Ever since it debuted on the Playstation 2, Sega's Yakuza franchise has become a staple for both Sega and other Sony consoles. Essentially a spiritual successor to Sega's then dead Shenmue franchise, Yakuza combines over-the-top beat 'em up gameplay with the story of stoic Japanese gangster Kazuma Kiryu.
Initially a more niche series that had many of its entries unreleased outside of the West, the franchise finally hit the big time with the release of Yakuza 0. That title is about to become available through Xbox Game Pass, making it the first time that the series can be played on a Microsoft console. For gamers who still haven't played a Yakuza game, or who started the series with a different entry, here's everything that they should know before the title hits Xbox consoles for the first time.
What is Yakuza 0 About?
Set in the late 1980s, Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the franchise, taking place 7 years before the beginning of the first game. The story sees Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, members of two different regional branches of the Japanese underworld, facing the wrath of their respective clans. Both men become involved in the conspiracies surrounding the murders that they had nothing to do with.
In the backdrop of all of this is the "Empty Lot" plot, wherein the criminal empires of Japan all vie for an important piece of real estate that will dramatically shift the balance of power in their territories. The story chronicles Kiryu's journey to rejoin the Dojima Yakuza family, Majima's descent into his manic, madcap personality seen in the game's sequels, and the beginnings of their unconventional relationship.
Gameplay
Yakuza 0, like the rest of the series, is a third-person action-adventure title, employing the same open-world gameplay the series helped to pioneer. Players can explore the many attractions of Kamurocho and Sotenbori, which are fictionalized versions of real-life Japanese cities Kabukicho and Dotonbori. While traversing the cities to solve the mystery guiding the game's intricate plot, players will encounter roving members of other gangs, who will be more than willing to throw hands their way. Players can not only punch and kick groups of opponents, but also grab nearby items such as bats, swords, and street signs. Defeating these foes earns money, as well as allows the player to level up and customize Kiryu and Majima's strength and attacks, giving the game subtle RPG elements.
There's also a staggering amount of side quests, which develop their own set of characters and plots outside of the main story. Many of these are highly eccentric, balancing the gritty crime drama of the main story with zany levity. These include Kiryu becoming an avid fan of racing Pocket Fighter toy cars or crowning Nugget the Chicken as a real estate manager. Other peripheral activities include trying the game's various restaurants, dancing and singing at local bars, and running each gangster's respective business. There is also a recreation of Sega's iconic Club Sega arcade, in which players can try out '80s Sega classics such as Outrun, Space Harrier and Fantasy Zone.
Do You Need to Play the Other Games First?
As mentioned, Yakuza 0 takes place before the other games. Thus, there's no story that newcomers would need to know beforehand in order to understand the plot. There are gameplay elements, however, that became staples of the franchise after Yakuza 0 came out, and some players have stated that starting with this entry may spoil them toward playing the series' other games.
Players who have never experienced Yakuza before may want to start with Yakuza Kiwami, which was a remake of the first game. Unfortunately, Xbox owners won't have this option, as that title is unavailable for that system. Thus, those looking to see what all the fuss is about, or relive playing the game on the PlayStation 4, should check out Yakuza 0 when it hits Game Pass this month.