Yakuza 0 Review (Enchanted)
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Yakuza 0 has two playable protagonists. Kazuma Kiryu, current Yakuza, and Goro Majima, ex-Yakuza. Kiryu is out to clear his name while Majima is setting off to wipe his debts. You alternate playing them every two chapters and there are a total of 17 chapters. The length of the chapters differ, but I found myself beating each of them in 1-2 hrs. You might be thinking why do I have so many hrs then on my first ever playthrough…well the side content is to blame…
At first glance it may seem like it’s just a beat 'em up type of game filled with mindless action and violence. That’s what I initially thought, but I was so wrong. The story was surprisingly emotional, dark, and engrossing. The side content is fun and either hilarious or wholesome. What really sets this game apart from others is that there are so many situations where the game could have gotten away with not taking the time to add this much detail. The devs didn't have to make the karaoke and disco songs full-length bangers but they did and I love them for that.
Your progression of the plot will be interrupted with occasional sub-stories. Some include running a hostess and real estate business, helping Michael Jackson shoot his music video, joining a cult, befriending a man named “walking erection”…this is just the tip of the iceberg. As ridiculous as all this sounds, I had a blast playing the substories because it was nice to get a break from the seriousness of the plot and get into a bunch of shenanigans with the two protagonists. If you really want, you can plow through Yakuza 0 and ignore it all. The side stuff is optional, but sometimes engaging them can lead to the most interesting content that any game has to offer. I can only hope the other Yakuza games meet or top this ones quality.