Image courtesy of GameFAQs.

Sega’s Yakuza 0 is a prequel with solid reviews
The Yakuza series has always been a bit of an odd duck, as it combines serious noir tones with a quirky Japanese sense of humor. However, this does not mean it is without its fans. For hardcore fans of the beat ‘em up/RPG/sandbox hybrid series, they will be psyched to hear the positivity surrounding the newest entry, Yakuza 0.

Several critics take note at the overall bizarre tone of the game, but compliment the gameplay. Interestingly enough, nearly every reviewer is giving Yakuza 0 a recommendation to newcomers.

IGN
IGN’s brief, but informative, review touches on the sprawling narrative and the complex gameplay in Yakuza 0. Although, the popular gaming website does negatively compare the combat system to the Batman: Arkham franchise.

“Since it’s a prequel, it’s also unburdened by the series’ increasingly intricate backstory and thus far more approachable for newcomers than the last few Yakuza games. While its melee combat may lag slightly behind modern genre standards, Yakuza 0 still hits far more than it misses and is a big, bold and bruising tour through the Japanese underworld.”

GameSpot
Yakuza 0 is given another positive review from GameSpot, calling it an entertaining experience. Peter Brown, the reviewer, is a little critical of the more distracting parts of the narrative. Most of it involving the random bits of comedy.

“Unless you have a strong aversion to violence, sex, or middling graphics, you owe it to yourself to give Zero a chance. Its story will surprise you, its inhabitants will make you laugh at every turn, and its ambitious scope will redefine how you think about open-world games. It’s a fascinating adventure no matter how you approach it, and it’s proof positive that a game can be wildly inconsistent yet remain a great experience.”

Games Radar
On the contrary, Games Radar praises the “all over the place” tone of Yakuza 0. The plot is also given much praise from the website, but the other aspects, including the abundance of mini-games and certain meta-game concepts.

“But that’s been Yakuza from the start: a series which toys with dozens of ideas from all kinds of games, some better than others, and throws them into a blender and wraps them up in a deliciously pulpy, hard-boiled crime drama. On that front, Yakuza 0 delivers, telling a tale full of humor, heart, and dudes ripping their shirts off in one swift motion – and if this your first time diving in, you can’t go wrong here.”

PlayStation Universe
Yakuza is a Sony-exclusive franchise, starting all the way back in 2005 for the PlayStation 2. It makes sense for a website devoted to all things PlayStation would take a crack at reviewing the newest entry. Yakuza 0 receives an overwhelmingly positive review from PlayStation Universe, touching on the series’ long run and how this entry is one of the best ones yet.

“The Yakuza series’ deft blending of action, arcade and RPG elements has never been as accomplished as it is in Yakuza 0. A genre chimera in the truest sense, Yakuza 0’s almost abyssal depth and near inexhaustible buffet of side activities is only paralleled by the calibre of its story, characters and resoundingly robust series of system that interconnect its multi-genre aspirations.”

Image courtesy of GameFreaks.se.