Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut Is An Upgraded Version Aimed At Old And New Fans

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Enthusiasts of the Ryu Ga Gotoku series often share a common view: Yakuza 0 is an exceptional entry point for the Like A Dragon/Yakuza series. It’s uncommon to find someone who doesn’t consider Yakuza 0 among the finest titles in the entire franchise, and still one of the studio’s greatest works. Even after eight mainline games, from Yakuza Kiwami to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, nothing quite captures the same essence as Yakuza 0. Fans are so passionate about it that they encourage their friends, whether gamers or not, to experience Yakuza 0 because it’s truly remarkable.

When Yakuza Kiwami debuted on the Nintendo Switch last autumn, enthusiasts eagerly awaited the arrival of Yakuza 0 on these platforms as well. Despite some technical challenges faced by Kiwami while running on an older console, fans of RGG will be thrilled to learn that Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut on the Nintendo Switch 2 performs flawlessly, much like a top-notch score on “Friday Night” in the disco minigame.

If you haven’t explored the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series yet, the Director’s Cut is turning out to be an excellent starting point since it follows the narrative in order from the beginning, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 edition will offer enhanced graphics and additional features that were absent in the original version.

Yakuza 0 remains special

Before delving into the Director’s Cut, let me first clarify why Yakuza 0 stands out and is cherished by newcomers to the series.

Yakuza 0 is set 20 years prior to the beginning of the Yakuza series. It features a unique setup with two main characters – Kiryu Kazuma and Goro Majima, both significant figures within the franchise. The narrative alternates between these characters, each with their own missions, combat styles, mini-games, and set in two distinct Japanese cities that are inspired by real-life locations.

I recently revisited Yakuza 0 for the first time since finishing it, and it brought back all my original feelings. There’s a unique charm about its Japanese setting and neon-lit atmosphere that feels strangely comforting and nostalgic. The gentle city glow, the disheveled side streets, the vibrant fashionsit’s as if you can still catch a whiff of cigarette smoke while navigating Kamurocho.

Experiencing the opportunity to try out the updated Director’s Cut version really got me pumped up to replay it from start to finish. The game Yakuza 0 masterfully combines its amusing sub-stories and additional content with a heavy, emotional narrative without making either seem mismatched or out of sync. I was astounded by how effectively this game juggles two main characters, and the resolution of events in both Kiryu’s and Majima’s story arcs resulted in a fulfilling payoff that honors its upcoming sequels with heartfelt respect.

Director’s Cut new features

In our brief presentation, we kicked off around Chapter 3, right following the memorable scene where Majima’s character is introduced. This is when you control him for the first time, venturing through Sotenbori. The gameplay didn’t significantly differ from the original version, but the graphics were crisp and the performance ran smoothly on the latest Nintendo Switch 2 controller, making it a seamless transition for players.

In the newly added English version, we delved into the new surroundings. Once more, Matthew Mercer took on the role of Majima, leading me to immediately examine his rendition of 24-Hour Cinderella in the karaoke mini game – it was fantastic! Adapting to hearing a younger Majima in the English dub was a bit unusual, but Mercer perfectly captured the voice and demeanor of the youthful gangster. Additionally, a couple of other voice actors are reprising their roles for the dub; Yong Yea will be Kiryu again, while David Hayter resumes his role as Osamu Kashiwagi’s voice.

One of the frustrating aspects of the original Yakuza 0 was the saving mechanism. You could only save at phone booths, which posed problems especially during prolonged battles and scenes. However, in the Director’s Cut, you now have the freedom to save whenever you prefer. Phone booths still serve their purpose for organizing storage, but there’s no longer a necessity to frequently remember to pull over for saving lest you become too engrossed in the main plot or side activities.

We had limited time to delve deeper into the gameplay or Kiryu’s character, but it’s clear that this could be an outstanding debut title for Switch 2. Moreover, we were hinted at approximately 25 minutes of additional storyline cutscenes, which should certainly persuade many long-time fans to invest in this game.

Red Light Raid mode

During the second phase of the demonstration, we were asked to revert to the primary menu and explore the latest Red Light Raid mode – an innovative online combat mode that can be enjoyed solo or multiplayer. Incidentally, I discovered that the classic Yakuza 0 theme, “Bubble” by Shōnan no Kaz, has been incorporated into the main menu. Interestingly, this tune wasn’t licensed for the U.S. debut, so it was quite exciting to encounter it.

In the “Red Light Raid” mode, there are six missions, each one being a raid where you fight hordes of enemies and bosses to accumulate money for unlocking additional characters. Many of these characters are non-player characters (NPCs) or enemies encountered during gameplay, making it entertaining to create teams consisting of oddball misfits and fearsome bosses. Each raid allows you to select one fighting style, offering an excellent opportunity to learn new abilities and combos, although I mainly opted for Kiryu’s Beast Mode and hurled motorcycles at every opponent.

As each new wave arises, the difficulties escalate, making it increasingly captivating. Over the years, I’ve found Yakuza’s brawling combat to be somewhat simplified, so having something like this feels like a genuine test of skill. I can only imagine that I will invest an excessive amount of time into this, while Nishiki patiently waits for me in some karaoke bar.

Final thoughts

In summary, I found that Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut exceeded my expectations by introducing a host of fresh elements, making it an even more outstanding game. The enhanced gameplay, additional cutscenes, and online mode are likely to provide a delightful experience for both newcomers and long-time fans. I eagerly anticipate the Nintendo community’s affection for our Yakuza characters growing with this release, and I can hardly wait to revisit Kiryu and Majima’s early years alongside the expanding Ryu Ga Gotoku fanbase.

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2025-05-23 22:10