Yakuza 0: Director's Cut

I really don’t have complaints about Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut. It’s exactly what it claims to be: a new, recut version of Yakuza 0 on the Nintendo Switch 2 with enhanced visuals and smooth performance. It takes advantage of everything very well, and being able to play it on the go is a massive bonus. For existing fans that picked up a Switch 2, it more than earns itself another playthrough. For those of you that are new to Yakuza and may have just started with Kiwami on the original Switch’s release, this is a prequel you don’t wanna miss out on. It’s the biggest and best version of Yakuza 0, and I’d argue an absolute necessity for Switch 2. You simply won’t find a better experience than the Director’s Cut.

“Director’s Cut” is the right term for this Yakuza 0 release. The biggest addition is additional minutes of narrative footage, and it’s been spruced up to work on a handheld console for the first time. That’s really all it needed, because it was already the pinnacle of one of the greatest JRPG properties we’ve ever seen.

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut puts a great game on a system that makes it portable, and that alone is laudable. Even if the multiplayer is boring and the new story content is redundant, the dub is strong enough to warrant sitting through every cutscene at least one more time. When a series with such an established structure and formula has a strong enough baseline to seem like it can’t go wrong, it can be difficult to sort out the true gems. Yakuza 0, and its Director’s Cut, are gems, end of story.

It goes out of its way to make it the absolute and definitive version of Yakuza 0, building on every element of the game and making it more enjoyable, more ambitious, and an overall better game to play, without forgetting its many side quests and hustles. It also shows what the Nintendo Switch 2 can do, and delivers an experience that performs at a very high level without ever compromising its quality. Yakuza 0: Director's Cut on the Switch 2 is one of the greatest games of narrative action ever made, and a textbook case of a bridge between the past and the present.

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut on Switch 2 proves that SEGA and RGG Studio deliver more than a simple port. Performance is strong, the content is complete, and the absurd, heartfelt energy of the series translates beautifully to handheld play. Minor compromises in handheld performance, storage demands, and the lack of new gameplay content keep it from perfection, but they don’t diminish what is still one of the finest entries in the series. For newcomers, this is the perfect entry point: a prequel that requires no prior knowledge, yet sets the stage for everything that follows. For veterans, it’s a chance to revisit one of the series’ best entries with added story context and the freedom to play anywhere. This is the definitive way to experience SEGA’s crime epic, as it shines very brightly indeed on Switch 2.

Yakuza 0 was already regarded as one of the best entries in the series, and the Director’s Cut more than lives up to this lofty legacy. Although the story retcons from the new cutscenes may prevent it from being the definitive experience for some long-time fans, Red Light Raid fulfils some idle daydreams of playing as some of the series’ better known characters, and the English dub is a welcome addition for those who may have started with more recent titles. For newcomers, there couldn’t be a better entry point to the franchise. Whether you’re spending hours indulging in minigames, helping citizens with their highly improbable dilemmas, or beating up random delinquents and Yakuza members who accost you on the street for no easily identifiable reason, there is always a good time to be had in the streets of Kamurocho and Sotenbori.

This 15-year-old game has aged well, with new cutscenes and other enhancements contributing to an epic, movie-like quality to the action. This prequel makes the perfect first entry for the Switch 2.

Even after all these years, Yakuza 0, considered by many the best in the series, returns with a host of incredible extras, additional scenes, and runs magnificently on Nintendo’s new platform. It still carries some of the original’s drawbacks, such as unnecessary dialogues that drag the game on too long, but it remains a fun, modern title and a great addition to the Switch 2 library.

Yakuza 0 is an excellent game and this Director’s Cut is the best version of it yet. The story is compelling, the action is fun, and there’s a wealth of things to enjoy in its well-realized settings. I’m not sure there’s enough here to justify a double dip for those who have already played it elsewhere, but if you’re new to the game it’s a must-have. Hopefully the third time is the charm for Like A Dragon and Nintendo platforms so that we can see the rest of the series come to Switch 2.

Yakuza 0 remains among the best Yakuza games, and this Switch 2-exclusive Director's Cut is essential for those who are yet to play it. The extra content here, including additional cut scenes and a new Red Light Raid mode, isn't all that impressive, but it doesn't matter much when the base game looks and plays better than ever.

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is the most packed version of what I consider the best game in the series. The story is a fantastic one, and the additional cutscenes present in this release act as a great complement to what’s already here. The gameplay is fantastic, and it runs so well on the Switch 2. Red Light Raid is also entertaining for those who really enjoy the combat system. The English voice acting is generally good, with a few actors feeling out of place or not keeping up with the original Japanese performances, and it is nice to have that option. Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is a fantastic Like a Dragon game, and I feel itis a perfect addition to the Switch 2 launch library.

If you do decide to get Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut you’ll be getting one of the greatest games ever made, enhanced, on your shiny new Nintendo Switch 2, the decision will come down to whether you’ve played it before and fancy playing it again but via the definitive version.

Overall, Yakuza 0: Director's Cut is a solid but unexceptional port of a phenomenal game. It runs smoothly, plays well, and is a ton of fun from start to finish. However, the new content adds nothing to the game, and if you already own Yakuza 0, then there's no major reason to pick it up again. However, if you're interested in learning about the franchise or if you've only played the recent RPG-like entries, Yakuza 0 is by far the best starting point for newcomers. The unnecessary extras don't prevent it from being arguably the high point of the entire franchise and well worth playing if you're curious about the Like a Dragon/Yakuza titles.

Yakuza 0 is still one of the best action games ever made, a game with a deep narrative, an exceptional cast, and a gameplay that is as multifaceted as few others. The Director’s Cut version for Switch 2 improves on the original in every single aspect, elevating its technical element and adding more “meat” around the bone with a new multiplayer mode.

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.

Yakuza 0: Director's Cut doesn't add a ton of substantial content to the original, but it does present the best (and best-looking) version of the game that finally broke the series through outside its home country. Featuring an incredible combat system that remains in the top tier across the franchise, and an emotional dual-protagonist story, it's a no-brainer if you're only just now hopping on the Like a Dragon train.

Yakuza 0 is completely the same at its core, which will please many returning players to the game. This will also prove to be a great place to start for anyone looking to start the series from the chronological start. You’ve got an amazing port of an amazing game ready for you to jump into once again. Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is a fantastic version of the game that does nothing but add to the experience that fans of the series adore, making it a great game to check out and play once again. If you’re new to Yakuza games, there isn’t a better starting point than this entry here and it's easily worth your time.

Yakuza 0 is the best of the traditional-styled Yakuza games, with the most complex story and interesting characters of the lot. It's also the ideal place for newcomers to get started with this weird and wonderful series. The new multiplayer mode is a little throwaway, for sure, and the fights do get repetitive (turn-based Yakuza FTW), but otherwise, this is a phenomenal port of an epic adventure that's now my favourite way to get down on the mean streets of 1980s Tokyo and Osaka.

Yakuza 0 is one of the greatest entries in the long-running series, and the Switch 2 port is masterfully executed, offering excellent performance alongside new features. While the new online mode may not quite hit the mark, the core campaign remains incredible, and the added cutscenes enhance the overall experience. Although there isn’t much new content for returning players, this version serves as the perfect entry point for newcomers to the series.

Yakuza 0 Director's Cut is one of the best games in Switch 2 launch lineup, since it is the best version of one of the best episodes in the whole Yakuza franchise. This should be enough to recommend a buy, but the new Red Light Raid, extra story content and new localization languages round up a perfect package.

Yakuza 0 Director's Cut may not be the best example of defining the graphical capabilities of a console like the Nintendo Switch. However, SEGA and the development team behind this port made an effort to deliver a solid game that both fans and newcomers will enjoy, especially since Yakuza 0 was already a great game when it released a decade ago.

Yakuza 0 doesn’t do enough to justify its director’s cut title, but the main story arc remains a benchmark for a franchise that has only grown in popularity, so what better time to give it a run on a console that can do it justice.

When the story gets going, it’s a lot of fun. There are twists and turns, epic fights with sick attacks, and genuinely interesting characters. I’d argue this is one of the series' best entries but it’s not as perfect as I remember, even with that decent dub. If you want to get into Yakuza, this is a good way to start but if you’ve been to the 1980s Kamurocho before, maybe keep to memes.

Anyone who’s waited to experience Kiryu’s story from the very beginning will find Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut to be the best version yet. The story remains top-notch, now more expansive than ever and even better presented thanks to new voice acting. Add a fun multiplayer raid mode on top, and there’s little to criticize in this complete package.

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut remains a requisite trek through Japan’s bubble-era underworld, now brought to life with sharper visuals and seamless performance on Switch 2. Despite a few underwhelming extras, its timeless blend of heartfelt drama and rambunctious absurdity is as captivating as ever.

Yakuza 0 is one of my favorite video games, and everything I love about it is fully intact for the Director’s Cut. It’s the perfect introduction to the story of Kazuma Kiryu, and you can’t go wrong with using this version as your starting point. That said, the Director’s Cut is easily skippable for existing fans unless you’re invested in the brand new English dub or extra languages the game has been translated into. The changes made to the story by the new cutscenes make me believe this is a worse version of the game than the original PS4 release that I played, but that is by a very small amount. If you’re a Nintendo fan who’s been looking for your chance to get started with the Like A Dragon franchise, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for.

Yakuza 0: Director's Cut proves that great video game titles can find new life on unexpected platforms. While the new features don't fully justify the premium price tag for veterans, it's still an essential experience for any player who hasn't visited the streets of Kamurocho.

Yakuza 0 Director's Cut establishes itself as an attractive edition and a great launch game for Nintendo Switch 2. The possibility of reviving one of the best titles of the saga (now with Spanish texts) is enough to give it a chance, although it could have offered some other weighty novelty or “quality of life” improvement.

Not much in the way of additions or quality-of-life updates, but when the original release is so good, who cares? Yakuza 0 is still a fantastic experience 10 years after its release and the perfect launch title for the Switch 2.

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut combines an intense story with a fast pace and a great sense of humor, making it very fun to play. Its compact open world and style-based combat make it straightforward and accessible. A solid remaster and a great entry point into the saga.

The Yakuza franchise makes a great debut on Nintendo Switch 2 with Yakuza 0: Director's Cut, the definitive version of the 2015 Yakuza prequel from the PlayStation 4. Yakuza 0: Director's Cut offers several new cutscenes, the new Red Light Raid multiplayer mode and English voice-overs, which are all on top of an already great action game with a captivating story. Although the cutscenes can be hit or miss, and players who already own Yakuza 0 may have already had their fill, the game is a great time on Switch 2, thanks to its solid 4K and 1080p 60 FPS performance.

Yakuza 0 Director's Cut is a fantastic package for newcomers, and I'm very happy that the licensed music is finally available in the West. However, the baffling new cut-scenes and pointless new raid mode make this feel like Sega taking the series a few steps forward and a few steps back in different ways. For those who haven't played it before in any form and only own a Switch 2, I'm glad Yakuza 0 is finally on a Nintendo platform and with a better conversion than Yakuza Kiwami had on Switch, but it is a shame that there are caveats to what should've been the easiest win for Sega given how amazing Yakuza 0 was all those years ago.

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is the best way to play one of the best games in the series. It looks great, runs well, and the new English dub is very good — with a few exceptions here and there. It stumbles in a few places, but it rarely sullies the charm of the game that millions adore.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed revisiting the origins of my favourite fighting boys in Yakuza 0: Directors cut. For longtime fans, this version offers the definitive way to revisit Yakuza 0, and for first timers, it's the perfect place to start.

Yakuza 0: Director's Cut stands as an excellent starting point for anyone looking to get into SEGA’s long-running series, with the hope, of course, that the following chapters will also make their way to Nintendo Switch 2. The game’s story remains the best in the franchise, and the late 1980s Japanese atmosphere alone is worth the (admittedly steep) price of admission. Between the main campaign, side quests, and optional activities, you’ll find yourself immersed in an experience that can easily last dozens and dozens of hours. Sure, the additional cutscenes feel unnecessary - if not outright detrimental to the narrative - and the Red Light Raid mode without local co-op makes even less sense, but the inclusion of more languages for subtitles and English dub could make all the difference in opening the doors of this saga to a much broader audience.

Despite its flaws (which will hopefully be fixed in future patches), RGG Studio's work remains a true gem of an action game, and the best gateway to the fantastic action Yakuza series.

Yakuza 0 Director's Cut may not be worth the double-dip for those who've experienced it before, but it's a no-brainer for first timers. It's a great upgrade to arguably the best entry in the Like A Dragon series, despite some questionable new additions.

On its own, Yakuza 0 is a great, albeit dated, entry in the overarching Yakuza franchise. Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut might not feature enough content that Yakuza fans may enjoy, but it’s an excellent port for a Nintendo Switch 2 owner and an even better entry into the Yakuza series for those who have not yet played a game from Ryu Ga Gotoku.

For first-timers, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is the definitive way to experience one of the greatest action-adventure games ever made.

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is the definitive way to play and is fantastic as part of the Switch 2’s launch lineup.

Yakuza 0 Director's Cut is a good way for new players to get into the series, and plays great on Nintendo Switch 2... but it's also a good bit pricier than the game on other platforms and the added cutscenes, voice work and co-op mode don't feel like enough to overcome that difference.