Yakuza 0 is set as a prequel to the Yakuza series and actually serves as an excellent starting point for new players. Released in Japan in 2015 for the PS3 and PS4, it was translated and brought over to the West for PS4 and PC. The PS3 origins shows in the graphics since it is not as detailed as one would expect for a current PS4 game. The environments aren't too bad but the character models can be lacking in texture. It doesn't help that there are two types of story cutscenes, the ones that are a lot more detailed (with no dialogue textboxes) and the in-game engine ones which feels subpar in comparison.
This is an action adventure game and in the beginning, has a basic combo system. You press the Square button to chain attacks, Triangle for a more powerful move, Circle to grab and X to dodge. You're also able to block using the L1 button. To make things a bit more interesting, there are various stances that you can get into, each focusing on a different aspect from power, speed and tanking.
The player character, Kiryu or Majima, is able to use the environment to his advantage in his attacks. He'll grab an enemy and then slam them against the wall or use a car door to smash their head. These animations feel great and look powerful, adding flair to the combat. While combat doesn't take place on a different screen, there is a short pause as it cordons off the immediate surrounding area and removes the NPCs. You are also able to pick up weapons, which have a limited use. The combat is easily the worst part of the game as it just doesn't feel smooth at times.
There are a few bosses where it is frustrating because they are immune to staggering. It is really annoying when they continuously block your attacks and then stunlock you with their wide reaching ones. It makes the combat seem extremely clunky as Kiryu or Majima cannot dodge or guard at a moment's notice. It ends up devolving into a hit and run tactic which is not fun and drags the fight out for way too long. What makes the combat worse is that a lot of the times, you are fighting in a confined space and your moves get caught in the objects. It is really frustrating when you are chaining together a combo and then it stops because you reach a wall.
You earn cash through your performance during fights and you're then able to purchase items to use during battle. More importantly, is that you use the currency to purchase upgrades and additional abilities for either character. One thing to watch out for is that the game has a slew of cutscenes. In the first chapter alone, you'll be watching cutscenes most of the time which can initially be a bit boring. However, the game quickly opens up both in gameplay and in terms of an intriguing story, and before you know it, the first chapter ends with a massive bang. It is can really annoying at times when you are forced to sit through events that go for 30-45 minutes and you can't save, meaning you can't quit the game.
The game follows two protagonists, Kiryu and Majima. The story will be alternating between their two viewpoints. Kiryu ends up being targeted by his own Yakuza family and he is out to set it right, meeting other characters who support him in the process. Majima on the other hand runs a club in Osaka and their two stories does not seem to relate to each other. The central plot point is that various factions of the Yakuza are fighting for control over a small plot of empty land. It takes over half the game before the link is finally revealed although by that point, you suspect already what that link is.
While the chapters are fairly long in the beginning, they get shorter as the game progresses. At the same time, the pacing ramps up until the last few chapters where it is a massive thrill ride. Once the big revelations take place, you get so engrossed into the story and all the characters. It's impressive at how elegant and well woven some of the events are. The only slightly disappointing part is how the plotlines between Kiryu and Majima don't intersect as much as one would hope. The two protagonists never meet each other face to face more than a few times. In the beginning, you feel as if the two would become loyal friends or deadly enemies but this never happens.
The game takes place in Tokyo and Osaka in the 1980s. While the recreation of the suburb isn't big by today's standards, it means that the game map isn't big just for the sake of being big. There are heaps of side activities and minigames to do. You are guaranteed to trigger various sidequests just running from one place to another.
The sidequests take on a more lighthearted tone compared to the story. They often involve some ridiculous premise and have Kiryu/Majima have over the top reactions. This works really well, injecting a lot of humor into the game. It is impressive how well Yakuza 0 manages the significantly varying tones within different parts of the game. They never feel at odds with each other and you look forward to each one for different reasons. Key to the series is the numerous minigames. There are a lot of side activities to do including mahjong, dancing and karaoke (rhythm based minigames), darts, pool and business simulation. They can easily suck your time away and that's not to mention full versions of some of Sega's arcade games such as Space Harrier. If you go for 100% completion, it will take hours upon hours.
Overall, Yakuza 0 is a fantastic game and an excellent starting point to the series. The combat system is fun but can be frustrating at times. The story is great and the quirky humor is unique. The game has so much content that it can be overwhelming at times.
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