Yakuza 0

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1510 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,303 out of 1510
  2. Mixed: 69 out of 1510
  3. Negative: 138 out of 1510
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  1. deho7
    Sep 24, 2018
    9
    It really feels like you are in Kabukicho in Tokyo except that you are playing the hero yakuza Kiryu Kazama who solves everyone's problem. The story is well written and has a twist to it. The sub stories also teaches you to choose the moral choice and awards you for it. i spent around 100 hours playing this game and it was never a boring moment in it.
  2. Zeydlitz
    Sep 22, 2018
    0
    Worst Yakuza game Ever! Dance battles are nightmare (and this S..t is REQUIRED), challenges still here, and all other bad stuff from previous games.
  3. pongkrit03
    Sep 16, 2018
    10
    My first Yakuza I have great experience more than I have expected. I love the story very much both main quests and side quests. I would say this game has the BEST WRITER EVER. Main story is intense and has a lot of plot twists and side stories, some are hilarious, some made me shed tears. Yakuza 0 is the epitome of how to create great story for a game. GREAT MINI GAMES are also one thingMy first Yakuza I have great experience more than I have expected. I love the story very much both main quests and side quests. I would say this game has the BEST WRITER EVER. Main story is intense and has a lot of plot twists and side stories, some are hilarious, some made me shed tears. Yakuza 0 is the epitome of how to create great story for a game. GREAT MINI GAMES are also one thing that need to be mentioned. This game contains several great mini games and some are super fun, such as Cabaret Club, Real estate business. Seriously I spent 60 hours+ into the game, more than half are from mini games and side quests. It is safe to say that Yakuza is one of the best games in term of making mini games as well.

    Combat system is good, not the best though. It is more like Street fighter in 3 dimensions, rather than other action games like Batman. The way enemies attacking you is kind of random, but it is still fun nonetheless. There are many cool animations when you use heat gauge, especially with new environment or equipment. It is subjective one but those who like fighting should like this one as well.

    Next is cutscenes. There are many cutscenes here. and again ONE OF THE BEST CUTSCENES game I ever saw in my 20 years gamer. Facial expressions look so real, they thrill me every time. Voice acting is top notch too.

    One last thing I have to mention is the soundtracks. This game has ones of THE BEST SOUNDTRACKS ever. You may not notice while you playing the game because you may be busy with fighting but if you check out Youtube, there are tons of soundtracks and most of them are great, especially Kuze song.

    In conclusion, YAKUZA 0 strongest strengths are STORY, MINIGAMES, CUTSCENES and SOUNDTRACKS. Combat is good too but it is subjective one. Game length is long. No negative comes to my mind at all. Definitely deserves my 10/10 score. However, this game has a ton of texts to read and sometimes long cutscenes, so those who don't like reading, might not enjoy as much. I will look forward to play KIWAMI 1 and KIWAMI 2.    … Expand
  4. Zeriou
    Sep 10, 2018
    0
    After 15 minutes of skipping every cut scene. i still didn't get to play. So i gave up.
  5. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    9
    Yakuza 0 is probably going to be my pleasant surprise of the year. I had heard of this series and I did hear that it was a good game but I didn’t think that I would like it. Boy was I wrong. I know how this sounds but a big reason that I don’t like Japanese RPG’S or just Japanese games in general is because I like games that are grounded in a little more reality. This game is really weirdYakuza 0 is probably going to be my pleasant surprise of the year. I had heard of this series and I did hear that it was a good game but I didn’t think that I would like it. Boy was I wrong. I know how this sounds but a big reason that I don’t like Japanese RPG’S or just Japanese games in general is because I like games that are grounded in a little more reality. This game is really weird but finds a way to stay grounded and I think that’s why I liked it so much.

    Initially, I was not loving the story but the combat was fun enough that I stuck with it. As the game went along, I started getting more and more into the story. I really liked the breakdown of the game and especially where there was 2 protagonists (Kiryu and Majima). Every 2 chapters you would switch between these characters. It was kind of interesting watching these 2 characters back stories and then eventually the two stories started to become intertwined with one another. By the end, I found it all to be very interesting and my favorite part of the game wound up being the story.

    The games combat was broken into 6 different types and both of the protagonists had 3 each. I ended up liking Majima’s combat more because it had my 2 favorite combat battle styles. The first one that I liked was called the “Breaker Style” which was break dancing in fighting form. You would do all of these break dancing moves and they would count as attacks against the enemies. It was kind of stupid but fun to do. Although I really liked the “Breaker Style,” my go-to was “Slugger Style” which was where he had a baseball bat. I ultimately liked this style the best because it was very effective and I had the most success with it.

    The game isn’t just story and combat, its a whole open world with a ton of things to do. You can play baseball, you can go to an arcade and play old Sega Arcade games from the 80’s, you can go to a place that has phones where you can hit on women. The weirdest by far there is an “erotic video store.” You pick up these videos out in the open world and then go to this place and watch them. Its so weird because its FMV and the videos are kind of sexual. For example the video that I watched was this girl that was on her knees and very sexually she blew up a balloon for a good minute. It was so odd but the weirdest part is, at the end. The camera cuts to a box of tissues and your character kind of lets out a deep breath.

    The game also has 2 more story driven mini-games. For Kiryu, you’re running around buying up real estate and becoming a real estate mogul. I did that for a little while but it wasn’t that fun to do but it was a quick way to make money. For Majima, he would run a Cabaret Bar which is something that I have never heard of before but I guess they’re common in Japan. Essentially a man goes to this bar alone, sits down and then some girl who is a employees of the bar, sits down with him. She then gives him company by flirting and talking with him. It’s very a odd and kind of sad concept but I won’t get into that. I enjoyed running the Cabaret Bar more because there was more to do with it all. You would hire new girls, re-design the club, level the girls up and change their appearance. Plus there was the actual mini-game of actually running the bar. Patrons would come in and you had to pair the customers personality with one of the girls personality. The more you did this mini-game, the more your girls would level up and the more successful the business would become.

    This is a game that I can highly recommend, it was fun and the story was engaging. Its everything that I like about video games and I look forward to playing more Yakuza games.    … Expand
  6. Spideyfan4Life
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    I started with Yakuza 0 and it was the perfect entry point into this absolutely phenomenal series. Enough said.
  7. DamienFletch
    Sep 5, 2018
    9
    Having never played a Yakuza game before, I was cautious going into Yakuza 0. It's safe to say that Yakuza is now one of my favorite game series. It's hard not to love the wacky (and hilarious) substories, completely off the wall mini games, and the jam packed world full of stuff to do and shops to visit. Not to mention the compelling crime story at play here. The story is the real star ofHaving never played a Yakuza game before, I was cautious going into Yakuza 0. It's safe to say that Yakuza is now one of my favorite game series. It's hard not to love the wacky (and hilarious) substories, completely off the wall mini games, and the jam packed world full of stuff to do and shops to visit. Not to mention the compelling crime story at play here. The story is the real star of the show for me as it shows us a young, naive Kiryu in his fight to try and make things right and Goro Majima trying to do anything to get his way back into the Yakuza. Simply put, you need to play this game. It may not be the best looking or innovative PS4 game but what it does do, is tells one of the best, most compelling stories of this generation.… Expand
  8. folgin
    Sep 4, 2018
    8
    Yakuza 0 is a long game filled with amazing moments. The last few chapters of its 17-chapter story are worth experiencing and I wouldn’t trade them for anything, not even the 35 hours it took me to get to that point. Not everyone will be able or willing to make it that far. While it’s a ton of fun to take part in activities around Kamarucho, there can be a lot of mind-numbing combat inYakuza 0 is a long game filled with amazing moments. The last few chapters of its 17-chapter story are worth experiencing and I wouldn’t trade them for anything, not even the 35 hours it took me to get to that point. Not everyone will be able or willing to make it that far. While it’s a ton of fun to take part in activities around Kamarucho, there can be a lot of mind-numbing combat in between. That repetition will fight you along the way, but the investment will pay dividends. Those last chapters have my favorite moments in any video game ever. It’s a shame that many will likely fall off Yakuza 0 before experiencing some of the greatest narrative moments that video games have to offer.… Expand
  9. Kojumbo
    Aug 12, 2018
    9
    Overall, this game is a solid 9. Story was fun and amazing, even though it had some plot holes. The NPCs and main characters are very well developed and memorable. Gameplay is top notch, I would say better than the GTA series just because the combat system has much more variety. Nonetheless, you can still beat the game even at hard difficulty just using block and the main combo you learnOverall, this game is a solid 9. Story was fun and amazing, even though it had some plot holes. The NPCs and main characters are very well developed and memorable. Gameplay is top notch, I would say better than the GTA series just because the combat system has much more variety. Nonetheless, you can still beat the game even at hard difficulty just using block and the main combo you learn at the start as many of the moves you learn throughout the game feel rather unnecessary. On the upside, there are at least 5 different mini games that can all put a smile at your face. The main drawback is perhaps the fact that you have to listen through so much dialogue which is told in Japanese and you will find yourself clicking the skip button quite a lot. Graphics on the PS4 are rather pathetic, so I would say go for the PC version if you have the option. Still, my PS4 Pro did not emit too much excessive noise while rendering the game, which is usually the case with the newer games.… Expand
  10. Deependra
    Aug 7, 2018
    10
    Yakuza series is known for it's brutal action by protagonist and for it's story. The yakuza world is not so large when we compare to other games, but it has many many side activities which are interesting as well. The game design is good. Since you can smash out many combos while the heat is on. There are unique style of both the playable characters and I can guarantee you that not evenYakuza series is known for it's brutal action by protagonist and for it's story. The yakuza world is not so large when we compare to other games, but it has many many side activities which are interesting as well. The game design is good. Since you can smash out many combos while the heat is on. There are unique style of both the playable characters and I can guarantee you that not even for a second you will get bored or skip the cut scenes because of it's interesting plot. What's so special about this game?
    1. Game effects while you are combating against enemies.
    2. Good combat style with alots of variations
    3. Great story mode with plot twist
    4. Great side activities.
    If you are bored of non japanese styled games and would love to taste something different, then what are you waiting for? Just grab this game blindly. :)    … Expand
  11. HTGamer
    Jul 30, 2018
    8
    Yakuza 0 is a great entry in the series, but can't top the masterful Yakuza Kiwami.

    The Yakuza series has always been JRPGs at heart, with battles playing out as brawls. Just like JRPGs there are random encounters with enemies in the open map. Brawls are melee fights, the fighting system is deep and varied, you can choose from 3 different fighting styles (tank, fighter, rogue), with    Yakuza 0 is a great entry in the series, but can't top the masterful Yakuza Kiwami.

    The Yakuza series has always been JRPGs at heart, with battles playing out as brawls. Just like JRPGs there are random encounters with enemies in the open map. Brawls are melee fights, the fighting system is deep and varied, you can choose from 3 different fighting styles (tank, fighter, rogue), with some excellent high-level finishers having to be unlocked first.

    Yakuza 0 is set in 1988 Japan, with the country's economic bubble about to burst. The story is about 2 protagonists (series regular Kiryu Kazuma, and newly added Goro Majima) being involved in an internal Yakuza power struggle, both of them trying to survive. Lead characters are very likeable and develop during the story's length.

    The campaign can last dozens of hours, but not all of them are quality time. That's because of the inclusion of 2 time-consuming mini-campaigns, one for each protagonist. Kiryu Kazuma's real estate and Goro Majima's hostess club business should have been a 1-2 hours affair to see through, but they each last more than 10 hours to complete, so you are basically looking at a 20-hour-long grinding. These activities are optional but you can't really avoid them and focus on the main story, or else you won't be able to upgrade your heroes past a certain point, and you will need those upgrades especially in the higher difficulties.

    The game is also full of side quests. These are either small fetch quests or just a quick story unfolding before you in a matter of minutes, but the writing is usually top notch. Plenty of comical stories but also some dramatic ones. A standout for me was the couple of quests paying tribute to the late Michael Jackson, complete with his moonwalk and dancing.

    Last but not least, there are tons of mini games, from darts and billiards to bowling and karaoke, even Sega's old Outrun arcade game.

    Not everything is rosy though. The game's map of Kamurocho is identical to the version included in other Yakuza games. If you play a couple of Yakuza games it can become tiresome to see Kamurocho again. Then there is the issue with the camera. Because the map is tightly packed (typical of Japan) the camera can't easily follow your hero when walking in narrow corridors or building interiors. It should have been an over-the-shoulder type of camera. But these are all my gripes.

    On the technical side, Yakuza 0 runs at 60 fps just like Yakuza Kiwami, frame rates drops only in a couple of heavy scenes with dozens of enemies on-screen. The OST is nice, with a few standout rock tracks. Voice overs are in japanese, there is no option for english dubs, but you get used to that.

    Overall, Yakuza 0 is a great game, even though it's not perfect. Yakuza Kiwami is a better game and a more suitable introduction to the series. If you play the 1st game and you like it, then proceed to Yakuza 0 and the other entries.    … Expand
  12. SOLIDSNAKEN64
    Jul 23, 2018
    7
    I really enjoyed this games characters and story, yakuza has a mix of serious story with a lot of goofy moments. It knows when to be serious but also to relax a little and not take itself to serious. Y0 is filled with many fun mini games and side quests. Each sidequests has it's own story and they were all pretty entertaining. I really enjoyed the 80s setting in Japan, you really feelI really enjoyed this games characters and story, yakuza has a mix of serious story with a lot of goofy moments. It knows when to be serious but also to relax a little and not take itself to serious. Y0 is filled with many fun mini games and side quests. Each sidequests has it's own story and they were all pretty entertaining. I really enjoyed the 80s setting in Japan, you really feel like you are in that era. I don't really see why people would rather have Japanese dubs over English dubs but I'm not one of those people. I would have much rather the dev's to have hired English actors for localization, but that's just me. The graphics are ps4 graphics even though they look good it would be nice if they took advantage of the ps4 hardware. The brawling system gets repetative after a while and I was so tired of the random encounters by the end of the game. Yakuza 0 is my first entry into the story and even though I enjoyed it for this most part i felt it was lacking in some areas.… Expand
  13. slim1985
    Jul 18, 2018
    10
    i'm a fan since 2005 i have played the original and i loved the series i have played all yakuza games except y5 and dead souls but i will for sure. yakuza 0 is the most complete yakuza game imho and one of the best games i have ever played thanks to the deepemotional story and fun gameplay i would highly recommend this game to someone who want to spend 6-7 hours a day doing some storyi'm a fan since 2005 i have played the original and i loved the series i have played all yakuza games except y5 and dead souls but i will for sure. yakuza 0 is the most complete yakuza game imho and one of the best games i have ever played thanks to the deepemotional story and fun gameplay i would highly recommend this game to someone who want to spend 6-7 hours a day doing some story missions and getting lost in fun mini games simply this game is BIG i have spent 160 hours and enjoyed evey bit of it a truly masterpiece… Expand
  14. RememberTheAGES
    Jul 16, 2018
    10
    When I first started playing Yakuza 0 I wasn't sure what to expect. Chapter 1 was mildly interesting and I wasn't sure why everyone was so very much excited about this series. As I continued playing though the game ramped up quickly and the protagonists Kiryu and Majima really started to become fleshed out.

    I'm not even sure how to explain this game. There is so much to do in Yakuza 0    When I first started playing Yakuza 0 I wasn't sure what to expect. Chapter 1 was mildly interesting and I wasn't sure why everyone was so very much excited about this series. As I continued playing though the game ramped up quickly and the protagonists Kiryu and Majima really started to become fleshed out.

    I'm not even sure how to explain this game. There is so much to do in Yakuza 0 and everything for the most part is fun from doing the main story to playing baseball or sharing your phone card collection as you come the street for all the hidden ones to oh so much more. I would do a chapter and then hit up mini games to break of the seriousness of the main story which gets ridiculously good quite quickly and becomes one of the most amazing crime dramas I have ever seen!

    From a game that started off as unsure why everyone loved so much to becoming one of my favorite games speaks volumes to this series. This game made me a fan for life and I have the long journey of obtaining the rest of the series to see how everything turns out.

    I love this game, and I love you Kiiiiiryu-Chan!    … Expand
  15. Zomgclaude
    May 20, 2018
    10
    I know that many users have only 2 scores they can give a game: 0 or 10.

    I use my 10s with extreme parsimony. But in the case of Yakuza 0, it's the only score I could consider giving. I bought this game based on the hype and a at a PS Store sale price. It took me a few months to even start it up. At first, I was put off by the relatively small map, the lack of vehicles and the last    I know that many users have only 2 scores they can give a game: 0 or 10.

    I use my 10s with extreme parsimony. But in the case of Yakuza 0, it's the only score I could consider giving.

    I bought this game based on the hype and a at a PS Store sale price. It took me a few months to even start it up. At first, I was put off by the relatively small map, the lack of vehicles and the last gen graphics. Yet, despite its shortcomings, it remained unexplainably appealing, so I stuck with it.

    Simply put, this game offers some of the best storytelling and voice acting I have ever encountered in 33 years of playing video games. And through side quests and mini-games, the replayability of Yakuza 0 is undeniable.

    And because it took so long for this series to gain traction in North America/Europe, there will be many more games for you to play after this one. Yakuza 1 was remade as Yakuza Kiwami, the 2nd game's Kiwami version comes out this summer. Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 are available on PS3, with 4 and 5 also being carried on the PS Now service. Hours and hours of entertainment.

    If you haven't already (and unless it's for a child, which would be super inappropriate), give this game a try. It's well worth your time.    … Expand
  16. The_BlueRose
    May 19, 2018
    10
    Yakuza 0 delivers a brand new story with two characters: Kiryu and Majima in a non stop action game that surprises as more as you play.

    - The story is great, with to cities to play and two diferent stories with superb moments. Also subsries are fun as hell and the metagames (real-state and caba-club) are really fun to play. - The combat: with 3 combat (4 with the ultimate) styles    Yakuza 0 delivers a brand new story with two characters: Kiryu and Majima in a non stop action game that surprises as more as you play.

    - The story is great, with to cities to play and two diferent stories with superb moments. Also subsries are fun as hell and the metagames (real-state and caba-club) are really fun to play.

    - The combat: with 3 combat (4 with the ultimate) styles each character that gives the player oportunities to face enemies and change them fluently. Heat actions and progresion are unique, investing money to get habilities in a charming skill menu that shows the japanesse culture and style.

    - Graphically: can be improved, there is an old engine with its flaws but running at 60 fps. The main characters models are quite good and cinematics are at other level.

    - In general: is a great game that gives a lot of surprises and leaves no one indiferent about its quality.    … Expand
  17. njja02
    May 15, 2018
    8
    I wish the game had way less exposition and was fully voice acted through out the whole thing. But the story, game-play, characters, and side activities were all fantastic.
  18. xdino6
    May 2, 2018
    10
    this game is pure joy with its magnificent main story and funny side quests .
    this is one of the best games i ever played

    !0/10 would complete again
  19. il_fenomeno
    May 1, 2018
    9
    This game got everything, action, great story and what I most liked funny substories and moments coming just outta nowhere, I really asked myself WTF lol, you can just walk on streets and always something comes :) havent seen any same quests/side quests, you really need to know to make game like this, Im glad this game came out of Japan to rest of the world and thx God speech is originalThis game got everything, action, great story and what I most liked funny substories and moments coming just outta nowhere, I really asked myself WTF lol, you can just walk on streets and always something comes :) havent seen any same quests/side quests, you really need to know to make game like this, Im glad this game came out of Japan to rest of the world and thx God speech is original Japanese like it should be with English text, they didnt ruined it with English speech like in nazi movies where nazis speak English :)… Expand
  20. Denolact
    Apr 4, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I made a Metacritic account just to write about how f**king amazing Yakuza 0 is, I'm almost 100% sure that it's my new favorite game of all time. I have completed about 20% of the game and I'm over 35 hours into it, there's so much to do. Here's just a few of the things you need to do to 100% the game's completion log:
    - Eat everything at every restaurant in Sotenbori and Kamurocho
    - Spend, get and invest over 1,000,000,000 yen
    - Complete the 100 substories, there are 40 for Majima and 60 for Kiryu
    - Collect every telephone card on the map to befriend Mr Libido
    - Go to a telephone club and befriend three girls
    - Travel 100 km by foot (trust me, it takes way longer than you think, after over 35 hours of almost only walking around doing side stuff, I have yet to pass 50 km)
    - Defeat 200 enemies in the 6 different fighting styles (3 for Kiryu, 3 for Majima)
    And all of that isn't even close to everything. Some examples of especially great subquest from where I am at is:
    - Producing a tv show without knowing anything about producing
    - Helping a dominatrix get better at her job
    - Speaking through a portable phone (again, trust me, it's harder than you'd think)
    - Defeat a huge guy who, if you don't defeat him which is very likely you don't, will steal all the money you currently have on you
    - Helping a hardcore band be actually hardcore (this one's probably my favorite of all of them so far)
    - Going full real estate, buying buildings, collecting money, hiring staff, all while trying to get a hold of
    Kamurocho from The Five Billiionaires
    - Helping a kid get an adult mag while other people are watching
    And just to top it off, the best features of the game:
    - A fantastic story with fantastic pacing
    - Fantastically written characters
    - Tons of side content to do after you're done with the story, though I highly suggest people do them as they play the story
    - Amazing simple to learn, hard to master combat
    - Memorable layouts of the open worlds
    - Some of the best villains in any game period
    - Fantastic controls
    - Fantastic soundtrack (especially Judgement) and sound design, and finally...
    - THE ABILITY TO PAUSE A CUTSCENE WITHOUT SKIPPING IT!
    10/10. That's what the game gets, and it gets what it deserves. The only games that even come close to rivaling it for me is Persona 5, Psychonauts and Dark Souls, but even they struggle. It is just a pure gaming masterpiece, and a PERFECT introduction to any series. I can't wait to move on to the other games after I finish it, but I will take it slow and try to do as much as possible in this game before going over to Kiwami.    … Expand
  21. Berrlett
    Mar 20, 2018
    10
    If you never played Yakua then this is a great entry to the series. One of the best stories you'll come across in gaming accompanied by great character design, fighting styles are just sublime and a very good soundtrack. highly recommend it.
  22. tbouniverse
    Mar 9, 2018
    10
    I had so much fun every moment with this game. Kiryu and Majima are such awesome mains. The story is so interesting that I found myself pulling off 5-hour sessions because I could not contain the hype.

    If you were expecting a Japanese GTA, you're wrong. This is a complete original. Even if this isn't your type of game, you have to try it.
  23. RJX74
    Jan 27, 2018
    9
    One of my favorite games on PS4. Slow start but it explodes in an awesome adventure. Love the setting
  24. hazartas
    Jan 7, 2018
    10
    My personal GOTY of 2017, Yakuza 0 is probably the peak of human creative genius. This game is the best gift you can buy for yourself, don't even hesitate, just buy right now!
  25. Kinokee
    Dec 16, 2017
    7
    I really want to rate it higher but the sour taste after many of the minigames and combat never exactly doing what I want it to prevents it from ever being a truly good game. At this point, I can get better value out of a novel and a game designed around only weird minigames, as then both would have the proper quality and not just **** around in the middle.

    cons: **** outrun. ****    I really want to rate it higher but the sour taste after many of the minigames and combat never exactly doing what I want it to prevents it from ever being a truly good game. At this point, I can get better value out of a novel and a game designed around only weird minigames, as then both would have the proper quality and not just **** around in the middle.

    cons:
    **** outrun. **** blackjack. **** catfights. **** mahjong. **** the timing in disco and **** the decade old combat system from the PS2 era.

    The camera auto rotates with the character which makes any tight corner a nightmare. It also gets locked on walls which means doing combat near rounded walls means you lose 60-70% of your vision.

    weapons hit a lot of invisible walls and make the character recoil for no reason.

    Accurate combat inputs at a high level is a nightmare. The game is enjoyable because you have enough health items and things thrown into it that it can be overlooked. However, actually examining the controls leads to a lot of problems, many of which are brought out in the climax battles. Inability to properly target enemies, slow turning, auto target targeting nothing, the inability to just turn around like a normal human being can, weapons not aiming correctly, heat action prompts appearing and not working 80% of the time, a 3 second delay on starting most heat actions after a combat command has already been used, and so on. It is the same crappy combat from 10 years ago and with so many other games doing combat better the only saving grace of this game is the niche void it fills.

    Pros:
    Side stories are enjoyable. Very Yakuza-esque.    … Expand
  26. YamadaSan
    Dec 10, 2017
    10
    amazing game amazing well written story & hilarious substories, i cant wait till Yakuza Kiwami 2 get release in west whoever vote negative can suck it
  27. BlakDak666
    Nov 30, 2017
    9
    Yakuza 0 is a excellent demonstration and throwback to not just the entire series, but also a nostalgic reminder that games can still be fun and not rely on graphics and size to make it a selling point. On the surface, Yakuza 0 can look quite negative: its graphics and textures look awful, the stiff animation models, the sometimes buggy AIs of bystanders, the lack of way points or properYakuza 0 is a excellent demonstration and throwback to not just the entire series, but also a nostalgic reminder that games can still be fun and not rely on graphics and size to make it a selling point. On the surface, Yakuza 0 can look quite negative: its graphics and textures look awful, the stiff animation models, the sometimes buggy AIs of bystanders, the lack of way points or proper labels of properties and places, the invisible walls and objects, etc. This alone could spell disaster for any game sold on modern hardware, so it speaks volumes that this game not only holds its ground with its limitations, but drop kicks expectations sky high. That's the greatness of this game; it soars above so many modern titles for keeping the core foundation of satisfying gameplay, great stories ripped right out of action and mafia films with its own originality, metric tons of activities (all surprisingly fun to do) and so much respect for its players that even for $60 this is highway robbery and would have been assaulted by most game companies in the worst of ways. Thankfully, this is a 2 games (you could even argue 3) in 1 that is absolutely worth your time. Let me briefly explain the game more to not mislead.

    Story - Arguably one of the best, well-written, solid voicework and mature tone to a game I have not seen this strong in a long time. While some can argue the dissonant tone of the game might take wind out of its sails, the balancing of this tone is so well executed that it blows my mind. The plot is a bit lengthy and definitely full of dialogue, but watching it was engrossing. The ending went on longer than I expected and even after all of what happen I felt I only scratched the surface of this series.

    Characters - What a hell of a character list. Kazama Kiryu and Majima Goro (the latter in particular) present a air of realism, stoicism, grit and gusto that had me sold after the first chapters they appear in. The other characters of the different families and clans all had complex and deep personas that oozed curiosity. For a game mirroring action and mafia films this was a kickass cast of people. Well done voice acting as well.

    Combat - Satisfying, but I would not call it outstanding overall. It has issues in most of its abilities (even some of the styles themselves) being weak additions and not worth the investment. The repetition can set in after awhile and for those wanting a deeper system you wont find that here. This is more of a old school beatem up (with absolutely amazing if not insane finishers and heat action moves) that carries problems as a result. Regardless, this serves its part and at least keeps me interested. The fourth weapon slot is forgettable and the use of handguns by enemies can be a pain to deal with. Bosses are not really different from normal enemies and easy to abuse, but the QTE events make them memorable and stand out alot.

    Minigames - So many of them, ranging from blackjack to soft core porn videos, karaoke to shogi, this game has it all and it serves the point of "just because you have to be yakuza serious, doesnt mean you cant have yakuza fun". Add to that a real estate and club management and this alone could be its own game on some mobile free stuff. I absolutely loved it all.

    Substories/Challenges: Completing these were overall good with some memorable and well written pieces that had me laughing one minute and sobbing the next. The objectives themselves might be simple or fetchy, but the writing to them is great and is able to keep that dissonant tone consistent throughout with no real sign of weakness. Then you have challenges that test your abilities and skills to learn new moves with a ton to offer you.

    I feel almost insulting this game for not talking more about it, but it is one of those games that is better to play and roll with its crappy initial impression than to have someone fully explain it. I would like to add a few more things to it: the music is well done and memorable, the crafting system is weak, new game plus, free mode and other options to play with another player is insane. Playing over 50+ hours felt like the first course and based on how much more I would still have to do, this would easily be a 100+ hour game to 100% complete, with a exciting energy to it that makes me smile ear to ear.

    As a newcomer to the series, I was initially skeptical but now I consider Yakuza 0 to be a colossal achievement for what it wants to accomplish and feel inclined to play the remasters and the future Yakuza 6. This game is a action packed treat and if you have a PS4 this is an absolute buy, no questions asked. Despite its outdated nature, the beating heart of nostalgia gaming of Yakuza 0 burns as passionately as Kiryu and Majima's spirits and is an excellent game for anyone to play.    … Expand
  28. scruffy_77
    Nov 22, 2017
    10
    Well what can I say, I refer to metacritic for game reviews based on user opinion rather than corporate reviews, the latest call of duty reviews showed the country mile of difference between user and company reviews on all platforms! Based the reviews below I delved into this new world of Yakuza. At first I was apprehensive, thought perhaps I had made a bad decision, but I kept on... andWell what can I say, I refer to metacritic for game reviews based on user opinion rather than corporate reviews, the latest call of duty reviews showed the country mile of difference between user and company reviews on all platforms! Based the reviews below I delved into this new world of Yakuza. At first I was apprehensive, thought perhaps I had made a bad decision, but I kept on... and oh my days, this game has immersed me beyond reproach. The story is epic, I could have never guessed the way it would turn out. The side stories, the mini games, the club management, the real estate. The laughs I had at the telephone dating. Sega have outdone themselves, it is such a shame a game of this calibre has no media coverage in the west. Yes the graphics are not the best and not cutting edge... But if you want pointless eye candy that looks good with no substance then purchase one of the many other titles currently available. For a newbie Yakuza player, this has been amazing, entertaining, funny, addictive and immersive. Sega, a hat tip from my childhood with Sonic, and a hat tip as an adult for Yakuza... In a word, brilliant!! This game can only deserve a 10/10 from me.… Expand
  29. Pauboman
    Nov 20, 2017
    10
    One ofthe best in Yakuza series and a must have for 2017. A thrilling experience that combines both drama and action in a cinematic experience and updated with a superb and renovated fighting style.

    I hope everyone could enjoy a game like this
  30. don_tim
    Oct 28, 2017
    10
    Excellent story! Addictive gameplay!!! This game was a hell of a ride and such a great experience. This was the first Yakuza game i've ever played. Now I'm up for the challenge to complete them all.
  31. rscl
    Oct 23, 2017
    7
    Story-wise a really awesome game. I would recommend playing it on easy just as a movie of sorts. Visuals are average yet pretty. The combat mechanics are bs.
  32. Lilahkiz
    Oct 15, 2017
    10
    Great entry into this awesome franchise so much content though Yakuza 5 has the biggest amount in the series a great story though 2 is good and 2 ctities and you can now play as Majima :)
  33. Lotap
    Oct 12, 2017
    8
    +The story is great
    +There's so much content it is hard to get bored
    +Even side quests are interesting

    -Graphics are not "2017 level"
    -Fighting wasnt really interesting for me. After some time I was just throwing my money just to avoid fights
  34. ryderbro
    Sep 6, 2017
    10
    this was the first yakuza game I played i loved it to the point where i wanted to play the campaign again which is strange for me because even with games like GTA5 and god of war I didn't want bother playing them anymore because they just bored me with doing the exact same thing over again and giving me nothing to do after i completed the campaign but yakuza somehow gives me more contentthis was the first yakuza game I played i loved it to the point where i wanted to play the campaign again which is strange for me because even with games like GTA5 and god of war I didn't want bother playing them anymore because they just bored me with doing the exact same thing over again and giving me nothing to do after i completed the campaign but yakuza somehow gives me more content with a low budget than a game with a ridiculous budget like destiny. point being you have to try this game its just that good… Expand
  35. MetroidDime
    Aug 22, 2017
    10
    This game is so damn good, man.

    The fighting is like magic. I mean, it's seriously fluid. I really dig the different fighting styles, and the different tracks playing behind the fighting styles. The story is so gritty, so violent, so dreary, and so **** enjoyable. The cutscenes boast powerful vocal performances and always grip your attention. They give you a pair of two great main    This game is so damn good, man.

    The fighting is like magic. I mean, it's seriously fluid. I really dig the different fighting styles, and the different tracks playing behind the fighting styles. The story is so gritty, so violent, so dreary, and so **** enjoyable. The cutscenes boast powerful vocal performances and always grip your attention. They give you a pair of two great main characters. Kiryu and Majima are so unique. Kiryu is a straight-faced, no **** kind of dude with a good heart, and seeing him in the situations he's put through is interesting and often humorous. Majima is a showman, stealing every cutscene he's in. He has this cool air about him, he is confident and clever in and out of battle. Just off these elements alone, you've got a fantastic video game...

    But god damn is this game FUNNY. Like, holy **** it's straight up hilarious. There are so many encounters, so many events in Yakuza 0 that you can just stumble upon, and they're each funny, in the most wonderful Japanese way possible. It is your favorite comedy anime, fully playable. The dialogue is so well-written. It is absolutely corny at times, but it is always self-aware.

    It is such a sweet mix. You get this intense, angry main story; then you explore Kamurocho and bump into a clown who gives you free **** Or maybe you **** meet Michael Jackson. You **** do. You do and it's as ridiculous as you want it to be.

    My ONLY gripe, and it is kind of a big one, is the map. It is a little snug in Kamurocho. It really feels limited and, while there's always something to do, you can't help but feel like there's not enough room to do it in.

    Listen; Yakuza 0 is a masterpiece. It's so out there. It's so oddball. It's so much fun.    … Expand
  36. Maddog5511
    Aug 19, 2017
    10
    Just amazing. I have just finished this game and honestly I am now wanting to play the whole series because this installement was just so good. The story is one of the best in a game I have played, with some very well done characters and the gameplay is so fun. Just give it a chance when you have the time it deserves all of it.
  37. vgm
    Aug 2, 2017
    8
    I’m new to the Yakuza series and I have to admit I was expecting more after all the good reviews I’ve seen. This game has a really slow start, to the point I considered quitting the game a few times during the first 10-15 hours, but after that is when things start to open up.

    When that happens the story gets more interesting and the brawling is more enjoyable since you can buy or learn    I’m new to the Yakuza series and I have to admit I was expecting more after all the good reviews I’ve seen. This game has a really slow start, to the point I considered quitting the game a few times during the first 10-15 hours, but after that is when things start to open up.

    When that happens the story gets more interesting and the brawling is more enjoyable since you can buy or learn new powerful abilities. You can also become a realtor with Kiryu and manage a hostesses club with Goro, the only two mini games I found interesting (to be honest, in my opinion all the other mini games like bowling, karaoke, arcade, underground fights, etc are quite dull).

    Despite the fact that it has a great story, the problem of this game is that it is is very repetitive and most of the time you are reading or watching cutscenes and you are handed control only for beating the enemies. It certainly feels like you are playing a 90’s beat em up. There is one refreshing moment during the game and it’s when you are handed a gun and you have to shoot enemies from a car, as if playing a shoot em up. I wish this game had more of this. Besides that, the attention to detail modelling the two cities in the game and the voice acting is astonishing.    … Expand
  38. Kenmei
    Jul 20, 2017
    9
    Equal parts soap opera drama and absurd craziness, Yakuza 0 is a terrific entry point into the long running and very popular Japanese underworld drama. As a starting point for the two main lead characters of the series, Kazama Kiryu and Goro Majima, it shows what lead up to the first game and the causes for how they became the people they were at the very beginning of the main story. As aEqual parts soap opera drama and absurd craziness, Yakuza 0 is a terrific entry point into the long running and very popular Japanese underworld drama. As a starting point for the two main lead characters of the series, Kazama Kiryu and Goro Majima, it shows what lead up to the first game and the causes for how they became the people they were at the very beginning of the main story. As a newcomer to the series, it was nice to see the characters in almost their base form and see what drove them towards the events that will happen in the first game.
    For those that don't know and might be interested in this series, the Yakuza series is filled to the brim with everything that's over-the-top. Whether it's the story, the combat, or the crazy weird side quests, this game throws everything and the kitchen sink at you. Starting with the story, as stated before, this is a great starting point for the series and for people to get into it. It hits on alot of stuff that seems like it will carry over to the following games. While the entire game is in Japanese, you can tell that the actors they got for this are top notch. Especially those who played the main two leads, Kiryu and Majima. And while the story goes deep into soap opera territory, especially and most notably towards the end, it's still a very good story. Set along side a wonderful soundtrack that beautifully captured the main events perfectly, the overall cinematic feel that basically everything in this game has really sets it apart from other games.
    The combat is where things get a little dicey for me. I've heard it compared to old school beat-em-ups like Streets of Rage. I'm personally not a huge fan of the system. You seemingly just point your character towards an enemy and mash buttons till they are dead. There really aren't very many combos and the game relies too heavily on counters as trying to set them up is extremely difficult because the lock on system is not very well done and far too loose when trying to lock onto one enemy in a large group of them. It could use a little more refining going forward.
    With so much to do and see in the game, it's hard to pass up on this. I had to take a point away because of the messy combat system and the soap opera-y tone the story took on late. But I'd highly recommend this to anyone who wants to get in on the ground level. Especially with the upcoming release, and proper, remake of the original game due to come out in a month or so.    … Expand
  39. Rustaman
    Jul 13, 2017
    9
    A fascinating story with dynamic and spectacular battles, intense boss battles,varied and well designed mini-games. There is no localization in Russian - for it is minus one point.
  40. No1Livz4ever
    Jul 9, 2017
    9
    I like Ryu Ga Gotoku series, and this one is one of the best games of it. Ryu Ga Gotoku 5 was a good game, but there was too mush management, it was casual (substories markers on the map for example), and Haruka part... Ryu Ga Gotoku 0 shows us how characters become who they are now and doing it the right way.
  41. badgerryan19
    Jul 5, 2017
    9
    Great game. The 2 main characters are so likable and charming. The dialogue and the writing is spectacular and the soundtrack is fantastic. There is a lot to do in this game as well. With so many side quests and a campaign that will last anywhere from 30-40 HRS. The combat is pretty good too aside from getting a bit repetitive near the end. All in all great game. I'm excited to see what's next.
  42. ripperroo9977
    Jun 28, 2017
    10
    My first game in the Yakuza series, and fortunately one that is basically the first in the canon. Setting up the characters and the overall story for the other games which are supposedly being re-mastered for PS4 (and possibly PC?). This game was absolutely exceptional. It was a mix of 80's nostalgia, coupled with old school beat 'em up gameplay, and an edgy story which borders onMy first game in the Yakuza series, and fortunately one that is basically the first in the canon. Setting up the characters and the overall story for the other games which are supposedly being re-mastered for PS4 (and possibly PC?). This game was absolutely exceptional. It was a mix of 80's nostalgia, coupled with old school beat 'em up gameplay, and an edgy story which borders on ridiculous and painfully real at times. The game is entirely in Japanese, so if you don't like reading subtitles this might not be for you. I didn't mind, though, due to the exceptional voice acting and translation work. Despite being a fictitious rendering of the Yakuza, I found myself doing a lot of reading about the real-life Yakuza after playing this game and found that the game doesn't hit too far away from home in that instance. I'm definitely looking forward to playing the other games in the series.… Expand
  43. Nel
    Jun 20, 2017
    8
    One of the best games in the serie for sure. The game has several of hundred of hours of gameplay if you desire. The game is really enjoyable, and it has a little bit different way of earning money than in the other games. It's fun, but after a 50 plus hours it starts feeling a little bit repetitive.
  44. RagnarokMike
    Jun 3, 2017
    9
    While 2 still has the best story, 0 is otherwise the best Yakuza game to date.

    First and foremost, Majima is instantly my favorite character to play as ever in a beat 'em up, all of his styles mesh well, and are frenetic and fun. His breaker style is the best style in the entire franchise. Kiryu is less fun than any other entry, and I don't think his Beast style really fits the    While 2 still has the best story, 0 is otherwise the best Yakuza game to date.

    First and foremost, Majima is instantly my favorite character to play as ever in a beat 'em up, all of his styles mesh well, and are frenetic and fun. His breaker style is the best style in the entire franchise. Kiryu is less fun than any other entry, and I don't think his Beast style really fits the character, but it makes sense he's not quite as good being so far before, and his other two styles are otherwise great.

    Like any Yakuza game, the story is top notch crime/thriller, this franchise really excels at this genre, even though there can be some dissonance between the seriousness of the main story and everything else you do, it all still feels right. And you will have PLENTY else to do, circuit cart racing, bowling, pool, darts, 4 different arcade game, karaoke and disco mini-games that could be their own games, a management side-quest that could also be made into a full game in it's own right, and so much more. You will not be left with a shortage of things to do in Yakuza.

    The fighting system is still the best this side of actual fighting games, while games like Arkham and Sleeping Dogs offer a bit more crisp of combat, Yakuza surpasses them in sheer variety. Combos with each style, plus heat moves, plus weapons, so much fun.

    Another great addition to the franchise, next up, Kiwami.    … Expand
  45. eyelidsz
    May 22, 2017
    10
    Yakuza 0 is another great entry in the series, and may just be my favorite so far. Like previous Yakuza titles, it features memorable characters, strong writing, funny side stories, and fun mini-games. The addition of 4 fight styles for each of our playable characters Kiryu and Majima improves the gameplay from previous entries. Simply put, fights have never been better in the series.Yakuza 0 is another great entry in the series, and may just be my favorite so far. Like previous Yakuza titles, it features memorable characters, strong writing, funny side stories, and fun mini-games. The addition of 4 fight styles for each of our playable characters Kiryu and Majima improves the gameplay from previous entries. Simply put, fights have never been better in the series. Also, the soundtrack is once again fantastic and enhances the experience in its own way. Yakuza Kiwami is next!… Expand
  46. Skitzofreniq
    May 16, 2017
    10
    Wow. I had never played a Yakuza game before and after finishing with Yakuza 0 I kind of realised I've been missing something great my whole life. The main story is so well written, the Japanese voice-acting is amazing, the cutscenes are beautiful, the sub-stories are hilarious. I can't remember the last time I was laughing my ass off this much with a video game. The gameplay is superb asWow. I had never played a Yakuza game before and after finishing with Yakuza 0 I kind of realised I've been missing something great my whole life. The main story is so well written, the Japanese voice-acting is amazing, the cutscenes are beautiful, the sub-stories are hilarious. I can't remember the last time I was laughing my ass off this much with a video game. The gameplay is superb as well since you have six different fighting styles to choose from which gives you variation.

    I just finished the main story in 40+ hours while doing substories here and there that crossed my path and I was only on 26% completion. If that doesn't give you your bang for your buck than I don't know what will.

    All I can say now is that they got a new fan in me and I can't wait for Yakuza Kiwami, which comes out in August 2017. DAY ONE PURCHASE FOR SURE!    … Expand
  47. shiftyman
    May 16, 2017
    9
    Having never played a Yakuza game before, I was expecting your typical shoot n up and everything that goes with it, but much to my surprise, Yakuza 0 is a strongly story driven game, with a very good combat system, a great main story with funny and clever sub stories, and a host of other actiivities to keep you more then entertained, easily one of the best titles of 2017.
  48. Chaotic_Zombie
    Apr 29, 2017
    10
    Games like these where you actually be very happy to pay $60

    I dn't even know where to start about how perfect this game has in many aspects but i will try to make it short and with no spoilers. 10 - The storyline: In the past few years we couldn't really find a game with a good story except games like the witcher 3 maybe but yakuza 0 proves that it actually has the best if not one    Games like these where you actually be very happy to pay $60

    I dn't even know where to start about how perfect this game has in many aspects but i will try to make it short and with no spoilers.

    10 - The storyline: In the past few years we couldn't really find a game with a good story except games like the witcher 3 maybe but yakuza 0 proves that it actually has the best if not one of the best storylines in the gaming industry especially for the fans who played the other yakuza games.

    10 - Voice Acting: Yakuza is one of the very very few games that people who hate japanese voice acting and prefer english dub wouldn't either be disappointed with this game because you can actually feel the emotions of every character and you will care for every character because the game actually cares.

    9 - Sountracks: The soundtracks are very well done, especially in some boss fights and you will feel those 80 vibes when you go to places like disco's, karaoke's etc...

    10 - Characters: Like i mentioned before,every character is important in the game and the villains are one of the best introduced which will make them very likeable too.

    9 - Gameplay: The gameplay is pretty amazing especially compared to previous entries in the series and there are 3 fighting styles for both main characters. Some might find it pretty repetetitive but there is an ability later on which makes you avoid random street fights.

    9.5 - Graphics: For a game which has low budget compared to other triple A titles, the graphics are pretty amazing especially in cutscenes...not to forget this was originally on a ps3 and later on released on ps4.

    10/10 - Overall: Imo this game is worth buying a ps4 alone and you will never regret my words, i woud even recommend playing it before titles like Uncharted 4. Hope everyone enjoys this wonderful game before the release of Yakuza Kiwami which is the remake of yakuza 1 on August 29 2017.    … Expand
  49. Akuaku17
    Apr 21, 2017
    10
    Great game. For any newcomers to the Yakuza series on the fence about trying this game out, go for it as this is the most fun i have had with a game in years and you will not at all regret it.
  50. Dollface45
    Apr 21, 2017
    10
    The Japanese renaissance continues. Along with Persona 5, Nier: Automata and Nioh, Yakuza 0 is another fantastic purely one of a kind experience from Japan. It is a true job well done from Sega. There may not be anything completely new here if you've played other games in the series, but even judged on it's own or as a prequel. Yakuza 0 is bonkers, pulp nonsense. And it is downrightThe Japanese renaissance continues. Along with Persona 5, Nier: Automata and Nioh, Yakuza 0 is another fantastic purely one of a kind experience from Japan. It is a true job well done from Sega. There may not be anything completely new here if you've played other games in the series, but even judged on it's own or as a prequel. Yakuza 0 is bonkers, pulp nonsense. And it is downright artistic more often than not. While not truly an open world game - it's often very linear, the game delights more with the details and side activities than with the overall game design. There may be a peppering of long in the tooth JRPG random battles as you walk through the streets. There may be Guitar Hero style karaoke sing alongs. And there may be button mashing combat encounters, all of which you may have seen hundreds of times in dozens in other games, but none with the dry humor or atmosphere of Yakuza. I could make a list of all the small frustrations you could encounter in the game too, but this game is almost above any sort of focused criticism. Yakuza is just a good time and it maybe even one of the best gangster tales told in the last 15 years too.… Expand
  51. Chillywilly23
    Apr 13, 2017
    10
    Great game. The story will have you hooked and the fighting is so satisfying. Plenty of activities too many to name them all. For anyone new to the series its a beatem up with a Japanese mafia storyline. Karaoke,batting practice,classic arcade games like outrun,rc car racing and so on. Def worth it with many hours of fun.
  52. Neerolyte
    Mar 30, 2017
    10
    First Yakuza game for me, and it is one of the best game I ever played. The story is absolutely fantastic, and thrilling. Combat, while repetitive, is very over-the-top and fun, with different styles to choose from. While it is strictly an open-world, the map is quite condense, but with LOADS of activities. The dark story combine with humorous side-quests, running real estate, run aFirst Yakuza game for me, and it is one of the best game I ever played. The story is absolutely fantastic, and thrilling. Combat, while repetitive, is very over-the-top and fun, with different styles to choose from. While it is strictly an open-world, the map is quite condense, but with LOADS of activities. The dark story combine with humorous side-quests, running real estate, run a cabaret, fishing, bowling, gambling, watching sexy girls catfight, and watching money fly everywhere, makes this game the best experience I ever had in a long time. Platinum will take easily 150+ hours.… Expand
  53. oldschoolgamer7
    Mar 28, 2017
    8
    This Yakuza is well paced and has a great story to follow once you get in to it, as always with this franchise there are tons of mini games to get stuck in to some of which I spent hours on just by them selves. its set in the 80s so its a nice change from the normal Yakuza games as well as is probably one of the better written Yakuza games on the story side of things. That said there isThis Yakuza is well paced and has a great story to follow once you get in to it, as always with this franchise there are tons of mini games to get stuck in to some of which I spent hours on just by them selves. its set in the 80s so its a nice change from the normal Yakuza games as well as is probably one of the better written Yakuza games on the story side of things. That said there is only really two locations and after Yakuza 5 I was expecting a larger and more diverse game.

    Also to note is that the story is well directed and its ties in a lot of loose ends if you have played all the other Yakuza games so its a must play for any fan of the series.

    On the combat side of things Majima is a lot more fun of the two characters and his levelling system is richer and more point to actually levelling him up and his fighting style is fun to use. Kiryu's level tree is a bit pointless at times as some of the fighting styles other than his default are boring and clunky and there is no incentive to level up them up.

    The is the only bad point I have about this game and now the franchise, the combat is getting stale they need to start making the AI smarter and having a more skilled approach to combat, somewhere between a tactical fighter like Bloodborne/dark souls with more rpg elements and what it is now would be the best thing ever for this series. There are no real consequences to fighting poorly or well, you just loose more health and have to use more consumables. As it stands you can almost just mash the hits buttons and pretty much win every fight without thinking. But if you like the other Yakuza games like I do its just something you live with, but it would be nice if they fixed this.

    Overall not the best Yakuza game (I think 5 was) but still a very fun game. I threw about 40 hours in to it to complete the main story, most side quests and the larger mini games.    … Expand
  54. Elite74
    Mar 27, 2017
    10
    Pros:
    -Great Story
    -Immersive game play
    -Hilarious side quests and Minigames
    -More than 100 hours of content
    -Character Development

    Cons:
    Outdated Visuals
  55. Fishyfishy
    Mar 26, 2017
    10
    As someone whose never played a Yakuza game before, I've been completely blown away. The story is gripping and intense, the combat is fun and satisfying, and the side missions are incredibly goofy and entertaining distractions from the main story. Don't hesitate to jump into the series with this game, it is well worth it.
  56. SuperJamaican
    Mar 26, 2017
    10
    Wow what can I say...1st would be if you are a fan of old school arcade brawlers like final fight or streets of rage this will be right up your alley. I've never played a yakuza game before and the only reason I took interest into this game is because of Angry Joe. That being said while 60 bucks being spent I decided to give it a go. Its been a while since I've felt so overwhelmed withWow what can I say...1st would be if you are a fan of old school arcade brawlers like final fight or streets of rage this will be right up your alley. I've never played a yakuza game before and the only reason I took interest into this game is because of Angry Joe. That being said while 60 bucks being spent I decided to give it a go. Its been a while since I've felt so overwhelmed with joy while a play a story driven game. The story while boring at first is excellent, and its great how the sub character Majima literally outshines the main character Kiryu, makes for some great balance tho.

    The fighting mechanics are simple enough for anyone to pick this up but deep enough to keep you entertained throughout the entire game. Enemies for the most part are very varied (depending on current situation in story) and pose a challenge every now and then. Story is great but if you cant tolerate READING probably not for you since entire game is done in Japanese. I actually prefer it that way but thats just my preference and to each their own. Which comes to my favorite part of the game....Sound?!?!? Yes the soundtrack to this game is ultra top tier, voice acting the best ive seen in a game yet (check out the lieutenant Awano) and sound effects are excellent. You will just enjoy grating an enemies face against concrete or beating the hell out of them with all allotted weapons.

    If you own a ps4 and you have time and havent given this a try yet shame on you. If your on the fence on this one at least red box it if you can find it that is, its worth it.    … Expand
  57. Darkin20
    Mar 25, 2017
    8
    Amazing game, love the franchise. They really know how to entertain with storytelling, dialog and minigames. However, the engine they use is getting rather dated and they really need to update it to meet higher standards of gameplay and graphics.
  58. havoc94
    Mar 25, 2017
    10
    Easily the best game I've played in about two years, comparable with the likes of Folklore, Drakengard 3, and other true auteur titles - yet somehow Yakuza 0 lacks the flaws those games had. Combat? Great, Writing? Even better. Music? Perhaps the best I've ever heard in any beat-em-up. Pacing, Length, Sidequests are just ridiculously fun to do. This is a true video game.
  59. Chapa9dj
    Mar 23, 2017
    10
    For those of us who loved Shenmue I & II, this is a must. It is exceptionally good, the story is so well written and the characters so good. I really like Kiryu, it reminds me or Ryo from Shenmue in some ways, but Majima is amazing.
    The side-quests are hilarious and the game is so bizarre i just can't put it off. I'm not even half the game and i'm over 40 hours doing a few main missions,    For those of us who loved Shenmue I & II, this is a must. It is exceptionally good, the story is so well written and the characters so good. I really like Kiryu, it reminds me or Ryo from Shenmue in some ways, but Majima is amazing.
    The side-quests are hilarious and the game is so bizarre i just can't put it off. I'm not even half the game and i'm over 40 hours doing a few main missions, but mostly side-quests, messing around in the city, playing in the arcades, Ufo Catcher, Darts, Bowling and many other activities.

    I'm looking forward to Yakuza Kiwami and i hope Sega brings them all to the west. I would love to see a remake of Yakuza 2 and bring all the PS3 versions to PS4.
    Truly great stuff, one of the best games i've played this year and would recommend to anyone.

    Wish i had more time to play it. 3 or 4 hours a day is not enough.    … Expand
  60. mac_s1
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Fantastic game, it has amazing presentation, a story that is completely unpredictable, and satisfying gameplay. At times the game may seem a little slow however when it gets going, it booms. You can be sure when there's a cutscene **** about to go down, first 5 chapters alone and I am already loving it and very much into the game.
  61. ob1foru
    Mar 21, 2017
    8
    I am new to the Yakuza series. Yet after I saw a trusted YouTuber review this game, I began to dive into the game history and lore before deciding to give it a try.

    Yakuza 0 is a game that takes itself seriously, while at the same time.... doesn't. It's this odd blend of storytelling, character switching, stereotyping and vintage landscape that gives this title so much character.    I am new to the Yakuza series. Yet after I saw a trusted YouTuber review this game, I began to dive into the game history and lore before deciding to give it a try.

    Yakuza 0 is a game that takes itself seriously, while at the same time.... doesn't. It's this odd blend of storytelling, character switching, stereotyping and vintage landscape that gives this title so much character. Playing as two seemingly unrelated protagonists, you will find yourself going "why am I doing this?" only to say "I'm so glad I did that!" As storylines meld and the full reveal rears its face, you'll find comedy, tragedy, heart warming stories and vile acts of society all neaty packaged into a game that's sitting at your fingertips.

    I won't pull any punches graphically. This game shows why its a "remaster" of a PS3 release. It's not going to blow you away visually. It's not going to wow you with its environment. At times, you might even groan at the camera angle. However, Yakuza 0 is one of those games that makes up for it's graphical shortcomings through storytelling and immersion. How? Here's how!

    There are so many side quests and mini games built into this title, they could have pay walled each of them off and sold them separately. Vintage Sega arcade games, Bikini girls wrestling, Mahjong, fishing, slot car racing, the back door casino room, the phone dating service game, collecting cards that unlock video pretty women casually posing for the camera, batting cages, the Hostess Club sim (which makes you lots of cash), dancing at the club, and karaoke are just some of the activities you can partake in when you're not buying up businesses, beating up thugs or doing various side quests.

    This game isn't a true open world experience and to be honest, that's okay. Once you get a sense of the story, you begin to identify when you should explore and when you're likely going to be confined into a story arc. While some people want that "always open, always free" feel, you'll likely find yourself to engrossed in the story to care or too busy making money to notice.

    Perhaps one of the strongest downsides to the game IS you need to make money. As the game progresses, abilities, your character durability and importantly, the ability to survive hinge on you making money. While thousand yen bills are easy to come buy, true to the 80s theme, inflation is a huge problem. Thus, you'll quickly drop 30 million Yen on a single skill and sent to the streets looking for more. Luckily, if you grab the Hostess Club and Property Owner side quest / mini games when they're presented and run with them, you'll soon find yourself at an advantage.

    Overall, this is a solid title and one of those diamonds in the rough. Though far from polished in a sea of AAA titles praised for graphical perfection and stunning environments, Yakuza 0 shows what a title can do when you mix fun, story and solid gameplay together while still maintaining a sense of humor.    … Expand
  62. SofaTrooper
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    Yakuza 0 is one of the most surprisingly brilliant games I have played in recent years. Amazing story with some of the best acting in gaming. Lots of content and crazy fun. Absolute Gold. 10/10
  63. TheT800Warrior
    Mar 17, 2017
    10
    Where do i even begin with this game! It is just absolutely amazing there is no other game that delivers that ultimate badass feeling you get when you fight your way through an entire bulding and dropkick a dude out of a window while epic music plays, it is truly a one of a kind and an absolute blast! Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the entire series so it's great for newcomers and long time fansWhere do i even begin with this game! It is just absolutely amazing there is no other game that delivers that ultimate badass feeling you get when you fight your way through an entire bulding and dropkick a dude out of a window while epic music plays, it is truly a one of a kind and an absolute blast! Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the entire series so it's great for newcomers and long time fans alike. The entire game is 60FPS which makes for very smooth gameplay which feels great to play. The minigames are tons of fun and addicting especially the cabaret management. The story is absolutely amazing as well as the soundtrack. it is jam packed with so much great content a single play is easily 50-130+ hours of gameplay. i highly recommend this game to anyone who wants a fresh revitalizing gaming experience!… Expand
  64. Turbodowg
    Mar 16, 2017
    9
    Yakuza 0 is a great game. It reminds me of when I first played the fantastic Shenmue on the dreamcast. In fact they are pretty similar games in comparison. I love the beautiful open city full of culture, neon lights, restaurants, arcades, clubs, bars, casinos and erm porno theater's! There is so much to see and do in Yakuza.

    The game looks stunning and has an engaging story line. The    Yakuza 0 is a great game. It reminds me of when I first played the fantastic Shenmue on the dreamcast. In fact they are pretty similar games in comparison. I love the beautiful open city full of culture, neon lights, restaurants, arcades, clubs, bars, casinos and erm porno theater's! There is so much to see and do in Yakuza.

    The game looks stunning and has an engaging story line. The cinematics are very well done with some brilliant voice acting. The action and fighting is smooth and controls well. The missions are varied and interesting. There are many well rounded characters and the two heroes are well crafted and their stories are enjoyable to play through.

    It is story heavy so be prepared for lots of reading. I personally enjoy this style of RPG.

    There is so much to do in this game, playing old Sega arcade games, pool, darts, karaoke, bowling, RC car racing, fishing and much more. There's so much that you can lose your self for hours just roaming round the city and finding new things to do.

    I'd highly recommend this game to fans of the series and new players.    … Expand
  65. ehcab
    Mar 15, 2017
    8
    I give Yakuza 8 cause i loved the experience of playing in Tokyo and Osaka during the 80's. Stories (main and side quests) are awesome, as well as the characters interacting in them.
    However, the graphics are a little bit outdated and the combat system is too often resumed by spamming one or two buttons.
    Nevertheless I can only but recommend Yakuza if you want to play a Japanese game,    I give Yakuza 8 cause i loved the experience of playing in Tokyo and Osaka during the 80's. Stories (main and side quests) are awesome, as well as the characters interacting in them.
    However, the graphics are a little bit outdated and the combat system is too often resumed by spamming one or two buttons.

    Nevertheless I can only but recommend Yakuza if you want to play a Japanese game, with a japanese setting and with the possibility of having the japanese voices subtitled in english..    … Expand
  66. bunnyofthesea
    Mar 14, 2017
    8
    As a newcomer to Yakuza I must say that this has been a great experience. This game does a great job of engrossing you into the story from the first 30 minutes to the ending. The story is one of the best I have experienced in a while and I feel is the best part of the game. The 3 parts of this game are the story, the main brawling gameplay, and the massive amount of minigames. TheAs a newcomer to Yakuza I must say that this has been a great experience. This game does a great job of engrossing you into the story from the first 30 minutes to the ending. The story is one of the best I have experienced in a while and I feel is the best part of the game. The 3 parts of this game are the story, the main brawling gameplay, and the massive amount of minigames. The minigames are wacky and fun and act as a great diversion to the serious main story and compliment the game very well, my only issue is that along the main story you are forced to do most of these minigames at least once which at some points when i wanted to just get to the next piece of story were quite annoying. My main problem with Yakuza 0 is the brawling main gameplay. The fighting system in this game is satisfying and very fun at first, with multiple styles and upgrades. The issue comes in when you are 30 hours in and each segment of fighting takes forever and you are spamming cheap moves just to get to the next piece of story. By the end it gets old and you will be doing TONS of it. Besides the repetitive combat this game was very enjoyable to play and I would recommend it to anyone who likes good stories or enjoys having lots of variety of side content.… Expand
  67. edermath
    Mar 13, 2017
    10
    The story, voiceacting, characters, side quests, soundtrack, minigames and tons of hours of content make this game worthy, there are a few issues with some textures and invisible walls that I hope they patch them, it's a 9.5 for me
  68. ZicX
    Mar 12, 2017
    9
    A fantastic game , its a comedy+gang related theme game+hentai+anime+++++
    yakuza check , boobs check , dance check , karaoke check , beat up check, simulation check.
    Do yourself a favor and got this game.
    Cannot wait for yakuza kiwami.
    Its not a perfect game , i rate it 8.5 but since metacritic dont support it so i will rate it a 9
  69. ByYuxiSs
    Mar 9, 2017
    9
    I wish I could go further in this great saga which with us for very recently with this game recently released and for my opinion if the Ps4 continues to receive exclusive of as much quality as the games of this year will be an incredible year.

    A great game with a great theme and history, recommendation 9/10
  70. MrBurger
    Mar 9, 2017
    8
    First their is great lip syncing It is also a super fun brawler where you caojafokwndscfcnvsrdzxnvdonvokwsnxfvknwrspkfnpierdnpvnreoxnvreifnviendoinvwoinvinvoins inoifnionfdionvfniofinfnidfviofvdinfvd its a good game alright
  71. RuslanDZE
    Mar 7, 2017
    9
    This is my first game in Yakuza series. I did not expect anything awesome from a game. I picked this game up because I am tired from the western games and their business models. So I was hoping to find new game with soul lets say.
    At first, I was not impressed a lot by that game. Lack of budget is so clear in some areas. Facial animations are poor and side quests are lacking of voice.    This is my first game in Yakuza series. I did not expect anything awesome from a game. I picked this game up because I am tired from the western games and their business models. So I was hoping to find new game with soul lets say.
    At first, I was not impressed a lot by that game. Lack of budget is so clear in some areas. Facial animations are poor and side quests are lacking of voice. However, I think I just spoiled by big games like Witcher 3.
    But after I got immersed by story and 80s atmosphere I could not stop playing. Story is good and much better than your usual video game story, Gameplay is repetitive but badass soundtrack makes it feel cool. What impressed me the most that side quest are so interesting and hilarious, Each side quest had unique story and its not your usual go there and kill that and than bring me that. No. Even gameplay is different here. I spent 50 hours with that and probably will spend more. That game is like breath of fresh air. Loved it. I did not give that game 10 because if repetitive fighting gameplay at times and technical issues.

    Looks like its golden times to be owner of PS4. So many cool games are coming.    … Expand
  72. Chiyou
    Mar 5, 2017
    10
    My favorite in the series, it has storytelling like no other game. The combat system has come a very long way, there are so many styles. The mini games are really good too, and whenever i have a chance to be in 1980's japan to play some outrun at the arcades you can bet i'm interested.
  73. Kakarot26
    Mar 5, 2017
    9
    This game is a lot of fun. It´s a weird combination of many elements: A very intense and dramatic story with compelling cutscenes, funny and sometimes touchy side quests, engaging minigames, and a sort of simple but still exciting battle system. None of its elements are great on their own, but they combine so well in a way that is hard to describe, that it makes it hard to stop playing.
  74. Leenat40
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    This was my very first Yakuza game. I watched a lot of gameplay and reviews, and because I like deep narratives and anime, I decided to buy it. Got home, put the disc in and I didn't even understand how much I was enjoying it. The deep and intriguing narrative, a fun combat system!
    Everything was great up until the ending, and now it sits at my favorite ps4 games ever, even higher than    This was my very first Yakuza game. I watched a lot of gameplay and reviews, and because I like deep narratives and anime, I decided to buy it. Got home, put the disc in and I didn't even understand how much I was enjoying it. The deep and intriguing narrative, a fun combat system!
    Everything was great up until the ending, and now it sits at my favorite ps4 games ever, even higher than Last Of Us. PLAY IT!    … Expand
  75. draifu
    Mar 3, 2017
    9
    My first yakuza game and I should say this game makes me want to play the old ones. Good balance between the extremely hilarious side quests in contrast to the serious main story. The characters are interesting too and the game really lets you experience Japan in the 90s, from karaoke to being a pocket circuit racing and punching jerks in the face.
  76. Jtbone417
    Mar 2, 2017
    10
    This is my introduction to the Yakuza universe, and it did not disappoint. This game is an absolute masterpiece in every way. Fantastic story, hilarious interactions, fabulous mini-games, and enough distractions to keep the attention of an ADHD patient who skipped his meds. Everything about this game is perfect and I cannot wait to be introduced to more.
  77. kaminokaz
    Mar 1, 2017
    10
    story is well planned and very unpredictable. it even made me cry at one of the cut scenes. the voice acting is amazing and the town is just packed full of distractions that you can just spend hours n hours doing.
  78. ANITEC20
    Feb 24, 2017
    9
    Great flashback Yakuza game, Glad to see this game on the PS4. I've played others series to understand this game. But I gave it a 9 because of the same repetitive enemy spawning and same fighting. I'd pay $60 if you like the series.
  79. VivaLaMayo
    Feb 21, 2017
    10
    Fun,Fun,Fun and more Fun.Probably one of the best Yakuza games in the series.A crazy but intriguing storyline that keeps you glued to the game,never a dull moment in the game apart from the old silly objective lol.But besides the storyline what you can do within the world of yakuza 0 is very interesting and extroadinarary i was left speechless but in a good way.I dont want to spoilFun,Fun,Fun and more Fun.Probably one of the best Yakuza games in the series.A crazy but intriguing storyline that keeps you glued to the game,never a dull moment in the game apart from the old silly objective lol.But besides the storyline what you can do within the world of yakuza 0 is very interesting and extroadinarary i was left speechless but in a good way.I dont want to spoil anything by mentioning some of stuff you can experience with the game but going to say,this game is must buy,this is a real gangster game with tonnes of fun to be had and will put a smile on your face everytime you indulge into the world of Yakuza 0.(10//10 for pure fun and thats what gaming is all about!)… Expand
  80. BeerNinjaUK
    Feb 21, 2017
    10
    I loved this game, it's a lot fun. Sure it isn't the best graphically but I believe it is a port of a PS3 game anyway and in my opinion, graphics aren't the most important thing.

    The game has loads to do; the main storyline was gripping, there are also a load of fun sidequests and awesome mini games. I have seen some people say the battle system is old or outdated or whatever, but again    I loved this game, it's a lot fun. Sure it isn't the best graphically but I believe it is a port of a PS3 game anyway and in my opinion, graphics aren't the most important thing.

    The game has loads to do; the main storyline was gripping, there are also a load of fun sidequests and awesome mini games. I have seen some people say the battle system is old or outdated or whatever, but again in my opinion, it is a lot of fun.

    There is a lot of humour in the game and this combined with the awesome world and engaging main story, fun side quests and mini games, Yakuza 0 is one of my top games.    … Expand
  81. xabbott
    Feb 19, 2017
    8
    Great characters, excellent side missions, decent story however due to the tone of other parts of the game it does feel out of place at times. There is a lot of story to it so don't expect a "GTA in japan" experience. Think more Shenmue with more street fights.
  82. Thetruegamer
    Feb 19, 2017
    0
    This game is a sick joke, playstation 2 graphics, terrible character modelling and boring gameplay, its 2017, not 1998, possibly the worst game ever made, poorly, glitches, crashes the console also, it is also extremely sexist and derogatory to wimen
  83. PaleNielsen
    Feb 16, 2017
    9
    My first game of the series and I can't wait to play more. The story is incredibly amazing but it just starts very slow and the battle system gets very repetitive, just be patient and if you don't like it when you're already at chapter 5 or even chapter 4, the game is not for you but you'll miss out a lot of humor, drama and awesome boss battles. Yakuza has a lot to offer for its price. ItMy first game of the series and I can't wait to play more. The story is incredibly amazing but it just starts very slow and the battle system gets very repetitive, just be patient and if you don't like it when you're already at chapter 5 or even chapter 4, the game is not for you but you'll miss out a lot of humor, drama and awesome boss battles. Yakuza has a lot to offer for its price. It will be an awesome movie if its not a game. It actually saddens me that I was not able to play the series on my PS2 or PS3.… Expand
  84. Felice_Enellen
    Feb 15, 2017
    9
    Excellent storytelling. A good prequel for the rest of the series and a good entry point for new players. Fighting feels tight and upgrades are plentiful. Lots of collecting for OCD folks. The graphics suffer a little for being a cross-generation title (PS3/PS4) but you really don't notice once you get into the game. The small but open world is tightly packed with activity and goals.Excellent storytelling. A good prequel for the rest of the series and a good entry point for new players. Fighting feels tight and upgrades are plentiful. Lots of collecting for OCD folks. The graphics suffer a little for being a cross-generation title (PS3/PS4) but you really don't notice once you get into the game. The small but open world is tightly packed with activity and goals. It'll keep even the most focused players busy and entertained for days, maybe weeks.… Expand
  85. VanDerGame
    Feb 14, 2017
    3
    This game is absolutely horrible apart from the story and fighting.
    CONS:
    - terrible graphics, there are almost no shadows, textures are low-res, lots of aliasing, no reflections and other modern techniques - looks as if it was a 10-year-old game - about half of the dialogues DON'T HAVE VOICEOVER! Instead we hear a typewriter. This is 2017! WTF? - the game is Japanese, they didn't even    This game is absolutely horrible apart from the story and fighting.
    CONS:
    - terrible graphics, there are almost no shadows, textures are low-res, lots of aliasing, no reflections and other modern techniques - looks as if it was a 10-year-old game
    - about half of the dialogues DON'T HAVE VOICEOVER! Instead we hear a typewriter. This is 2017! WTF?
    - the game is Japanese, they didn't even bother to make a version with English voiceover
    - the game is way too long, the conversations are to slow and the overall pace of the game is very low
    - you can't drive a car
    - there is no fast travel apart from taxis that stand in the corners of the map
    - maps are tiny
    - no auto-save
    - no option to switch to the other character when you like it

    PROS:
    - well developed, however too long a story
    - fighting with lots of styles

    I can understand people that like the game, cuase they played the previous versions, but I really can't understand why someone would give it 10/10. If the story was placed in GTA V universe, then it could be perfect. Avoid or buy when it's $5.    … Expand
  86. Bolkie
    Feb 13, 2017
    10
    It's hard to explain how special Yakuza 0 is, I'll try though.
    Had never heard of the Yakuza series until I noticed a PSN friend of mine playing the game for hours on end, every day. His enthusiasm led me to buy the game, that was 10 days ago. Since then, I've been playing it every day, and when I'm not, I'm looking forward to the next time I will be able to play it.
    Hard to compare to    It's hard to explain how special Yakuza 0 is, I'll try though.
    Had never heard of the Yakuza series until I noticed a PSN friend of mine playing the game for hours on end, every day. His enthusiasm led me to buy the game, that was 10 days ago. Since then, I've been playing it every day, and when I'm not, I'm looking forward to the next time I will be able to play it.
    Hard to compare to any other game I've played before, but already it's at least in the top five of my favourite games. The story is so good, better than any other story I've experienced. It's like watching a thriller. On the other hand there is a lot of humour and the sub stories......the sub stories. Wow, they are sometimes very corny, but oh so nice play.
    The mini games: bowling, batting, betting, Outrun, Claw contraption game, Mahjong, darts, pool.... They are worth buying the game for alone. And...there are erotic video's lol. I couldn't believe it. For some reason these video's fit perfectly into the game without being distasteful. Only at chapter 5 (13/14 chapters?), and it's getting better and better. At least a hundred hours of fun in this game.
    The fighting: this is a main part of the game, and it's incredibly fun, and has a lot of depth.
    This is a game which will appeal to a very wide gaming audience, in spite of it's "niche" history.
    Enough written, time to get back to the game!
    Take care.    … Expand
  87. kekocukeko
    Feb 10, 2017
    9
    Maybe yakuza is best game series for me this game series is masterpiece for me because all yakuza games are perfect for me so i can recommend all yakuza games and start 2 review Graphics= very gut %85Maybe yakuza is best game series for me this game series is masterpiece for me because all yakuza games are perfect for me so i can recommend all yakuza games and start 2 review Graphics= very gut %85 Gameplay=awesome %95 History=super %95 voices= good %80 Overall= 87 pls dont miss this masterpiece… Expand
  88. Hellome7
    Feb 10, 2017
    10
    I have played practically all Yakuza games and by far this is my favorite! Not only because technically speaking it's objectively the best but also the story and the characters are top notch. The game feels a bit silly at start but trust me, wait until it catches up and hey, you'll be in for a treat!
  89. megabear
    Feb 9, 2017
    10
    I bought three GTA series, and didn't enjoy any of them. After a while everything felt like a chore. In Yakuza 0 I found myself actually caring about the main character and look forward to the story progression. I wish I pre-ordered it and saved myself some money but oh well, it was worth my $60.
  90. waatwaat
    Feb 3, 2017
    10
    Easily one of the best game this year. Many fun mini games and side quests. Master piece plot and story telling. You can't miss it! Get much more fun from this than GTA 5.
  91. abraham_b
    Jan 29, 2017
    9
    I really like the Yakuza series; being a huge Shenmue fan I had to try it out and I have to honestly say, if I'm ever in the mood for the whacky, rather than the grounded Shenmue-esque, experience then Yakuza is the way to go. And my goodness is Yakuza 0 whacky. In the best way possible.

    Obviously, I'm talking about side activities there, there is a serious experience to be had if you    I really like the Yakuza series; being a huge Shenmue fan I had to try it out and I have to honestly say, if I'm ever in the mood for the whacky, rather than the grounded Shenmue-esque, experience then Yakuza is the way to go. And my goodness is Yakuza 0 whacky. In the best way possible.

    Obviously, I'm talking about side activities there, there is a serious experience to be had if you focus on the story, which, like all Yakuza games, is the highlight of the game. This is not necessarily a game designed for open world fans; think of the open world as something like No More Heroes level, where it's just there but the gameplay moments outside of the open world are what is awesome, not the moments based around it. That is what sets Yakuza apart from GTA and in a world filled with the done-to-death GTA formula, it is a welcome change.

    Yes, there are some limitations which appear in other Yakuza games too, such as moments of having to read plenty of text and just gameplay moments where you can tell this is not a AAA title. However, that is fine by me because the hilarity of the side missions gave me more fun than I've had with most AAA titles in recent memory.

    Please support this franchise if you do enjoy the games; I'd love to see Yakuza start to get more much-needed attention.    … Expand
  92. tkgnus
    Jan 28, 2017
    9
    I had to make a metacritic account to review this game. This game surprised the **** out of me. It's hilarious and so much entertaining to play. The story line is top notch!
  93. Bitrip
    Jan 27, 2017
    10
    This is the best RPG I've played on the PS4 so far. The combat mechanics are solid and the story is good. The real draw however, is the city itself. There is so much to do and most of it is really fun. There are minigames galore, secret/hidden sidequests, and so much more. If you are on the fence like I was, hopefully this is enough to push you over!
  94. c25ha2U
    Jan 27, 2017
    10
    Played Yakuza 1-4, did not played Yakuza 5, and based on my experience this is a huge improvement. Stationary bystanders do not move like robots by moving their head and not their body. Not going to lie since a lot of features have been implemented, it took me awhile to get used to the game like the stance change between rush and brawler. Also seems that they "nerfed" the weapons beingPlayed Yakuza 1-4, did not played Yakuza 5, and based on my experience this is a huge improvement. Stationary bystanders do not move like robots by moving their head and not their body. Not going to lie since a lot of features have been implemented, it took me awhile to get used to the game like the stance change between rush and brawler. Also seems that they "nerfed" the weapons being picked up and increase the fighting damage.… Expand
  95. sorawild
    Jan 26, 2017
    9
    There's a reason why even in Japan Yakuza 0 is considered the best game in the series by far. Yakuza 0 improves on all the gameplay mechanics from the previous games and has by far the best story out of all of the games in this franchise. And since this game is a prequel to the series it is also the best starting point for new comers. The only issue I have with this game is that it startsThere's a reason why even in Japan Yakuza 0 is considered the best game in the series by far. Yakuza 0 improves on all the gameplay mechanics from the previous games and has by far the best story out of all of the games in this franchise. And since this game is a prequel to the series it is also the best starting point for new comers. The only issue I have with this game is that it starts off very slow both story and combat wise, but once the story starts rolling and you unlock new moves it becomes a blast.… Expand
  96. fungz84
    Jan 26, 2017
    9
    Pure fun and nice tats. It's like playing a traditional Yakuza movie film with you in it as the main character. I bought this game on day 1 with Resident Evil 7 and Tales of Berseria, and I am always conflicted as to which to spend more time on. So fun and funny at times with a good story (one of the few games where I don't pause to "skip" the story scene.)
  97. klemenhe
    Jan 25, 2017
    0
    Being an all time fan of the yakuza series I was deeply dissapointed with this long awaited sequel. The graphics are downright horrible and the gameplay is not only boring but feels nothing like its successor. Do not waste your money on this horrible milking cashgrab
  98. Jus7ice
    Jan 24, 2017
    10
    It hasn't been a long time since Yakuza 5 released on NA. And Yakuza 0 improves it in a lot of ways. Nagoshi-san is one of those developers that knows how to improve a franchise over the years.

    10/10
  99. kojishindo
    Jan 24, 2017
    10
    One of the best games in the "Yakuza" series.
    Charismatic characters and villains, nice story, a looot of substories, funny minigames, cool battles with a mature battle system, wonderful soundtrack and the nice taste of 80s.
    The graphics is a little outdated but at least it run at 60fps. It will take you 20-30 hours for the main story and around 100 hours if you want to take the    One of the best games in the "Yakuza" series.
    Charismatic characters and villains, nice story, a looot of substories, funny minigames, cool battles with a mature battle system, wonderful soundtrack and the nice taste of 80s.
    The graphics is a little outdated but at least it run at 60fps.
    It will take you 20-30 hours for the main story and around 100 hours if you want to take the platinum trophy.
    And being a prequel will be enjoyable even by the new comers! You have absolutely to play it :D    … Expand
  100. GamingNinja
    Jan 24, 2017
    9
    There are some dissapointing and tedious moments when playing Yakuza Zero...
    But these are blown away by the amazing story, gameplay and locations. Must pick this up if you enjoy a good story, characters, and a fun brawling gameplay thrown into the mix. With funny optional side missions, arcades, a great game to throw yourself in and get immersed into the world of jakuza 1988.
    And as    There are some dissapointing and tedious moments when playing Yakuza Zero...
    But these are blown away by the amazing story, gameplay and locations. Must pick this up if you enjoy a good story, characters, and a fun brawling gameplay thrown into the mix. With funny optional side missions, arcades, a great game to throw yourself in and get immersed into the world of jakuza 1988.

    And as this is the very origin of the series this is recommended for anyone willing to jump into the series, and with jakuza 1 and 6 coming soon It is a good choice.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best PS4 Game of 2017
22
#22 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
19
#19 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 87 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 87
  3. Negative: 0 out of 87
  1. RPG Fan
    Aug 8, 2018
    85
    Yakuza 0 is a lot of Yakuza, showing a great deal of excess, brilliance and occasional frustration in equal fashion. There's lots and lots to do, a great story to breathe in, and wonderful characters who play well off each other. At the same time, 0 lacks some of the innovations and gameplay conceits that came with later titles, and it's also just as frustrating in places as some of the franchise's more egregious offenders.
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  2. PLAY! Zine
    Oct 12, 2017
    90
    Yakuza Zero is a fantastic game. Spectacular main story combined with great diversity of sub-stories and solid gameplay create a rather unique game.
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  3. Games Master UK
    Apr 2, 2017
    90
    A fantastically bonkers open-world gem that finally opens up the magic of the series to everyone. [March 2017, p.64]
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