The Yakuza game that likely made you a new fan of the franchise is now available to Xbox One and PC players everywhere in Yakuza 0. Taking place in the early days of the Dragon of Dojima’s career, Yakuza 0 focuses on two playable characters Kiryu Kazuma and Majima Goto who have their own storyline, character traits, and ambitions as they rise to the top of the Yakuza ladder.

Yakuza 0 is a 2017 beat ’em up game, it is developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. It previously launched as a Playstation 4 exclusive and is now available on PC and Xbox One via Xbox Game Pass.

Editor’s Note: A review copy of Yakuza 0 for Xbox One and Windows 10 was provided by Sega in support of this review. This is a condensed version of our original Yakuza 0 review from its 2017 Western launch which can be viewed here. Potential spoilers for Yakuza 0 and the Yakuza franchise in its main story entirety may be present within this review. 

Kiryu Kazuma’s story starts here in Yakuza 0.

Having launched way back on the Playstation 2 many missed out on Sega’s then-lesser known (at least in the West) beat’em up franchise Yakuza. Initially built from its prototype predecessor Shenmue, Yakuza followed a fast raising Yakuza known as Kiryu Kazuma who would eventually become The Dragon of Dojima as he battles his way through legendary Yakuza boss after Yakuza boss while trying to understand the mystery behind an empty powerful people in Japan want to own. Meanwhile co-protagonist Goto Majima has his own mystery he’s become apart of.

The Fish sinks as the Dragon takes flight in Yakuza 0.

THE GOOD: Yakuza 0 changes the Yakuza formula in many ways for one it features two playable protagonist with their own original storylines; Kiryu and Majima and introduces some new mechanics for the first time into the series such as the ability to run a cabaret club, and the introduction of the style change mechanic which allows Kiryu & Goro to change their fighting styles at the player’s will. For example Majima has a break dance fighting style which allows for swift yet low damaging attacks and in contrast Kiryu has a power based style which allows him to take a bit more damage than usual while also unleashing powerful but slow attacks.

The thick inner walls of the Yakuza begins to crumble in Yakuza 0.

If you’ve played the Yakuza franchise from the beginning or have even experienced its predecessor Shenmue then a lot of Yakuza 0 will be familiar to you. It’s an open-world beat ’em up that has the uncanny ability to use time to distract players as often as possible. If you ever want a bit of a break from the story then why not head to the arcade and play full versions of classic Sega games? Go fishing, play mahjong, beat up some assholes in the street (which is likely to happen whether you want it to or not) there’s a number of things you can do to kill time and again like Shenmue these time killers are often required while waiting on certain missions to trigger. Though Yakuza isn’t as severe with it as the former. The story at times can be a little ridiculous, but that’s a trademark of the franchise. Kiryu is tasked with finding a mystery involving an empty lot that all the Yakuza in Japan seem to want to own, while Majima is also protecting a blind woman who just so happens to be tied to the mysterious lot.

Yakuza 0 successfully breathes new life into an over a decade old franchise.

THE BAD: If I had to say anything negative about the Yakuza franchise it’s that it often lacks much difficulty at least not until the later half of whatever game you’re playing meaning you breeze through the first half more often than not from a combat perspective.

Explore a little bit of what the country of Japan has to offer in a lot of game about the Yakuza.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: With Sega porting all of the Yakuza franchise made available to the West on PC and Xbox One there’s no excuse for players who missed out due to the exclusivity to jump in. It’ll take some time before every title lands on the other platforms, but 0 is the ultimate door opener for the franchise if you’re ready to give it a go, especially if you were disappointed with Shenmue III’s release.