Yakuza 0 Review
Release Date: February 26, 2020
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Platforms: Xbox One (Reviewed), PC, PlayStation 4
Price: $19.99
At long last the incredible Yakuza series finally makes its way over to the Xbox, after recently getting ports on PC, giving players on Microsoft's console the ability to experience a franchise that everyone should get the chance to play and be unrestricted by hardware. Yakuza 0 on Xbox One X runs at a locked 60fps and has never looked or run better as it does here, and as someone who has played Yakuza 0 on PlayStation 4 already, Yakuza 0 on an Xbox One X is the definitive way to play the origins of the Dragon of Dojima, Kazuma Kiryu. With the highest resolution achievable in 4K and faster loading times bundled with the best and most polished fighting system the games have seen pre-Dragon Engine, Yakuza 0 is not only a treat for Yakuza veterans, but its beginnings make it a perfect place for newcomers to finally jump in and experience it for the first time outside of Kiwami, and really get themselves familiar not only with Yakuza front-man Kiryu Kazuma, but fan-favorite Goro Majima as well.
Going back to where it all began, Kiryu and Majima find themselves in the middle of opposing families looking to gather the rights for some real estate concerning a project in development. Long before they became the household names they are climbing up the ranks and gaining families of their own, you can see, hear, and feel the ignorance and naivety in the great writing and character development that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has mastered over the years with Majima and Kiryu, but this also involves the likes of Akira Nishikiyama, or simply Nishiki, later on that fans may well remember from Yakuza 1, as he was a sworn brother of Kiryu. Tattoos are a work in progress, devoid of any color or any real symbolism, and they all frequently find themselves making mistakes and fighting for survival as their inexperience and lack of sophistication end up doing more harm than good, despite the well-intent. As is in true Yakuza fashion, however, the drama constantly builds until it explodes in its final act 30+ hours in, giving a spectacle that always remains unforgettable and palpable as the emotions and rush of adrenaline take you through Kamurocho and beyond, circling right back around and hitting you all at once. Yakuza 0 continues everything about what makes Yakuza so special from its stories to sudden events happening in every corner, to plenty of mini-games that make every entry seemingly last forever in a virtual playground of crime balanced out with humor and tons of slice-of-life elements.
Yakuza 0 on Xbox One at its core is the same as it was on PlayStation 4 and PC, so if you've already played it on either of those platforms, then you pretty much know what to expect, but where the Xbox One shines - particularly on the X - is its ability to give the best possible performance and visual boost even if the games themselves have had nothing done to them. It's what makes older games from 360 and further back still look like they came out today with native remasters, when really it's just the Xbox One X's ability to emulate and enhance all from within the box itself; think of when you're running an emulator for, say, a Nintendo 64 and begin to enable x16 anti-aliasing, supersampling, higher resolutions, and more. Gameplay in Yakuza 0 continues the standard brawler masterclass RGG has made so well-known but brings back the multiple styles available for each character to fight with finesse and give them advantages in battle depending no the situation. Both Kiryu and Majima have three separate stances available at their disposal, each that specializes in techniques that complement their persona, builds, and styles. Kiryu has his Rush, Brawler, and Beast which are used for speed, balance, and slow but powerful movements respectively, and Majima has his Thug, Slugger, and Breaker modes that focus on balance, weapons, and versatility respectively. After completing certain tasks later on in the game relating to Kiryu's and Majima's side-businesses and mini-games, you can eventually unlock their Dragon of Dojima and Mad Dog stances that make them intimidating and formidable against anyone. You can feel and see the uniqueness of each respective fighting style whenever in battle, each complete with their own animations, actions, and more, and it's exciting to switch between them on the fly and making use of what you can to brawl your way out of another mess and confrontation.
The 80's of Kamurocho as well as Sotenbori - based off of the real life locations of Kabukicho and Dotonbori - make Yakuza 0 stand out from the more modern Yakuza entries that take place well into the 2000's and up to today, so with Yakuza 0 being decades in the past it's a sight to see Kamurocho in a more primitive state complete with CRTs, older retro games, landlines, and technology at its infancy growing into the tech-driven and night-life laden attraction it is today up to the still-to-be localized Yakuza 7. For a lot of people, Yakuza 0 is a favorite of theirs thanks to its time-period, and while it very much still carries the core essence of what makes Yakuza what it is today, it definitely carries a charm of its own with having the ability to play as Goro Majima in a deep-rooted way. The humor is still outstanding during its more goofy moments, and the music still fits during sessions like karaoke where classics like Baka Mitai still hold strong and Machine Gun Kiss steal the show. It kind of goes to show the timeless nature of what Yakuza and its characters have to offer, which is why no matter what time period it works so well—which I think the Kenzan! and Ishin! Yakuza samurai spinoffs prove further.
With Yakuza's ever-growing lore and the series flourishing more and more with every installment, Yakuza 0 is the perfect place to see where Kiryu's story began - more so than Kiwami - by experiencing his upbringing into a life of crime alongside series staple and fan-favorite, Goro Majima, who finally becomes playable. In true Yakuza fashion, there's plenty to do in every corner of Kamurocho, and seeing its 80s makeover while still retaining the essence of what makes the city so iconic and a character in its own right gives the infamous red-light district a fresh feeling that still entices exploration, with all kinds of events happening at every corner, while adding Sotenbori as an additional criminal playground. Yakuza 0 still provides a brawling masterclass implementing multiple styles for both Kiryu and Majima that really show off what each character is capable of each specializing in specific roles like speed, weapons, and what is effectively a tank role. With the Xbox One version of Yakuza 0, it has never looked cleaner and run in a more crisp fashion than on an Xbox One X, and it's exciting to think that this is one of many installments of Yakuza finally coming to other platforms so everyone can experience this illustrious and masterful franchise with the most memorable characters and stories arguably in video game history.
PROS:
Finally playing as Goro Majima for as long as the series has been around has been long worth the wait as he plays an essential part in Yakuza 0's story and deepening his character for the overall franchise.
80's style Kamurocho is as fun as ever, not shying away from all of the ludicrous events and fiascos that make that city so special.
Yakuza 0 on Xbox One X makes it the definitive way to play with the best visuals and performance across the board.
Also available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as well as being budget priced at $19.99, which is well worth the price of admission giving players possibly the best $20 they'll ever spend.
CONS:
Yakuza's voice-acting has mostly still been reserved for cutscenes, leaving much of the game to still be quiet during conversations out on the street.
Our gratitude to SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio for sending us a copy of Yakuza 0 for the purposes of this review.