Five years ago, I remember playing both Yakuza 3 and 4 for my PS3, and I was really surprised with these games overall because I loved the combat style gameplay where you have to beat the shit out of these guys, I loved the open-world area where you can explore the different places in the city, and of course the story presentation has well written main-plot and badass cast of characters that made the series so amazing to watch and play at the same time. After liking these two games, I'm hoping to look forward the sequels such as Yakuza 5 for PS3, but unfortunately I never had a chance to purchase the game due to lack of physical copy for worldwide release and my limited PS3's hard drive space, which is quite a shame for people like me who prefers physical game disk over the digital download copy from the PS Store. Despite not being able to play Yakuza 5, I'm able to pick up Yakuza 0 for my PS4, which I am happy that I get to play another game in the series since 5 years ago.
My overall impressions on this game is that Yakuza 0 are by far not the only best game in the series, but it's another fantastic game titles of PS4 library that the western audiences should able to enjoy the story driven action-adventure genres with outstanding main plot, great characters development, cinematic design, intense combat gameplay, more variety of exploration, realistic graphic design, and it has more to offer that made this game worth to play for your collection. However, the game itself are pretty super long because it focuses on slower-paced story which helps giving the player a fresh start to the series. So far, it took me awhile to finish the game in one to two weeks and it's turns out that I really enjoyed the game as much I've enjoyed Yakuza 3 and 4.
So without go further do, let's start the review.
Presentation
This game splits with two different main plot between the main protagonist in the game. The event takes place in December 1988 in Kamurocho, the story starts with Kazuma Kiryu, who works with Dojima's family of Tojo Clan as debt collector, was being framed for murdering a innocent civilian as he leaves the business to investigate and search a true killer before his family is forced to take responsibility on his behalf, while other events takes place in SÅtenbori, which focuses on Goro Majima, who runs a cabaret club as the founder, was offered by Sagawa to accept the assassination job until he realises his target is in fact a defenseless blind girl named Mokoto Makimura, which he decides to protect her instead and find out why she's being targeted.
I say the presentation in the whole game is quite well done because the story was well-written which explains the innocence of Kiryu showing that he wasn't involved with the crime scene incident as he searches the killer nearby before they turning his family against him, which makes the Kiryu's main story more interesting with tons of mysteries plot and has tone of dark suspense. I also liked the Goro's main story that explains the refusal of assassinating blind girl and finding out why Sagawa wanted to kill her for reason, which is quite a plot-twist going around in the story.
I say the cast of characters are quite impressive such as Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima are two of the greatest protagonists that has proper personality, more appealing look and being the most badass brawler in the series that kick the crap of the Yakuzas. I also liked the rest of the side characters in the story such as Akira Nishikiyama are quite a decent character that shows how much he cares Kiryu a lot to keep him away from getting involved with bunch of Yakuzas and Mokoto Makimura is just a very sweet emotional girl that really shows how much she needs a support due to her blindness. I also wanted to point out this game does have a impressive sub-plot that really adds the scenario of the game which is pretty good, but if you want to focus more on the main plot of the game then it's best to stick with story missions rather than doing side-missions on single player campaign.
I really liked the cinematic design of cutscenes with realistic captures of character model as you can see they did a great job with lip syncing that really matched the speech well and it feels much like a human the way the character moves in the scenes. I also liked the use of cinematic style between actual CGI and slideshow text which they did a such professional job on this game. I also loved the action sequences of the game with fully action packed Yakuza style movie.
Overall, I loved the outstanding main stories, excellent characters and well made cinematic design that puts the presentation overall step up in right direction by game developer teams.
Gameplay
You take control of two of the playable characters such as Kiryu and Goro, depending the story chapters. In open-world area where you can explore the city of Kamurocho or Sotenbori, your goal is to complete the mission throughout the story scenario which can be marked with the pink symbols on the map screen.
You may be encountered by groups of Yakuzas which you are being forced to fight them during the battle gameplay. In battle gameplay, you'll start with three basic moves such as weak attack, strong attack and grabbing, while you have the health bar and heat power bar at the top-left corner which representing character's health and heat. The weak attack are pretty much quicker to attack enemies, while the strong attack can also give bit of damage. The grabbing can allow you to grab the opponent which lets you smash them into the objects if the heat power are fully increased and there are some different kinds of weapons to pick-up such as katana-swords, pistols, bins, bicycles, crates and more of them are very useful during the combat gameplay. You have three sets of fighting styles such as brawler which is more balanced fighting styles, the rush or breaker is pretty much more fast-paced figthing style which is quite good for performing faster combo moves, and the beast or slugger is pretty slow but more powerful fighting style with brutal fighting moves can give more heavy damage to the enemies. You can unlock the new moves in each three fighting style sets through the abilities options which allowing you to perform more variety of fighting moves. The battle gameplay does also sometime involves quick time event is where you have to hit the right button which can be appeared on the screen. You can also earn completion points by beating the challenge which you can spend these CP points to the shrine area which gives you ability to run longer, gather more money from enemies, and more useful CP unlockables.
Besides the story mission, you can also do the side-missions depending on which area you went on. You can visit any places in the city such as convenience store where you can purchase the variety of items and the restaurant or fast food is the place you can enjoy eating the amount of food and drinks which helps increases the character's health and heat power. You can also enjoy your free time by visiting places like SEGA arcades which lets you play your favourite arcade classics such as Space Harrier, Outrun, Super Hang-On and Fantasy Zone which is quite awesome to have it on this game. You can also play different kinds of mini-game like Karaoke, Pool, Darts, Bowling and some more which can be found in different places in map area. You can earn more money by doing the business at Real Estate Royale is where you can buy properties and hiring staff which helps the player increases the amount of money. You can also take part of working at Cabaret Club is where you have to help groups of hostess to purchase the new clothes, make-ups and accessories to help impressing the customers. You can also visit at the women fighting clubs is where you can place bet on group of female fighters to win the prizes.
I really liked the battle gameplay a lot better than the previous game because it's adds the improvements of fighting style that keeps the game up to date. I also liked the insane finishing moves where the enemies gets ass beaten with weapons, objects and barefists is quite brutal to see them bleed to death. The things that I did not like in the game is the price cost of new moves is ridiculously expensive which is over 300,000,000 Yen, Yikes! that's quite too much to spend. I also liked the overall open-world gameplay where you can visit and explore at the same time. Controlling the characters in both battles and open-world gameplay worked really well in the game without having any issues. My favourite part of the game was the driving rail-shooter mission is where you have to shoot down the enemies which kinda reminds me of SEGA's early shoot em ups classics such as Virtua Cop. I really enjoyed playing as these two characters with fantastic story missions in each chapters which adds the Yakuza's overall experience.
Overall, it has better combat gameplay, magnificent open-world area, great exploration, entertaining missions and enjoyable mini-games.
Graphics
The graphics are looking spectacular in whole game because I really liked the realistic characters design which looked amazing in story cutscenes and in-game battles. It has impressive facial expressions which shows their overall personality and their body figure feels more human like which they did a outstanding job in whole game. The open world area seems to be same size as the previous game, but still it has two cities to explore which feels like they wanted to expand more levels to discover new things in the game. I really liked the details on the buildings with stunning textures, it has great use of backgrounds areas with no slow downs pop-ups at far-distances and it has numerous of crowded people in whole cities. The game is quite bloody during the both battles and cutscenes which they did a good job with the gory effects seems to be real and crude looking things.
Overall, it has realistic characters, stunning textures, great backgrounds and bloody amazing gory effects.
Music and Sounds
This game has fantastic original soundtrack by various of Japanese composers did absolutely great job with these musics that fits well for both presentations and in-game battles which adds the game's mood and atmospheres. The sound effects are quite well made with city background sounds and in-game sound works. I had to admit the Japanese voice cast did a perfect job with their characters with fitting voices that adds the right tones of chraracter's voices. The game speaks in original Japanese languages but offered with English subtitles which helps the western audiences to understand the storyline of the game.
Overall, this game has fantastic music, well made sound effects and perfect voice cast.
Special Features
This game has new game plus with cleared data which adds the replay values, the platinum adventures mode allows player freely walk around the city without focusing on story, it has 2-player local mini-game mode which contains Karaoke, Pool, Darts and Bowling, while online mini-game has Poker and board game to play. It has climax battles mode where you have to fight the enemies to complete the challenge. This game has 4 classics SEGA's arcades at the SEGA Club Arcade such as Space Harrier, Outrun, Super Hang-On and Fantasy Zone. This game also have trophy achievements and leaderboards.
Overall, it's a great edition to the game's content.
Advantages
Outstanding main story
Memorable characters
Amazing battle gameplay
Great open-world exploration
Stunning graphics
Fantastic music
Perfect voice acting
Impressive special features
Disadvantages
Unlockable new moves are ridiculously expensive
Each chapters are quite bit long
Final Verdict
Presentation 9/10 - Outstanding main stories, excellent characters and well made cinematic design.
Gameplay 9/10 - Better combat gameplay, magnificent open-world area, great exploration, entertaining missions and enjoyable mini-games.
Graphics 9/10 - Realistic characters, stunning textures, great backgrounds and bloody amazing gory effects.
Music and Sounds 9/10 - Fantastic music, well made sound effects and perfect voice cast
Special Features 10/10 - New game plus, mini-games, climax battles mode, SEGA arcade classics, achievements and leaderboards.
Overall 9/10 - It's a awesome prequel that gives a player new freshstart of a series. Yakuza 0 is amazing titles for PS4 owners and fan of the series should able to experience with Yakuza's universe. With outstanding presentation, great exploration, and amazing battle gameplay that adds the game's overall and it is definitely must own game for your PS4 collection. I'm still hoping to look forward to see Yakuza Kiwami for PS4, a remake of first game, coming out on the end of August.
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