Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut Review

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio continue with more work in the Yakuza franchise. They are absolute workhorses, and the wheel keeps turning. I am not complaining, though, since the series goes down as one of my favourites of all time. With Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties on the horizon and launching very soon, SEGA also introduced Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut. Yakuza 1 & 2 also received some visual upgrade love, which, for fans, may give you some motivation to go and replay the classics before the new release.

A Story That Still Hits Hard

At its core, Yakuza remains the same masterfully crafted story for Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. Set during 1988 in Japan’s economic boom, the game follows both characters as they investigate conspiracies, dilemmas and betrayals that shape their futures. This Director’s Cut features new cutscenes and story beats that expand on various characters and events. The additions are subtle, more than swaying from what made the original so brilliant. The development team have done brilliantly at getting the balance just right.

Combat Is Still Fantastic

What I love about Yakuza 0 is the combat, which is incredibly satisfying once you become comfortable with it. Kazuma and Goro each have multiple fighting styles that can be swapped at any time. This allows for different types of combat based on how you want to deal with the scenario or whether you just want to beat up thugs in style. As you land hits, you build up heat, which enables brutal cinematic finishers using the environment, which is so satisfying to see in action.

Minigames Galore

The Director’s Cut retains the generous offering of minigames that made Yakuza 0 so exciting to play. All the side activities from the original game return throughout Kamurocho and Sotenbori. Bowling, darts, pool and the batting centre are all here with their own score challenges and unique gameplay. If you’re into gambling, you can get into Koi-Koi, Oicho-Kaby, Cee-Lo, Blackjack, Poker and Roulette. Is that not enough for you? Get down to the bar and take part in Karaoke or Disco, which both have rhythm-based games. To round off, you can also go fishing, play Shogi, which is basically Japanese Chess or join the Telephone Club and navigate conversation-based dating storylines.

Additionally, you can head down to the arcade and play grab machines or dive into a handful of SEGA classics such as Outrun. Side hustles are also a thing; you can get into real estate by buying properties and defending the turf as you build an income. Be in charge of the Cabaret Club as you recruit hostesses, train them and manage the customers. Race miniature cars in Pocket Circuit Racing and take part in tournaments to try and obtain victory! There is so much to see and do that outside of the story and side quests, you’ll always be entertained.

What If I Own The Original? Can I Get A Discount?

The answer is yes, if you own the original Xbox One version of Yakuza 0, then you can upgrade to the director’s cut for a small fee. This works out at $14.99 in the US, so I’m unsure what the UK copy will retail at. However, the upgrade discount will show that you own the previous version if eligible.

What Is Actually New In The Director’s Cut?

Yes, the Director’s Cut brings us enhanced visuals and performance across the board, but this isn’t all you’re getting. There is a whole feast more that makes the game worthy of another playthrough, or if you’re new to the franchise, then you’re in for a treat.

Upgraded graphics result in higher resolutions and smoother performance compared to the original release. This version also sees a new online PvE co-op mode where players team up to fight off waves of enemies using characters from the Like A Dragon universe.

New cutscenes and story adjustments provide more context and meaning to certain characters and events. What I loved, though, was the addition of English voice acting rather than reading subtitles with Japanese voiceovers. Some of the minigames have had a bit of a UI refresh, most notably Mahjong. Overall, though, it plays like a current-generation game should and is well worth the upgrade fee or the price point alone if you have yet to play the game.

Visuals & Audio

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut packs a punch when it comes to the visual performance. The biggest upgrade is, without a doubt, targeting 60fps as standard. Everything just feels smooth, crystal clear and much more responsive to the original. Audio has improved clarity, a cleaner audio mix, and it sounds incredible with a decent headset. Now with both English and Japanese dubs, it gives you the choice to go for English voice acting or remain true to the original and stick with Japanese; both sound amazing. Overall, the development team have done a fine job in polishing the game into today’s standards without shifting any of the work done to the first outing.

Final Thoughts

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut on Xbox Series X is the best way to experience one of the greatest titles in the series. With more depth integrated into the story and the addition of the Red Light Raid mode, it is a far more polished product with even more to enjoy compared to the first outing. If you’ve played the game before, then it is a perfect opportunity to rediscover this masterpiece. For those who are new, I highly recommend you just dive straight in with the Director’s Cut; you won’t regret it. You can purchase a copy of the game for Xbox Series X|S HERE.

Huge thanks go to SEGA for a copy of the game on Xbox Series X|S for a review