Diving into the Dragon: What You Need to Know Before Playing Yakuza 0
Before you step into the vibrant, neon-lit world of 1980s Japan with Yakuza 0, there are a few crucial things you should know to fully appreciate the experience. This isn’t just another open-world action game; it’s a sprawling crime drama with deep characters, engaging side content, and a unique blend of serious storytelling and over-the-top action. Yakuza 0 is often touted as the best entry point for the series, and that’s for good reason. But understanding its nuances beforehand will enhance your journey through the underworld.
The Setting and Story: A Tale of Two Cities
Yakuza 0 is set in 1988, during Japan’s booming bubble economy. This era of excess and extravagance permeates every aspect of the game, from the flashy clothes and hairstyles to the extravagant nightlife. The game follows two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. Kiryu, a young, idealistic debt collector for the Dojima Family in Kamurocho, finds himself framed for a murder he didn’t commit and entangled in a complex power struggle over a mysterious patch of land known as the “Empty Lot”. Majima, on the other hand, is a former yakuza living in exile as the manager of a cabaret club in Sotenbori, forced to play by someone else’s rules to reclaim his former life. These intertwining stories explore themes of loyalty, betrayal, ambition, and the corrupting influence of power.
The Gameplay: Brawling, Businesses, and Beyond
The core gameplay of Yakuza 0 revolves around brawling combat. Each character has distinct fighting styles that can be upgraded through skill trees. Don’t expect a deep and tactical combat system but instead a fast-paced and sometimes goofy style of street brawling that can get complex but not overly difficult once you get the hang of it. This combat is punctuated by over-the-top heat actions, brutal finishing moves that are as hilarious as they are satisfying.
Beyond the main story, Yakuza 0 offers a wealth of side activities. For Kiryu, there’s the Real Estate Royale minigame, where you acquire and manage properties to become a real estate mogul. For Majima, there’s Cabaret Club Czar, where you run a cabaret club, manage hostesses, and compete against other clubs. These mini-games are extremely detailed and could almost be standalone games in their own right, providing hours of engaging content and rewarding progression.
Key Things to Remember
- Don’t Ignore the Training Missions: The game has a lot of depth, and the tutorials provide essential knowledge for mastering the combat and core mechanics. Don’t skip them.
- Weapons are Important: While you can rely on your bare fists, finding and equipping weapons can make tough fights much easier. Always keep a good weapon handy.
- Fill Friendship Meters: Engaging with side characters and completing their storylines (also known as substories) can unlock valuable items, abilities, and insights into the world. They are often rewarding.
- The Game Has a Ton of Content: Yakuza 0 is known for being one of the largest in the series, and is packed with minigames, side stories, and tons of other extras. You can easily spend over 100 hours trying to do everything. Don’t feel like you need to do everything on your first playthrough, and do what interests you the most.
- Pace Yourself: Due to its heavy content, the game is best enjoyed when you are not rushing through it. This is especially true when you will be doing minigames.
Starting with Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is an excellent starting point for the series, despite being a prequel. While playing later entries might reveal certain nuances that you would recognize more easily if you were more familiar with the franchise, Yakuza 0 does not spoil anything major from other games and can be a fantastic experience on its own. The events of Yakuza 0 happen before the first Yakuza game, introducing the main characters in their early years and establishing the background for much of the overall series lore. This allows players to get a good grasp on the characters without requiring prior knowledge.
The game’s standalone nature makes it incredibly approachable to new players. You don’t need to have played other Yakuza games to understand and enjoy this one.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Yakuza 0 appropriate for teenagers?
Yakuza 0 contains mature themes like violence, strong language, sexual references, and drug use. It’s set in the 80s with a heavy emphasis on organized crime, nightclubs, and adult themes. This is not a game for young children. Parental discretion is heavily advised. It has a Mature rating for a reason.
2. In what order should I play the Yakuza games?
The ideal play order is often debated, but a common recommendation is this: Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza 3 Remastered, Yakuza 4 Remastered, Yakuza 5 Remastered, Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life, Yakuza: Like A Dragon. The chronological approach allows for a continuous narrative experience. The Judgment and Lost Judgment games are also part of the franchise, but those are spin offs that can be played at any time after playing through most of the main entries.
3. How long does it take to beat Yakuza 0?
The main story of Yakuza 0 takes about 31-32 hours to complete. However, if you aim for 100% completion, you could easily spend 140+ hours exploring the game’s content. The side activities, substories, and mini-games offer hours of additional entertainment.
4. Can I free roam after beating Yakuza 0?
Yes, after completing the main story, you can access Premium Adventure mode, which allows you to freely explore Kamurocho and Sotenbori without any plot constraints. This lets you finish side quests, hunt for collectibles, or just enjoy the environment.
5. Can you date girls in Yakuza 0?
Technically, you can get dates through the Telephone Club mini-game, but this isn’t full-fledged dating. It’s a mini-game that you must successfully complete to get a date. It has a minigame that requires timed button prompts to get through.
6. Who is the best girl in Yakuza 0?
The “best girl” is subjective, but popular favorites from the Cabaret Club mini-game include Yuki, Ai, and Saki due to their personalities and interactions. You will be managing different hostesses, and as you raise your bond with them, you will unlock new content with them.
7. How old is Kiryu in Yakuza 0?
At the time of Yakuza 0, Kiryu is 20 years old and is working as a debt collector for the Dojima Family. This young version of Kiryu is a stark contrast to the older, more experienced characters from other entries.
8. How old is Majima in Yakuza 0?
In Yakuza 0, Majima is 24 years old. His story highlights his past as a former yakuza and the events that led to his current lifestyle as the manager of a cabaret club.
9. What does “Kiwami” mean?
Kiwami translates to “ultimate” or “the pinnacle” in English. This is reflected in the remakes of Yakuza 1 and 2, emphasizing that these versions are the definitive experiences of those stories.
10. Are all Yakuza games connected?
Yes, while not every game’s story is directly tied to the others, all Yakuza games are connected through their characters and overarching plot. Understanding the background of events in previous entries enhances the experience of later ones. It is also a series that rewards you for remembering characters that appeared in previous entries.
11. What is the “Empty Lot” in Yakuza 0?
The “Empty Lot” is a critical piece of land at the center of the game’s conflict, around which the entire story revolves. It’s the MacGuffin that sets off the yakuza power struggles and drives Kiryu’s and Majima’s stories.
12. Does Yakuza 0 spoil anything?
No, Yakuza 0 generally does not spoil the other games in the series. It is a prequel designed to be a good starting point, that is more likely to make you want to play the rest of the series. While the story of Yakuza 0 will be enhanced by playing the other games, it is designed to be a standalone experience for new players.
13. Is Yakuza 0 longer than Yakuza Kiwami?
Yes, Yakuza 0 is significantly longer than Yakuza Kiwami. With all the content, it can easily take double the time to complete, largely due to the sheer number of side activities and mini-games available.
14. Are there any missables in Yakuza 0?
Yes, there are certain missable substories and items within the game. Using guides can be beneficial for those that want to try to get everything on one single playthrough.
15. Who is the blind girl in Yakuza 0?
The blind girl in Yakuza 0 is Makoto Makimura, who becomes a key part of both Kiryu’s and Majima’s stories. The character is portrayed by Miyuki Sawashiro.
By keeping these key facts in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to dive into the world of Yakuza 0. Have fun exploring the 1980s Japanese underworld and making your own unforgettable experiences!