The Yakuza / Like A Dragon series is a beloved series by fans, but many newcomers often feel a bit overwhelmed by starting it. That needn’t be a cause for concern as the best place to start is Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, a fantastic new version of the prequel to the series that helps set up the events of later games. But what exactly is new in this version of Yakuza 0?
Well Yakuza 0 is of course the story that helps explain and set up the events of the series as mentioned, with Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima are at delicate moments in their careers when things go down, Kiryu, the future Dragon of Dojima, is framed for a murder and separates from the Dojima family to investigate. Yakuza 0 has a great story that is told over many hours, but what sets this Director’s Cut apart is that 30 additional minutes of story footage are added. This sounds amazing at first, but while it does add some extra insight and explain one potential plothole, they do not feel like major additions, truth be told. That being said, some of the character interactions are fun to watch, and there are some points where the new additions feel seamless. It is just that there are other sections where the new additions really do feel shoehorned in awkwardly.
That is not to say that Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut on Switch 2 is a waste of time by any means though, as this is still a Yakuza / Like A Dragon game and that means an excellent open world brawler with complex mechanics that feel great to the player. In many ways the series feels like a 3D version of the Kunio-kun series and that can be seen even in the pre-RPG entries, which incorporated deep narratives and engaging characters in a world that draws you in.
But there is more of course, as the minigames the series is known for, as well as random fights with thugs and optional quests all work to make this a game you will lose yourself in for many hours. And the main campaign of course is extremely compelling with twists and turns all around, and some of the best combat in years. And best of all is that it works extremely well on the Nintendo Switch 2, with no lag in gameplay and no framedrops.
There are more additions to this new version of the game on Switch 2 though, and those include English voice acting. Sadly, it is a bit hit or miss, as while some of the cast is fantastic in their roles, some others just do not have the gravitas that is needed for the characters they are portraying. Of course, you can still use the original Japanese voice acting with subtitles, so it is a matter of preference in the end. Even so, having the new English dub for the game is a nice touch, and Sega and RGG Studio are to be commended for having included it.
The other new addition is the new multiplayer mode known as Red Light Raid mode, which acts as an online beat em up horde mode. The mode gives you different locations and challenges that involve fighting through enemies though between ten and fifteen stages. You can use Kiryu and Majima, but you can also unlock many other characters to use in the mode. It is fun, but sadly there is a downside.
Red Light Raid Mode feels dead at times due to lack of people playing online, which takes away a lot of the fun. You can still choose to play the mode solo or locally with friends, but while the online does pick up at times, there just are not enough players to enjoy the online version.
In some ways, it feels like a throwaway mode that RGG Studio added because they needed to add something, especially considering the new story scenes do not add much. It is fine for what it is, and getting into a team of four, even locally, can be fun, but unless you want a throwback style beat em up experience instead of the main Yakuza game, this will just feel like a distraction for a few moments at a time.
The main draw of Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut remains the game itself, which is one of the best entries in the franchise. This version of the game is the best of the classic style games before the switch to the RPG format, with a complex story that eases newcomers in and helps get you hyped for more. And the Director’s Cut version is the best version of the game, being packed full of content, even if not all of it is stuff that will make you want to replay the game if you played it to completion before.
Still, this is the definitive version and just phenomenal experience that shines bright on the Nintendo Switch 2, showing Sega and RGG Studio fully understand Nintendo’s new system and wanted to make a debut with a bang. If you like the series, you will probably have played Yakuza 0 before, and in that case, it may not be worth coming back as said. But if you have not played this entry before, or are new to the series completely, then this is where to start and a perfect way to enjoy one of the most unique series of brawlers that almost defies classification. You cannot go wrong here.
