Localization of Yakuza series games for a Western audience traditionally takes a lot of time, and fans have to be patient. But the expectation usually pays off. That’s what happened with Yakuza 0, the prequel to the famous franchise, which was released in Europe almost two years after the Japanese premiere.

Despite the delay, everyone should get acquainted with this part, even if you have never played the projects of the series before. Yakuza 0 is an ideal starting point: the dynamic plot, charismatic characters and incredible atmosphere of 80s Japan can captivate from the very first minutes. Why does the game deserve your attention? Read more about this in our review.

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The first character a player meets in Yakuza 0 is the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, a man whose name has long been a symbol of the entire series. He is a young but already respected member of the Dojima clan, a man for whom honor and duty are above all else. From the very first minutes, the game shows how representatives of the Yakuza live and think: cold confidence, internal discipline and absolute dedication to their work. Kiryu gets the usual assignment — to get the debt out of the stubborn defaulter. For him, this is just another routine job, and he does it without delay. But soon everything changes: the debtor is found murdered, and all the evidence points specifically to Kirya.

From this moment, the hero’s life collapses — no one wants to believe him, and inside the clan they begin to whisper that the guy has tarnished the name of Dojima. For rivals, this is a convenient chance to ruin the reputation of the entire clan. Kiryu remains alone, unsupported, but with a burning desire to clear his name. He takes on his own investigation, not sparing himself and risking everything for the sake of those he loves and respects. This story is not just about crime, but about loyalty, duty, and the price you have to pay for honor.

In parallel, another storyline is developing — the story of Goro Madzima, a man with a difficult fate and an impeccable sense of style. Now he runs a prestigious cabaret in vibrant Osaka, shining in society and remaining in the shadow of the criminal world. He was once a Yakuza, but lost his place in the clan and now lives with the dream of regaining his former status. Despite his exile, Goro does not give up: he runs errands, tries to prove his loyalty and honesty, because for him honor is not just a word.

One day, he gets a new assignment, seemingly simple and not worth much attention. But it is from him that a series of events begins, which will draw Madzima into a whirlpool of intrigue, violence and human tragedies. Gradually, this charming and eccentric hero reveals himself from a new perspective — in front of the player is not just a “madman from a cabaret”, but a living person who is tired of lies and betrayal, but has not lost his humanity.

Yakuza 0 is a story not only about the criminal world of Japan in the 80s, but also about the people living in it. The script is built with jewel-like precision: every scene has meaning, every emotion has weight. Despite the leisurely pace, the plot catches on from the first minutes and does not let go until the end credits. Even the long cutscenes, which sometimes last for half an hour, are impossible to miss — they are staged like scenes from an expensive movie, with strong acting voices, competent directing and lively dialogues.

At the same time, Yakuza 0 is not just the “Japanese answer to GTA” or the “Eastern version of Sleeping Dogs”. Everything is different here: the pace, the atmosphere, the focus on emotions and dialogues. The world is limited to two areas — Tokyo’s Kamurocho and Osaka’s Sotenbori, but they live, breathe, sparkle with neon light and are much more memorable than many huge maps. Every street here has its own character, every building has its own history.

Passing through these neighborhoods, the player discovers dozens of unexpected activities.: karaoke, billiards, baseball, casinos, dancing — life is in full swing everywhere. And there are hundreds of side stories hiding in the alleys and back streets. Many of them start by accident — you just have to approach a passerby or eavesdrop on a conversation, and a new drama or comedy unfolds in front of you.

The side quests in Yakuza 0 are not just an add—on, but the real heart of the game. It has everything: touching family scenes, funny situations, incredible acquaintances. Sometimes Kiryu and Majima have to pretend to be other people in order to help someone in need. Some stories can bring you to tears, others cause sincere laughter, but each one is memorable and makes the world even more alive.

Of course, the streets of Kamurocho are not always safe. At every turn, you can encounter aggressive Yakuza members or street hooligans. The battles are fast, dynamic and spectacular: combinations of punches, throws, techniques — everything is executed with a flourish. Winning brings not only moral satisfaction, but also a substantial reward — hundreds of thousands of yen. Money is literally pouring out of every pocket here, but there is something to spend it on: leveling up skills is incredibly expensive. Some upgrades cost billions of yen, but they give the heroes new power — they increase their health, unlock destructive techniques, and enhance their strikes.

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As a result, Yakuza 0 feels like a living work, where every detail — from the characters’ facial expressions to the music in the alleys — is filled with meaning. This is not just a crime game, but a deep story about people who are looking for their place in a world where honor is more expensive than life.

How the gameplay of Yakuza 0 works: fighting styles, entertainment and business of Kiryu and Majima

In Yakuza 0, each hero has his own path, his own character and, of course, his own fighting style. And not just one — each has three of them, and they all reveal themselves gradually as you progress. At first it seems that these are just different techniques, but the longer you play, the more you realize that each style reflects the personality of the hero. There is a fourth style, the “secret” one, but you need to get to it — it opens closer to the finale, when you really feel that you deserve this power. And yet, even without him, the battles don’t get boring. You can switch between styles right on the move — in the middle of a fight, and this not only changes the dynamics, but even the music: it adjusts to your rhythm. You change your style, and it’s like you’re changing your mood. This makes each match feel lively, unpredictable, and exciting in its own way.

Take Kazuma Kiryu, for example. In the beginning, he owns the Brawler style, which is a classic of the genre: punches, grapples, and counterattacks. Over time, he learns Rush, and then everything becomes faster, more graceful, almost like a dance. Kiryu slides between enemies, dodges attacks and hits with lightning speed. Against one opponent, it’s beautiful and effective, but if there’s a crowd around, you’ll have to look for a different approach. And that’s when Beast comes on the scene, a brute—force style where everything is used: signs, trash cans, bicycles, even motorcycles. Yes, Kiryu is getting a little clumsier, he may miss a couple of punches, but the feeling of power is simply incredible. One swing and the enemies fly in different directions, like bowling pins.

And now Goro Majima. His style is different — more artistic, almost theatrical. His movements are graceful, as if he enjoys every fight. At first he fights with his hands, but then he gets access to a baseball bat — and Slugger style turns every fight into a whirlwind of devastating combos. But the craziest thing is Breaker. Imagine: You fight, and Madzima dances! Literally. He spins, does tricks, and at the same time delivers powerful kicks. The opponents just don’t have time to figure out what’s going on. This style is pure energy, fun and chaos all rolled into one. Of course, sometimes you have to choose the appropriate style depending on the situation, but more often you just want to improvise, change the rhythm and enjoy the process.

When fights get tiring, Yakuza 0 suggests relaxing. And that’s where the real fun begins. You can go bowling or billiards, shoot darts, dance or look into the arcade room, where there are old Sega machines. Everything is real there: Space Harrier, OutRun, and even machines with a “claw” where you need to pull out toys. And, of course, karaoke is a separate holiday. You choose a song, and suddenly everything turns into a music video with costumes, lights and crazy energy. The main thing is not to forget to press the buttons on time, but even if something doesn’t work out, emotions are still over the edge.

To take a break from street fighting, the game offers a variety of activities that are easy to get involved in:

• Bowling and billiards are the perfect way to relax between story missions.
• Darts and dancing — a test of reaction and sense of rhythm.
• Arcade machines are a real time machine in the era of the 80s.
• A karaoke mini-concert where even a stern yakuza turns into a star.

But Yakuza 0 is not just about entertainment. There are also serious mini-games that are closely related to the plot. Kazuma, for example, becomes the manager of a real estate agency and begins competing with the Kamurocho Five Billionaires group. Each of them owns a part of the city, and your task is to buy buildings, develop businesses, hire managers, and protect your territory. It’s like a strategy game inside a game, only with lively emotions and fights for every square meter.

Goro is trying himself in another field — he runs a cabaret. And here everything revolves around communication, atmosphere and… girls. We need to select staff, make sure that customers have fun, and employees don’t get tired. Each of them has its own character, strengths, and salary requirements. Sometimes you have to take risks to win the status of the best club in the city. And when you see an institution come to life under your control, it brings no less pleasure than winning a street fight.

There’s just a lot of content here. The main story will take about thirty hours, but if you ignore the side effects, mini-games and business mechanics, you can spend twice as much time in the game. If you want, play poker, mahjong, or craps online, or set up a competition with a friend on the same screen.

Yakuza 0 is not just an action game. It’s a vibrant, pulsating story about people, strength, honor, and fun. Here, every little thing is done with a soul — from fights and dialogues to karaoke and casual meetings on the streets of Kamurocho. And that’s why when you turn off the game, it feels like you’re leaving a real city where you’ve just lived your whole life.

Is Yakuza 0 Worth Playing Today? Our Honest Opinion

Yakuza 0 is not just a game, but a real journey into the heart of the Japanese criminal world. She impresses with her atmosphere, attention to detail, and ability to tell stories that are impossible to break away from. Here, every dialogue, every fight, and even a casual stroll through the Kamuro-cho at night fill the world with life and emotions. The game invites you to become a part of this crazy, but beautiful world in its own way – where honor, betrayal and friendship are intertwined in a surprisingly human story.

The creators did a great job: the characters turned out to be lively, with understandable motivations, their voice acting and animation are excellent, and the plot twists so that each chapter leaves a desire to find out what will happen next. Even the secondary quests here are not just filler content, but small stories full of humor, sadness and sincerity. And all this is accompanied by a great combat system that allows you to play in your own way, experimenting with different styles.

After Yakuza 0, you understand why this series has gained cult status. It’s not just fights and criminal intrigues — it’s emotions, characters and humanity that permeate every frame. And now we can only look forward to the remake of the first part in order to return to this world again.

Advantages:

• A powerful storyline with live, real characters;
• side missions, each of which tells its own unique story — from touching to absurdly funny;
• A flexible combat system where you can customize your style to suit your mood;
• a great introduction to the legendary series, understandable even to those who have never played before.

Disadvantages:

• sometimes there are silent scenes, and I want to hear the emotions of the characters.;
• occasionally, there are slightly blurred textures, but against the background of the overall quality, this is a trifle.

Yakuza 0 System Requirements