Yakuza 0 Review (PS4)
Introduction
This is a prequel to the Yakuza games, featuring Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima as the lead characters.
Story
This game takes place before the first Yakuza game, in year 1988. Like Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5, this game focuses on multiple characters' stories, which are Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima.
Kazuma Kiryu is a new yakuza under Dojima Family, and he was framed for a murder in Kamurocho after collecting the victim's debt. Kazuma Kiryu, left the family and resolves to find a way to clear his name, with the help of the mysterious Tachibana. On that same timeframe, Goro Majima is serving his sentence in Sotenbori in order to get back to Tojo Clan. However, he is tasked to kill a person by the name of Makoto Makimura. Both characters will be intertwined in a very complex plot that involves Tojo Clan as well as other factions, with Makoto Makimura being the center of it.
Gameplay
This game plays like the previous Yakuza games, which is an action-adventure game where you can explore different cities. The game's story mode is chapter based, where they are split by Kiryu and Majima's chapters. Each character has their own story arc, and they also have access to different abilities, substories, and characters.
Story progression is started by going to the objective markers on your map. In many cases, you may be diverted in fetching certain items, fighting enemies, and etc. You may also occasionally find yourself trapped in a mini level to progress the story, where you need to run in to your next marker and fight enemies. Outside of story sections, you are free to explore the cities and engage side- activities, such as disco, batting, mahjong, and etc. You may also opt to complete substories, that may reward you items upon completing them, as well as provide additional character exposure for certain characters.
This game's leveling system is slightly different than the previous games. In this game, your hard-earned money serves as experience points, which can be used to learn a new ability from your skill trees. Each Skill tree correlates to a specific fighting style, and some abilities are universal, such as health upgrades. As you progress, you will require more money to upgrade a character's fighting ability. Money can be earned by gambling, defeating enemies, or do side-activities such as the cabaret minigame or by doing real estate activity. You may also customise Kiryu and Majima with different equipment pieces and accessories as well.
Combat is similar to previous games. You may encounter enemies while exploring the cities, triggering mandatory combat sections in story, or by progressing substories. You may attack enemies with a quick combo, heavy attack, grab attack, sidestep, or block enemy attacks. At first, you have access to one fighting style for both Kiryu and Majima, but as you progress the story both characters will gain new fighting styles that are effective in different situations. Not only that, they also have different pros and cons, as well as new movesets. Like the previous game, the Heat system returns, where you can use special Heat Actions that can inflict huge damage on enemies by depleting your Heat gauge. It can be increased by attacking enemies, and it can be decreased if you are attacked by enemies. Defeating enemies in regular encounters will grant you money, which you can use to buy items or acquire new skills.
The overall gameplay is great. Fun combat, new fighting styles are distinct and unique enough, fun boss fights, tons of side-activities to be done, good and humorous substories. The only issue I have is that the story related combat sections have poor enemy variety.
Graphics
This game uses the same game engine used in Yakuza 5, and the characters look really great in both gameplay and pre-rendered cutscenes. Both cities look great as well. Solid framerate and no bugs encountered while playing the game.
Sound
Excellent voice acting, especially by all voice actors. Goro Majima's voice actor, Hidenari Ugaki is the main highlight, as he shows great range of making Majima's character being extremely complex. Other voice actors did great job as well, especially the voice actors for Kuze, Sagawa, Nishitani, and others as well.
The soundtrack is pretty good. Great battle themes, good karaoke songs, as well as addicting disco songs. The sound effects are great too.
Replay Value
This game has very high replay value. Replay the game again in harder difficulties, continue your game by playing the Premium Adventure Mode and explore, play all minigames, complete Real Estate Royale storyline, complete Cabaret Club Czar storyline, complete all substories, and complete the Completion list.
Conclusion
This is my favourite Yakuza game of all-time. Excellent story, great and many memorable characters, fun gameplay, tons of side activities to be done, very high replay value, and great graphics. I highly suggest new players as well as Yakuza fans to try out this game.
Score
Story: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Final Score: 9.0/10 or 36/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Great story.
- Charming 80s setting.
- Great and emotional ending.
- Majima is the highlight of the game's story.
- Many memorable and likable characters.
- Cabaret Club Czar is incredibly fun to play.
- Fun combat.
- Good game controls.
- Interesting and distinct fighting styles.
- Many humorous substories.
- Amazing graphics.
- Great voice acting.
- Good soundtrack.
- Extremely high replay value.
Cons
- Poor justification on Kiryu's certain decision at the ending.
- Not enough enemy variety in story combat sections.
**Screenshots are taken from official English PlayStation game page and official Japanese PlayStation game page.
This is a prequel to the Yakuza games, featuring Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima as the lead characters.
Story
Experience Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima's stories in this prequel.
Kazuma Kiryu is a new yakuza under Dojima Family, and he was framed for a murder in Kamurocho after collecting the victim's debt. Kazuma Kiryu, left the family and resolves to find a way to clear his name, with the help of the mysterious Tachibana. On that same timeframe, Goro Majima is serving his sentence in Sotenbori in order to get back to Tojo Clan. However, he is tasked to kill a person by the name of Makoto Makimura. Both characters will be intertwined in a very complex plot that involves Tojo Clan as well as other factions, with Makoto Makimura being the center of it.
Gameplay
Explore Kamurocho and Sotenbori.
This game plays like the previous Yakuza games, which is an action-adventure game where you can explore different cities. The game's story mode is chapter based, where they are split by Kiryu and Majima's chapters. Each character has their own story arc, and they also have access to different abilities, substories, and characters.
Story progression is started by going to the objective markers on your map. In many cases, you may be diverted in fetching certain items, fighting enemies, and etc. You may also occasionally find yourself trapped in a mini level to progress the story, where you need to run in to your next marker and fight enemies. Outside of story sections, you are free to explore the cities and engage side- activities, such as disco, batting, mahjong, and etc. You may also opt to complete substories, that may reward you items upon completing them, as well as provide additional character exposure for certain characters.
Beat up enemies with different fighting styles or weapons.
This game's leveling system is slightly different than the previous games. In this game, your hard-earned money serves as experience points, which can be used to learn a new ability from your skill trees. Each Skill tree correlates to a specific fighting style, and some abilities are universal, such as health upgrades. As you progress, you will require more money to upgrade a character's fighting ability. Money can be earned by gambling, defeating enemies, or do side-activities such as the cabaret minigame or by doing real estate activity. You may also customise Kiryu and Majima with different equipment pieces and accessories as well.
Combat is similar to previous games. You may encounter enemies while exploring the cities, triggering mandatory combat sections in story, or by progressing substories. You may attack enemies with a quick combo, heavy attack, grab attack, sidestep, or block enemy attacks. At first, you have access to one fighting style for both Kiryu and Majima, but as you progress the story both characters will gain new fighting styles that are effective in different situations. Not only that, they also have different pros and cons, as well as new movesets. Like the previous game, the Heat system returns, where you can use special Heat Actions that can inflict huge damage on enemies by depleting your Heat gauge. It can be increased by attacking enemies, and it can be decreased if you are attacked by enemies. Defeating enemies in regular encounters will grant you money, which you can use to buy items or acquire new skills.
The overall gameplay is great. Fun combat, new fighting styles are distinct and unique enough, fun boss fights, tons of side-activities to be done, good and humorous substories. The only issue I have is that the story related combat sections have poor enemy variety.
Graphics
Amazing graphics.
Sound
Great voice acting and soundtrack.
The soundtrack is pretty good. Great battle themes, good karaoke songs, as well as addicting disco songs. The sound effects are great too.
Replay Value
Very high replay value.
Conclusion
My favourite Yakuza game of all-time.
Score
Story: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Final Score: 9.0/10 or 36/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Great story.
- Charming 80s setting.
- Great and emotional ending.
- Majima is the highlight of the game's story.
- Many memorable and likable characters.
- Cabaret Club Czar is incredibly fun to play.
- Fun combat.
- Good game controls.
- Interesting and distinct fighting styles.
- Many humorous substories.
- Amazing graphics.
- Great voice acting.
- Good soundtrack.
- Extremely high replay value.
Cons
- Poor justification on Kiryu's certain decision at the ending.
- Not enough enemy variety in story combat sections.
**Screenshots are taken from official English PlayStation game page and official Japanese PlayStation game page.
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