entry for newcomers. As one of those newcomers, I have to say that I found it to be a perfect starting place. 0 absolutely hooked me.
It has a spectacular story shown through beautiful cutscenes. It's told against one of the best, most gorgeous settings in video game history. It's built on wonderful characters and gut-punching voice acting. And that's not to mention the incredible depth in the gameplay, both combat-wise and within the world. There's so many things to love about Y0 that it's difficult to feel like I can fit all of it into a single review. But I'm up for the challenge.
SHORT REVIEW
Visuals: 5.5/5
Sound: 5.5/5
Story: 5.5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Worldbuilding: 5.5/5
Achievements (Does not count toward overall score.): 4/5
Overall Score: 5/5 [5.4/5]
IN-DEPTH REVIEW
Visuals:
In an industry where every new product is striving to be as hyper-realistic as possible, Y0 may not be at the very top of that particular list. It's six years old at this point, after all. But hyper-realism isn't the most important thing in games - in fact, I think it's far from it. Y0 DOES manage to look realistic, while also having a distinct visual style in its slightly exaggerated character design.
Kiryu has a wider build and a young face set in a permanent grimace. You can tell that, despite his outward toughness, he's not yet consumed by the violence surrounding him. He's relatively innocent compared to many other members of the cast.
Majima is slimmer and sports a neat ponytail and an expensive black suit, but also an eyepatch and a grizzled face. He looks exactly like what he is - a man who's (temporarily) left behind a violent, dark life to join the world of the rich and extravagant.
Wei Han Lee is an intimidating, hulking brute with full tattoo sleeves. He's initially presented as - and made to look like - a dangerous man. But while he does have a dark past, and isn't above doing bad things, he's also protective, loyal, and fatherly toward Makoto. I appreciate this role flip, and his look plays a pivotal role in its effectiveness.
As you can see, each and every member of the main cast are visually distinct. There’s so much love and thought put into each of them. Their badass tattoos, their (often colorful and/or patterned) suits, their unique faces and hairstyles. I could honestly go on and on. Even the casts for the side stories are purposefully made, so that their charm and goofiness shine through.
And the world has a ridiculous level of attention to detail, too. Sotenbori and Kamurocho are filled with trash, cars, NPCs, posters, and unique storefronts. The two cities feel completely alive and are endlessly fun to explore - not only because of how much there is to do, but how much there is to LOOK at, too. I was constantly noticing new things while running through the streets.
Finally, these thought-out design aspects culminate in gorgeous cutscenes. Every time one came on, I gave it my full, undivided attention. To start with, the lighting and camera positions are so well-directed that it genuinely feels like a movie. There are some truly film-quality shots. But just as important are the emotive expressions and animations that bring the characters to life. They move (and talk) like real people, much more so than the majority of video game characters. Even when the focus is over-the-top violence (such as the awesome heat actions and QTEs), it feels realistic in regards to the movement, which always remains smooth and perfectly choreographed.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Sound:
Speaking of, the voice acting in Y0 is next level - which plays just as big a role in making the characters authentic. The language barrier poses no issue, because the performances will assuredly capture anyone who listens, whether they speak Japanese or not. I doubt this game would have made me cry so many times if it weren’t for the work of the VAs.
The soundtrack rules, too. Electric guitar, drums, and electronic influences combine into fun, energetic, and memorable music that easily gets you into the Yakuza spirit. Not only are the combat tracks notably good, but the songs for the karaoke and disco minigames are such pure joy to listen to. Just like everything else in Y0, the soundtrack perfectly balances its serious and silly tones.
Even the smaller details, such as the sound effects, are given attention. Starting a new substory, pausing, scrolling through the menu - it all sticks out in my mind, because of the sounds accompanying them. Y0 is so good at being memorable in these tiny ways that most games might neglect.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Story:
I wholeheartedly believe that Y0 has one of the most compelling stories ever told in a video game. It’s not absolutely perfect - namely, side characters and b plots that don’t feel quite important enough - but the brilliant writing and carefully woven narrative make up for any flaws tenfold. The action of the crime underworld and the emotional storytelling of the cast are perfectly interweaved; not only is there never a dull moment, but there are many that are forever ingrained in my mind because of how powerful they are.
Really, anything you could ask for, Y0 delivers. There’s nonstop violence and exciting twists to keep you engaged. There are beautiful character interactions and interesting motivations to keep you emotionally invested. There are even a plethora of lighthearted, wacky substories for when you need a break from the heaviness of the main plot.
But while everything else is amazing in its own right, it’s really the characters that tie it all together. You might expect a cast largely made up of Yakuza to be one-note, but that’s far from the case here. Many of them do share some penchant for violence and crime, but they all go about it in their own ways; each one is so unique in their convictions and personality.
[SPOILERS] Not only that, but most of them go through truly astounding arcs, many of which head in completely unexpected directions. I’ve already discussed Wei Han Lee, one of my favorite characters. I love his clashing personality. On the one hand, he’s willing to murder a random, innocent girl to solve a problem - on the other hand, that ‘problem’ is protecting another innocent girl whom he’s taken a paternal role for (not to mention that he looks out for other vulnerable women who need help.) So, instead of discussing him in-depth any further, let’s take that ‘someone’ as an example instead. Makoto Makimura.
[SPOILERS STILL] If I’m being honest, I was not fond of Makoto at first. On top of being the single female member of the main cast, she’s initially presented as a textbook damsel in distress. However, while she does remain reliant on others for most of the story, she eventually becomes determined to gain her independence - and successfully does so. Not only does she have a great arc, but she is very sympathetic and strongly written. She became someone I could personally relate to; her sort of trauma is not one readily touched on in most games, at least not so directly. I think it was handled in a surprisingly heartfelt manner, too. By the end of the game, she was one of my favorites, despite any prior hesitation towards her. [SPOILER ENDING]
And while characters such as Wei Han Lee and Makoto Makimura are already great, it’s the interactions between the cast that make them fully realized. Unlikely friendships and alliances, heated rivalries and deep-rooted hatred, people showing care for each other in their world which is haunted by pain and misery. It’s beautiful.
[SPOILERS] A perfect illustration of what I mean is Majima and Makoto. They’re amazing on their own, but it’s their relationship that completely draws you in. Despite how different they are in personality, they’re stark reflections of each other. Both were tortured to the point of becoming visually impaired. Both lost brothers they cared for deeply. Both form a strong reliance on the other. The way their relationship evolves - and the buildup to a truly heart-wrenching series of final interactions - is undoubtedly one of the best parts of the game. [SPOILER ENDING]
But - as I’ve mentioned - whenever you do need a break from all of that, Y0 consistently provides. You are often given the opportunity to instead focus on the light, often downright hilarious, substories. You can have a chicken manage your real estate firm. You can make friends with the horniest man alive. You can pretend to be a movie producer. You can protect Michael Jackson from zombies. There are so many wacky adventures for you to partake in. It ensures that there’s never any downtime in Y0, even when you’re just messing around.
Particularly great, in the case of the side content, are the cabaret club and real estate plotlines. They stand well on their own, with a charming and goofy cast that tell heartfelt little stories. The insanity and humor of these bring a much-needed balance to the main plot.
Ultimately, it would be a disservice to say that I’ve covered everything that makes Y0’s story so breathtaking. There’s so much nuance and emotion in every aspect of it. Maybe it’s not perfect on a beat-for-beat level, but it’s perfect in nearly every other way. As such, it would be a crime for me to reward anything lower than a 5 here.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Gameplay:
This is where I struggle to speak definitively, since I’m not huge on the brawler genre; not because I don’t see the appeal, but because I’m honestly just not very good at it. Y0 made an honest attempt to get thoughtful gameplay out of me, but at the end of the day, I still struggled to do little more than button mash. Of course, this was entirely a fault of my own, so it doesn’t mean the combat isn’t good. I just don’t know enough to say how good it REALLY is.
What I will say, though, is that I did find it to be fun. There’s a variety of different techniques for both characters, with radically different fighting styles that you can switch between on a whim. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses - none of them feel totally outclassed by the others. And there’s tons of possible combos to execute, all of which are visually exciting, too. That’s not to mention the plethora of cool new abilities to unlock through the money system.
Speaking of, while this type of ‘leveling up’ through money might not be for everyone, I personally love it. It adds a lot more value to the cash than simply buying items or playing minigames. It also feels much more in-tune with the tone and style of the game, as opposed to something more traditional.
But I think my favorite part of the combat is the heat action system. Each one is a cinematic little slice of violence that never gets old. Their existence makes the fights ten times more entertaining in my book.
Not only that, but this is one of the few games where I actually LOVE the QTEs. Even if you fail one, you still get to watch a cool little cinematic instead of auto-losing. They’re just as cool as the heat actions.
Both of these features are a testament to how amazing the animations in Y0 are, too; they’re so smooth and perfectly executed, demanding your attention each time they’re on-screen. It’s a perfect combination of fun visuals and engaging mechanics.
Of course, the combat is only half the gameplay. Sitting on the other side of the fence are the minigames and substories.
Giving a blanket opinion for those proves just as difficult, though. Since there’s such a ridiculous amount of quality content, I can’t rightly hold the few bad things against the game too much. And unless you’re a lunatic who tries to 100% the completion list (like me), you can easily ignore almost anything you don’t like. The karaoke, the disco, the real estate agency and cabaret club, the circuit racing, the arcades, the mahjong, the hilarious substories... all of this had me coming back for more. Maybe there is an occasional cat fight club or batting cage that aren’t up to par, but the bad is far outweighed by the good.
At the end of the day, there’s an endless amount of fun content to sift through here; I doubt you wouldn’t find at least a few things you enjoy, no matter who you are.
Overall, 5/5.
Worldbuilding:
The settings and lore of Y0 are absolutely enthralling. As I’ve already discussed, Kamurocho and Sotenbori are packed to the brim with tiny details that bring them to life, to the point that they both genuinely feel like real places. On top of that, they’re fleshed out even further by the side content and the unique characters created for it. Around every corner is a possibility of running into a new substory or minigame.
And the depth within the main plot gives an incredibly rich history to the Yakuza clans. The factions and hierarchies, and how they interact with each other, are made important early on. The character’s backstories and the way they tie together are just as important, too. But it’s honestly not surprising that things like this are so well-thought-out in Y0, given how old the Yakuza series is. As I briefly mentioned, I do think there are characters and subplots within the main plot that don’t feel important enough. But, on the flip side, their existence makes the world feel even bigger. Having the story remain TOO self-contained would have been just as harmful, if not more.
At the end of the day, the visuals, the story, the characters, and the writing add up to some truly wonderful worldbuilding in Y0. It’s just one of an infinite amount of things that the game executes pretty much flawlessly.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Extra Category - Achievements:
It’s an insane choice to attempt mastering, but I found it still fun minus a few frustrating minigames. It’s rewarding to whittle away at the cities and learn them inside and out!
Overall, 4/5.
Overall Game Score: 5/5. There are so few games that I believe are 99% perfect; Yakuza 0 has joined those few. It’s an action-packed and thrilling experience from beginning to end, one that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys RPGs. The beautifully crafted world and story, the gorgeous cutscenes, the vibrant characters, the entertaining side content, the grandiose presentation - everything here adds up to something really, truly special. Every time this game wanted to tell me something, I listened. I hope that many more people choose to listen to it too. Please give Yakuza 0 your time.
It's been years since a new game has gripped me like Yakuza 0 did; rarely anymore do I fall in love with one in every way. But Y0 is something incredibly, undeniably special.
It's debated amongst fans of the series whether 0 is a valid point of entry for newcomers. As one of those newcomers, I have to say that I found it to be a perfect starting place. 0 absolutely hooked me.
It has a spectacular story shown through beautiful cutscenes. It's told against one of the best, most gorgeous settings in video game history. It's built on wonderful characters and gut-punching voice acting. And that's not to mention the incredible depth in the gameplay, both combat-wise and within the world. There's so many things to love about Y0 that it's difficult to feel like I can fit all of it into a single review. But I'm up for the challenge.
SHORT REVIEW
Visuals: 5.5/5
Sound: 5.5/5
Story: 5.5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Worldbuilding: 5.5/5
Achievements (Does not count toward overall score.): 4/5
Overall Score: 5/5 [5.4/5]
IN-DEPTH REVIEW
Visuals:
In an industry where every new product is striving to be as hyper-realistic as possible, Y0 may not be at the very top of that particular list. It's six years old at this point, after all. But hyper-realism isn't the most important thing in games - in fact, I think it's far from it. Y0 DOES manage to look realistic, while also having a distinct visual style in its slightly exaggerated character design.
Kiryu has a wider build and a young face set in a permanent grimace. You can tell that, despite his outward toughness, he's not yet consumed by the violence surrounding him. He's relatively innocent compared to many other members of the cast.
Majima is slimmer and sports a neat ponytail and an expensive black suit, but also an eyepatch and a grizzled face. He looks exactly like what he is - a man who's (temporarily) left behind a violent, dark life to join the world of the rich and extravagant.
Wei Han Lee is an intimidating, hulking brute with full tattoo sleeves. He's initially presented as - and made to look like - a dangerous man. But while he does have a dark past, and isn't above doing bad things, he's also protective, loyal, and fatherly toward Makoto. I appreciate this role flip, and his look plays a pivotal role in its effectiveness.
As you can see, each and every member of the main cast are visually distinct. There’s so much love and thought put into each of them. Their badass tattoos, their (often colorful and/or patterned) suits, their unique faces and hairstyles. I could honestly go on and on. Even the casts for the side stories are purposefully made, so that their charm and goofiness shine through.
And the world has a ridiculous level of attention to detail, too. Sotenbori and Kamurocho are filled with trash, cars, NPCs, posters, and unique storefronts. The two cities feel completely alive and are endlessly fun to explore - not only because of how much there is to do, but how much there is to LOOK at, too. I was constantly noticing new things while running through the streets.
Finally, these thought-out design aspects culminate in gorgeous cutscenes. Every time one came on, I gave it my full, undivided attention. To start with, the lighting and camera positions are so well-directed that it genuinely feels like a movie. There are some truly film-quality shots. But just as important are the emotive expressions and animations that bring the characters to life. They move (and talk) like real people, much more so than the majority of video game characters. Even when the focus is over-the-top violence (such as the awesome heat actions and QTEs), it feels realistic in regards to the movement, which always remains smooth and perfectly choreographed.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Sound:
Speaking of, the voice acting in Y0 is next level - which plays just as big a role in making the characters authentic. The language barrier poses no issue, because the performances will assuredly capture anyone who listens, whether they speak Japanese or not. I doubt this game would have made me cry so many times if it weren’t for the work of the VAs.
The soundtrack rules, too. Electric guitar, drums, and electronic influences combine into fun, energetic, and memorable music that easily gets you into the Yakuza spirit. Not only are the combat tracks notably good, but the songs for the karaoke and disco minigames are such pure joy to listen to. Just like everything else in Y0, the soundtrack perfectly balances its serious and silly tones.
Even the smaller details, such as the sound effects, are given attention. Starting a new substory, pausing, scrolling through the menu - it all sticks out in my mind, because of the sounds accompanying them. Y0 is so good at being memorable in these tiny ways that most games might neglect.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Story:
I wholeheartedly believe that Y0 has one of the most compelling stories ever told in a video game. It’s not absolutely perfect - namely, side characters and b plots that don’t feel quite important enough - but the brilliant writing and carefully woven narrative make up for any flaws tenfold. The action of the crime underworld and the emotional storytelling of the cast are perfectly interweaved; not only is there never a dull moment, but there are many that are forever ingrained in my mind because of how powerful they are.
Really, anything you could ask for, Y0 delivers. There’s nonstop violence and exciting twists to keep you engaged. There are beautiful character interactions and interesting motivations to keep you emotionally invested. There are even a plethora of lighthearted, wacky substories for when you need a break from the heaviness of the main plot.
But while everything else is amazing in its own right, it’s really the characters that tie it all together. You might expect a cast largely made up of Yakuza to be one-note, but that’s far from the case here. Many of them do share some penchant for violence and crime, but they all go about it in their own ways; each one is so unique in their convictions and personality.
[SPOILERS] Not only that, but most of them go through truly astounding arcs, many of which head in completely unexpected directions. I’ve already discussed Wei Han Lee, one of my favorite characters. I love his clashing personality. On the one hand, he’s willing to murder a random, innocent girl to solve a problem - on the other hand, that ‘problem’ is protecting another innocent girl whom he’s taken a paternal role for (not to mention that he looks out for other vulnerable women who need help.) So, instead of discussing him in-depth any further, let’s take that ‘someone’ as an example instead. Makoto Makimura.
[SPOILERS STILL] If I’m being honest, I was not fond of Makoto at first. On top of being the single female member of the main cast, she’s initially presented as a textbook damsel in distress. However, while she does remain reliant on others for most of the story, she eventually becomes determined to gain her independence - and successfully does so. Not only does she have a great arc, but she is very sympathetic and strongly written. She became someone I could personally relate to; her sort of trauma is not one readily touched on in most games, at least not so directly. I think it was handled in a surprisingly heartfelt manner, too. By the end of the game, she was one of my favorites, despite any prior hesitation towards her. [SPOILER ENDING]
And while characters such as Wei Han Lee and Makoto Makimura are already great, it’s the interactions between the cast that make them fully realized. Unlikely friendships and alliances, heated rivalries and deep-rooted hatred, people showing care for each other in their world which is haunted by pain and misery. It’s beautiful.
[SPOILERS] A perfect illustration of what I mean is Majima and Makoto. They’re amazing on their own, but it’s their relationship that completely draws you in. Despite how different they are in personality, they’re stark reflections of each other. Both were tortured to the point of becoming visually impaired. Both lost brothers they cared for deeply. Both form a strong reliance on the other. The way their relationship evolves - and the buildup to a truly heart-wrenching series of final interactions - is undoubtedly one of the best parts of the game. [SPOILER ENDING]
But - as I’ve mentioned - whenever you do need a break from all of that, Y0 consistently provides. You are often given the opportunity to instead focus on the light, often downright hilarious, substories. You can have a chicken manage your real estate firm. You can make friends with the horniest man alive. You can pretend to be a movie producer. You can protect Michael Jackson from zombies. There are so many wacky adventures for you to partake in. It ensures that there’s never any downtime in Y0, even when you’re just messing around.
Particularly great, in the case of the side content, are the cabaret club and real estate plotlines. They stand well on their own, with a charming and goofy cast that tell heartfelt little stories. The insanity and humor of these bring a much-needed balance to the main plot.
Ultimately, it would be a disservice to say that I’ve covered everything that makes Y0’s story so breathtaking. There’s so much nuance and emotion in every aspect of it. Maybe it’s not perfect on a beat-for-beat level, but it’s perfect in nearly every other way. As such, it would be a crime for me to reward anything lower than a 5 here.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Gameplay:
This is where I struggle to speak definitively, since I’m not huge on the brawler genre; not because I don’t see the appeal, but because I’m honestly just not very good at it. Y0 made an honest attempt to get thoughtful gameplay out of me, but at the end of the day, I still struggled to do little more than button mash. Of course, this was entirely a fault of my own, so it doesn’t mean the combat isn’t good. I just don’t know enough to say how good it REALLY is.
What I will say, though, is that I did find it to be fun. There’s a variety of different techniques for both characters, with radically different fighting styles that you can switch between on a whim. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses - none of them feel totally outclassed by the others. And there’s tons of possible combos to execute, all of which are visually exciting, too. That’s not to mention the plethora of cool new abilities to unlock through the money system.
Speaking of, while this type of ‘leveling up’ through money might not be for everyone, I personally love it. It adds a lot more value to the cash than simply buying items or playing minigames. It also feels much more in-tune with the tone and style of the game, as opposed to something more traditional.
But I think my favorite part of the combat is the heat action system. Each one is a cinematic little slice of violence that never gets old. Their existence makes the fights ten times more entertaining in my book.
Not only that, but this is one of the few games where I actually LOVE the QTEs. Even if you fail one, you still get to watch a cool little cinematic instead of auto-losing. They’re just as cool as the heat actions.
Both of these features are a testament to how amazing the animations in Y0 are, too; they’re so smooth and perfectly executed, demanding your attention each time they’re on-screen. It’s a perfect combination of fun visuals and engaging mechanics.
Of course, the combat is only half the gameplay. Sitting on the other side of the fence are the minigames and substories.
Giving a blanket opinion for those proves just as difficult, though. Since there’s such a ridiculous amount of quality content, I can’t rightly hold the few bad things against the game too much. And unless you’re a lunatic who tries to 100% the completion list (like me), you can easily ignore almost anything you don’t like. The karaoke, the disco, the real estate agency and cabaret club, the circuit racing, the arcades, the mahjong, the hilarious substories... all of this had me coming back for more. Maybe there is an occasional cat fight club or batting cage that aren’t up to par, but the bad is far outweighed by the good.
At the end of the day, there’s an endless amount of fun content to sift through here; I doubt you wouldn’t find at least a few things you enjoy, no matter who you are.
Overall, 5/5.
Worldbuilding:
The settings and lore of Y0 are absolutely enthralling. As I’ve already discussed, Kamurocho and Sotenbori are packed to the brim with tiny details that bring them to life, to the point that they both genuinely feel like real places. On top of that, they’re fleshed out even further by the side content and the unique characters created for it. Around every corner is a possibility of running into a new substory or minigame.
And the depth within the main plot gives an incredibly rich history to the Yakuza clans. The factions and hierarchies, and how they interact with each other, are made important early on. The character’s backstories and the way they tie together are just as important, too. But it’s honestly not surprising that things like this are so well-thought-out in Y0, given how old the Yakuza series is. As I briefly mentioned, I do think there are characters and subplots within the main plot that don’t feel important enough. But, on the flip side, their existence makes the world feel even bigger. Having the story remain TOO self-contained would have been just as harmful, if not more.
At the end of the day, the visuals, the story, the characters, and the writing add up to some truly wonderful worldbuilding in Y0. It’s just one of an infinite amount of things that the game executes pretty much flawlessly.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Extra Category - Achievements:
It’s an insane choice to attempt mastering, but I found it still fun minus a few frustrating minigames. It’s rewarding to whittle away at the cities and learn them inside and out!
Overall, 4/5.
Overall Game Score: 5/5. There are so few games that I believe are 99% perfect; Yakuza 0 has joined those few. It’s an action-packed and thrilling experience from beginning to end, one that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys RPGs. The beautifully crafted world and story, the gorgeous cutscenes, the vibrant characters, the entertaining side content, the grandiose presentation - everything here adds up to something really, truly special. Every time this game wanted to tell me something, I listened. I hope that many more people choose to listen to it too. Please give Yakuza 0 your time.
2 Comments
@DustyVita thank you!! i've sold my soul to this series! :)
DustyVita
2 years ago