Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut (Switch 2) Review

Gameplay

Graphics

Audio

Narrative

Summary: The best way to play the best entry in the series and a must have launch title for Switch 2

4.5

Back to the 80s

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is a very clever choice for a Switch 2 launch title. First, it rocks. Yakuza 0 is easily one of the best entries in the long-running and completely bonkers series, and the perfect entry point for newcomers.

If you haven’t ever enjoyed the delights of beating a drunk half to death with a traffic cone outside of a Tokyo brothel, here’s the good news: Since it’s a prequel set before the original Yakuza, you don’t need any prior knowledge to dive right into Yakuza 0.

Although there are tons of nods and winks for fans, watching them sail right over your head won’t diminish your enjoyment of this wonderfully campy gangland epic.

Set in 1988, Yakuza 0 sends players back to the very beginning of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima’s careers in the Yakuza, set against the shadier side of the Tokyo property boom.

First up, players are introduced to a 19-year-old Kiryu as he attempts to clear his name after being framed for murdering a civilian.

Meanwhile, in Sotenbori, Majima attempts to earn his way back into the Yakuza by working as the manager of a Hostess club.

Considering the Yakuza (Like a Dragon) series’ flair for the ridiculous, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut tells a surprisingly grounded story. That’s rounded out even further this time with some extra cut scenes that contextualise certain parts of the plot.

While the younger versions of Kiryu and Majima are certainly more naïve than their more grizzled older selves (though Yong Yea’s Kiryu still sounds incredibly world-weary), they’re as likable as ever. Kiryu remains the straight man, often finding himself in almost daft situations. Meanwhile, Majima remains an oddball with a flair for the dramatic, who is a total badass.

Meanwhile, Yakuza 0’s antagonists are a shower of dastardly bastards with tons of personality; from a mysterious property magnate to conspiring Yakuza lieutenants vying for control of the clan.

Though the main campaign is suitably epic, it’s Yakuza 0’s numerous, and often ludicrous, side stories that steal the show. These include teaching a dominatrix to effectively scold her clients, protecting a man wearing an offensive jacket, breaking up a panty-stealing ring, and plenty more daft situations aside..

Yakuza 0 is unapologetic about its often wacky nature. Though it can feel nonsensical, and its moral compass, and that of our heroes, a little confused. For example, the mission where you give porn to a kid rather than break a promise is weird, and the juvenile rewards for romancing hostesses are cringey. But despite these minor missteps, Yakuza 0’s side content does hit far more than it misses.

Yakuza 0‘s combat remains as brutal as it was in 2015. Every punch and kick lands with wth bone-crunching impact, made all the more hefty by the Switch 2’s improved HD rumble features.

Kiryu and Majima each have three unique fighting styles unlocked throughout the story, which reflect their personalities. Kiryu sticks to brawling and boxing, battling with a quiet confidence and determination, while Majima’s approach is a mix of Capoeira and extreme violence. A mix that’s as random and brutal as the man himself.

Cash is king in Yakuza 0; every downed thug erupts with a shower of cash. The more damage you do, the more filthy lucre you fleece, with extended combos, environmental kills, and multiple KOs racking up bonus doubloons.

Although scraps are common in Kamarocho, with our heroes unable to even pop out for some smokes without some group of ne’er-do-well picking a fight, the combat never veers into repetitive territory thanks to the wide range of options both Kiryu and Majima have for dismantling fools.

Though neither neighbourhood you explore in Yakuza 0 is that big in terms of raw acreage, both feel alive thanks to a combination of having plenty of NPCs going about their day-to-day, and the sheer weight of things to do. There are shops, restaurants, and bars to frequent, games to play (including full arcade ports of Outrun and Space Harrier), cuddly toys to catch, and the constant challenge of wandering man-mountain Mr Shakedown trying to steal all your cash.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s a compelling business management minigame to sink your teeth into as well.

Kiryu can play landlord, buying up various buildings, investing in businesses around town, and ploughing cash into staff and security to keep the money rolling in.

Meanwhile, Majima takes charge of a beleaguered cabaret club, hiring hostesses and directing them to the correct clients, as he juggles the needs of both to keep the punters entertained and the staff happy.

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut looks and runs fantastically on the Switch 2. Running at full 4K at a stable 60fps in docked mode with touch-ups to textures and improved lighting, the early adventures of Kiryu and Majima have never looked or played better.

A fantastic soundtrack underscores all the action, while the voice acting is superb, regardless of whether you choose to play with the original Japanese or new English dub for lazy Gaijins like myself.

Being a Director’s cut, there’s also approximately 30 minutes of new cut scenes. With some pivotal moments reworked and recontextualized as well. I don’t want to ruin it, but there’s bound to be some Han shot first-style discussions in the Yakuza community because of this.

Finally, there’s the new multiplayer Red Light Raid mode that sees up to four players face off against waves of thugs for cash, which you then use to upgrade and unlock new characters.

It’s a fairly bare-bones mode that lets you play either online, locally with friends, or solo. It’s fine. A decent bonus, but ultimately superfluous, though it does make me wonder if this is a test to see what a multiplayer Yakuza might look and play like.

Each round comprises a fairly decent slice of brawling against fairly substantial mobs, and the boss battles that cap each set of stages are challenging enough. However, I’m not sure how much fun there is to be had after you’ve played a couple of rounds, and I think that’s the consensus because I rarely found anyone online during my tests.

Final Thoughts

Brutal combat, irreverent humour, and a smorgasbord of content make Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut one of the best launch titles on the Switch 2, and also the best way to play one of the best entries in the long-running series. If you haven’t visited the weird and wonderful world of Yakuza before, and a need to play something on it other than Mario Kart World, you have no excuse.

About the Author

Gareth Newnham

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut (Switch 2) Review