The Yakuza series, now known as Like A Dragon, is a fantastic role-playing franchise by Sega. Yakuza 0, a prequel to the series, is widely considered one of the best entries in the series. One of the many games announced in the recent Nintendo Direct Switch 2 presentation, Yakuza 0 seems primed to reach an even wider audience and help more people fall in love with the series.
Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut Expands Upon The Original
A trailer released for Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut gives us an idea of what to expect in the updated game. Yakuza 0 follows the story of two protagonists, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, as they navigate the origin story of their work in the Tojo Clan, which is a Japanese version of the “mafia”. The game offers an incredibly powerful, emotional story that is one of the best in the franchise. Each character has their own playable storyline that intertwines as the game progresses.
Mechanically, Yakuza 0 is part action beat-’em-up adventure and part role-playing game. Players follow a typical growth leveling system as other RPGs, but combat comes through a series of street brawls using anything a character can get their hands on. There is an overwhelming abundance of side quests to try at every turn. Plus, what the Yakuza series is famous for is its ability to balance some absurd, laugh-out-loud comedy with truly tear-jearking emotional plot beats. Yakuza 0 just amplifies those strengths.
It appears the game will stay essentially the same as its release, with matching mechanics and graphics. The one addition in the director’s cut version is that there will be new and expanded cut scenes, that hopefully will further add to the connection we feel as players to the characters in the game. This new content should act to enhance the already brilliant storyline.
Final Thoughts
The Yakuza/ Like A Dragon series is one of the most underrated gaming franchises out there today. The first turn-based release of Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon brought the series to the mainstream, and the rest of the series has since been localized and gained a loyal following. Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut should continue to follow that legacy and bring even more fans to the series through its exceptional gameplay. It is thrilling to see the series start coming to Nintendo.
