So, here we go again with another one of those Yakuza games. Comes to mind that the Wii U had one too, right? Then the Switch got cozy with Yakuza Kiwami. Anyway, now it’s like, “Hey, Yakuza 0’s joining the Nintendo Switch 2 party.” I actually got some time playing it. Lucky me, huh?
It’s kinda wild that Yakuza 0 is hitting its 10-year mark in Japan. Feels like just yesterday! Originally dropped on PS3 and PS4 – like a throwback. Now, about the Switch 2 thing – they’re calling it a director’s cut, but the original game folks? Yeah, they’re no longer with SEGA. Go figure. New stuff? English voices, extra scenes, and some “Red Light Raid” mode. Why do they always have to remix things?
Spent a good 45 minutes tinkering with the docked version. Gotta say, it just glides on Switch 2. Snagged some direct gameplay footage, and it’s holding solid at 60 frames per second. But 4K? Couldn’t swear by it. 1440p sounds about right, like the PS4 Pro sibling. Oh, and HDR? Asked the SEGA rep – nope, missing in action.
If you’ve never dipped into Yakuza before, 0’s a sweet starting point. Got all the goodies: a gripping story, laughter, feels. And the mini-games! Karaoke, old-school SEGA arcades, batting cages – pure joyride. Combat’s beat ‘em up style, with a twist of variety. Plus, poking around 1980s Japan? Just cool. I’m set to dive back into the story mode – been ages since I hit it on PS4.
Now, this Red Light Raid mode? Meh. Not my thing really. Survival mode shenanigans – waves of enemies, couple of bosses, typical drill. I’m not exactly a combat whiz in Yakuza. Played solo, but you can roll with friends, locally or online. Bunch of characters – some you barely notice in the story. I tried Ginger Chapman first (seriously, think evil Chucky but human). Limited menu – mainly knife business, hacking away like a maniac. Fun, sure, but repetitive.
Had a good time with Kazuma Kiryu’s variant though. Bummed that you pick a combat style and stick with one. You win money in this mode to soup up your characters or maybe get new ones. It’s fun for a quick round, but with buddies? Probably a blast.
Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut on the Switch 2 launch list? Count me in. Played it before, yet the English dub’s got me curious. Japanese voices are still an option, if you’re wondering. Red Light Raid mode – undecided, but hey, it’s worth a try when it’s out next month. Fingers crossed.
