Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut – Exclusive First Look

Sure thing, here you go:

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So, yeah, here we are again. It’s wild – another Yakuza game heading to a Nintendo console. I don’t know why, but it’s like a pattern now. The Wii U had one, then the Switch got Yakuza Kiwami, and now bam! Yakuza 0’s about to make its debut on Nintendo Switch 2. I got to mess around with it for a bit.

Can you believe it’s been ten (!) years since Yakuza 0 first hit Japan? It was on PlayStation 3 & 4 back then (time flies, huh?). Now, they’re calling this version a “director’s cut” – even though, oddly enough, the original creators aren’t with SEGA anymore. There’s some fresh stuff here: English voices, extra scenes, and a new thing they’re calling Red Light Raid. Might be cool. Who knows?

So, I spent, like, 45 minutes with the game on the Switch 2, and whoa, it runs pretty darn smooth. Not gonna lie, the visuals are sharp — at least 1440p, I think. But, HDR? Yeah, that’s a no-go for now, according to my chat with a SEGA rep. Bummer.

Now, if you’re new to the Yakuza universe, Yakuza 0’s a solid entry point. Seriously, it’s got all the bells and whistles. The story’s got heart and humor. Plus, there are so many side things to do: karaoke, old SEGA games, batting cages, you name it. And let’s not forget the combat – multiple styles, plenty to keep you entertained. And exploring 1980s Japan? I mean, yes please!

But then there’s this new Red Light Raid mode. Honestly, I’m not the best at Yakuza’s combat thing, and this mode is like survival mode on steroids. Waves and waves of bad guys – bosses included. I tried it alone with AI buddies, but you can team up with friends too. There are all sorts of wacky characters to play as. My first pick was Ginger Chapman – picture a mean Chucky doll, now make him a person. His moves were kinda limited, mostly knife stuff. It was a laugh but got a bit samey after a while.

Switching over to a different character, one of the main dudes, Kazuma Kiryu, felt better. Except, you only get one fighting style here. You earn money to level up and maybe get new characters. I could see the appeal, especially with friends. Alone, it’s fun for a while, but… yeah.

I’m pretty psyched for Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut on the Switch 2. Even though I’ve played it before, the English dub piques my curiosity. Red Light Raid? Skeptical, but I’ll give it another go once it drops next month. Let’s see what happens.