REVIEW/THOUGHTS [VIDEO GAME] -- Yakuza 0

Playthrough Status: Beat once on Normal, spent a ton of hours in Premium Adventure picking up remaining trophies I was willing to get
Approx. Length: 100+ hours
Language: English (Cutscenes are voiced in Japanese with English subtitles)
Played on: PS4
Also Available for: PC, Xbox One
Type of Game: Open-world Action Adventure, Mini-games, Skill-building
Overall Impression: I loved the crap out of this game!!! When I retire -- I wanna live in Kamurocho... with Majima, hahaha XD <3

A BIG NOTE!!

For those who have read my past reviews, this is a note that I'm gonna try changing up the structure for my review blogs. I want to try shortening my blogs, but still talk about the important things (i.e. the things I wanna talk about, lol). Don't know if I'll actually succeed (I tend to blab a lot when I love something), but we'll see. 

Just like with my past reviews, I'll keep a non-spoiler section (the section you're at right now), and a "Spoiler Talk" section at the end to go into more detail on certain things and to let loose with any extra thoughts.

INTRO / BLURB

Well, if you've read my recent blogs, you probably knew this review was coming. Even though I already blabbed a bit about Yakuza 0 in my Exposures blog, I just -- I just had to talk about it again! This game really left an impression on me.

WHAT I LOVED

Here are the top 3 things I loved about Yakuza 0.

1. The Main Story and Substories -- There aren't too many video games where the main story just sucks me in. Yakuza 0 does it with flying colours. Is it the most original thing? Hmmm, I wouldn't really say so, though there were definitely moments that took me by surprise. The main story sucked me in because of the strong writing and the superbly done cutscenes. Often it felt like watching a gritty crime movie or a long-running TV series. Just a warning that the main story segments tend to be long so set aside some time every time you continue with the main story.

For those curious, here's a brief synopsis for the two main protagonists (you alternate between them as you progress):

Kiryu Kazuma's story: He has been framed for murder and leaves the Dojima family to try to prove his innocence (while other things happen).

Goro Majima's story: He has been banished from his family. In order to re-join, he is tasked to assassinate somebody (and other things happen).

Now, the Substories -- the foil to the main story. I lumped the two together because they're both stories... just that one is the main story which is serious and gritty, and the other is a collection of smaller stories which often breaks through the seriousness into light-hearted absurdity.

Most of the substories are optional, but the situations are sometimes so ridiculous that you kinda want to do them to see how they end. You would probably think this wouldn't work with the main story being so serious and gritty, but it does. It really does. Don't believe me? Then try out the game for yourself! XD 

A hilarious moment from a Substory.

2. The Characters -- Of course the main story wouldn't have kept my attention if I thought the characters sucked. Yakuza 0 has a lot of good, strong characters. There's Kiryu (kind-hearted, loyal, has strong morals, a little clueless at times); There's Majima (strong-willed, strategic, considerate)... <3! And a bunch of others whom I thought were fleshed out and worth caring about.

3. World Immersion -- I don't know how well I'll be able to express this. Something I really enjoyed and appreciated about Yakuza 0 was getting a taste of Japan. This involved playing the minigames, dining at the various restaurants, running through the bustling non-interactable NPCs walking through the streets, seeing all the Japanese signs and ads, going into convenience stores and Don Quijote (that's a real place!) and buying bentos and beers. All of those elements contributed to bringing life to Yakuza 0's world, and all I thought was -- I want to be back in Japan!!! But until I do -- I can stick around here to get my fill. <3

Honourable mentions
-Awesome soundtrack (I have too many favourite tracks... really, just check it out XD)
-So many minigames (specifically the ones I enjoyed playing. I played Mahjong and Shogi for the first time through Yakuza 0)
-Multiple fighting styles (though I pretty much button mashed through the whole game)

Probably my best accomplishment from the UFO catcher minigame.

SLIGHT PEEVES

Now... NONE of these are deal-breakers, but here are my top 3 pet peeves for Yakuza 0.

1. 100% Completion List for Trophy -- This really applies to those who try to collect Platinum trophies in the games they play. I'm not too crazy about getting trophies, but when I really enjoy a game, I may try going for them. BUT -- because of this trophy (and a few others), I may as well kiss that platinum trophy good-bye, hahaha.

In Yakuza 0, The Completion List is a series of tasks you can complete during the game. Some tasks are easy and come naturally like beating up 50 enemies while in a certain fighting style, but other tasks can be very challenging like score x amount of points in a minigame or win x amount of money in Mahjong.

Maybe if I had tons and tons of time, I could slowly check off the list... but I don't have that time. I gotta play through the other Yakuza games as well as other things, hahaha.

2. Slight Predictability -- As you play through more of the main story between the two protagonists, you might start to notice that some of the core structures are mirrored. Not the story details for each character, but certain game setups. For example, in Kiryu's story, he'll eventually meet an NPC who will unlock one of his fighting styles. Then in Majima's story, he'll eventually meet an NPC who will unlock one of his fighting styles. Then in Kiryu's story, he'll be challenged to take down 5 big baddies. Then in Majima's story, he'll be challenged to take down 5 big baddies. The challenges for Kiryu and Majima are very different, but the end objective is the same. 

I suspect this was done to give each protagonist equal playing time... but once I see it in one story, I can't help but sometimes see it coming in the other's story.

3. Random Fights Are Too Frequent -- I mentioned this in my Exposures blog, but I'll say it again -- the encounter rate is pretty high in Yakuza 0. You can always run away if you don't want to fight, but sometimes I don't want to run away. The farther I run, the farther I'm getting from my desired destination. It can be annoying sometimes.

THE DISCLAIMERS (IF ANY)

This is a new section where I list any things that could make you think twice about trying the game out with family or friends (depends on what they are okay with, I guess). They're not exactly bad per se, but more for your own awareness of it (and so you don't blame me for not saying anything!). 

I don't personally take issues with these elements (though a couple things I may cringe / roll my eyes at), but that's because Yakuza 0 is rated "M" for "Mature". I'd kinda expect an "M" rated game to contain some content that would require my own judgement / evaluation. And that "M" rating does go pretty far in this game. I know for myself I can experience these elements in a video game and get through more or less unscathed, but your mileage may vary. Anywho...

-The fights can be pretty bloody and violent. There is an option to turn down the blood levels, but I haven't tried it myself.

-Some story cutscenes are pretty bloody and violent, too, but of course I can't talk about it. It is a game revolving around the Yakuza world, after all!

-As you are running around the streets, some non-interactable NPCs will approach you and ask in Japanese if you would like a "massage" or to go to a hotel. They can't be interacted with so you can't actually get a massage or go to a hotel with them. They are likely there to help set the atmosphere.

-There is a minigame where you can chat up random girls to go on a date. This is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL.

-There is a shop where you can view short videos of girls in bikinis. This is also COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. The video scenes themselves can be skipped.

MY RATING

This is a new section where I give some number rating. We'll see if I like this or not, lol.

I already said I loved the game so you already know my rating will be high. Despite my disclaimers -- despite my pet peeves -- Yakuza 0 is a solid, solid game. If you don't have the time to play through the whole game, I'd recommend searching up Youtube videos that showcase the story. Then just sit back, and enjoy the wild, gritty ride! :)

Rating: 95 / 100


Thanks for reading! If this is the second Yakuza 0 blog you've read from me, thanks for putting up with my indulgences! 

If you have any questions / comments about anything, even about the new review structure (I'm still experimenting with it), leave a comment or send via the Contact Form. :)

So I'll do the scrolly thing and the "Spoiler Talk" section will appear after that. Then I'll add some more scrolly things after the "Spoiler Talk" section in case anybody wants to comment, but not see the spoilers.

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SPOILER TALK

So this will be a little different from the "Spoilers" section in other review blogs. I kinda want this section to be a place where I can unload any extra thoughts I had about Yakuza 0, even if I didn't mention it at all in the non-spoiler section. I may have already talked about some of these in the non-spoiler section but I'll go into more detail here.

STORY HOPE

As I was playing through Kiryu and Majima's stories, I was hoping so badly for their stories to converge at some point. I wanted them to meet each other, realize they had the same goal, and then work together. But that didn't happen :'(

GORO MAJIMA

This guy... my heart really goes out to him. Majima is hands down my most favourite character in Yakuza 0. I sympathized with his struggles and his sacrifice at the end. When Makoto was staring at his back as he walked farther and farther away, I cried a lot. Majima went through so many hardships to keep Makoto safe and when she finally regains her sight, he lets her go without giving her any chance to recognize him or to give her thanks.

I've read some say that letting her go was what sparked him to be crazy and wild in the later Yakuza games. Unless it's actually confirmed somewhere I have a different interpretation.

Even though it really pained Majima to let Makoto go (I really believe that he came to love her), Majima felt it was his responsibility to ensure Makoto lived a good life -- A life away from any further connections to the Yakuza. So... he had to do it. It was his last gesture to keep Makoto safe... *sniffle*

As for Majima's crazy and wild nature in later games, I think part of it is to make sure he's living his life his way, not being pulled by anybody else's strings. I'm sure Lee and Nishitani's philosophies also helped to shape his way of living. And speaking of Nishitani...

CHARACTER DEATHS

I was so shocked and sad that Nishitani died! He was a wild character who was capable of many wrongdoings, but he had a touch of humanity in him. 

I would have loved to see a short spin-off where Nishitani and Majima go on an adventure, but if it had to stay canon to the Yakuza series, there'd be no chance... because after Majima and Nishitani meet for the first time, Nishitani gets arrested. Then the next time Majima sees Nishitani is in jail. And before they head out of the jail, Nishitani gets shot... :(

I was really sad when Lee died, too. I was hoping he somehow survived that car bomb, just like how he survived the shooting at the clinic.

And Tachibana... just moments before he's finally reunited with Makoto... T__T Why must this game put me through so much sadness??? T____T

FAVOURITE MINIGAMES

Out of the plethora of minigames in Yakuza 0, my favourites were karaoking and running the cabaret club. I would have loved the disco dancing if it wasn't so darn difficult to play well. I love dancing to the songs "Friday Night" and "Koi no Disco Queen".

For karaoke, I just enjoyed being exposed to such nice songs. I loved Kiryu singing "Bakamitai" and Majima singing "24-hour Cinderella". Playing those songs over and over helped me learn where the circle, triangle, square, and x buttons were. One day I hope to score 100% in one of those songs.

For the cabaret club, I really enjoyed dressing up the platinum hostesses. Every time a new platinum hostess would join, the first thing I'd do is a makeover, hahaha. The accompanying song "As You Like" just enhanced the whole makeover experience. Most times I went with a colour scheme like pink hair with a pink dress. Here are the initial makeovers I did for each platinum hostess -- well, what I did with their hair and accessories anyway, lol. I also included a WTF moment at the end.

Yuki-chan! I like how the light shines on her hair. It gives her such a soft look.

Ai-chan! I think she was my favourite hostess in terms of personality and voice.

Saki-chan! She sounded like the tomboy of the bunch so 

I made her super not tomboy-looking, whatever that means.

Hibiki-chan! I thought her substory was sweet.

Chika-chan! I thought she looked very pretty as is so I barely changed anything.

Mana-chan! You don't see it well, but she's wearing bunny ears.

A WTF moment in the hostess mini-game. How dare FOUR customers 

request Saki at the same time! lol.

MOST HATED MINIGAME

I hate Outrun with a passion! Well -- maybe not hate it with a passion. More like I really suck at it and playing it stresses me out. My reflexes aren't the best and you have to drive fast to reach those darn checkpoints before the time runs out. There is a Completion List task to reach 5 million points in Outrun. I don't see myself completing that any time soon... or ever. Maybe I can try getting somebody else to do it for me :3

FAVOURITE SUBSTORIES

There were so many fun ones, but my favourites has got to be the Dominatrix one, hunting that Ara Q3 thief, and buying that dirty magazine without being seen for Kiryu, and pretending to be a girl's boyfriend, taking down that munan cult (whatever its name was), and distracting the crowd so the human statue can go to the washroom for Majima.

I got a kick when I was sending in those stories to that radio show as Majima and sometimes being beaten by Judgement Kazzy, hahaha.

MISCELLANEOUS

Here are some miscellaneous thoughts that didn't fit into any of the above topics, and a few more screenshots I wanted to share.

-I really enjoyed it when Kiryu received a live chicken for bowling a turkey. His reactions and Emiri's responses were hilarious. Naming the chicken "Nugget" at the end was also really funny.

-For the perfect meme to illustrate the main story and the substories, just click on this Reddit thread (it's a pretty old thread): 
https://www.reddit.com/r/yakuzagames/comments/gkrgjm/both_my_fave/

And here are the random screenshots!

Kiryu denying some unfortunate fortunes being told. Ahh, if only he knew...

The most ridiculous thing. I didn't even know I could commission a gold statue 

until I noticed Kiryu was able to look at / examine an empty base. Then I switched 

to Majima and found he could also look at / examine an empty spot. 

The statue cost a WHOPPING 10 BILLION YEN for each so I had Kiryu collect 

on his real estate for the next couple hours or so. Then the power went out 

partway and I had to re-collect, hahaha ;_;

I should really save videos the next time I commission these statues.

If you read this section, thank for reading! Now to finish with more scrolly things. Feel free to comment if you wish :D

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