Yakuza 0

A dramatic story of struggle and yakuza pride surrounded by side-content that is essentially episodes of The Simpsons.

I kinda wish that the main quest and the whole real estate side content came together a bit better than it actually does here. The big difference in moods is not what I'm talking about but more in the purpose of most of it. Because, for me, it feels like the game feels forced to justify the character's emotional attachment to the setting so it adds 2 whole big quests to prove so. It just seems very overwhelming at a certain point because of how repetitive it is, especially because the game really encourages you to do it.

Other than that the game is pretty much amazing, I was surprised by how wholesome the little side quests were while still not feeling out of character for the game. At this point it feels like it could get away with anything really.

Y6 is the best game in the series. Judgement series is also great. Y0 is an acquired taste. Kiwami 2 is overrated. Kiwami 1 and the rest of the series is skippable.

Even though I havent played many story driven games, Yakuza 0 stands out among my favorites, due to its amazing plot, well written characters, comedy, size of the game and density of Kamurocho.

In Yakuza 0 we are shown Kiryu Kazuma's rise as a legendary yakuza, fresh out of Kazama's doorstep, with his sworn brother Nishikiyama. During the course of the game, we see Kiryu wearing black AND white, tasting both the yakuza life and life as a civilian, only for him by the end of the game to buy his iconic gray suit, deciding to live as a yakuza for now, with a slight hint of white in his soul, which started his gradual distancing from the yakuza, that same dark path that he was heading towards, the same path Kazama used to walk.

We also get a look on how Goro Majima "turned" into the Mad Dog Of Shimano. During his part of the story, here where we see him in a metaphorical prison fall in love with a girl he was ordered to kill. Her blindness due to traumatic events and her past where she was seperated from those closest to her, spoke to Majima on deeper, personal level, to the point of falling in love with her and slowly losing his shit over the thought of Makoto being hurt. Throughout the game we see Majima interact with different people who will also influence him in some shape or form. By the time the conflict resolves, Majima rejoins yakuza as a Mad Dog, but with the context provided, we see an act covering Majima's true (slightly kind hearted) nature. With Majima Saga in Kiwami 2, this further supports that Majima's personality is intact by the Mad Dog persona.

Yakuza 0 fantastically builds up these 2 incredibly well written characters with a prequel they deserved, starting and launching their rivarly/friendship.

The side content needs no explanation, almost everything is fun asl

9/10

Yakuza 0 is an absolute masterpiece of a game. The storyline is gripping, the characters are incredibly well-developed, and the gameplay is incredibly fun and satisfying. The attention to detail in the game's world is truly impressive, and the game's visuals are absolutely stunning. The combat system is also incredibly well done, providing a sense of weight and impact with every move. The side activities and minigames are also a great touch, providing a nice break from the main story and adding a lot of replay value to the game.

One of the only criticisms that could be leveled at Yakuza 0 is that it can be a bit overwhelming for newcomers to the series. The game's open-world structure and plethora of side activities can be a bit daunting for those who are not familiar with the series' mechanics. Additionally, some of the side activities can feel a bit repetitive after a while. However, these are minor criticisms in the grand scheme of things, and do little to detract from the overall experience.

In conclusion, Yakuza 0 is an absolutely fantastic game that any fan of open-world action games should not miss. It's a must-play for fans of the series and a great entry point for newcomers. It's rare to find a game that so expertly blends storytelling, gameplay, and open-world exploration, but Yakuza 0 manages to do it with ease. A true masterpiece.