![]() ![]() Throughout the game, you’ll jump between the stories of Kiryu and Goro Majima - a series mainstay who, in 1988, was desperately trying to get back into the gangster organization that rejected him. The localization is also top notch, which is clearly a big help for a title that’s voiced purely in Japanese. Once you get invested in the characters and their different situations, you’ll be completely hooked. Sure, it can feel a little too dramatic at times, threatening to bury its deliciously dark tone, but the simple truth is that it’s incredibly hard to nail down. As far as storytelling in games goes, Yakuza 0 comes with some of the best our industry has to offer. A sensational cast of characters carry the experience, and clever writing gives each personality a purpose. It is a complex web of lies, deceit, violence and death – but also of loyalty and honor. Right from the beginning, the aim of the release is to tell a mature story. Events can certainly move slowly at times, and there’s some filler here and there to work things out, but that’s all quickly forgotten when the game throws out one of its superbly acted cutscenes. It will take you at least 20 or so hours to watch the main narrative, and even then, you have to do it really quickly. In typical yakuza fashion, the plot seems to drag on forever, and there are a ridiculous amount of twists and turns. The game could have done more with its ’80s setting, but it’s easy to see the atmospheric shortcomings thanks to the title’s downright gripping story. Yakuza 0 may be almost 30 years ago, but apart from some flashy 80s hairstyles and a few small details, a lot of Kamurocho feels like it’s stuck in modern times-the fact that you can buy Mountain Dew, Complete with its current branding, doesn’t help at all. The same buildings are on every corner, the same convenience stores sit in their usual places, and the same dubious alleyways are once again home to all kinds of thugs and gangsters. In fact, longtime fans of the franchise will have slogged through this hive of fall multiple times before, and it’s safe to say that the setting gets a little less exciting with each new release. It’s the perfect setting for a gritty crime drama, which probably explains why the game still insists on using it as its backdrop, despite the fact that its neon-soaked streets started to look very, very familiar. Kamurocho itself is a dreamy red light district, with everything from casinos and strip clubs to comparatively flawless karaoke bars. Traditional series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu is just 20 years old, and at the start of the game, he is being paid to take a loan from some of Kamurocho’s biggest losers. ![]() Set in the winter of 1988, Yakuza 0 is a prequel. Those who have dabbled in previous titles will know what to expect, but for our yen, this is one of the best Yakuza installments yet. Best described as an action role-playing game, Yakuza 0 is a mix of mature themes, psychic side quests, brutal warfare and bonkers minigames. Shamelessly Japanese in its tone, humor, and storytelling, this is undoubtedly a distinctive asset, but that’s what makes it so different from just about everything in today’s market. The Yakuza series is one of PlayStation’s most overlooked gems, especially here in the West. Reprinted on Wednesday, August 10, 2022: We’re bringing this review back from the archives after August’s announcement of the PS Plus Xtra, the premium lineup. ![]()
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